Reforming the Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “No, they’re not here. They dropped me off and went for a run about an hour ago.”

  Lucy knew apprehension and panic when she saw it, and Hannah looked at her watch and then back out at the road.

  “They said they weren’t going to be long so I think they should be back any time now. You want to come in and wait?”

  “I guess I’ll have to.”

  Lucy stepped aside and let Hannah into the house.

  “How did your dress look?” asked Lucy.

  Hannah seemed distracted, staring far-off, and clearly hadn’t heard what Lucy had asked her. She was biting the nail on her index finger and looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

  “What? Oh, oh, I’m sorry. It’s just I have so many things on my mind, what with the wedding and because we’ve just moved to a new house.”

  “It must be exciting.”

  “It really is … but I’ll be glad when it’s over and we can settle in as a family.”

  “So your dress looked okay?”

  “Perfect. I cried when I put it on. You’ll be coming to the wedding, right?”

  “No. I mean…”

  “Liam’s taking part in the ceremony … and, well, I know he doesn’t have a date.”

  Date? Great, now she was his date. No. She couldn’t be. No getting involved, remember?

  “He’s probably got someone else in mind,” said Lucy.

  “No, he didn’t mention it.”

  The sound of the door opening and closing luckily ended the conversation.

  Sam ran into the room and straight to Hannah, who hugged him.

  “We should get you home because you have school tomorrow and you look hot and somewhat muddy,” said Hannah. “You want to say goodbye to Lucy and Liam and go get into the car while I chat with your uncle?”

  “Bye, Lucy,” said Sam.

  “Bye, Sam. It was nice meeting you.”

  He hugged Liam and drove his face into his belly. “See you at the weekend, buddy,” said Liam.

  Lucy sat back on the couch as Liam and Hannah headed outside. She tried not to notice but as she glanced out of the window she could tell by the animated gestures of Hannah’s arms that she wasn’t happy with Liam over something.

  Poor guy would probably need a friend when he got back inside.

  Chapter Seven

  “You know I don’t like him shifting if Bear’s not around to supervise,” said Hannah.

  “And you know that I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. He’s as much my blood as he is yours.”

  Humans. Damn them all.

  “Would you phone and ask if it’s okay to let him shift, next time you want to do this sort of thing?”

  He’d have to ask a human for permission to do something that was second nature to a bear shifter? In your dreams.

  “Look, if you must know … I saw signs that his brain was getting fragmented again.”

  He didn’t want to tell her about it just in case she worried, but she’d left him no other choice.

  She didn’t respond. Yeah, that had gotten her attention.

  “He was getting overly organized again, moving stuff on the table, and he said he felt strange.”

  “But he was okay after the run?” asked Hannah.

  “He was perfect after the run. He’s really got some speed to him.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Bear said when they ran last week.”

  Liam took a deep breath. He couldn’t help but feel some sort of resentment that Bear was getting to do things with him, and Liam wasn’t. He liked Bear and thought he’d make a great stepfather, but still, bitterness existed.

  “I should be getting home because Sam needs to get to bed,” said Hannah.

  “Thanks for dropping him off. I really love the time I get to spend with him.”

  “By the way, I like your new friend. I think she’s good for you. I mean when I spoke to you earlier, when she was standing there, you seemed less defensive.”

  Had it been that obvious that Lucy somehow made him feel less threatened by the world around him? Strange that Hannah had noticed it too.

  “And you don’t have a date for the wedding, right?” asked Hannah.

  Was she rubbing salt in his injury that he had no one in his life, and he’d be going solo to a wedding, of all things? How embarrassing was that for someone?

  “No, I don’t.” Had that come out like the way the defensive Liam would have said it?

  “Well, you do now. I asked Lucy for you.”

  And she’d accused him of stepping over the line by shifting and running with Sam?

  He was just about to open his mouth and give her his usual rant when he realized she’d done him a huge favor. Not so much because he wouldn’t be going to the wedding all by his lonesome, but he never would have thought to ask Lucy, and not just because she was human. What would a pretty girl like her want with Mr. Grumpy Bear?

  “Really?” he asked, playing coy and pretending he was a little pissed that she’d stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong.

  “Yep, so that’s all set … and you’ll have to bring her along to the rehearsal dinner too.”

  “Are you my social secretary all of a sudden?” said Liam. He’d have to keep this act up or she might think she’d finally gotten the better of him.

  “You know I could tell the way you looked at her and the way she looked at you that there’s some chemistry between the two of you. So don’t go blowing it, okay? I think a human mate is just what you need.”

  A human mate? Really?

  “And don’t forget Bear’s bachelor party. I don’t know if I can trust his cousin to keep things from getting out of hand, but I’m asking you, Aiden and Christopher to keep the evening sane and sensible. I won’t be bailing anyone out if any of the partygoers gets arrested, okay?”

  Sam knocked on the car window.

  “Okay, honey, we’re heading home.” She turned back to Liam. “I have to go, but remember all I’ve said.”

