by Ruby Shae
“I’m sorry, I have to go. That’s my—”
“I know who that is,” she said, her voice ice cold. “Have a good day.”
She looked out the window, and refused to watch him leave. Thankfully, his girlfriend waited out of her line of sight.
“CeCe, I…”
She ignored him, and he sighed.
“Have a good day.”
Tears filled her eyes as she felt, rather than watched, him walk away. The other voices in the shop drowned out, until nothing else existed except for her, Ian, and his girlfriend.
She didn’t want to watch, but before she could look away, she saw him pass the window.
He ate up the sidewalk in a few easy strides, and joined the other woman on the corner. His big body completely blocked the tiny woman from her view, but CeCe could only imagine her rage at being forced to wait while he chatted up another woman.
Except, maybe it wouldn’t matter because CeCe didn’t look anything like the other women who pursued him. Maybe his girlfriend only cared about the beautiful women, or the rich women, or the short women… Or maybe she didn’t care at all because he belonged to her.
Ian laughed at something the woman said, the light changed, and the two crossed the street, side-by-side.
One lone tear escaped, and CeCe wiped it away with the back of her hand and looked away. Everyone in the coffee shop looked so focused, so determined, that it gave her hope.
Life marched on, whether you wanted it to, or not.
It was time to forget her mate and move on.
She got up, threw her cup in the garbage, and left the shop.
The Matchmaker was waiting, and she had a date to get ready for.
***
Ian left Inari at the furniture store, and walked a block and a half to the coffee shop on Main Street.
His sister wanted a new bookcase, but the store they were in didn’t have one in stock, so they were taking a road trip to the next closest store. He definitely needed coffee for the one hour trek each way, especially after the mostly sleepless night he’d had the evening before.
The thought of his mate throwing an Anti-Valentine’s Day party stirred up primal, animalistic urges he didn’t know he possessed. He might be part bear, but he’s always been able to control his animal side.
At least until he’d met his mate.
He didn’t want her shunning the holiday in any form, and the amount of times he’d been tempted to show up at her house and drag her away from the festivities like some sort of caveman, was too many to count.
He wanted her alone with him, in his bed, and screaming from pleasure.
Damn it!
It was going to be a long day.
As soon as he walked into the coffee shop, he zeroed in on his mate, and the man hovering above her table.
Ian thought he would be able to exercise some control—maybe—if CeCe wanted the stranger standing there, but her body language said otherwise, and he didn’t waste any time crossing the room.
Rage swamped him as he heard the man’s degrading words, and he didn’t waste any time staking his claim. Even if he was the only one who knew the true meaning of the declaration.
“She's. With. Me.”
The way the man groveled was amusing at first, but Ian quickly lost interest in the loser’s excuses. The guy was an insult to decent men everywhere, and he’d had enough. Besides, he wanted to spend the few minutes before Inari showed up talking to his mate, not some clueless idiot.
CeCe’s anger at his handling of the situation had initially thrown him, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. She was always mad at him for something, and at least this time he deserved it. Although, he couldn’t fathom why she would want to deal with that slime ball on her own when he was present, willing and able.
They stood at a stand-still until she finally relented, and he didn’t waste any time sinking into the chair across from her. Luckily, she didn’t protest, and their light conversation reminded him of the months before the last Valentine’s Day, when their relationship was still new and easy.
At least now he better understood the purpose of her party. He still thought the name and premise were stupid, but a great sense of relief filled him when he realized she didn’t actually hate the holiday.
Until she’d mentioned the Matchmaker.
Why had the woman attended CeCe’s party? And more importantly, how did CeCe even know the woman?
The old she-bear was a legend throughout Shadow Creek, and their sister town, Shadow Ridge, but she was a known for matching pairs, even if they didn’t always end up as mates. In fact, most of the time her matches resulted in nothing more than friendships, but that information did little to ease his worry.
Before he could grill CeCe more about her relationship with the Matchmaker, the sound of Inari banging on the glass echoed around the room.
Damn it!
He’d completely forgotten about his commitment to his sister.
He shooed Inari away, determined to get answers from CeCe before he left, but he knew his time with his mate was limited.
“I’m sorry, I have to go. That’s my—”
“I know who that is,” she said, her voice ice cold. “Have a good day.”
Her anger was a surprise, but he didn’t hold it against her. Inari had, rather rudely, interrupted them, and he understood how frustrating that could be.
The fact that she refused to look at him is what had him puzzled.
“CeCe, I…”
She continued to ignore him, and he sighed.
Would he ever understand his mate?
“Have a good day.”
He turned away from her and walked out of the shop.
Even though he’d bought the cabin for the two of them, he couldn’t stay home knowing his mate might be spending Valentine’s Day with someone other than him.
He had to get away.
After he took care of Inari, he was packing his bags and leaving for the cabin in the morning. He didn’t need to worry about work, he’d already taken the week off because of the holiday, so there was nothing holding him back.
Absolutely nothing.
