Mae only hoped that a bad thing could not happen to her gran. She didn’t know what she would do if she lost her only close relative. That was not going to happen, and as they cleared the pass, and headed down into the wooded valley below, she realized why he had brought her this way, it was a quick way back to Grizzly Hollows. She wanted to thank him for facing his demons for the sake of her gran, but they had to hurry.
Weaving in and out of the trees, she sensed Jay’s mood. It was lighter now, as if the snow in that pass had been smothering him, and now he had shaken it off. He nipped her neck playfully, playing chase through the trees, snow flicking up as they ran. Leading her out of the trees, he guided her to a small thicket where he shifted back to his human form. She did the same.
“This takes us down into the other side of town, I’m assuming that’s where your gran is. What exactly did the text say?” Jay asked.
“It just said that she was in trouble. I’ve texted her back to ask what’s wrong, but she hasn’t replied.” Mae pulled her phone out of her pocket again to check one more time, but there was still no message, despite the fact that she had full bars. She knew her gran could often be lackadaisical about using her cell phone, but she wouldn’t put out that she was in trouble unless she meant it.
They didn’t speak much as they headed towards the hotel. Jay guided her there with his arm hooked under hers as they threaded their way down narrow streets. The daylight was beginning to fade, and she saw that twilight came early to Grizzly Hollows, and once the sun had crested the mountains, night began to settle in. She looked into some of the windows of the houses as they walked past, and it seemed that everyone had a fire blazing in the hearth, and lamps lit, giving the whole town a cozy feel. It was hard to see what could have happened to her gran in such a friendly place.
“Here’s the pub,” Jay said and opened the door for her. She went in first and he followed close behind, his body pressed against hers, giving her comfort. “Whatever is wrong, we will work it out.”
“I’m just worried, because she already has her wrist in plaster. What if she’s fallen and made it worse? I forget she’s old and frail; I shouldn’t have brought her here. We should have gone to the beach just like she wanted to.” She was struggling to shake off the guilt. Her gran had always put Mae first, and she should have done the same thing. Mae should have taken them to the beach and let them have their short vacation and then come here to meet Jay afterwards. Just like they had arranged originally. Grizzly Hollows was no place for three old ladies.
“Hey, Samuel,” Jay said to the man behind the bar. “I’m looking for three of your guests, they arrived earlier in the day.”
“Oh yes. Three elderly ladies. They headed over to Rubles.”
“Rubles,” Jay repeated, and a smile spread across his face.
“Yes, they asked if there was anywhere good to eat around here.”
“Thanks, Samuel.” He turned and faced Mae. “I think in this instance, you can blame autocorrect.”
She got her phone out and looked at it again. “It’s meant to say they are in Rubles, and it corrected to trouble.”
“That is about right.” He grinned. “Rubles is run by two Russian bears. They moved here about five years ago amid rumors of being Russian secret agents on the run.”
“You are kidding me?” she asked. “I thought this was a sleepy town.”
“It is a quiet town, that’s why they came here.” He shrugged. “The whole thing may be made up. They serve the best food in town, so the rumors were soon forgotten.”
Her stomach rumbled in response to the words best food in town. “Maybe we should go and see if they are OK. And if you’re free, I’ll buy you dinner.”
“Shouldn’t I do the buying?”
“Modern times, Jay.” She took his hand, and leaned in to whisper, “It’s to make up for cutting our time on the mountain short.”
“This is just a rain check, then?” he asked, kissing her lips softly.
“I think so.”
“You don’t sound too sure,” he said, tilting her chin up and looking at her closely. “Want to share your demons?”
“Not really.” They headed out of the hotel, and he took her hand, his strong large hands enveloping hers.
“You can tell me anything,” he said.
“I know. I’d like us to get to know each other some more. But first I’d like to make sure my gran and her friends haven’t upset the whole town with their arrival.”
He laughed. “That bad?”
