“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” Adam rose, his manner calm, collected. “I won’t let you down.”
“Thank you, Adam. We’ll spend the next few weeks figuring it all out. A substantial raise will be in order, of course.”
“It’s not about the money,” Adam replied.
“I understand.” Julius watched Adam leave his office, and wished he could do something to help him. But if he’d lost his mate, what was there to do? Julius knew the pain only too well.
He sat back in his comfortable chair and smoothed his hand across the solid wood desk. Then he got up and went up to his apartment to change into jeans and a sweater. He hung his suit up next to his other suits. All matching. His life before Catherine had been dull and boring, though he’d pretended it had purpose.
Only with hindsight could he see he was attempting to plug a bottomless void, which only his mate could fill.
With thoughts of his mate uppermost in his mind, he left the hotel and drove to Bear Creek. He wanted to see Cath, to check that she was OK. Did she have regrets about last night? She certainly had none when she left this morning. He recalled her smile, the way she walked, the way she smelled.
He was in love.
When he reached Bear Creek, he headed for Liam’s store. Perhaps he should have called or texted ahead, but he wanted to surprise her. He should buy flowers.
“Hi, Julius!” Liam called. He was cleaning the windows of the store as Julius passed by.
“Hi, Liam. Is Catherine home?” Julius asked hopefully.
“No. She’s still out with Sandra. They went to visit Will Frasier.” Liam threw the wet sponge in a bucket and dried his hands on an old towel.
“Of course. I forgot.” Julius recalled the conversation they’d had this morning, but in the afterglow of sex, it had passed straight through his head.
“She’ll be back soon. Do you want to wait inside?” Liam thumbed toward the store.
“I was on my way to buy her some flowers,” Julius admitted.
“Come and have a coffee first, I’d like to have a talk with you while Mom isn’t around.” Liam picked up the bucket and went inside.
“Is everything OK?” Julius asked, nervous of what Liam had to say. Cath’s son seemed sensible, so he wasn’t expecting the don’t hurt my mom speech. But you could never tell. Liam was bound to be hugely protective of his mom.
“Yes.” Liam led the way to the small kitchen adjoining the store, where he emptied the bucket and washed his hands. “Mom’s happy. I just wanted you to know. She’s suffered a lot over the years, and she wants to embrace the relationship you two have. But she’s scared.”
Straight to the point, he liked Liam even more. “I love her, Liam. I’ll give her all the time and support she needs. No pressure.”
“That’s all she needs. Time to see a new life, a new future.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t remember him. Mom hardly ever spoke of him. I don’t know what kind of a man he was. I wish I did so I could offer you some advice.”
Julius smiled, his admiration for Liam growing. “I appreciate your honesty. I’ve waited long enough for my Catherine, I can wait a little longer to put a ring on her finger.”
“And if that doesn’t happen?” Liam asked.
“We’re joined by a deeper bind than marriage, you know that. Wedding or no wedding, you would still be bound to Beverly.”
“I would,” Liam agreed.
“How do you feel about your dad?” Julius asked.
Liam gave him a lopsided smile. “Mostly I want to wring his neck. He hurt my mom. I don’t remember my dad, but I do remember the sound of my mom lying awake at night crying. For a long time she never laughed. Then as Mike and I grew up, she kind of blossomed, threw herself headfirst into raising us. It’s why I could wring Mike’s neck too. After all she did for us, he betrayed her.”
“I want to make her laugh, Liam. I want to take away the pain and betrayal she felt over your dad. But I know it’s what makes us who we are.” He looked up at the sound of the door opening: he could sense Catherine, she was close. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m happy with that as long as Catherine is.”
Liam nodded. “I could call you Dad.” He gave Julius a smirk. “One day.”
“I’d be honored.” Julius nodded and added, “I’m going to sneak out through the back door and buy those flowers.”
“Good idea.” Liam opened the door for Julius and then closed it again, leaving Julius to mull over their conversation while he ran down to the florist and bought red roses for his true love.
Chapter Thirteen – Cath
“What are you doing lurking back here?” Cath asked as she walked into the kitchen, where Liam was clattering around.
“Nothing.” Liam opened a cupboard and stowed the bucket away.
“Liam Jackson, I know when you are up to something.” She lifted her nose into the air and sniffed, reminding herself of Julius’s bear. “Julius has been here.”
Liam shook his head. “That man needs to tone down his expensive cologne.”
“What did he want?” Cath asked with concern.
“Nothing.” Liam caught her eye and sighed. “I wanted to get to know him myself.”
“Oh.” Her face paled and her hand trembled as she reached out for the countertop. “How did that go?”
“Good. I didn’t interrogate him if that’s what you’re worried about.” Liam held out his hands as if to protest his innocence. “Honestly.”
Cath folded her arms and leaned back against the countertop. “I believe you. I just wish life could be simpler.”
“It is simple. If you want it to be. Take a chance and marry the man. Or live in sin, Julius doesn’t mind either way. And all the cool kids are doing it!”
“Says the man who is about to get married.” Cath looked up at the ceiling and then closed her eyes. “Maybe you are right.”
