by Zoe Chant
Desmond couldn't bite back a chuckle. He wasn't quite certain what he'd expected of this final job he had taken―but it certainly wasn't this.
Not that he minded. It was refreshing to see Lisa take care of her farm, and it was a beautiful spot of land. Green meadows, apple trees, a peaceful herd of ponies with tiny foals, cats dozing in the sunlight, children playing in the hay... It was a postcard-perfect picture of happy farm life.
And here he was, Desmond Brown, bear shifter, about to take down a dangerous alpha wolf.
This is what I'm doing it for, he told himself as he watched Lisa scold the pony. So people like her can go on living their lives without ever knowing that we exist. Or that the big bad wolves from fairy tales are real, and running around among them.
He couldn't tear his eyes away from Lisa. The sun made her blonde hair shine like gold, and his gaze lingered on the luscious curve of her backside. No wonder that pony had tried to take a bite out of it―it was temptingly round and firm, and Desmond kept watching as she bent over to clean the pony's hooves.
Everything about her was gorgeously rounded and soft. She had curves that made his heart beat faster as he imagined what it would be like to follow them with his hands, to feel the softness of her breasts against his chest.
Down in the kitchen, for one crazy, love-struck moment he had been tempted to draw her close and kiss her, just like that. Even though they hadn't exchanged more than a few sentences.
Could it be...?
Wrapped up in his work and always aware of the danger it meant, Desmond had never had time to find a mate. Was it possible that fate had finally tired of his dawdling and sent him right to where she was waiting?
Let me get a sniff of her, his bear suggested. I like her. Ooh, I like her!
I’m not turning into a bear to sniff at her, Desmond responded firmly. Really. What would she think? We’re staying for a week. Time enough to find out if she’s really special.
The bear huffed. You already know she is!
Desmond’s eyes were drawn once more to the window when he heard faint laughter. Now she was tossing sticks for the dog, who would trot a few paces and then sit down and stare expectantly at her, until she retrieved the stick herself to throw it again.
Desmond realized that he was smiling widely. He couldn’t even say when he’d felt such peace for the last time.
Or maybe peace wasn’t the right word. This felt… like a home. The home he’d given up when he took over the duty his father and his grandfather before him had taken on.
Bear shifters were strong. It was only natural that they’d use their strength to keep humans safe from dangerous rogue shifters, or so his father had explained to Desmond when he was young. And Desmond still believed that was true. And yet. How could he settle down with a mate when any moment, his duty might call him away or endanger his family?
Desmond had no mate, hadn’t even looked for one because he could not do that to someone he loved. But now, after fifteen years of keeping the peace, he felt that it was time to move on and leave his duty to younger bears. And he would at last be able to find a family. Find a home.
Or maybe you’ll throw away your old life for nothing, he told himself. Maybe you’ll never find your mate, and you’ll be lonely and unhappy forever.
His bear grumbled at him. Take another look at her! It must be her! Listen―doesn’t her laughter sound like golden honey?
What a compliment from a bear, Desmond thought dryly. I just don’t want to be disappointed if it turns out that I’m wrong, all right? Can we do this slowly?
As long as you do it at all, the bear said sullenly. Humans. Couldn’t recognize a mate if she bit them.
Desmond smiled despite himself. Then, with a deep sigh, he put the photo of the alpha wolf into his pocket. He had a job to concentrate on. Even if it was really, really difficult to stop thinking about the way Lisa had looked at him, or the way her breasts had pushed firm and round against her shirt…
***
The hike up to the summit of the highest hill had been uneventful. Desmond hadn’t lied to Lisa―he had just forgotten to mention that he’d hike in bear-form.
His bear had been glad about the opportunity to stretch and run, and to take a first survey of the land. He hadn’t been able to find any tracks of wolves or catch their scent. But then, he hadn’t imagined he would. From all accounts, the werewolves preferred small towns where they could take over a bar or rob a liquor store.
For now, his bear was satisfied with the inventory of the area they had taken. From the top of the hill, he’d been able to see the fields and hills and forest stretch below for miles. He’d even been able to make out Lisa’s small farm in the distance.
The sight had stung a little in his chest, and he had smiled foolishly at first. Then he had sobered.
If she was his mate―how would she take the fact that he could turn into a bear? He’d always hoped that eventually, he would find someone to settle down with. But now he realized that he’d never thought about the details. How could he tell her? What could he say that wouldn’t make her run immediately?
When he made it back to the farm, it was still early. The old Labrador resting in a corner of the courtyard opened one eye to watch Desmond suspiciously as he stepped out of his car, then made a threatening little grumble before he rolled over to sleep some more.
Well. At least someone here isn’t too disturbed by having a bear around, Desmond thought in amusement.
If only he could be sure that Lisa’s reaction would be the same…
Inside the house, he was greeted by the sight of Lisa seated at the kitchen table with three girls, all wearing old shirts stained with paint. There was a large basket of eggs before them.
When she heard him come in, Lisa turned her head and gave him a smile, and Desmond felt himself struck once more by the way her eyes lit up when she saw him. Was he just imagining it? But it seemed impossible that he could feel so drawn to her, and that she wouldn't realize what she did to him.
