“Knox didn’t tell you he’s an old army buddy of Jamie’s?” Dani’s amusement increased as she raised her eyebrows at Knox.
“He mentioned the army. I didn’t know it was your house, though.”
“Jamie and Knox go way back.” Dani was doing all the work, while Knox stood like a dumbass, unable to function with Hannah in such close proximity. It was as if she’d short-circuited his brain.
“So you’re the strong, silent type?” Hannah asked, glancing at Knox, her adorable dimples appearing as she teased him.
“Not always.” He forced the words out.
“Just with strangers?” Hannah asked.
“Yes…No.” He shook his head, wincing at his own confusion.
“I have to go and push Richard on the swing.” With the baby on one hip, and holding Richard’s hand, Dani scampered away. If she’d meant to be subtle, she’d failed.
Hannah took a step closer and Knox inhaled her scent, his eyes dilating as he breathed in.
“I don’t know where Dani gets the energy from. Four kids are a handful, but she manages to balance them and her job.” Hannah spoke with open admiration.
“Would you want fewer kids?” Knox asked, earning himself a reproving stare. “Sorry, too personal.”
“A little sudden, that’s all.” Hannah watched the children playing; a frown crossed her face as Clive answered his cell phone. “I don’t have a set number in mind. I honestly think it depends on the relationship. Dani manages because she and Jamie are a team.”
“Mates.” Did Hannah know about shifters? His life might be a lot easier if she did.
“Mates.” She took her eyes off Jack and Harry for a moment to cast an appraising eye over Knox, and he hoped she liked what she saw. “It makes life a hell of a lot easier, I expect.”
“Hannah…”
“Damn it, he’s going to run out on them.” She broke away from him before Knox had a chance to tell her they were mates. He wanted to tell her she was the one for him, and if they had four—or four hundred—kids, he would be there every step of the way.
Yet even as the words rattled around his head on the way to his mouth, he was caught up in the surrealness of the situation. Here he was, at a children’s playground, thinking about his future while his friends lay cold and dead, buried six feet under the earth.
He didn’t deserve Hannah, and she did not deserve a man like him.
Chapter Five – Hannah
“Hey, Clive, what’s up?” Hannah asked as she met him halfway across the playground.
“I had a call from the office, I have to go.” Clive didn’t look particularly disappointed at being called away.
Hannah looked at her watch. “You can’t wait another half-hour?” The visit was scheduled for two hours: Clive had arrived twenty minutes late, and was leaving an hour early. Not exactly quality time with your kids.
“It’s important.”
“So are your kids.”
A flash of anger crossed Clive’s face, but Hannah was not backing down. “Is there no one else to deal with work?”
“Listen, my work, my life, is my business. Not yours, not theirs, and not their mother’s.”
“I didn’t say it was. I was asking a simple question. Your children are here to see you. Your commitment is less than I would expect from a dad who has seen his kids twice in three months.”
“Commitment? Their mother left me. They left me.” His voice rose and somewhere in her peripheral vision she saw movement, as Knox skirted around them, his focus on Clive. She frowned and took her attention from Clive, who saw it as an opportunity to make his getaway.
“Have you even said goodbye?” Hannah asked, turning to watch Clive leave.
“Yes, they said it was OK, you were going to buy them ice cream.” With that Clive left, with no backward glance. He didn’t seem to care. What kind of man acted that way?
“Everything OK?” Knox was there at her shoulder instantly.
“Yes. I could handle it.” Hannah was about to round on him for his threatening behavior, but the look in his eyes stopped her. There was a possessiveness there, his eyes flashed and his breathing was rapid as if he had run a long distance. Or as if he were ready for a fight. “Knox?”
“I’m sorry.” He ducked his head and took a couple of steps back.
“Knox. Tell me.” Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, the blood rushed to her face and the world spun around her. The next words out of her mouth were going to make her sound like a fanciful fool. “Are we?” She couldn’t say it, she simply pointed to herself and then to him.