“Of course I am. Don’t you read my press? I’m a hero.” Liam winked at Cath.
Cath put her hand on Liam’s arm. “I wish he’d been a better man, that I’d chosen a better father for my children. If only he could see what a hero you really are.”
“I have everything I need.” He kissed her cheek. “We are who we are. I love you, Mom. So, no regrets.”
She rolled her eyes. “OK. No regrets.” Her early decision to embrace her relationship with Julius still stood. “Where is Julius, anyway?”
“He went out to buy you some flowers.” Liam walked out of the kitchen and into the store. “I hope Beverly doesn’t see him, or she’ll be complaining I don’t give her flowers.”
“Well, maybe you should.” Cath wagged her finger at Liam. “Treat her like a lady, Liam.”
“I intend to,” Liam assured her. “Here’s Julius.”
A surge of happiness filled Cath, and she rushed out to meet Julius. A younger woman might have played it cool, but Cath was beyond all that. Both she and Julius knew what they wanted, and what they wanted was the person stood in front of them.
“Morning, Julius,” Cath said breathlessly.
“Again,” Liam said and then feigned shock when Cath threw daggers at him.
Julius chuckled. “Good morning, Catherine.” He kissed her cheek and thrust the flowers into her hands. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Julius.” She turned to Liam. “Do you mind if I take Julius upstairs?”
Liam looked up from the stack of papers he was leafing through. “Sure. There’s a vase under the sink.” He grimaced. “You might need to wash it out. No one buys me flowers.”
“Thanks, son.” Cath took Julius by the hand and led him around the counter.
“How did your visit with Will go?” Julius asked when they got to the top of the stairs.
“Good. Exciting. Sandra and I have decided to go along two afternoons a week for a trial period. More to see if we think we’re making a difference than anything. It’s a wonderful project.”
/> Cath went to the kitchen and rummaged in the cupboard under the sink, making a mental note to empty the whole thing out and reorganize it when she had a morning free. At last, she retrieved the vase and turned the faucet on. Liam was right; it needed a good scrub. Maybe she might go to the thrift shop later and see if they had a vase she could buy.
“I may go along and help there myself,” Julius began.
Cath switched off the faucet and turned around to face him. “That sounds as if you have something to tell me. Since the hotel takes up so much of your time.”
“I do.” He nodded and walked over to her, taking hold of her hands, ignoring the fact they were wet. “I’ve decided to give Adam more responsibility. And a pay raise.”
“I see.” Cath looked up, searching Julius’s face. “Is this a sudden decision?”
“Yes and no.” He gave a heavy sigh, as if he were bone tired. “I’ve spent my life making the hotel what it is. I’m proud of it, but even before we met, I knew I had to move on, find something else outside of work. I just never knew what it was. Then you arrived, and here we are.”
“Here we are,” Cath murmured.
“Which brings me to the reason I wanted to see you today.” His face grew deadly serious. “I want you to move in with me, Catherine. Or I’ll move in with you. I have no preference, I’d live in a cardboard box in the park if it made you happy.”
“Julius, I don’t know what to say.” She placed the vase down on the countertop and went to him. “It’s so soon.”
He smiled bitterly. “Not for me. But I realize you never knew I existed until two days ago. And I know we talked about dating, and taking it slow.”
“Julius.” She stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. “I think last night proves I may have changed my mind about taking it slow.”
“You’ll think about it?” Julius asked hopefully.
“I will. But first, I need to see my son married. No more upheaval until then. It’s less than two weeks until the wedding.” She slipped her hand around his neck and pulled his head down so their lips met. His kiss was soft, gentle, and he held her as if she were a treasure he didn’t want to break. “We need to discuss where we’re going to live as much as anything else.”
“Anywhere where you are is home.” He kissed her hand. “Why don’t I go out now and pick up some brochures from the real estate agent’s in town?”
“Julius. It can wait.” She laughed at his eagerness.
“We can look at them over coffee. I can grab a cake too, from the bakery.” His enthusiasm shone through in his eyes, and she didn’t have the heart to say no.
“I’ll make coffee. You go.” She shooed him out of the room, laughing at him. “Before we met, you were a very respectable hotel owner.”
“Now I am a lovesick fool.” He swung around, caught her up in his arms, and kissed her. She laughed, the sound filling the apartment. Then he put her down, and ran down the stairs two at a time.
“I’ll be back soon,” he called.
“OK,” Liam answered, before poking his head upstairs and saying, “What’s gotten into him?”
Cath grinned, her heart filled with love for Julius, love for her son, and love for the whole wide world. She wanted to run across the slopes of the mountain, singing of her joy. “Love.”
Liam laughed. “Must be something in the water.”
“You might be right. Who would have thought we’d both find love in Bear Creek?”
“I’d love you more if you brought me some coffee,” Liam called up to her.
“Coming up.” Then she looked back down the stairs. “Where’s Leona today?”
“Harry has a sore throat and a headache, so I’m on my own.” Liam’s voice drifted away from the stairs, and Cath heard the door of the store open.