There was a smudge of paint on her cheek that made him want to reach out and wipe it away. She had gathered her hair in a bun to keep it out of the way, but a few strands had escaped and framed her face, others teasing against her nape.
What would it feel like to run his own fingers over her exposed skin? What would it take to make her sigh?
"How was your hike?" Lisa asked, then blushed and rubbed at the spot of paint.
He quickly shook off the intruding thoughts, hoping they didn't show on his face. "I made it to the top. You were right, it is an amazing view!"
She put down the egg she had been painting and wiped her hands on her shirt. "Are you hungry? There's a diner, you'll have passed it on the road from the town. Or you could join us here. I promised to make pancakes once we’re done."
She smiled again, and although Desmond knew that it was probably meant as a joke, he found that he didn't want to leave the kitchen. It was warm and filled by the evening sunlight, smelling of coffee and baking bread and cinnamon. The children seemed to have tired themselves out earlier and were painting in relative quiet.
All of a sudden he was hit by how much he'd missed out on during his years of loneliness. There were some shifters who did the job he did and still took a mate, raised a family. But Desmond had never been able to bring himself to even consider the thought. How could he endanger his mate? Or worse, what if something were to happen to him?
But now, when he looked at Lisa entertaining her small guests, working so hard to keep her little farm afloat, he felt the loss like a deep hole in his chest. Despite all her work, she had managed to build a place that felt like a true home even to people like him who only came for a short holiday.
He knew that his duty was an important one. He kept people like Lisa safe. But certainly he had sacrificed enough.
He knew it now, standing here in this warm kitchen filled with light and the squabbling of children with paint-smeared fingers. This was what he had missed
out on for so many years. And it was worth sacrificing his old life if it meant that one day, he'd stand in his own kitchen filled by the same warmth, with his own cubs and a mate like Lisa, all quiet strength and determination.
"You don't have to, of course. You must be tired," Lisa said.
Desmond realized that he'd be silent too long. "Not at all. Actually, I would love to. If you don't mind sharing your colors with me?”
The youngest child immediately pulled the glitter-filled pens close to her. "You can use those colors," she said and pointed at the palette Lisa was using.
Desmond had to bite back his laughter. "That's very generous of you."
When he looked at Lisa, he saw the same amusement in her eyes.
She pulled out the chair next to her for him. "Here's a smock for you. Better put it on, unless you want to get glitter all over your shirt."
He drew on the monstrosity with a grimace, then gave Lisa an insulted look when she laughed at him.
"I'm so sorry," she murmured, unrepentant. "But that looks terrible on you!"
"I'm pretty sure it would look terrible on everyone." He tugged on his smock again, then gave up with a sigh.
"Are you here to buy Lancelot?" one of the girls demanded sternly.
"Katie!" Lisa chided. "No, he's not. And I am not selling Lancelot."
"You said that someone's father might come to buy a pony for his daughter."
"Later this week, not today," Lisa said and laughed. "And not Lancelot. I wouldn't sell him."
The little girl was still staring at Desmond with suspicion, her egg that was decorated with a green pony with eyes of purple glitter currently forgotten.
"Don't worry," he told her in reassurance. "I don't even have a family. And furthermore, I'm scared of ponies! So you see, I wouldn't take Lancelot away."
"Scared of ponies?" Now all three girls looked up at the same time, sharing the same expression of disgust.
Next to him, Lisa couldn't quite suppress her giggling.
"They don't like me," he said―which was true. Horses seemed uncommonly good at sensing the bear in him. "It's like dogs. They can feel it if you're afraid."
"Humph," Katie said, her small, narrow face showing just how much he had fallen in her regard with those few words. "Better stay away from Lancelot then. He's very strong, and very wild."
"I'll make sure not to ever disturb him," Desmond reassured her, then looked with a frown at the egg he had been trying to paint.
He'd drawn grass and flowers at the bottom, which was easy enough. Then, he'd tried to paint an Easter bunny. He stared at the large, brown blob. Hesitantly, he added eyes to it. That was better―but only a little. How did you draw a bunny?
"Is that supposed to be the Easter bunny?" the youngest girl demanded and squinted at his egg.
"It's... no. No. It's the Easter bear, see?" He used his brush to paint small, brown blobs on top of the head. Better. At least now it was recognizable as an animal.
"There are no Easter bears." Again all three children looked at him. From their stern expressions, they were openly judging him for his lack of education.
"Of course there are," Desmond said. "Painting and hiding all those eggs is a lot of work for one bunny. So if the Easter bunny gets sick, or if it needs a day off, its friend the bear takes over so the Easter bunny can get some rest."
Lisa was still giggling quietly next to him, and he gave her a look of mock outrage.
"Right," she said after a moment when she had reined in her laughter. "That definitely looks like an Easter bear to me."
"Let's see yours then," Desmond teased.
Lisa had, in fact, drawn a perfect bunny. Desmond was impressed; he hadn't known that it was possible to draw with such fine detail onto the fragile egg shell.