“No. I owe them all so much.” However, as they reached the door of Rubles, Mae could hear Joan’s laughter filtering out through the door, and she wondered exactly what was going on. “I forgot to say, only my gran knows about my bear.”
“Understood.”
Pushing the door open, she saw two men, probably in their mid-forties, dancing with Joan and Katie. They were being watched by Isabelle and the other diners in a Russian-themed restaurant. Mae rolled her eyes, and said to Jay, “They are hell bent on growing old disgracefully.”
“I approve,” he said, and took her in his arms. “Dancing before dining.”
“OK.” With that he whirled her into the restaurant, and Mae decided this was one of the weirdest days of her life. And also one of the best. Ever.
Chapter Twelve – Jay
They danced to the music, a sultry concoction that swept them away to a far-off world. Mae took it all in stride, and she laughed as they twirled around. Then the two older ladies went and sat down, and the two Russians, Vadik and Artem, circled around Mae like prowling predators. Then with a whoop, they broke away and performed a traditional Russian dance, squatting down and then leaping up, and despite their extremely muscular frames, they appeared lithe, with their long legs and slim hips.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the three ladies fanning themselves, and he whispered to Mae, “Maybe we should stop before your gran and her friends really do get themselves into trouble.”
Mae glanced over at them, and said, “I think I was wrong, this trip has put more color in their cheeks than a trip to the beach ever would.”
They slowed and he held her for a moment, wanting to enjoy the feel of her in his arms before they parted and he had to share her with someone else. Their eyes locked, and a sense of deeper understanding passed between them. Even without talking too much in these last few hours, they had begun to get to know each other and depend on each other.
“So this is your man?” Katie called, attracting their attention.
Mae smiled, and said, “Yes, he is.” Then she lowered her voice. “I should warn you, this will be like the Grand Inquisition. All of these wonderful ladies have had a hand in raising me.”
“Then I look forward to meeting them and hearing all your embarrassing stories.” He took her hand and led her to the table where the three older women were seated, sipping vodka. These were not the kind of old grannies who sat around drinking tea and crocheting mittens.
“Hi, ladies. This is Jay.” They all said hello, and then Mae went around to each one, introducing them.
“I am the one you have to watch out for,” Katie said. “I have always had Mae’s welfare at heart.”
“Katie helped me readjust to living in Marillo Marsh.”
“I will be doing a full background search when we get back.” Katie winked.
“She’s trying to intimidate you,” Mae said. “She has always been in my corner when it comes to bullies, or anyone else who might want to hurt me.”
“That is a good friend to have.” He thought back to how his brother’s mate, Viv, had been stalked by Rhys.
“You OK?” Mae asked, her hand on his.
Snapping his head up, he said, “Yes. I was just thinking.” Then he caught Katie’s eye. “Interrogate me all you want; I only have Mae’s best interests at heart.”
“Even though you two have only just met?” Joan asked, sipping her vodka with relish. “Damn, that’s good.”
She didn’t notice the silence that descended, and Katie gave Mae a worried look before saying, “Love at first sight, you can see it in their faces.”
Jay sat back in his seat as Artem came over and asked if they wanted more drinks. Then he gave out menus and the talk settled down to food, the snow, and how did such a place as Rubles ever come to be in a town the size of Grizzly Hollows.
“They are Russian Mafia,” Joan said. “I’ve seen their type before.”
“Everyone is the mafia to you,” Isabelle said, as she began to eat her food. “Oh, heavenly.”
“So how long are you ladies staying?” Jay asked.
“Until the day after tomorrow.”
“Gran has to go and get her cast taken off soon,” Mae said.
“Then I can look after myself again. Don’t know what I would have done without Mae these last couple of months.”
“We’d have looked after you,” Katie said.
“So I’d have been eating microwave dinners,” Isabelle countered.
“I have been taking cooking classes,” Katie said. “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can teach an old lady to cook.”
