Dylan chuckled, retrieving the two champagne glasses, and the bottle. When Steph hung up, he passed her a glass. “To new beginnings?”
“New beginnings.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “And a happy ever after.”
“That I will drink to.”
When the champagne was finished, they made love again, before he carried her into the house, and up to her room in the attic. There he made love to her in her single bed, until they both fell asleep, exhausted but satisfied. Tomorrow would be the start of their new life, in the old town he never thought would be his home again.
Chapter Nineteen – Steph
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so nervous,” Steph said, her hand on her stomach as she tried to decide if she was going to have to run for the bathroom.
“Is it nerves or morning sickness?” Melanie asked, making some last-minute adjustments to Steph’s wedding dress. Steph had heard how beautiful the dresses from Bear Brides were, but she never imagined she would end up wearing one so soon, or that Melanie the co-owner would have such a personal touch. It was as if everyone in town wanted their day to be special.
Steph looked down at her, face pale. “You think I’m pregnant already?”
“I thought you would be pleased,” Kitty said. “You two have been baby-making so much I figured it was top of your list of things to do.”
“No. The farm is top of my list of things to do,” Steph said, looking at herself closely in the mirror. Did she look different? She had been feeling odd the last few days, but she’d put that down to wedding nerves.
“I can manage the farm. And there’s Dylan, he’s keen to help.” Kitty looked in the mirror and adjusted her hat. “And Harlon will help wherever he can.”
“I appreciate everyone’s help,” Steph said, “But I aim to work even when I’ve had children.”
“After you’ve had them,” Melanie said. “But while you are carrying a child, let the men do the running around. It gives them something to do.”
The three women giggled and then Kitty said, “You don’t have to worry about Dylan treating you the same as your dad and Paul treated me.”
Melanie smiled. “Your mom is right. Dylan is a good man. Of course it helps he is rich and good-looking.”
“Is that why the town has accepted him?” Steph asked.
Melanie stood up, surveying Steph’s dress critically. “Perfect.” Then she looked Steph in the eye. “No. I think it was because Ron and Tilly invited him to their wedding, and the fact the sheriff likes him too helps.”
“It was kind of Declan to make a point of inviting us over to dinner,” Steph agreed. “He has the most adorable baby.”
“And so might you soon.” Kitty laughed at Steph’s face, and then went to look out of the window, as a car approached up the driveway.
“It’s early for the wedding car,” Steph said, and went to join her mom.
“It’s not the wedding car.”
“Then who is it? I don’t recognize the car at all.”
“It’s Paul,” Kitty exclaimed.
“Oh my,” Melanie said. “Listen, you look fabulous, you don’t need me anymore, so I am going to head over to Dylan’s and find a place to sit.” She quickly packed everything away, making sure she hadn’t left any pins in Steph’s dress, and then kissed Steph and her mom on the cheeks, before saying, “Unless you want me to stay. Or to ask Dylan to come over. Oh no, that’s bad luck. Declan, then?”
“I can handle my own son,” Kitty said firmly.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to talk to him?” Steph asked.
“No. This is your special day, and Paul is not going to come back here and upset you.”
“I am coming with you,” Steph said, and the two women followed Melanie out, who made a dash for her car, just as Paul reached the farmhouse.
“Mom. Steph.” His eyes took in his sister’s wedding dress. “I don’t think I got an invite?”
“That would be because you disappeared into nowhere. With money that didn’t belong to you.” Steph’s words were bitter.
“Now, Steph. Don’t get yourself upset. This is your special day, and Paul is not going to ruin it.”
“No. I’m not. In fact, it’s the reason I came back. I heard you were getting married, and I thought I would give you away.”
“You thought what?” Steph asked.
Her mom put her hand on Steph’s arm. “Steph.”
“Mom, it’s all arranged. He is not going to take over.”
“I know.” Kitty walked up to Paul, and said, “You are welcome to come to your sister’s wedding, but I am giving Steph away.”
