“Yes. A long time ago, ten years or more. My sister was a witness.” He placed his hands on the desk and looked at Amanda. “They found a happy ending. And so can we.”
He just wasn’t sure what that was yet. But surely there had to be some kind of answer.
Chapter Eleven – Amanda
She’d missed Jed all day. But she was also secretly relieved he wasn’t there to ask her any more questions. She had already revealed too much about herself. About the past that haunted her. One stupid moment in time, one ounce of misplaced trust, and she had earned herself a prison record.
The fact Dylan had one too, kind of made her feel better: he would understand her. Which left her with one question: Should she tell him about it?
Because she hadn’t, not when she applied for the job, or in the interview. There had been no mention of it on her CV, and the name change might have hampered any search he might have done for a criminal record. If he’d actually done a search.
She sat at her desk, her work done, resisting the temptation to gnaw at her fingernails in a bid to figure out what she was supposed to do. Coming clean was the best option. It would put everything behind her and mean she was no longer left feeling like a fugitive.
Or maybe she should wait until she had proved herself to be an invaluable employee. Amanda got up and paced to the window, looking out across the yard to all the neatly stacked timber, the buildings that were to be used as storerooms for machinery, and to the old battered red pickup that belonged to Steph. It was all starting to feel familiar, like she belonged. The same with her grandma’s cabin, she belonged up there in the mountains. She loved it here, and the people of Bear Bluff were accepting her as Grandma Orson’s granddaughter, not some stranger from out of town.
“Enough,” she said out loud. She was dwelling on what happened, allowing Mason to invade her new life, when the chances were, he had moved on to someone else. It still rankled her, that he was free to do the same to someone else, but she still stood by her decision to take the blame. And who knows, he might have taken the second chance she had given him firmly by the horns and gotten himself an honest job.
Why couldn’t she believe that, and let it go? Because she knew Mason. That he had made a fresh start for himself and his own family, the family she had no idea about until after her arrest.
The sound of the truck returning made her jolt out of her musings. They were back, and it was nearly time to go home. It was nearly time to meet Jed’s family.
Now that was something to be nervous about. Meeting her future in-laws.
“Hi, we’re back,” Dylan said.
“Obviously,” Steph said, following her husband in. “Sorry, I feel grouchy. I blame it on my hormones.”
“Can I get you anything?” Amanda asked, seeing the tired look on Steph’s face.
“A new back.” She pressed her hand to her lower back, stretched and then said, “That’s better.”
“Want me to take you home?” Dylan asked, concerned.
“Not an invalid,” she insisted and then kissed Dylan. “Sorry. No, I’m fine. I’ll swing past the farm, check on Mom and then go home. See you there soon.”
She waddled down the path and then struggled to get into the truck. Dylan was about to go and help her when Jed, who was unloading the tools they had brought back with them, sprang to her aid.
“He’s a good man. Works hard,” Dylan said absently.
“Very hard. Is his family that poor?” Amanda asked. “Sorry, I should wait to meet them. But I wasn’t sure whether to take something with me. Wine?”
“A bottle of wine would go down well, I’m sure.” Dylan looked at her for a moment, considering what he was going to say. “They’ve had some hard knocks.”
“You mean mind my own business?” she said.
“No. I mean I knew them years ago. Both before and after…” He smiled at Amanda. “Now I don’t. Jed was considered a troublemaker, but I believe it was only for the right reasons. He took what he needed for his family to survive. Now Bear Bluff rallies around them. But pride stopped them asking for help when they needed it years ago.”
“What happened?” Amanda asked.
“You don’t know?” Dylan asked.
“No. Should I?” Amanda asked, worried.
“Listen, go and meet them tonight and make up your own mind about them all. Like I said, it was a long time ago that I knew them…” Dylan walked into his office. “In fact, you might as well go now. Tell Jed I’ll see him tomorrow.”