If he had to be alone, he’d rather do it in the middle of nowhere where he really would be alone. He couldn’t risk the possibility of seeing his mate with another man.
He met Inari on the corner, but he was still angry about CeCe.
“Ready?” he grouched.
“Yeah,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
Her scrutiny got on his nerves.
“What?” he barked.
“Where is your coffee?”
His…? Hell, he’d forgotten all about the coffee.
“I got distracted,” he said.
“Forgot is more like it,” she teased. “You’d better be careful, brother. You’re getting senile in your old age.”
At thirty-two, he was hardly old, but because of their ten-year age difference, he was used to his sister teasing him about his age.
“Don’t be a brat,” he grunted, “or this senile old man won’t drive you to pick up that bookcase.”
“Touché,” she laughed.
He laughed, too, and most of his anger faded away.
They crossed the street together, and as they walked side-by-side toward his SUV, he pushed CeCe out of his mind. He’d promised Inari he would help her, and she didn’t deserve to spend the day with a grumpy bear.
Tomorrow, while alone at the cabin, he could be as cranky and ill-tempered as he wanted.
Chapter Four
CeCe parked her car in the free parking lot at the end of Main Street, and walked the short distance needed to find the nearly hidden path at the beginning of the surrounding forest.
A metal trash can marked where she should turn, and after a few steps down the dirt trail, a sign that warned visitors not to feed the bears made her laugh out loud.
The Matchmaker had given her specific instructions about how, when and where to arrive, so she wa
lked down the path a little bit, and shifted into her bear. The shift was instantaneous, but the best part was that the magic allowed her to change forms fully clothed.
The moment the animal took over her body, all of her stress and worries seem to slip away, and she cursed herself for not shifting more often.
The night before, the Matchmaker had reminded them all to shift regularly and embrace their other forms, and CeCe didn’t have to study the group to know she wasn't the only one who was guilty of not changing into her bear as often as she should.
Because of the Matchmakers instructions, she had given herself thirty minutes to follow the trail to her destination, and another thirty to enjoy her shifted form, so she knew she had ample time to meander around as her animal.
Black bear shifters were the same size as regular bears when they shifted, making it even harder for tourists to spot them in the forest. Surprisingly, most visitors stayed away from the foliage, and the bears could easily stay hidden. If she did end up face to face with some curious humans, a roar would probably send them packing.
She immediately wandered off the trail and rolled in a bed of leaves on the forest floor. A few rocks and twigs poked her in the back, but she didn’t care. It was a good kind of pain, and she relished being outdoors as her animal. She sharpened her claws on a tree, allowed herself to gulp the mountain air, and lumbered around the trees, exploring all the scents she missed.
Damn!
When was the last time she’d allowed her bear to roam?
Evidently, she needed the Matchmakers reminder on a daily basis.
When the sun had moved enough to signal the approaching hour, CeCe returned to the path, and lumbered up to the old she-bear’s house. The Matchmaker spoke as soon as she arrived at the bottom of the stairs.
“Come and have some refreshments, dear.”
CeCe shifted back into her human form, and walked up the wooden steps to the wide, covered, wrap-around porch. The Matchmaker sat in a wooden chair next to a small, round table, and CeCe took the empty chair on the other side.
Two glasses of ice-cold lemonade were filled to the top, and no condensation rested on either glass. It was as if the Matchmaker knew exactly when she would arrive, and poured the drinks right before she’d burst out of the forest.
Hell, who was she kidding? The woman’s ability to know all had been proven time and time again. It wasn’t just little things, either. She’d been incredibly accurate with both Marianne, and Caleb's sister.
Eerily accurate in fact.
A thought slipped into her mind, but she forced it away before it could take root. If the Matchmaker knew anything about her and Ian, it was only that fate had made a mistake, and nothing more.
Besides, Marianne and Caleb’s sister were special cases. CeCe knew a few other women who'd seen the woman, and walked away with nothing more than a pleasant evening, and a new friend.
Even though she wanted Ian more than her next breath, she didn’t want to be with a man who didn’t want her, and she knew Ian didn’t want her. She’d prefer to spend the holiday—or any day—with a kind stranger, rather than an uninterested mate.
CeCe picked up the glass closest to her, and took a drink of the cool liquid.
“Have some cookies, too, dear,” the Matchmaker said.
She picked up a cookie, and devoured the chocolaty treat.
“Oh my god, these are amazing,” she said, stealing another from the plate.
“Thank you, dear,” the Matchmaker said. “I’ve put together a tin you can take with you. A little Valentine’s present, if you will.”
“Thank you,” CeCe said. “That’s very thoughtful.”
“Think nothing of it,” the woman said, waving her hand in the air.
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, and CeCe emptied her glass as she studied the magnificent view. The Matchmaker had an amazing piece of property seemingly hidden in the forest, and it wasn’t until she saw the woman’s car peeking out from the side of the house, that she realized there was a driveway on the opposite side of the mountain.