“But it’s the job of the man of the house.”
“Our house has no man. And needs no man.” Kitty seemed to have tapped into her inner strength. “You left—worse, you left us in a hole. We have filled that hole, and have planted trees on it.”
Steph smiled, as a look of confusion crossed Paul’s face. “Trees?”
“What she means is we have made plans, planted seeds of new beginnings and plan to watch them grow.”
“Then it’s a good job I’ve come back to run things.” Paul went to walk past his mom and Steph.
“You are welcome to help. I’m sure we can find you a job. A fair wage for a fair day’s work. But things have changed, Paul. I have changed. I have a boyfriend.”
Steph hid her smile at the shocked expression that covered Paul’s face. “What about Dad?”
“He is gone, and I refuse to live in the shadows for the rest of my life. I’ve moved on. And Harlon has shown me how a real man treats his woman.”
“Are you saying Dad wasn’t a real man?” Paul said, his voice choked with anger.
“No. I’m saying he was a real shifter. Harlon is not, and I am happy. That’s not to say I wasn’t happy with your dad. But I’m older, and I like to be in charge of my future. That means you either come back and learn to live with it, or go back to wherever you have been for the last six months.”
Paul looked shocked, and Steph found herself feeling a little sorry for him, even though she was immensely proud of her mom. “Listen, Paul. I would love to have you at my wedding. Go and get changed and you can come in the car with us. But Mom is giving me away, and Mom is in charge of the farm.”
She wondered if he would say no. But his expression softened and he said, “I’m sorry. About everything.” It was then Steph realized how tired he looked, and he had lost weight. Maybe being away had taught him a few lessons about the world. “I’ll get changed.”
Then he walked into the house, leaving Steph and her mom staring at each other. “Well, whatever happened to him, I hope it lasts.”
“Here’s the car.” Steph said. As the wedding car came towards the house, Steph turned to her mom and kissed her cheek. “I hope one day Paul might give you away. To Harlon.”
Kitty smiled. “If I marry Harlon, I’m going to do it on a nice beach somewhere, him and me, and no one will give me away. I am my own person.”
Steph laughed. “If I had said that, you would have told me I was mad.”
“Only because it’s the right thing to do, getting married here in Bear Bluff. For you and Dylan. It will finally lay the ghosts of his past to rest.”
***
As Steph walked down the aisle, she understood what Kitty meant. Dylan stood waiting for her, dressed in a tux, which fitted him perfectly. She could have admired his body, but she was more interested in his face, and how happy he looked.
He seemed overjoyed to see her, and to accept her hand in marriage. When he kissed his new bride, Steph also knew he finally believed that he belonged back in Bear Bluff.
“I am so very pleased that this bear came back to town,” Dylan told her.
“Me too, Dylan. Me too.” Steph took his hand and walked through the people gathered together to celebrate their special day with them, and when her eye caught Tilly’s, she smiled. Tilly returned the smile shyly, her arm threaded through Ron
’s.
“You know, our children will probably grow up together,” she said, to Dylan.
“Whose?” Dylan asked.
“Ours and Ron’s.”
“Then let’s make sure they are friends. That there is never a time when the past is dredged up.” He put his arms around her waist and turned her to him, kissing her again. “I never want history to be repeated.”
“Me neither.” She took his hand. “Now let’s eat cake.”
“And then run off up the mountain to make love under the stars,” Dylan whispered in her ear.
“Later. I want to make the most of this day, Dylan. I want it to live in our memories forever.” She kissed him. “You know what I think?”
“No?” He looked at her, and smiled. “Right now, I have no idea. But I do hope they are happy thoughts.”
“They are.” She took a deep breath, her voice dropping so only he could hear her words. “I think the town never needed to forgive you, Dylan. I think you always just needed to forgive yourself. I know you didn’t kill Greg, but you took on the guilt all the same.”
“You are probably right.” He looked up across the Bluff. “I was a kid.”