“OK. Thanks,” she called, gathering her purse and going out to find Jed, who was locking the tools away in the one of the buildings.
“Hi there,” he said, sensing her approaching.
“I wish I had a sixth sense like yours,” she said, grabbing a toolbox and carrying it into the building. “Where do you want it?”
“Over there.” He pointed to a set of shelves and that was where she put it down, before going back for more tools.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“Good. The house is taking shape already. We worked hard, I think Dylan was out to impress Steph,” he smiled.
“Is that a male bear thing?” she asked.
“A male anything, thing. Survival of the fittest, you know.”
“Evolution seems to have passed all men by, doesn’t it?” she asked.
“I am not going to answer that.” He put his arm around her and guided her outside, locking the padlock behind them, checking it was secure.
“It’s true, though, men like to think they are the only ones capable of being providers.”
“It’s tough if that gets taken away from a man. I think it is inbred. Something in their genetic makeup.”
She wondered if that was a hint about his family. He had spoken about his dad, she was sure he was at home, not absent like Amanda’s own father had been most of her life. Yet the family struggled to earn enough money. Nervously, she got into her car, with Jed sliding in beside her.
“Is there anything I need to know? About your family?” she asked.
He looked at her, his brows furrowed. “In what way?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“So my sisters are adorable, with claws; my brother is quiet, a thinker. My mom is the ultimate homemaker and my dad…” Jed paused. “Did Dylan say something about my dad?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Is there something I should know?”
“I forgot, I should have warned you. I mean, he’s been like it for so long, I never think.”
“Like what?” Amanda asked.
Jed shifted nervously. “When I was sixteen, he got hit by a car. It left him paralyzed down his right side.”
Amanda’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to keep the car straight. “Oh, I am so sorry.”
She felt so bad. She had envisioned Jed’s father as being some kind of lazy bum, but instead he had been a victim of an accident. Now wonder Jed had fought hard to help provide for his family.
“We survived. It’s been tough. My mom had to spend a lot of time looking after my dad. It was a choice between him staying in a residential home away from us, or us all pitching in, and living with the lack of funds in the house.”
“And you all pitched in…”
“He’s my dad, we’re a family.” He ran his hand though his hair, and sighed. “Worst thing was, the accident was a hit and run. To this day we have no idea who it was. No compensation. Nothing. My mom struggled alone. She wouldn’t even let on to people in town at first how hard it was. She needed to prove to everyone she could cope. I think she was scared that if she wasn’t some superhuman being, then social services might make her choose between my dad or us kids.”
“That must have been incredibly tough.”
“It was. I held down a small job while I was still at school. But I had to resort to being a little creative with money sometimes. I’m not proud, but I did what I had to.” He rubbed his finger across his lips. “Then
Declan caught me. He was a young sheriff; luckily, he didn’t feel as if he had something to prove. So instead of charging me, he got us help, from the shifter community here in Bear Bluff. And he got me a job, out of town, so things would simmer down. It worked. I worked, and sent as much money as I could back to my mom.”
“And you’re scared what’s going to happen to your family. Because of us?”
“I never expected to meet you. Not yet. I’m paying for my sister Ginny to go through college. Then I said I’d help the others too.”
“That’s OK.” She placed her hand on his thigh. “I have the cabin; we have a home. I have my job. We can live off my wage.”
“What about when we have kids?” he asked.
“Children can wait. I’m in no rush.” She smiled. “Unless you are very virile and I’m already pregnant.”
“Are you sure? Because that goes against everything in my nature. Settle down and have kids. That’s what a bear longs for.”
“Well, I’m not a bear. And you will have to learn some self-control.”
She had turned on to the track leading up to his house. The edges of the grass were well trimmed, and as she approached, she was surprised to see the house had a fresh coat of paint and the garden looked immaculate. It was lovely.
