“Why not just leave it to you outright?” Aiden scowled out over the snow-covered lakeshore.
“They wanted to make sure I wanted the cabin to live in, not to sell it to the highest bidder. They know Garret wants to sell it. They knew I wouldn’t have a problem living here and they assumed I would be safe here.”
“If you say so.” Aiden shoved the fingers of his free hand through his hair.
“Would ye allow us to stay here with ye?” Calum met her gaze. “I don’t trust your cousin and I’d feel better if one or both of us were here with ye all of the time.”
“I um... I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She bit her lip. It felt as though a million butterflies took flight in her stomach as she thought about spending the rest of her life with the two Scots—if that was what they really wanted.
“Why not, lass? Are ye afraid of what might happen between us? We promise not to do anything ye don’t want.” Calum grinned and winked.
“Aye.” Aiden rubbed his chin with a smile. “I can agree tae those terms readily. Can you?”
Chapter Eight
Aiden stared out the window, waiting for Roxie to refuse to let them stay. As much as he wanted to keep her safe, they couldn’t force her to allow them to live with her for the next month, no matter how much they might want to do so.
“Well, lass, will ye let us stay to protect ye, or not?” Calum wasn’t giving up.
“All...” She swallowed. “All right.”
Closing his eyes, Aiden thanked everything good that she’d agreed to their protection. They would have protected her regardless of her answer. The difference was, this way they could protect her from inside the cabin, instead of staying outside in their bear forms.
Staying near homes in their other form was always dangerous. Someone could see them and think they’d make a good fur rug for their cabin floor.
Laws had never protected their kind. Polar bears were generally seen as vicious predators and poachers had only to claim they’d been attacked to avoid arrest.
It wasn’t as though a shifter could step forward and refute their falsehood. What could a shifter say, I’m sorry, Officer, but he’s lying. I know this because I am the bear in question.
The authorities would haul him off to a padded cell, or a laboratory, depending on whether or not they believed him. Either way, it wouldn’t go well.
“Thank you for trusting us enough to let us stay with you.” Calum gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and let her go.
“Aye, lass. We thank you for the trust.” Aiden kissed her other cheek and stepped back. He didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable than she already was. “Should we call someone out tae fix your window?” Aiden glanced toward the front room. “It seems a shame tae lose all the sunlight that shines on the front of the cabin.
“Or maybe not. The window does make it easy to peer into the cabin at night.”
“At night, we can close the blinds and the shutters.” Roxie moved to the window and opened the shutter a crack before closing it. “You’re right. We need that sunlight. I need that sunlight pouring into the room in the morning.” She glanced around. “It feels like a dungeon in here without it.”
“It is dark,” Calum agreed as he moved through the cabin and opened the shutters, letting in the morning light.
“That’s better.” Roxie moved to the back door and stepped out onto the wraparound porch. She rubbed her arms, obviously attempting to stave off the cold.
Aiden moved behind her, rested his chin on the top of her head and took over, his hands skimming up and down her arms, warming her.
“One night down, and I’m a little closer to owning all of this.”
“Why does your cousin want it so badly?” He pulled her back against him, sharing his warmth.
“He plans to sell it to a developer who wants to put some kind of resort here. She shook her head with a sigh. “Even if the DNR would let them do it, the last thing this world needs is another tourist trap. Besides, it’s too beautiful here to turn it into a resort. It would lose the magic. I can’t imagine all of these old-growth trees cut down to make space for a hotel, a golf course, and another damned parking lot.”
“I can’t imagine it either, lass.” He swallowed thickly as he thought of the way the developers would rape the pristine land surrounding the lake.
“So ye want this property because ye want to protect the land?” Calum moved up beside them.
“I guess you could say that.” She shrugged. “In a matter of speaking. Mostly, I’m doing it because it would have broken my grandma’s heart to have her cabin torn down and a hotel put in its place. She and grandpa loved it here... I love it here.” She leaned back against Aiden with a sigh.
It was all he could do to keep himself from scooping her up into his arms and carrying her up to her bedroom where he could lay her on her bed and strip her down to nothing and kiss her smooth skin from head to toe.
As much as he might want to do just that, he knew she wasn’t ready for it. Especially not after what that asshole of a cousin said to her.
“I didn’t like the way your cousin treated ye.” Calum grasped the railing. “It was all I could do to keep from slamming my fist into his teeth.”
“He has that effect on a lot of people.” She glanced back at Aiden, one side of her mouth lifted at the corner in a half grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I wish things were different. I wish he wasn’t so greedy and hard-hearted. And I don’t like the situation, but...” She straightened and pulled from his embrace. “It is what it is, I guess.”
“Things are the way they are and they will remain that way unless someone does something tae change them.” Goddess how he hated that phrase. Aiden clenched his hands at his sides, wanting nothing more than to reach out and pull her back into his arms.
“Well, I’m not sure what I can do to change him. Garret is pretty set in his ways.” She frowned and moved toward the kitchen door.