“Yes.” His eyes met hers with a blaze of triumph, but mixed in with that triumph was something else. Defeat. Had he wanted to keep it a secret, was he ashamed they were mates? Then why ask how many kids she wanted? “The kids.”
Hannah pushed past him to go and check on Jack and Harry, but they were happily laughing and playing with Jasper and Juliet.
“Hannah, I can walk away if you don’t want me.” His voice was soft as summer rain, but the words beat like a torrential downpour in her head.
“Aren’t shifters supposed to mate for life? Aren’t they supposed to never leave?” Hannah kept her back to him, afraid to turn around. He was disappointed in her.
“They also want the best for their mate, they want them to be happy…” His voice trailed off.
Hannah swung back around to confront him, suddenly aware of all the faces turned to watch them. She had to get a grip; she was at work, with two children in her care. “Can we talk about this later?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, and then called the boys. “Ice cream?”
“Yes, please.” Jack moved with super-fast speed. “Can I have chocolate ice cream?”
“You can.” Hannah held out her hand and he took it, his small fingers wrapping around hers and squeezing them tight. Clive might think that his boys didn’t care that he’d left, but he was wrong.
“I’ll have vanilla with sprinkles,” Harry said joining them.
“That’s Neil’s favorite,” Jack said. “I thought you liked chocolate too?”
“I changed my mind,” Harry said as he kicked the ground.
“Can Jasper and Juliet come with us?” Jack asked.
“Sure, if they want to.” With her professional head back on, Hannah knew she could act normal around Knox for as long as she had to. At least externally. Internally, her stomach was doing backflips and her heart rate was so erratic it fluttered like a butterfly in a meadow full of flowers on a summer’s day.
Hannah led Jack and Harry back toward Knox, who had been joined by Dani. “Everything OK?” Dani asked meaningfully.
“Yes, we are going for ice cream, and Jack wanted to know if you would all join us?” Hannah asked. “We have another half hour before I take the boys home.”
“Sure.” Dani glanced with some uncertainty at Knox, and Hannah wondered if he might make some excuse, but he didn’t, giving a small nod of agreement.
“Do you want to go and get Jasper and Juliet?” Hannah asked Jack and Harry, smoothing her hair and straightening her skirt as they ran off.
“I can take them home if you two need to talk,” Dani offered.
“No!” Hannah shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m at work, they are my responsibility, and I have to go and see another client afterward.”
“Overtime?” Dani asked.
“Unpaid. But this job never was a nine to five.” The children joined them and they all walked toward the small café that served ice cream.
“Nothing serious?” Dani asked, while Knox walked alongside them. Was it her imagination, or could she sense his presence? It was as if they were attached by some invisible thread.
“I hope not. But I promised I’d visit today.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Knox offered gruffly.
“Not unless you can find a chink in a fifteen-year-old boy’s armor.” Hannah took her cell phone o
ut of her pocket and checked for messages. She had spoken to Sandra before she picked up Jack and Harry, to confirm her visit.
“A tough age,” Dani said sagely. “Problems at home?”
“Not exactly. His dad died, and he’s been having issues, since he began to…shift, is that how you phrase it?”
Knox nodded. “It’s a difficult time. Especially with no one around to guide you.”
“His mom is doing her best, but he’s feeling misunderstood. Couple that with issues at school, and boom.”
“I’m sure he’ll come around. It takes time.” Dani kissed her youngest child on the cheek and hugged her closer. “I can’t even imagine what he must be going through.”
“He feels misunderstood. We’re thinking of asking Sapphi and Ruby to talk to him. Someone who understands what it’s like to lose a parent.”
“Good idea,” Dani said.
They reached the small café and ordered their ice creams, then sat on the grass eating them. Hannah and Dani chatted, but Knox hardly said a word. When it was time to go, Hannah got up first, not knowing what to say to him. What was she supposed to say to the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with?