“If you need help, give me a call.” She went back to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee while arranging the flowers in the vase. They were beautiful, and she stood looking at them, smelling their heavenly scent before the aroma of the coffee overpowered them.
“Mom!” Liam’s voice called.
She walked to the door and waited for him to say something else, but instead, she heard his footsteps on the stairs, he was coming up. “Everything all right?” Her smile slipped from her lips when she saw his ashen face. “What’s wrong, son?”
“There’s a man in the store.” He gulped as if swallowing bile from his stomach.
“Liam, what’s wrong?” Cath close the space between them. “Is it Beverly?”
He shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”
“Then what. Tell me.”
“He says he’s my dad.” Liam shook his head as if in disbelief.
“Here.” She pointed to the floor. “Your dad is here?”
“Yes.” Liam looked like the child he’d once been. Unsure of what to do.
“OK. Why don’t you pour the coffee, and I’ll go down?” She took hold of his face in her hands. “It’s a shock. I know.”
He nodded. All his experience of being an undercover cop hadn’t prepared him for this. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Bring down the coffee. Milk, no sugar, for your dad.” She still remembered, and if he’d changed how he took his coffee, that was just tough.
Cath left Liam and went downstairs, her heart rate skipping a beat as she saw the silhouette of a man standing by the store window. He heard her steps and turned, his face hidden from her by the sun shining behind him. Was the father of her children here, the man who had left her behind? But why?
“Hector?” she asked quietly.
“Hello, Cath.” He sounded nervous.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed.
“I came to see my son.” His words knocked the breath from her body. He was here to see Liam, not to see her.
“Why, after all this time?” Cath asked.
“I saw an article in the newspaper about Liam Jackson, the man who caught those egg hunters. I knew it had to be my Liam. So here I am.”
“Here you are.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s it?”
Hector came toward her, the bright sun shining through the window behind him made it impossible to make out his features. “Cath. I didn’t know you were here. But since you are, maybe we should make up for old times’ sake.” Hector’s tone verged on leery.
She frowned and shook her head. “No, you don’t.”
“Come on, Cath.” He moved so fast, his arm encircling her waist and pulling her close. Then he did the unthinkable, he kissed her.
It wasn’t right. The lips, the whiskers of the mustache and beard that tickled her face. Cath placed her hands on his chest attempting to push him away. What right did he have to turn up here, and kiss her, after all these years?
Vaguely she heard a door open and a voice say, “I’ve found the perfect house…” Cath fought against the man who held her close. He was the wrong man. She pushed him away, but he held her tight.
“Get off,” Cath ordered, and shoved her old love away.
He let her go, a faint chuckle filling her ears as the blood pounded in her veins. Julius, the man she loved, had gone.
Once again, Hector Jackson had ruined her life.
Not if she could help it! Shoving Hector backward, she yanked the door open and ran after the man she loved.
Chapter Fourteen – Julius
Julius staggered back out of the store. History was repeating itself: his mate was with another man. Not just any other man, the man who had fathered her children, who had history with her. Who had abandoned her.
He should stay and fight, but he didn’t want to cause Catherine any pain. And pain was what he would cause, with tooth and claw. Julius staggered down the street; a stranger, a woman put her hand out to him and asked him if he was OK. He waved her away, holding on to his humanity by a thread.
Fumbling fingers closed around his car keys and he took them from his pocket and jammed them home, turning the engine ove
r. He took a breath, fighting the red mist that descended around him. Hunching over the steering wheel, he gripped it so tight his fingers cramped. That was all that stopped him from flinging the door open and going back to Liam’s store and ripping the guy’s head from his shoulders.
How dare he come back and steal his mate away?
A knock on the window alerted him to her presence. He looked up into the face of the woman he loved, the woman who was his. His primal side tried to take over. His bear would fix this problem, permanently.
“Julius. Please.” Her expression mirrored his own. Catherine, his Catherine was distraught, he couldn’t ignore her.
“Get in,” he growled, his usual calm demeanor gone.
She rushed around to the passenger side and wrenched the door open, flopping down in the seat and then slamming the door. “I’m sorry.”
He looked at her, saw the lines on her face, the silver strands in her hair. This wasn’t the woman who’d once left him to marry another. This woman was older, wiser. Catherine trusted her heart, knew the truth, and wouldn’t let that lying cheating bastard into her life again.
“Can we go somewhere?” she asked, placing a reassuring hand on his arm.
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. The words in his head were filled with profanity. He didn’t want to speak them in front of his Catherine, his lady.
Julius drove out of town, and headed for the mountains. His bear needed to express his own anger, to let out the roar that was building inside him. Neither of them spoke as Julius drove to the same place they had hiked from only yesterday. Neither of them spoke as he got out and she joined him, her hands resting on his chest.
He breathed in the clean, cool mountain air, filling his lungs until it hurt and then letting it out in a slow exhale.
“I’m sorry,” Catherine repeated at last.
“I need to run.” He pulled away from her, not ready to speak. In a shimmer of air he transformed into his bear, and set off on massive paws along the trail. She didn’t follow.
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