“You never said.” Joan sipped more vodka.
“It was supposed to be a surprise. I intended to invite you all over on my birthday.”
“So now you’ve ruined the surprise?”
“Yes and no. I meant to talk to you two about it sooner. I’m thinking of taking a cruise.”
The conversation descended into excited chatter, and Jay sat back and listened, his hand occasionally straying to touch Mae’s, who turned to him and mouthed, “Sorry.”
He smiled and shook his head. “It’s OK.”
He meant it. This was not exactly the most romantic of first dates, but it told him plenty about Mae: she was loved. Despite losing her parents, she had been supported through her life by an incredible second family.
This was confirmed when he walked them back to the hotel a couple of hours later, and as they went inside, Isabelle said to him, “I know I have to let her go. Just promise me you will always love her and cherish her.”
Mae had gone on ahead with a very drunk Joan, who hadn’t realized how strong the vodka was until she stood up to leave. He looked down at Isabelle, and saw the love in her face, laced with worry.
“She’s the most important thing to me, I couldn’t hurt her if I tried.”
“Thank you.” Isabelle tottered over to the elevator, where Mae was now supporting Joan. He desperately wanted to kiss his mate good night, but instead, he had to settle for the kiss she blew, which he caught, and placed next to his heart. The place where she would always be.
Chapter Thirteen – Mae
“I have the hangover from hell,” Joan said as they sat eating breakfast in the small dining area of the pub. They only catered breakfast for guests, and Mae and the old ladies were the only guests, so they had the place to themselves.
“I’m not surprised. You certainly put a lot of vodka away last night.”
“I’ve drunk more before, that stuff must be almost a hundred percent alcohol.”
“Or you’re getting old,” Katie chuckled.
“Since when have you become the sensible one?” Joan asked, sipping her coffee, and wincing as the sunlight filtered through the window.
“Since I feel responsible for our Mae again.”
“You don’t need to feel responsible for me,” Mae said.
“I know, but it’s an old habit.”
Mae was about to answer she was old enough to take care of herself when she had a peculiar sensation creep down her neck and fan out through her body. “He’s here,” she whispered.
“Who’s here?” Joan asked.
“Lover boy,” Isabelle said with smile. “He’s keen, that’s for sure.”
There was a knock at the door, and Mae had to stop herself from jumping up and answering it, she also had to avoid the look Katie was giving her. She had forgotten herself for a moment, forgotten that only Isabelle knew her secret, that Jay wasn’t just her new boyfriend, he was her bonded mate. It still caught her by surprise that she could sense his approach, even through walls.
“Hi, there. I hope you slept well.”
“We did,” Mae said, smiling broadly at him. He looked so handsome, even at this time in the morning.
“Some of us wish we were still sleeping well,” Joan groaned.
“I should have warned you about Rubles’ vodka,” he said.
“She wouldn’t have listened,” said Isabelle.
“Right. I had a thought. Would you like to see the mountains?” he asked. Mae found herself watching his mouth as he talked, wondering just how good it would feel to have those lips pressed against her flesh.
She, for one, had not slept so well, mostly because she had tossed and turned, too caught up in imagining Jay lying naked on a bed to actually fall asleep. “What did you have in mind?” She had visions of them all swaddled up in blankets in his truck.
Jay, however, had a surprise in store.
***
“Huskies!” Isabelle exclaimed.
They were standing outside a barn on the outskirts of Grizzly Hollows, and in front of them were two teams of huskies.
“Yes. I thought you could go with Adam,” he said to Katie and Isabelle. Joan had stayed behind, telling everyone she needed to sleep off the alcohol, and to go and have fun without her. “And I thought Mae could come on this one with me.”
“Well, I’m game,” said Katie.
“I’m not so sure about you, Gran. Not with that wrist.”
“Nonsense, the cast is due to come off, and this is not something I’ll ever have the chance to do again. Not at my age. I’m going for it.”