“This is my home. We can go around the back. My dad is most likely sitting enjoying the afternoon sun.” Jed got out of the car and waited for Amanda, who had a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. This family was tight-knit and supportive, something she had no experience with. They had stuck together through bad times and come out stronger.
“What if they don’t like me?” she asked.
“How can they not? You are my mate and you make me happy. That’s all that matters.” He pulled her to him and kissed her, making her feel at ease.
Taking her hand, he led her around the back of the house. “We thought we heard the car,” a woman’s voice said.
“Mom. This is Amanda,” Jed said, introducing a pretty woman who had deep lines etched into her face. The years of worry had taken their toll, but her eyes flashed with happiness and humor.
“Hello, Amanda. Thanks for coming over, I know it must be a little nerve-wracking to have to meet us all.”
“No,” Amanda lied, and was pulled into a friendly hug by Jed’s mom.
“It’s OK, I know how scary things can be. Now, call me Eloise, and this is Kenny, Jed’s dad.”
“Good too meet you,” Kenny said, his voice slow, but kind.
“It’s good to meet you, Kenny.” Amanda bent down and carefully hugged the man in the wheelchair.
“We were having a cup of tea. Do you want one?” Eloise asked, going into the house.
“Yes, please.” Amanda said. “Shall I help you?”
“No. I’ll be two seconds.” Sure enough, Eloise appeared with two cups of tea, and a plate of cookies. While they talked, she disappeared into the house occasionally to check on dinner, until finally she called them in to eat.
As Amanda sat down, the smell of the food assailed her senses, and she smiled at Eloise. “I think you’re going to have to give me cooking lessons.”
“Ahh, it’s surprising what you learn to rustle up with few ingredients and only fresh herbs as seasoning.”
“Yes, I’d dread to think what we’ve eaten over the years,” a young girl said, sliding into a seat across the table. “Hi, I’m Kes.”
“Ahh, fashion advice,” Amanda said, pointing at Kes and smiling.
“He told you?” Kes asked, grinning at Jed. “I’m sorry you’ve ended up with my brother, who was born with no fashion sense.”
“Oh, I think his big muscles make up for it.” Amanda laughed.
“Thank you, Amanda. Kes has never shown any appreciation for how hard it is to fit clothes on this body.”
Kes pulled a face as Jed grinned at her. “You’re just lucky you’ve got the mating bond as a fallback, because no woman would want you otherwise.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Amanda wasn’t sure where the conversation was going.
“Wait until you’ve lived with him. Towels all over the bathroom floor. Snoring.” Kes looked at Jed and grinned. “She’ll be returning him before the first week is up.”
“I know you’re going to miss me, Kes, but Amanda finds me irresistible.” Jed laughed as Kes poked her tongue out.
Amanda ate her food, enjoying every mouthful while she learned, through the friendly banter around the table, just how much this family loved each other. Another girl, Darla, came to join them, Eloise quickly producing another plate of golden-battered fish and plump chips.
One day, Amanda hoped they would accept her and she would feel part of them, instead of a voyeur, looking in.
Chapter Twelve – Jed
“They like you,” Jed said. They were doing the dishes, even though Eloise had tried to insist Amanda shouldn’t, since she was a guest.
“I like them,” Amanda said, her voice earnest. “I’m not used to a big family.”
“Do you have any siblings?” Jed asked.
“No. I’m an only child,” she said. “At first it was just me and my mom, and my grandma was around a lot. My real grandpa had passed away and my dad… well, I don’t really know who he is. So being alone never really bothered me until my mom remarried.”
“I’m sorry,” Jed said. “So you had no real father figure?”
“No. Not until I was twelve. Then my mom remarried, and I was like the thorn in my stepdad’s side. He wanted my mom to himself.”
“That must have been tough,” Jed said, putting the plates away.
“It was. I spent a lot of time in my room. Those were the days when I wished I had someone to share the long evenings with. A brother or a sister.” She rinsed off the cutlery and set them down on the drainer.
