Even now, she could remember the feel of his strong arms as he’d pulled her from the tree limb. She still had no clue how she would have gotten down if he hadn’t come along at just the right time.
To save her from the bear…
The bear…
Brayden was the bear. The bear had been Brayden.
She huffed out a breath. She’d never been in any danger, and he hadn’t corrected her. Of course, he couldn’t have. Shifters, it seemed, only revealed themselves to people they trusted and cared about.
She shook her head and turned her phone off airplane mode.
Seconds later, as the wheels touched down at the Atlanta airport, Taylor gathered up her things to make her way through the crowd to get off the plane. She hurried toward the concourse along with the other passengers to the luggage area.
She watched as loved ones greeted each other. Mothers and fathers hugging their adult children. Lovers with lingering hugs and kisses.
Taylor turned her gaze to the conveyor belts moving around and around, until what seemed like an eternity later, she spotted one of her own two pieces of red luggage. Setting her computer bag on the floor, she reached with both hands to grab the handle, but another bag came behind and bumped it out of her hands. Damn.
Her other smaller piece showed up seconds later. She grabbed it and tugged it off the belt. It may be smaller, but it certainly wasn’t any lighter. Maybe she’d packed a little too much in her luggage as part of her minimalistic move.
Jostled between two other people also grabbing for their luggage, she put her computer bag back on her shoulder and prepared to wait for her suitcase to come back around.
“Excuse me. Miss?”
Taylor ignored the distinctively male voice. She didn’t know anyone here. A second later he spoke again, “Taylor Stone?”
Taylor turned and saw a man, medium height with a short beard, smiling at her. She frowned. She didn’t know him. Surely her reputation as a TV weather girl in Colorado hadn’t followed her all the way to Atlanta. He shrugged. “You looked like you could use some help.”
It was only then that she noticed that her large red suitcase was standing next to him and his fingers were wrapped around the handle.
“Of course,” she said, reaching for her bag. “Thank you.” Wasn’t this against some kind of southern chivalry that she’d heard about, helping someone with their luggage when they hadn’t asked? A shiver ran up her back that this man had paid enough attention to her to grab her suitcase off the conveyor belt, check her name, and bring it to her.
“It’s no problem.” He insisted. “Do you need some help getting these out to your car? Or a taxi? I’m an Uber driver if you need a ride.”
“No.” Taylor shook her head and attempted to get away, but there were too many people. “I appreciate your help, but truly, I can manage.”
With her computer bag weighing down one shoulder, pulling a suitcase in both hands, she headed for the taxi area. She could not – would not - give in to the tears that filled her eyes and threatened to spill out. I don’t belong here. She lifted her chin. This was going to be a grand adventure. She was going to be on the Weather Channel. It was a dream come true.
But the weight of being there, alone, was almost more than she could bear.
It’s better to be here than in Colorado where I might run into Brayden. Seeing Brayden right now, especially if he was with someone else, would be unbearable.
Chapter 35
Brayden lay in his bed and stared at his ceiling. It was dark, so he couldn’t really see the ceiling, but he stared at it anyway.
He hated it when his sister was right. Skylar had a knack for knowing when two people were fated mates.
She hadn’t had much to say about Cooper. Maybe she didn’t want to do an I told you so. It was almost ironic that Skylar had yet to find her own mate.
Brayden’s thoughts circled from there back around to Taylor. He’d given up trying to keep his thoughts away from her. Nothing worked anyway.
He was fated to think about her. His fated mate.
Taylor had to be his true mate. He’d never had this experience before. Spending such a limited time with a girl that he couldn’t get out of his mind.
He heard the first few drops of rain as they fell on his roof. A single drop followed seconds later by a second drop. Then the drops became indiscernible. Like teardrops.
The gloomy weather echoed his mood. He’d taken the horses out a few times with groups since he’d last seen Taylor, but he hadn’t shifted for them.
He hadn’t shifted at all. It was as though his bear had retreated into a cave and had no interest in coming out. Would his bear wither with grief and die from missing Taylor? Is that what had happened to Uncle Bert?
Brayden shook off his gloomy thoughts and got out of bed. This was not healthy. He had to do something.
Even if it was wrong.
Chapter 36
Taylor sat in the lobby of the Weather Channel waiting her turn to meet with Human Resources. A few minutes later, she followed a middle-aged woman named Rebecca to her office and sat in a chair across from her.
Taylor smiled, hoping to belie her unexpected lack of enthusiasm.
The woman skipped the small talk and jumped right into the business. “I just have a few forms for you to sign. Have you had a chance to look at the insurance options?”
Taylor shook her head. She’d gotten a packet in an email, but she hadn’t even opened the attachments.
While Rebecca went over the insurance options, Taylor’s gaze wandered to a photograph sitting on the woman’s desk. It was a winter scene, a younger couple sitting on a snowmobile holding their infant. Despite being bundled up in heavy coats, their arms were wrapped around each other, the baby in their laps, big smiles on their faces.