“And now you’re a man.”
“Come on you two,” Melanie said, putting a glass of champagne in each of their hands. We need photos.”
“Come on, Mrs. Taylor,” Dylan said, the words making her feel all warm and fuzzy.
“Thank you, Mr. Taylor.” She took his arm, and they turned to face the smiling crowd before them. Two bears who had returned to Bear Bluff, and would never leave.
Sneak Peak of His Bear’s Necessity
Chapter One – Amanda
“How are you settling in, Amanda?” Dylan, her new boss, asked.
“Good, I think. Everyone in town seems friendly. The sheriff, Declan, made a special point of introducing himself.” Things finally seemed to be going right for Amanda since she had moved to Bear Bluff three weeks ago. She hadn’t exactly needed a job, but when she saw the notice for a position with a startup construction company, she figured it was a great idea. Two new beginnings, hers and the company Dylan Taylor had created.
Bear Bluff Construction, at present, was a fancy name for the yard Dylan had rented with a small building to be used as an office, and a couple of warehouses for storage. They were situated on the outskirts of town, and Dylan had great plans. She liked his enthusiasm and drive. She also liked that he had a wife, Steph, who was heavily pregnant with their first child. In Amanda’s eyes, considering they were in bear shifter country, that made him safe. And safe was all she craved right now.
The only problem was, Amanda had a secret she hadn’t revealed on her job application, one that might make her boss have second thoughts about hiring her. Which was why Amanda now watched Dylan’s face for any hint of a reaction to those words. Declan had come over to say hi; he’d said it was because he wanted her to feel safe up there in her lonely cabin.
However, Amanda was scared it was due to someone finding out about her past, which she had left behind, along with her old name. Maybe it was a little over the top, but when she decided to move to Bear Bluff and live in the old cabin her grandma had left her, she figured a fresh start deserved a fresh name.
So, three weeks ago, she had legally taken on her grandma’s surname. Amanda Peaks was dead, at least in name, and Amanda Orson was the newest resident of Bear Bluff.
Dylan smiled. “He likes looking out for people, especially young women who live alone in the mountains.”
“Well, the loneliness doesn’t worry me, and neither do the bears. I can take care of myself.” Amanda turned her attention to the inbox on her desk, and picked up the first piece of paper.
“It’s always good to have backup.” Dylan looked at her closely. “And if any of the bears bother you, you know you can call me, or Declan, and we’ll handle it.”
Amanda glanced up at Dylan. “Pepper spray does wonders. I always carry some on me.” She watched his face: he winced. “You don’t approve of pepper spray?”
“Not on bears.” Dylan shook his head.
“I will be very careful to check it’s not you coming to pay me a visit before I use the spray in self-defense. Maybe you should get your wife to buy you a collar with a name tag. So I know it’s you.” She laughed at his expression. “I appreciate what you are saying. But I can take care of myself, and I promise not to use the pepper spray unless I am nose to nose with a dangerous animal.”
Dylan smiled, and she found herself liking him more and more, despite her promise to herself not to let people in. Not until she actually knew them, and what their agenda was, and since she had only started working for Dylan two days ago, she was trying to reserve judgment. Difficult when everyone liked him, and he liked to see the best in everyone.
If anything, he gave her hope. That even if he found out, he would give her a chance to prove herself. If the truth did come out, would the townsfolk of Bear Bluff give her a chance to start again, and only judge her on her present deeds? Or were they like other small towns, where gossip branded you for life?
“Now, unless I want my boss to fire me, I need to start work.” Turning her attention back to the sheet of paper in her hand, she studied it before putting it on a pile ready for filing.
“Conscientious. I like that.” He stood up. “You look like you need coffee.”
“Isn’t that my job?” she asked as he moved towards the coffee pot.
“I’ll get it this once.”
She watched him, trying to figure him out. Then her grin widened. “You are stalling.”
He looked guilty. “Stalling for what?”
“Do you want me to show you how that beast of a machine works?” she asked.