She forced bears to visit in their animal forms by tricking them into thinking there was only one way up the mountain, when in fact there were two. Hell, there could be more for all CeCe knew, and she couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
The woman was a crafty little minx.
“I’ve never tricked anyone,” the woman laughed. “I just don’t give them a choice. If they want my services, then they follow the rules. Period.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Oh, shush,” the woman laughed. “You didn’t offend me at all. You’re not the first person to be shocked by my driveway, and I’m sure you won’t be the last. The mountain air is good for our animals, and it keeps us living longer than our human friends. I’ve only survived this long because I shift every day, and I’d like to see some of you young people have long and full lives like I have.”
“Yes, ma—Lily,” she replied. “I promise I will make an effort to shift more.”
“Good girl,” the Matchmaker nodded. “I know your agency is closed on Monday, but you’ll need to close Tuesday and Wednesday as well.”
She wanted her to close her business for two more days? For a date with a stranger on Monday? Why in the world would she need more time off?
“Two more days? Why?”
“It’s a long drive up to the cabin, and sometimes the weather can be unpredictable. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by great company, and it’s beautiful up there. You might want to stay an extra day.”
She doubted it, but agreed.
Then another thought struck her.
“Where exactly am I going?”
“Pine Hill.”
CeCe had lived her entire life in Shadow Creek, and she’d never heard of Pine Hill before. When the woman didn’t elaborate, she pressed her for information.
“Where exactly is Pine Hill?”
“It’s a charming little town about three hours north of here.”
Well, that figured. She definitely wouldn’t want to make a three-hour drive back home after dinner on a Monday night.
“I’ll have to book a hotel room.”
“Nonsense,” the Matchmaker said. “You’ll stay with your date.”
“You want me to spend the night with a stranger?” CeCe asked, appalled. The woman might deserve respect, but she was way out of line. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Calm down,” the Matchmaker said. “Your date is a perfect gentleman, and you’re not expected to do anything you don’t want to do. Oh, and you’ll be spending two nights with him, not one.”
CeCe listened, stunned, as the woman explained her plan. She was expected to leave for the cabin on Sunday morning, spend all day on Monday, Valentine’s Day, with her date, and then return home on Tuesday.
She’s clearly insane.
“Don’t be rude,” the Matchmaker said. “I’m no more insane that you.”
“I’m insane, too, for even considering going along with this crazy plan.”
“Not insane, dear,” she laughed, “just desperate. It’s time for a change.”
That it was.
She nodded, and listened carefully as the woman doled out detailed instructions about her trip. Luckily, she’d also written everything down, and ten minutes later, CeCe was headed back down the trail with the directions in her pocket, and a tin of chocolate chip cookies in her hands.
Half-way back to Main Street, she opened the tin, and shoved a cookie into her mouth. She knew her date wouldn’t miss one or two of the tasty treats, and she needed as much energy as possible to get through the next few days.
She had a lot of work to do before her little Valentine’s Day excursion.
***
Holy shit!
CeCe studied the fat, falling flakes, and cursed again.
Fuck!
She’d done everything else the Matchmaker had told her to do, so why hadn't she also listened to the woma
n's advice about when to leave Shadow Creek?
She knew why, but she didn’t like the answer.
If she were honest, leaving on time, or later, was the one thing she’d felt she could control in this crazy scheme, and she’d rebelled a bit by creating work to do in her office.
In actuality, she was the boss, and nothing would happen if she shut down for a day, or a week, because she never took money in advance for her tours, and she rarely made travel appointments more than a day or two ahead of time. Flexibility was one of the perks of running her own business, even if she never exercised it.
Had she left two hours earlier, she’d be safe and warm inside the cabin, instead of out driving in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere.
Okay, it technically wasn’t a blizzard, but the squall had moved in fast, and brought with it heavy flakes and strong winds. The swirling of fat flakes produced poor visibility, and dangerous snow and ice covered roads.
Her GPS had taken her as far as the little town she was now calling The Last Civilization, which, evidently was also part of Pine Hill, and she’d had to resort to a list of handwritten directions given to her by the Matchmaker ever since.
That had been about thirty minutes ago, and if she were driving in normal conditions, she would be at the cabin already. Instead, she still had about halfway to go.
She slowed to a stop at a stop sign, but it was just a precaution. She hadn’t seen another car for miles, and she doubted anyone else was out on the road.
The corner housed a small, local gas station that had only two gas pumps, and a single car garage with a tiny office attached to it. The words Tow, Gas, and Go were printed on the garage she guessed a tow truck was housed on the inside.
The station was completely shut down, but a little flicker of light shone through the second story of the building, and she guessed the owner lived above the garage.
She contemplated stopping for all of a second before making a left turn, and slowly crawling down the road. Her cell-phone had cut out when she’d lost the GPS, but even if it hadn’t, she wouldn’t know who to call. The Matchmaker hadn’t given her any contact information for her date, and she would most likely be stranded if she stopped.