  The only bit he would remember was the piece about Lucy looking at him in a certain way. He waved goodbye as Hannah sounded the car horn and then walked back inside to find Lucy watching TV.

  “Everything okay?” she asked. “Sam’s mom seemed upset over something.”

  “Yeah, she was a little worried about Sam going running. She’s such a typical hu … woman. Present company excepted, of course.”

  Lucy smiled at him and his legs went wobbly. No shifter ever made them do that before.

  “She mentioned the wedding and that you’re going to be my date. If you don’t want to, that’s okay with me.”

  He’d hate to think Hannah had pressured her. Maybe Hannah’s hunch about Lucy liking him was way off.

  “I’d love to go with you.”

  “There’s also the rehearsal dinner.”

  “Do I have to buy new dresses?”

  “I thought women liked to do that.”

  “We do.” She looked at her watch. “I guess I should be getting to bed. I’m still tired and I’m going to take a pain killer.”

  She stood and put the crutches under her armpits.

  “You sure the apartment’s aired out enough?”

  “It’s fine, please don’t worry. I’m so tired I probably won’t notice and I’ll keep the window cranked open.”

  “You know I’m just across the way if you need me.”

  She nodded and Liam opened the door for her, turning on the light so she could see to walk across the yard to the apartment. She gave him a wave before going inside and shutting the door.

  Liam leaned against the jamb. It was a beautiful night. Moon full, stars shining … and a beautiful young woman was about to sleep no more than a hundred yards away.

  Tempting. So very tempting.

  ****

  Lucy really thought she’d fall asleep and stay asleep until morning, but she’d woken up in the middle of the night––and not on her own accord. Wolves howling close by had woken her
suddenly. She struggled to get out of bed, tapping the chair for her crutches and as quickly as she could, made her way over to the window. She shut it while making sure the lock was secure.

  It was stupid because there was a screen on it and wolves probably didn’t come close to these sorts of areas and jump through people’s windows.

  They howled again.

  She’d never been out of the city. Never seen so many stars twinkling in the sky, and as clearly as they were tonight. She’d never heard wolves howling. Yes, she had seen nature shows on TV, but never in person. She was sure the surrounding area was full of them. Probably mountain lions and bears, too. Scary, but she knew if you didn’t venture into their territory, which she wasn’t likely to do, they generally didn’t bother you.

  Lucy glanced across at Liam’s place. It was in total darkness. She knew his bedroom was the one at the back on the left and next to the bathroom. She wondered if he slept in shorts or maybe in the nude.

  Why had she even thought that? She hobbled back to bed, turned around, hopping on her good leg, and sat back down on the mattress.

  Now that the window was shut, the room did have that closed-in, musty smell to it.

  Poor Liam, she thought. Not wanting to venture in here for so long because of the memories of his brother, and then finding his medallion. She laid back down wishing she had her squishy pillow from home with her. Why hadn’t she thought of putting it into the car?

  Because she’d left in one hell of a hurry, that’s why.

  Liam loved his brother like she loved Mike and she could see how tough losing his sibling must have been on him. She could never understand how some brothers and sisters didn’t get along, didn’t speak to one another for years, and often parted company once both parents were dead.

  She guessed that like her and Mike, Liam’s parents weren’t around either. At least he had Sam. When she’d eaten with them at the pizza place and they’d both been in profile she could see the resemblance. She hadn’t seen a photo of his brother but she was guessing Sam must look more like him than he did his mom.

  Lucy had committed herself to going to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. She wasn’t sure if all the trouble with Mike would blow over before then. She’d hate to let Liam down, but she’d have to, because family came first. She knew he’d understand.

  She sighed. Why was it that you always found the best guys at the wrong time of your life, and in this case, the wrong location? Why hadn’t she found someone like Liam back in Philly?

  Chapter Eight

  Liam was a bear of routine. Usually the first thing he did after getting out of bed was to stroll into the kitchen and make himself some strong coffee. It helped wake him and get the cobwebs of his dreams out of his head.

  Today was different. This morning he had a pretty young human in a bed just a short walk away from his house. He glanced out of the window to see if there was any indication she might be up and about. The window that had been opened when he’d turned in for the night was now shut. Maybe Lucy had gotten cold in the night.

  This morning he was starving and decided to get a start on making breakfast. He had two cars to fix as well as Lucy’s. He glanced over at the apartment again. She didn’t have any food in there so he’d cook extra eggs and bacon. He’d invite her over to join him.

  Liam set everything out on the counter and then wandered over to the apartment and tapped on the door. At first she didn’t answer and he wondered if she was still asleep. He turned around ready to leave when he heard the latch being slid across.

  He looked back not expecting to see Lucy standing there in just a t-shirt that stopped mid-thigh. Her nipples pushed seductively against the t-shirt’s flimsy material. She yawned.

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked.

  “No, I was awake, but just being lazy,” she said stretching both arms in the air. The t-shirt pulled upwards, offering him a glimpse of pink lace panties and a dark matte of hair showing through the transparent pieces of the material. He’d seen photos of nude human women, lots of types, seen movies and TV shows of them too, but this was the first time he’d gotten a glimpse of a human female crotch in person. Well, not exactly a full view, but close enough. Shifter women were devoid of pubic hair, so Lucy’s held his interest.