“And the person who broke your heart?” he asked.
“Mason. He met me in the jewelers where I worked. Came in for a ring to be resized, and I fell for him. I was such a sap.” Amanda washed the last of the dishes and then dried her hands. “He conned me. I was a fool.”
Jed sensed it was more than that, but before he could ask, Liam came into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Tulliver knows how to work a man.”
“You’re not a man, you’re a boy,” Jed said playfully, ruffling Liam’s hair. “This is my younger brother, Liam.”
“Hey, Liam,” Amanda said, with a wave.
“Hi. Amanda, right?” Liam said, stuffing food into his mouth.
“There’s leftovers from last night for you to warm up, Liam,” Eloise said, coming into the kitchen and giving Liam a hug. “Did you thank Mr. Tulliver for the potatoes?”
“I did. Although when he knew they were for Jed, he nearly asked for them back.”
Eloise laughed. “It’s a good job the old man doesn’t bear a grudge.”
“I stole some vegetables from the Tullivers in my younger days,” Jed admitted. “OK, I think we’re done, so I am going to take Amanda home.”
“She can drive herself,” Liam said. “Her car is out front.”
“Liam,” Eloise warned. “It was good to meet you, Amanda, and don’t be a stranger. And if you want those cooking lessons, then just ask.”
“Thank you,” Amanda said, kissing Eloise on the cheek.
“Come on,” Jed took her hand and pulled her towards the door. “We can go and say goodbye to dad, while Mom feeds Liam.”
“Bye,” Amanda said to Eloise and Liam, and followed Jed into the living room, where Kenny was watching the news channel.
“Are you leaving so soon?” Kenny asked.
“Yes, Dad. We both have a long day at work tomorrow.”
“How is Dylan treating you?” Kenny asked Jed.
“Can’t complain, work’s hard, but he’s a fair man,” Jed answered.
“You work hard and you’ll have a job for life there, Jed. You too, Amanda. At least until you have children,” Kenny said.
“We’re not in any rus
h, Dad,” Jed said.
“Makes a family complete,” Kenny insisted.
“We have plenty of time,” Jed replied.
“That’s what I thought.” He lifted his right leg with his left hand and let it drop back down. “You never know what the future holds.” He looked up at Jed and then across to Amanda. “Ahh, don’t listen to me. You have your own lives. Now go and live them.” He ushered them out with his left hand. “Have fun.”
“We will,” Jed said.
“Goodbye,” Amanda called as he pulled her out of the room. They went out the back door, and raced across the yard to her car.
“Now you’ve met my family,” he said apologetically. He loved them to pieces, but they didn’t exactly cast him in a mature role. “They get better with age.”
“You’re lucky to have them; you all love each other.” She came up to him and lifted her face to his. “It casts you in a much softer light too. When I first met you, you looked like such a bad-boy bear, when really you are a soft little pussy cat.”
“A pussy cat?” He pulled her close and nipped her neck, his teeth grazing her ear, and he moved to claim her mouth. “There is nothing soft, or little about me.”
Damn, he wanted to take her now. But he couldn’t. “Get in the car. I want to take you home.”
“And what do you plan on doing when we get there, Mr. Big Bad Bear?”
“I am going to undress you, and then I’m going lay you on the bed and kiss you, here.” His hand slipped down between them and his fingers stroked her clit, before pushing back to press against her sex.
She cleared her throat and stood up, pushing him away. “Let’s hope I can drive us home.”
“Have I turned you on, Amanda?” he asked seductively.
“It’s like your superpower,” she said, and walked unsteadily around to the driver’s side. He watched every step she took, smiling to himself. She made him feel like a superhero, like he could conquer the world, and as he slipped in beside her, he was sure he could work out how to look after his family and have money spare to look after Amanda, and their children.
Because he sure as hell wanted to put a child in her belly.
His Bear's Necessity: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Return To Bear Bluff Book 2) Page 6