“Gran,” Mae said. “Please be careful.”
“I will be fine. Now you two go and have fun, and maybe Adam can take us at a nice sedate pace?”
“Sure thing,” Adam said, and began to help Isabelle and Katie into his sled. Mae had to admit, this vacation had taken years off her gran. She was really enjoying herself.
“Much better than sitting on a beach,” Katie said, as if reading her thoughts.
“I’m so pleased you’re enjoying it.” The words were only just out of her mouth when Adam signaled his dogs and the sled lunged forward, taking the two laughing women out across the packed snow of the lower mountain slopes.
“OK. Shall we go?” he asked.
“Sure. Are you driving?”
He laughed. “Yes, I am. And I’ve packed a picnic.”
“Anyone would think you were out to impress me,” she said.
“I am.” He held out his hand and helped her into the sled, and even though they both knew she could manage, she took his hand, wanting to feel the sensation of his skin against hers.
“Ready?” he asked as he climbed in behind her, standing on the back of the sled and holding the reins, if that’s what they were called.
“Yes,” she said, and then gripped the sides of the sled as they jolted forward, with a “mush” from Jay.
The dogs strained at first, and then the forward momentum increased as they hit their stride, all working as one to pull the sled over the packed ice. Up they climbed, following more gentle paths than those they had run along yesterday, and then as the terrain leveled out, the dogs ran at full speed, barking as they went, filled with excitement. The wind whipped at Mae’s hair, and the sun reflected off the snow, almost blinding her, but she didn’t care: this was exhilarating.
Everything about life here in Grizzly Hollows was exhilarating.
The dogs ran on for half an hour, and then Jay slowed them, turning off the main track they were following and climbing slowly uphill, the dogs straining, until they came to a stop by a frozen pool. There they climbed out, and he hammered some stakes into the ground, and attached the two lead dogs to them.
“Anything I can do to help?” she asked.
“You can offer the dogs some wate
r,” he said.
She went to the packs, and rifled through them, until she found a collapsible water bowl and a bottle of water. Then she went to each in turn, stroking their thick fur while they drank their fill of the cool water.
Jay grabbed his backpack and led her over to the frozen lake, where he spread out a thick blanket and sat down, offering her some coffee from his thermos. “This is one of my favorite spots.”
“I can see why! I bet when the pool melts, and the trees have leaves on, it’s wonderful.”
“I like to come and sit here and watch the changing seasons. Soon the snow will thaw and the first new shoots will appear on the ground. It makes me understand how nature works. The deathly cold of winter giving way to the first new life of spring.”
“I’d like to share all this with you,” she said. “I’m just not sure how that’s possible.”
“It has to be possible. I don’t mean you having to give up everything for me. I mean there has to be a solution that we can both live with.”
“How? When you live here and my life is with my gran.”
“Then I will come and live with you.” He kissed the top of her head. “Even being apart from you last night was torture, knowing you were so close, and yet out of reach. When we get back, I’ll set things in motion. I’ll have to wait until my brother is able to take on his old responsibilities again.”
“It doesn’t seem fair you have to give all this up,” she said, leaning against him.
“Sometimes life isn’t fair.”
“You’re thinking of the guy who died?”
“Yes. And no. He wasn’t a good man; he inflicted pain on Viv. And that wasn’t fair on her.”
“In the same way it wasn’t fair when my parents died,” Mae said.
“No, it wasn’t. So we make the best of it.”
She didn’t want him to make the best of it. She wanted him to be happy, and she knew she could be happy here in Grizzly Hollows, but could she leave Isabelle and everyone else behind? “I’m scared,” she said.
His arm tightened around her protectively. “Of what?”
“Change. I have lived with my gran since my parents died. Even when I had a good job and could afford to, I never moved out. I stayed with Gran because it was safe.”
Her Choice To Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Dating Agency Romance (Fated and Mated Book 2) Page 5