“Is this your family?” Taylor asked when Rebecca took a breath.
Rebecca sat back, following Taylor’s gaze. “Yes. My daughter and her husband. That’s their baby, my grandchild. They were on vacation in Montana. It’s where he’s from.”
“You must be very proud.” Taylor said.
“I am. They seem so happy. I rarely get to see them, but we Skype at least once a week.”
After Taylor picked an insurance package, Rebecca moved to the next document. “This is your contract.” Rebecca slid the paper over for Taylor to review. “I assume you haven’t read it.”
Taylor glanced at Rebecca, but instead of seeing judgment, she caught a glimpse of mild amusement.
Taylor took the pen Rebecca offered and held it in her hand as she read. It was basically the same terms that had been outlined in the initial email. The difference was a blank line at the bottom for her signature. Her gaze moved back to the snowmobile, and instead of the happy young couple, she saw Brayden picking her up by the waist to swing her off the snowmobile onto the ground. She remembered how he’d pulled her from the tree, rescuing her from the bear… from himself.
Instead of the contract and photo of strangers, she saw her career sitting on the table side-by-side with her love life. How was she supposed to choose between them? How did anyone?
He told me to take this job. But Taylor hadn’t fought it. She’d sent him away without even giving him a chance to come up with another option. To find out if he even had another option in mind.
She set the pen down.
Chapter 37
Brayden watched as the tow truck driver loaded the snowmobile onto his truck bed. The old faithful snowmobile had chosen to shut down for good practically in Brayden’s back yard. The driver had just dropped two shiny new snowmobiles off at the lodge and had agreed to haul this old one off.
“We’re all set,” the driver said. “You ready?”
Brayden glanced at his phone. Despite doing this last-minute favor for Skylar, he had plenty of time before he had to drive to Denver. “I’ll walk. Thanks,” he said, putting his hands on his hips.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.�
�� Brayden inhaled the fresh scent of the juniper and fir trees. This, he thought. This I will miss.
But he’d made his choice, and there was no going back now. He set off on a foot path away from the main trail leading back to the lodge. Without him around, someone else would have to do last-minute favors for Skylar.
Chapter 38
Taylor’s heart beat much too fast as she parked her car in the lodge parking lot. Would they even have a room for her? It hadn’t occurred to her to make a reservation. Perhaps she hadn’t thought this through. She had considered driving straight to Brayden’s cabin, but she wanted to change clothes and freshen up first. Besides, staying at the lodge seemed a little less presumptuous than showing up at his cabin.
She sighed and laid her head against the steering wheel. Her head told her she was being foolhardy, but her heart strings were being pulled toward Brayden. The closer she got to him, the tighter the strings pulled.
And the more nervous she became.
It was possible that he didn’t want her in his life. It wasn’t like they’d exactly had a long-term relationship.
She looked up as two guys walked past her car and when they saw her sitting there, one of them stopped. She heard the muted sounds of their voices but couldn’t make out their words. The second guy gestured for the other one to follow him away from the car.
Taylor shoved her hair out of her face. She must look a fright, sitting here in her car.
After taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stood up. She stretched, slipping into a momentary yoga pose with her arms above her head. Almost on cue, her brain followed her body into relaxation mode. All those years of yoga had finally paid off.
She pulled the smaller of her two suitcases from the trunk and dragged it behind her into the lodge and stopped at the front desk.
“Do you have a room?” She didn’t recognize the man behind the desk.
“Yes ma’am. Just one night?”
Good question. “Yes.” Again, I should have thought this through a little more.
A few minutes later, key in hand, she dragged her suitcase up to her room on the fourth floor.
Now that she was here, she was eager to get to Brayden’s cabin.
She jumped in the shower, taking an extra minute to let the hot water run over her head. I have nothing to lose. The worst thing that can happen is he can tell me to go.
Forty-five minutes later, she was dressed and ready to go. She had on a pair of blue jeans and a sweater over a jersey tank that skimmed her thighs and hugged her bottom. She’d straightened her hair and put on some basic make-up.
No one seemed to recognize her as she made her way back through the lobby. She stepped outside beneath what she’d known was going to be clear skies and just a hint of chill to the air. It was just enough to heighten her senses.
She drove the short distance to Brayden’s cabin, and the minute she pulled up, she knew he wasn’t home. His cabin looked asleep. Nonetheless, she went to the door and knocked.
Unable to help herself, she walked the length of the porch and peeked into the window. The lights were off, and everything looked to be as it should be.
A young man driving a silver pickup truck pulled up next to her car and got out. “Are you looking for Brayden?” He asked.
Taylor took a step toward him. He was young. But she could see something of Brayden’s features in his face. “Yes.”
“He’s not here.”
“Do you know when he’s coming back?” Maybe she could sit in his rocker and wait for him.
“He moved.”