He looked sheepish. “Would you set it up for me?” he asked.
“Sure, you only had to ask.”
“I feel like an idiot not being able to set up a new computer.”
“I think this new company, and everything you achieved before you came back to Bear Bluff, shows you are not an idiot. I’ll set everything up, download everything you need. You’ll have to write me a list, and then you’ll have to log in with your passwords. We’ll have you up and running in no time.”
“Thanks Amanda. I’ve used a computer before, but it was old and did everything I needed, so I never upgraded. This thing scares me.”
She laughed. “Bring the coffee. I’ll have you up and running in no time.”
Amanda got up and went through to Dylan’s office, which was a mess. The business was so new, he hadn’t had time to straighten everything out. His new desk hadn’t been put together yet, and the new state-of-the-art computer sat on two packing crates. Some secretaries might have found it distressing, but she liked the feel of unorganized chaos.
Dylan and his wife Steph had made her feel welcome, and Amanda had an excited feeling in her stomach, as if she were about to be there at the start of something new and successful.
Amanda figured this could be a job for life, a place where she could make friends and feel part of something bigger than herself, and she planned to do whatever she could to become invaluable. She shoved the thought that popped up right to the back of her mind.
Unless they find out about her past.
Urgh, if only she could forget about it all. She really needed to give herself a break. Young and impressionable, the judge had called her. Not anymore. Older and wiser, that was her new mantra.
***
“OK, let me walk you through this,” Amanda said an hour later after Dylan had told her what he needed installed on the computer. “I’ve done as much as I can. Now you have to go through and fill in your passwords.”
“If I can remember them,” he groaned.
“Well, most of them will have an option to reset. So you’ll just have to go to your email account and change them.”
He came around to stand beside her, leaning over as she showed him what to do. “That’s it?” he asked.
“Pretty much.”
“You are a star,” he said happily. “This new operating system scares the hell out of me. I could just imagine my passwords getting swallowed up in some Internet abyss.”
“You are welcome. Now I should get back to work.” Amanda moved around him, about to head out of Dylan’s office, when she looked up and saw a young red-haired woman in the doorway. “Oh. Do you have an appointment?”
Dylan looked up. “Hi, Tilly, what brings you down here?”
Dylan’s body language seemed stiff, and Amanda wondered what history these two people had. She decided she would stay in the office, unless Dylan asked her to leave. If Tilly was trouble, Amanda was going to do everything in her power to stop that trouble over-spilling into Dylan’s marriage. She liked her new boss and his wife too much for anything to hurt them. Past experience had left her suspicious of people, and it wasn’t going away any time soon.
“I wondered if I could have a word?”
“Sure.” Dylan didn’t ask Amanda to leave, so she turned her back on Tilly, and began to sort through a box of papers, even though she had no idea what they were.
“It’s about Jed. You remember him?”
“Your older brother?” Dylan asked. “Sure. He took my lunch money when I was thirteen.”
“Oh,” Tilly said, her voice dropping. “That wasn’t exactly how I wanted you to remember him.”
“You were poor. If I remember correctly, it was your birthday.”
“It was. He bought me a hot school lunch with dessert.”
“Then he is forgiven. Although if he’d asked me, I would’ve handed it over.”
There was a pause, and Amanda could imagine Tilly blushing at Dylan’s words. “You’ve always been a good friend.” Tilly took a big breath, and spilled out the words she had come there to say. “Which is why I wondered if you would give Jed a job. He’s made some mistakes, but haven’t we all? He needs this. My family needs it.”
Amanda looked over her shoulder at Dylan, wondering what he would say. This was a startup company, and Jed sounded like trouble. Would Dylan risk his reputation on a man who stole lunch money? As a person who had also made a few mistakes herself, Dylan’s decision meant a lot to Amanda. Would he be so forgiving if he found about her past?
The Bear Is Back In Town: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Return To Bear Bluff Book 1) Page 9