“Can I call you later?” Knox asked, springing to his feet. “You promised me your phone number if fate brought us together again.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Hannah nodded and then took a chance, adding, “Maybe I could give you my address instead. If you can find the way.”
He gave her a smile that made her ache for him. Sex-on-legs was hers, all she had to do was reach out and grab ahold of him.
“I’d find you anywhere.” His words pierced her heart, and lit a fire in her belly that only he could quench. Damn, he only had to crook his finger and beckon her into his arms and she would go willingly. Did this mating bond work both ways?
“Let’s put that to the test.” She held hands with Jack and Harry and walked from him. “Come on, Jack, come on, Harry. Let’s get you home.”
“Your address?” Knox asked, a quizzical expression on his face.
“Use your super-senses.” She laid down her challenge.
Dani laughed and called, “See you soon, Hannah. Bye, guys.”
Hannah walked away without a backward glance, even though she longed to take one last look at Knox. She was sure he would find her; Dani and Jamie would be able to come up with her address pretty quick. Or would Knox really be able to hunt her down by scent, or sensation, alone?
She drove back to Leona’s house in a daze. In the rear seats Jack and Harry talked about how Neil planned to take them out this evening to watch for owls. Neil was teaching them to recognize birds by their calls. It was good to hear them enthusiastically hooting at each other.
“Did you have fun?” Leona asked when Jack and Harry arrived home.
“Yes, we played and had ice cream,” Jack said.
“Jasper and Juliet were at the park. And Hannah met her mate.” Harry breezed in, as if he had not just dropped a bombshell.
Leona’s eyes widened, and she beckoned to Hannah to come inside. “You did?”
“I did. At least I think I did.” Hannah backed away. “I can’t stay.”
“Hot date? With your new man?” Leona asked, all the usual questions about Clive gone.
“I have to make one more call before I go home. It’s important, I’ll try to call you later.”
“Is he hot?” Leona asked and followed Hannah outside.
“Oh yeah, smokin’.” Hannah blushed as she got into the car. “The boys seemed to cope OK, but Clive left early.”
Leona’s face clouded, becoming serious. “OK, thanks, Hannah.” She waved as Hannah backed the car up and then turned around to drive away. Glancing at the clock, she was dismayed to see it was already five thirty. Sandra would think Hannah had forgotten them.
Using her Bluetooth headset, she made a quick call to let Sandra know she was on her way. Then she followed the road back down the mountain, away from the new home Leona shared with Neil. It was perfect for them. A perfect place to raise kids.
Was this the kind of home she would share with Knox? Her stomach did somersaults. Too fast, she had only just met Knox, she had only just moved to Bear Creek. Thoughts of moving in with him were premature. What if they didn’t gel, what if there was nothing except sexual attraction between them?
Hannah reached the Lindens’ residence and parked her car in the driveway next to Sandra’s car. It always made her sad to think of this once-happy home, which was now filled with the ghost of a lost father and husband. Hannah often inserted herself into situations and tried to figure out how she would feel, how it would affect her. But she couldn’t do it in this case; she hated imagining life without either of her parents.
The front door opened and Sandra walked out to meet her. Hannah got out of the car and hugged Dustin’s mom. “How are you? How is Dustin?”
“So-so. He’s been up in his room with his headphones on most of the day. He won’t talk to me.” Sandra brushed away a fat tear as it rolled down her cheek, the redness of her eyes evidence that it was one of many tears she had shed today.
“Can I go up and see him?” Hannah asked.
“Sure, I told him you were coming.” Sandra led Hannah inside. “Coffee?”
“I’d love some.” Hannah waited for Sandra to pour her coffee and then carried the mug upstairs, wishing Dustin’s problems could be cured with ice cream and a visit to the park. Standing outside the closed door of Dustin’s bedroom, she composed herself before knocking. “Hey, Dustin, it’s Hannah, can I come in?”