“You should never try tae change someone else, lass. You can never trust the results.” Aiden stepped back, giving her the space she so obviously wanted. “However, there might be a way tae get your cousin interested in some other lake.”
“I don’t know how we could do that.” She glanced at each of them in turn. “He’d have to buy any other lake. If he can get me to default on the stipulations, he could get this one for free.”
“True.” Aiden sighed. “Perhaps there’s a way we could convince him there’s a better reason tae move elsewhere, even if he had tae pay for it.”
“Maybe we could get some help from a few of our clansmen.” Calum stopped rubbing his chin and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “There are a few men wandering the country looking for more plots of remote land near lakes, in the Northern states. I think there are a couple of men in Minnesota. We could ask them to come help us out by putting on a show, once we start some rumors about some odd-looking giant bears in the area.”
“Polar bears,” Roxie added, her eyes glowing with excitement at the idea. “You have to know what you guys turn into are called polar bears. I’ve heard them described as huge white bears, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard them described as odd-looking.” She frowned. “Won’t showing themselves be dangerous for your friends?” She twisted her fingers together. “I mean, someone could shoot them and I don’t know if I could live with the guilt if that happened.”
“They won’t get shot if they’re careful.” Calum grinned. “And technically, we aren’t white. Our fur is almost clear and it reflects the light.”
“I read about that somewhere, after Sunshine’s grandfather told us about the bear scull in Scotland. The light reflecting off the fur is a kind of luminescence, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” they both answered with a nod.
“The light hits our guard hair, the outer, topmost layer, and is absorbed. For lack of a better way tae put it, the light bounces between the hairs, lighting it,
making it appear white.”
“I think that’s so cool.” She grabbed her coat and purse from the rack by the door and was out of the house and standing on the front porch in a flash. “I’m going into town for a little while.” She flashed them a smile that made Aiden’s stomach clench. “Wanna come?”
Aiden swallowed thickly and then nodded. He wanted to come all right, but not in the way she meant. His body ached with the need to take her into his arms and hold her against him. As much as he wanted to do that, she wasn’t ready for more contact. Not yet.
“Sure,” they replied in unison as they pulled their jackets off the rack and followed her out the door, locking it behind them.
Chapter Nine
“Have you been to town yet? If not, you might be disappointed.” Roxie paused, watching the road as they crossed a small bridge. “But then again, maybe not. You guys are kind of used to living out in the middle of nowhere, aren’t you?” She bit her lip. “Though you did bring coffee and doughnuts yesterday. You never did tell me where you got them.”
“We bought them at the gas station at the edge of town. Apparently, all the food was native-made, if that makes a difference to ye.” Calum met her gaze with a small smile. “Tell us about the area. We haven’t been here long, and most of that time was spent at the other cabin on the lake.”
“The closest town, like most towns in the U.P., has little more than a small grocery store, a gas station, a tiny three-room church, bait shop, and a bar and grill. It’s so small, it doesn’t even have a post office unless the small drop box at the general store counts. The mail is only picked up on Mondays and Thursdays, in case you needed to know. If you have urgent written communication, it’s best to fax or email it, unless making a ninety-minute drive into the nearest big town is on your day’s to-do list.”
“There’s nothing we can’t get done that we can’t do on our phones.” Aiden met her gaze in the rearview mirror.
“You might find that difficult too, unless you have a plan that covers Canada as well. Most of the cell phones roam out to Canada when you’re out in the boonies up here. At least they used to, and mine still does.”
“We found that out fast enough. Luckily, we have an international plan. Roaming isn’t a hindrance for us,” Calum added as he stared out through his window. “This is a remote place to live.” He glanced at her for a moment before she turned back to watch the road. “I can see why this area is good for us and members of our clan. The remote location makes it less likely someone would see us in our other form. Though, I don’t understand why your grandparents would have wanted to settle here, so far from modern convenience. It must have been even more remote when they first acquired the land.”
“The cabin wasn’t their home full time until they retired. When Grandpa was still running his company, this was where they went to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.” She stopped on the side of the road and looked out over the hillside. “They loved the beauty of the untouched forest, summer or winter, and came here to unwind. They used to call it their safe place.”
She swiped a tear from her eye and gave an embarrassed chuckle. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make everyone melancholy.” She lifted her foot off the brake and pulled back onto the road.
“How much longer before we get to town?” Aiden sounded impatient. He probably didn’t like being stuck in the back seat.
If they moved on to any type of serious relationship, it was more than likely that they both would be in the front seat, with her sitting between them. Well, if it was their vehicle. No one was putting her in the middle in her own truck.
Ten minutes later, she parked in front of the small, general store. They all piled out of the truck and headed for the door.
“Hey, Roxie! Is that you?” a tall redhead called from behind the ancient register as they walked past. “I haven’t seen you around in forever. Where the hell have you been?” She rested her hands on her ample hips and smiled.
“It’s good to see you too, Angel. I’m sorry it’s been so long, but I was working overseas for a while.” She smiled. “You know how it is. You have to go where your boss drags you.”