Chapter 39
Brayden hadn’t gone straight back to his car at the lodge. Instead, he’d hiked the short distance to the Silver Creek Falls. He’d wanted to take one last look at them. Even though he knew he’d be coming to visit, he already missed this place.
This was home. And it wasn’t something he gave up lightly.
When he passed his cabin on the way back down the trail, he saw two cars parked there. One was his younger brother’s. Jaxson had been given the dubious job of cleaning Brayden’s cabin, so it could be rented out. They needed the space for overflow.
The other car he also immediately recognized, but his brain went into lockdown, and he couldn’t process it.
It was Taylor’s car.
But Taylor was in Atlanta. It must someone else’s car that just looked like hers. As he walked past, he noticed the thermometer hanging from her rear-view mirror.
Again, brainlock.
Taylor here?
Despite knowing it wasn’t possible, his heart did a little somersault.
No.
He tamped down the little spurt of joy at seeing what looked like her car. Took a deep steadying breath.
Had she sold her car then?
Of course. It would make perfect sense for her to sell her car before moving to Atlanta. She could even use public transportation there.
Having solved the mystery in his head, he went up the steps to what was his cabin and called his brother’s name.
Jaxson came out from the bathroom and grinned at Brayden. “You came to help,” he said.
Brayden glanced at his watch. “Sorry. I have a plane to catch.”
“Figures.” Jaxson rolled his eyes.
Brayden glanced around the cabin.
“You left something?” Jaxson asked.
Brayden shook his head. “No. I saw there are two cars outside.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Jaxson scratched his head with his wrist.
Brayden bit his lip to keep from chuckling at the bright yellow rubber gloves his brother wore. Brayden had done his share of house cleaning in his youth.
“Yeah. There was a girl here. She was looking for you.”
Brayden’s eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. “A girl?”
“Yeah. The one on TV.”
“Taylor Stone?”
“Yeah. That’s the one.” His brother’s grin returned. “The pretty one.”
“Where did she go?”
Jaxson shrugged. “I told her you moved, and she left.”
Adrenaline shot through Brayden’s veins. “How long ago?”
“Not long.”
Brayden turned and rushed outside. Her car was still here. Where would she go then?
He closed his eyes and let his bear choose the direction.
The trail.
Brayden opened his eyes and set off down the trail following his bear’s instinct.
He hadn’t gotten more than a few yards when he saw her.
Taylor sat on the lowest limb of a fir tree. If not for her bright red scarf, he would have walked right past her.
Not on my watch, his bear argued, trying to nudge him forward. Brayden kept his feet firmly planted on the ground and studied Taylor.
She hadn’t seen him yet. One arm looped tightly around a limb in front of her, her gaze didn’t appear to be focused on anything in particular. But even from here, he could see the sadness in her features.
She was here, so the only explanation was that she had come looking for him, only to have Jaxson tell her that he had moved. His lips twitched in a smile as his heart lightened.
Chapter 40
Taylor blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Brayden had moved. How was that even possible? This was his land. His lodge. He hadn’t said anything to indicate that he was even thinking about moving away.
She inhaled deeply, the fresh smell of the fir trees adding to the wistfulness of the memories she cherished from her short time with Brayden.
Perhaps she’d made the wrong decision in leaving the job in Atlanta, but even without Brayden here, it still felt right. She didn’t belong there. It was too big. Too… southern. This was her home, where she belonged, with or without him.
Her mother had taught her to always look for the silver lining in everything. She could throw all her energy into her work. She would go into a dating moratorium. It would be a long time before she woul
d have any interest in another guy.
It was time to go. She would spend the night here, then drive back to Fort Collins tomorrow and regroup.
In the meantime, getting into this tree hadn’t been her best decision. At least she hadn’t seen any bears. Thinking about bears sent all kinds of emotions through her.
Glancing up, she froze.
There were no bears in view, but instead, Brayden walked toward her.
She soaked in every detail of his features. Features that were burned into her memory.
Her heart soared; he was here after all.
He smiled as he walked toward her.
Reaching her tree, he pressed his forehead against hers. She hadn’t been so high up after all.
“What’s a girl like you doing traipsing around out here?” He whispered.
“I heard there might be shapeshifters out here.”
“Is that right?” He ran his hands from her shoulders down to her hands and looped his fingers with hers.
She leaned back, looking into his eyes. “How are you here? The boy said you moved away.”
“I was on my way to Atlanta.”
“Atlanta?” Her thoughts swirled an attempt to make sense of what he was saying.
“I was going to Atlanta to be with you.”
He wasn’t moving away. He was moving to be with her. “Um. That might be a problem.”
She put a hand on his cheek, wanting to wipe away the crestfallen expression on his face. “I moved back here to be with you.”
He stared at her a moment, then burst out laughing. Pulling her against him, he pressed his lips against hers. “In that case, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Yeah.” She licked her lips. “What’s that?”
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