Silence, and she knocked louder, until she heard Dustin shift his weight on the bed, and walk across to the door. “I don’t want to talk.”
“Then we won’t. I’ve had a long day. If you want to play a video game while I drink coffee, then that’s what we’ll do.” She stood outside the door and waited.
“You can come and watch me play.” He opened the door, his eyes red-rimmed too.
“Thanks.” She slipped her shoes off and left them by the door. “My feet ache.”
“Why do you wear uncomfortable shoes?” Dustin asked, sitting down on the bed and then lifting his legs off the floor. He shuffled over and Hannah joined him. “Want a controller?”
“Yep. What are we playing?”
“Minecraft, duh.” Dustin shook his head at her.
Hannah nudged him in the ribs. “Don’t duh me.”
“Can’t you tell by the square blocks?” Dustin began to build a house of some kind, and Hannah went and gathered resources to help him. They sat side by side as the sun slipped out of the sky, and the light in the room diminished.
“All this work makes me hungry,” Hannah announced after an hour of them sitting side by side in companionable silence, which was only broken by talk about the game. “Shall we go and find some food?”
“I don’t want to go downstairs,” Dustin announced.
“Why not?” Hannah put her controller down in her lap.
Dustin shrugged and concentrated hard on the game.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Another shrug.
“That’s what I’m here for, Dustin,” Hannah urged.
“No, you’re here because my mom called you and told you I had been in a fight,” Dustin said sullenly.
“Yes, so? That’s what friends do, they come and visit when things are rough.”
“You aren’t my friend, you are my social worker. You’re paid to be here.” Dustin’s accusatory tone was meant to wound.
Hannah looked at her watch. “Actually, I stopped being paid about a half hour ago. But I am still here, if you want to talk.”
Dustin paused his game and set down his controller. “I didn’t start it.”
“You mean what happened at school?” Hannah coaxed.
“Yes.” Dustin looked down at the controller in his hand. “It’s hard, I can take it most of the time, but with Dad’s birthday being so close. It’s the first one
without him…”
Hannah put her arm around Dustin and hugged him. “I’m so sorry. I know how tough it is for you and your mom.”
“And I’m just making it worse for her. I wish I could just disappear.” Dustin buried his head in her shoulder and sobbed, while Hannah stroked his back.
“It’s OK, Dustin.”
“No, it’s not, it won’t ever be OK.” His body heaved as he let out all his pent-up anger and sorrow. “My dad will never be here for another birthday.”
She held him for a long time until his sobs ebbed away, then she took his hand and led him from the room. “Let’s go see your mom.”
“I don’t want her to know how I feel. She’ll only worry more.”
“She’s worried anyway, Dustin. You don’t have to talk, but you do need to eat, and let her know you are OK.” Hannah faced him. “I’m here anytime. OK?”
They went downstairs where Sandra sat waiting, in semi-darkness. “There you are.” She got up from the kitchen table and walked toward Dustin. She desperately wanted to hug him, but he’d pulled away from her so many times, she was wary of pushing him too far. Hannah’s heart broke for the two of them.
In losing Lex, they had lost each other. Hannah was determined to put the pieces back together. And as Dustin stumbled forward into his mom’s arms, she hoped Dustin had taken one tiny step in the right direction.
Chapter Six – Knox
Knox waited on Hannah’s doorstep for her to come home. The hours stretched on, but he wasn’t going anywhere. She knew he was her mate, he’d said he would find her anywhere, and here he was as proof.
When a small car finally pulled onto the driveway, he sensed her presence before she opened the car door. Knox got to his feet as she switched off her headlights and waited for her, watching her. Her footsteps were weary as she walked along the driveway to the front door.
“Shit! You scared the hell out of me!” Hannah exclaimed when she looked up and saw him standing there, waiting for her, just as he would always wait for her.
“I said I’d find you.” His eyes searched her face, while he breathed in her scent. She’d been with another man; he could smell it on her clothes, and on her skin.
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