“I wouldn’t know about that. My boss doesn’t drag me anywhere. I don’t think he’s has the strength.”
“I heard that, Angel!”
“Was that old Mr. Hubbard? Does he still run this place?” Holy crap! That man has to be old as dirt.
“Uh-huh.” She nodded, smiled toward the back room, and waved, wiggling her fingers. “I heard about your grandpa, hon.” The woman’s words were soft, her expression filled with compassion. “I’m sorry. I wish I’d known he was sick, or I’d have been there for you. I would have liked to have seen him before...” She took a deep breath. “You know he was like a grandpa to me, too.” She smiled, though her eyes filled with tears. She walked around the counter and gave Roxie a hug. “Are you back to stay?” She stepped back, gripping Roxie’s shoulders. “Please say yes. I swear to God, I’m the only woman here under the age of fifty.”
“Yes.” Roxie nodded. “I plan to stay... for the most part. I still have to meet the stipulations of the will, first. Until then, the property isn’t mine and it’s up for grabs between myself and Garret.”
“Garret?” Angel scowled. “What’s he want with the place? He never did like nothing to do with camping or fishing. He couldn’t get out of town fast enough.”
“I know.” Roxie tried to keep the worry from her face. “He wants it because he’s positive that the property will make the best new resort. He wants to haul in dirt and make ski hills for the winter and he plans to put in several small boat docks on the lake for the summer.”
“Really?” Angel wrinkled her nose. “Doesn’t he know that the places already up here don’t do so well in the winter? Skiing or not, no one wants to stay up here where it’s so damned cold. They don’t want frostbite. You’d think he’d remember how much he hated it up here and think everyone else would hate it here, too. I know I do most of the time.” She turned, as though noticing Roxie’s companions for the first time. “Who are your friends?” Leaning close, she whispered, “You aren’t holding out on me, are you? Can I have one?”
“Unfortunately, any woman interested in one of those two is going to have to resign herself to a package deal.” Roxie shivered at the thought.
“Really?” Angel gave them both a once-over. “I’m game if they are.” She eyed them again. “Too bad they aren’t.” She gave a little moue of displeasure. “They both only have eyes for you, you lucky girl.”
“I’m not sure that’s luck.” Roxie laughed. “I’ve never known what to do with one guy. You’ve seen how all my relationships turned out... or rather didn’t turn out. I have no idea what I’d do with two men.”
“It’s not what you’d with them that has me all hot and bothered just thinking about it, Roxie. It’s what they’d do with you.” She leaned close, keeping her voice low. “Do they have a couple of friends?”
“Angel, really!” Roxie slapped her on the arm. “I don’t believe you’re saying that.”
“Why? Why should you have all of the fun?”
“Stop it, you floozy.” Roxie laughed. “I came in here for some cleaning supplies. I brought food with me, but I didn’t think about needing stuff to clean with. Grandma always left the cabin so well stocked with stuff like that. I was surprised to see there wasn’t much there.”
“From what I understand, she was sick for a while and they didn’t go shopping much the last time they were up here.” Angel glanced toward the door when another customer walked in. “I went up there and asked if she wanted me to help her clean, but you know how she was.”
Roxie nodded. “Yes. Independent to a fault and the cabin was hers, and hers alone, to clean and care for. She never really liked having a housekeeper in the city, but Grandpa insisted. He always wanted to give her the best of everything and she never really stopped being a country girl.”<
br />
“Well...” Angel pointed to their right. “You go on down the aisle there and get your cleaning supplies while I go ring Mrs. Johnson up.”
Chapter Ten
Calum watched as Roxie meandered through the store, picking up this and looking at that. The basket Aiden fetched for her was already full of cleaning supplies, but she kept looking. Aiden followed behind her, a loaf of bread in one hand, two pies in the other.
It didn’t surprise him in the least. The younger man was always hungry and his snack of choice was pie. How he kept in shape was a damned mystery.
“Did ye think to grab some meat to go with that, or are we living on bread and pie for the next couple of days?” Calum scowled at his partner’s blank expression.
“Why?” He glanced over his shoulder. “Roxie said she didn’t have any more room in her freezer and that she would see to our meals for the next while.”
“And ye trusted her?” He stared at Aiden, aghast. “What if she’s one of those confounded healthy eaters and only eats meat once a week? If that’s the case, we had our meat last night. What if she tries to feed us rabbit food the next few days?” He smacked Aiden on the back of the head.
“She’s not going tae do that. I already asked her what she plans tae make us for the evening meal.” Aiden grinned. “We’re having steak if we get back in time. If not, we’re having hot dogs.”
“Why wouldn’t we get back in time for steak?” It wasn’t as though it would take very long to cook it.
“Because it’s in her freezer and if we don’t hurry, it won’t have time tae thaw.”
“Then go on over to the butcher’s counter and get enough steak for dinner. We won’t have to put it in the freezer because we’ll be eating it tonight and our bonnie lass won’t have to worry about whether it’ll thaw in time for supper.”
Tempting the Bears Page 4