"Look," she murmured and leaned closer to him.
Desmond swallowed when a strand of her hair brushed his cheek.
She pointed at her drawing. "To make it a bunny, for one thing, give it the right ears. Long and narrow. That will help to make people recognize it. And their face is narrower too―although that might be too much detail for a first try. Here, try again. Give it long ears and keep the rest the same, and you should see some difference."
It took effort to take his eyes off her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes gleaming with laughter, and her lips all rosy from the way she had bitten them to stop her giggling. They were so close that he could feel the heat of her body. Her hair smelled like shampoo, a clean scent of flowers and herbs, and when he lowered his eyes, he could see the roundness of her breasts revealed by the low neckline of the old, paint-stained shirt.
He licked his lips. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to draw her onto his lap and hold her close.
He'd felt attraction before, but it had never been so overwhelming. He couldn't spend a moment in her presence without wondering what her lips would taste like, what it would take to make her moan. What it would feel like to wake with her in his arms, every morning.
His bear was right. He could admit it to himself now. She was his mate, and she was perfect in every way, from her gorgeous curves to her easy smiles and the determination with which she ran this little farm.
"Don't you want to try it?" she asked.
Her voice was so soft that he wondered if for her, too, the conversation had taken a different meaning.
"You might have to teach me." His smile was apologetic, and for a long moment, he kept watching her.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dark and filled with heat. The chatter of the children in the background fell away. He could kiss her now. He could kiss her now, and maybe everything would turn out all right.
But there was still Travis Carter, and the job he had to do. He had sworn that he would not endanger anyone.
But could this wait until the job was done? His bear said no. His heart said no.
Desmond wasn't used to following his heart. Duty had always come first. But right now, it seemed impossible to say no to what his heart told him.
"Let me try again then," he said softly. "You must forgive me if I don't get it right the first try. I'm not used to this."
He took a different brush and a new egg, carefully painting a round, brown circle, and then a smaller circle atop it. Lisa was watching carefully. Her hand had come to rest on his arm, and he could feel the warmth of her breath on his cheek as she watched.
"We have all the time in the world," she replied quietly. "There isn't much else to do on a farm. Take your time.”
He drew the ears the way she had explained―two long strokes upwards. And Lisa had been right, already the blobs looked more like a rabbit than a bear.
He dipped his brush into the paint and then carefully drew along the ears again, so that they remained narrow where they connected to the head and grew a little wider in the middle.
"Much better," she said with warmth in her voice.
When he turned his head to smile at her, he found her still watching. A contentedness he hadn't known in a long while filled him. This was what his bear had yearned for for so long. A mate who spoke to his heart. A place where he could leave behind his duty and the danger it meant. This, all of it, felt so right that he wasn't quite certain what to do.
What if he made a mistake now and destroyed everything? Already the thought of leaving Lisa's farm was unbearable.
He exhaled softly, returning her smile, and then forcibly pulled himself away from where his thoughts had taken him.
"Better?" he asked and turned his egg around to show it to the children.
"Much better," they exclaimed, and Katie leaned forward with her glittery purple pen to paint eyes for his bunny for him.
When Desmond showed off the egg to Lisa once more, she nodded in approval.
"See, I told you you would learn," she said. "It's not that difficult. Do you have time for another?"
Desmond looked at the bowl that was still half-full. Would it be so bad if he stayed? He didn't have anything better t
o do. He wouldn't start the hunt for Carter until tomorrow morning. And even though he had promised himself that he wouldn't fall in love while still hunting dangerous shifters, coloring eggs in a warm kitchen surely didn’t count.
"I have all evening, if your girls will have me," he said.
Lisa laughed a little, but he could see how her eyes had darkened with what he hoped was pleasure at his answer.
"They better! Because this time around I want another Easter bear egg."
Chapter Three
Lisa
Once the table had been cleaned, the eggs put aside and the girls mollified with pancakes and sent back to their parents, Lisa caught herself staring at Desmond again.
It was dark outside now. They had turned on the light a while ago. Her kitchen smelled of pancakes and syrup and happiness, and right in the middle of it sat the hottest guy she’d ever seen. And he didn’t sneer at her small farm or her curves. He’d laughed with the children. He’d joked with Lisa, and it felt as though they had known each other forever.
And now he sat at her kitchen table, and Lisa felt a sting in her heart as she watched him. When she was a child, she’d sat here with her grandparents. Lisa had been too young then to truly understand what it meant, but her grandparents had been mates, fox and dog shifter living together in perfect harmony.
Harmony. That was the right word for what she felt when she looked at Desmond in her kitchen. He looked as if he belonged here. And yet he had only just arrived. How was that possible?
She’s always been so proud about how she ran the farm on her own. Her friends teased her about finding a husband, but what good was a man who didn’t love the farm as much as she loved it? She’d thought the farm was enough. She was happy here. She didn’t really miss anything, even while her high school friends got married or broke up and began dating again.
And now Desmond was here and suddenly the thought of him leaving left a deep, black hole in her chest.