  Too much interest, because he guessed she knew where his focus was. She quickly pulled down the t-shirt. Liam wasn’t sure who was more embarrassed, Lucy or him.

  He stuttered his next few words. “I-I … was just, abou … about to make some breakfast and wondered if you’d like to join me.” He’d never stammered in his entire life.

  “That would be great. I mean if it’s no trouble.”

  “None at all. Bacon, eggs, and toast okay with you?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Actually, I’m a tea drinker.”

  “Don’t think I have any but I do have orange juice.”

  “That’s great.”

  “I’ll get started on the bacon, so just wander over when you’re ready.”

  “Will do.”

  He turned and headed back to his place. Once he was in the kitchen he put the light under the skillet and set the slices of bacon down inside it. He busied himself but still couldn’t get the image of Lucy’s body from his mind. The nipples, the panties, and the dark hair.

  The sound of tapping on the door made him jump. He looked out to see Lucy standing there. He walked to the door and held it open until she was safely inside the kitchen.

  “Something smells good,” she said.

  “Here, have a seat and I’ll pour you some juice.”

  She shuffled over to the table, set the crutches against the wall and sat. Liam put a glass of orange juice down in front of her.

  “How’s your leg feeling?” he asked.

  “Actually a whole lot better. I’m thinking in a day or two I might be able to put some weight on my foot.”

  “Don’t go rushing things,” he said, flipping the bacon over.

  Not that he didn’t want her leg to heal, but he was already used to having someone around. Maybe Lucy would like to stay a little longer. Well, until she found a house of her own.

  He glanced over at her as she sipped the juice.

  Nope, he wasn’t lonely period. He was lonely for female companionship.

  “You sleep okay?” he asked while beating the eggs.

  “I did, but the wolves or whatever was howling in the night woke me.”

  “Yeah, lots of them around these parts.” And not all regular wolves because some were his shifter buddies.

  “I closed the window because I didn’t know how close they came to town, or if there were also bears around too?”

  “You scared of bears or don’t like them or something?”

  Had that sounded confrontational? Shit, he hoped not because that wasn’t his intent. He was just eager to know if she liked bears. God, he really hoped she did, or things could get awkward.

  “Just a little scared of them. Never met one in person and probably never will so I suppose I don’t have to worry too much,” she said.

  Oh, you don’t know how wrong you are. You’ve met two and a half already.

  “In fact, the hospital where you took me. Do they have an animal clinic too?”

  Oh no, what had she seen while she’d stayed there that night?

  “No, why do you ask?”

  “I walked along the hallway and I saw anatomy charts of what looked like a wolf and a bear.”

  “Probably someone is studying them for a test at school.”

  He put the bacon and eggs on a platter in the middle of the table and then put a plate of toast down in front of Lucy. “Dig in,” he said, sitting opposite her.

  “This looks so good. How come you’re not married or don’t have a girlfriend?”

  Wow, that question had come out of the blue.

  “I guess I’m not always the easiest person to get along with.”

 
; There … that had been totally honest. However much he denied it, tried to convince himself his abrasiveness was down to what to keep the group safe, since Danny’s death he’d been one grouchy bear who was oftentimes hard to be around. Lucy had made him see it. Lucky for him, he now knew what it was like to help someone, and share a smile and a laugh with them too. Yes, he preferred this Liam better.

  “You like toast with your honey?”

  “What?” asked Liam, caught off guard.

  That question had thrown him. Didn’t she mean do you like honey with your toast but as he looked at the slice of bread and saw it weighed down with a good half inch of the amber liquid, he knew why she’d phrased it like she had.

  He laughed. He’d like to say he’d gotten carried away while deep in thought but truth be told, this was a normal thing for him. He was a bear. Bears liked honey.

  “Guess it’s a lot but I like it and this is local honey. A guy who lives on the edge of Kalispell keeps bees and makes some of the best stuff in town. All us be…”

  Oops, almost let that one slip.

  “All us local folk buy it from him.”

  Lucy dipped her finger in the dish and put it to her mouth. A drizzle lingered on her lips. He’d never been so tempted to lean over and lick it away as he was right now.

  “It’s good,” she said.

  He could smell it on her breath. So enticing for a bear.

  “Would you mind if I used your shower?”

  That jolted him of that train of thought.

  “The water in the apartment seems to be sluggish,” said Lucy.

  “Probably because I’ve had it turned off for so long. I can take a look at it and if I can’t fix it I can get someone to stop by and take a look at it.”

  One of the cougar shifters was a plumber and he always gave group members a hefty discount.

  “Yeah, sure, go ahead and use the shower and bathroom whenever you want,” said Liam. “You had enough to eat?”

  “Yes, that was perfect. Thank you. Maybe you can drop me off in town and I can pick up some paint samples and you can look them over to see what you like.”

  “Yeah, I would like to get the place decorated because I just don’t feel like going in there.”