by Vivian Arend
She opened the door of the house and let them in.
It took hours because Kaylee had to make sure every one of them had access to water and found their own space to settle. Plus, she searched the entire house to find what was available that would make good kitty chow.
Thankfully, her parents had left a fully loaded supply of meat in the freezer. Everybody liked a good filet mignon.
It was good that Kaylee didn’t have to leave the cats cooped up, because while she couldn’t understand what they were saying, she read feline body language just fine. Getting free rein of the house turned their pissed-off attitudes into wild curiosity.
“I will get help as soon as the gala is done,” she promised, leaving the door to the garage open. She’d created the world’s biggest litter box by emptying emergency sandbags into a hastily created square.
Maybe it was her sincerity, or maybe the cats sensed she was reaching the end of the line, because miraculously, they settled peacefully, each one claiming different areas of the house for their own.
Every time she opened the door and came in, they watched. Dozens and dozens of eyes tracking her every move. If she hadn’t been a cat herself, she would’ve been massively creeped out. As it was, she stopped and glared once or twice. Not to be mean, but to make sure they knew who was top dog in the room—so to speak.
The biggest crates contained wild animals nearly as big as James in his shifted form.
Kaylee folded her arms over her chest and held a staring contest with the biggest of them. The midnight black of the wild animal’s fur was marked with the faint tracings of a panther.
When the panther blinked first, Kaylee let out a sharp snarl then opened her cage. The animal offered no resistance, striding by Kaylee’s side into the house where she immediately made her way to the oversized couch, claiming it as her territory.
The rest of the full-sized wildcats cooperated in the same way.
Kaylee wiped the sweat from her brow as she refilled another set of bowls with water. It was a lot later than she’d hoped, but there was plenty of time for her to make it to the gala to be with James.
She turned and addressed the room. “Make yourselves at home, I’ll be back later. No fighting,” she warned, “or you’ll all be grounded.”
The panther on the couch yawned lazily, one paw draped over the armrest. Her tail swayed slightly as the baby Bengal played catch with it.
Kaylee slipped outside and locked the door behind her. She had a passing thought that this would not be a good day for a burglar to break in.
She was still giggling over that mental image when she went to turn the key in her truck. The engine squealed in protest right before it clicked three times and fell absolutely silent.
A set of swear words that would have made James proud flew from her lips. Kaylee didn’t bother to try to open up the hood because she knew nothing about trucks other than the last time she’d heard that noise, it had cost her over a thousand dollars and taken three weeks to get the parts.
There was no choice. She slammed the door closed and stomped to the front porch. Stripping off her sweaty clothing was a bit of a relief, to be truthful. She smelt like wet cat, and that wasn’t a pleasant aroma whether it was her or someone else’s problem.
She put her feet on the grass and took a deep breath. Eyeing the sky for a moment, she knew daylight wasn’t going to be a problem. It was distance. There wasn’t a great shortcut between her parents’ house and the fairgrounds. The straightest line put a whole bunch of water in the way.
Support came from the most unexpected of quarters. Her inner cat sighed mightily, but urged her on.
You told the bear you’d be there. Get your tail in gear, the beast ordered.
There’s a lot of water in our way, Kaylee pointed out.
We can swim. We just don’t like to swim. Her cat nodded decisively. Just don’t make this a habit. Not even for the cute furry one.
Kaylee snickered but agreed, wondering what James would think of his new nickname. She repeated it back as a promise. Not even for the cute furry one.
She shifted, then ran toward the man she loved.
Toward the man who was probably wondering why she wasn’t already by his side.
19
A s the afternoon slipped into evening, James’s faith that Kaylee would be there never faltered. It didn’t matter how many looks Alex gave him, and it didn’t matter that he caught Amber staring at him with a sad expression.
“She’ll be here,” he told the human woman bluntly.
Amber smiled sweetly. “I’m sure there’s a good reason why she hasn’t arrived yet.”
“I hope she’s not in trouble,” James muttered, checking his phone for the millionth time as he once again attempted to message her.
He was all but stalking her online, and he hated that, but at the same time, he was worried. This wasn’t about needing her help at the gala or trying to figure out how they were going to go forward while not being mates—although the mate thing was a nonissue.
He felt it. That box inside.
What’s more, he could’ve sworn that an hour ago something had adjusted. As if the ribbon tied around the box had loosened off, and he was one step closer to seeing what was inside.
Still, his watch said it was now nearly nine o’clock. They’d moved the gala inside and switched from casual family picnicking to grown-up dancing with endless champagne and expensive hors d’oeuvres.
He wore a suit that he knew fit well, and he was dashing and ready to charm. But as he walked through the crowds and accepted handshakes and pleased smiles, there were also curious glances and questions about where Kaylee was.
It was killing him.
He briefly joined Alex and Cooper at the base of the stairs that led to the stage, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes as he let it out slowly.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Cooper. Solid and reassuring. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
A low grumble escaped Alex followed by a gasp.
James opened his eyes to discover Alex rubbing his shoulder. Cooper shook out his fingers as if his fist had recently been in action. His older brother glared meaningfully.
“Fine. I’m sure Kaylee is safe as well, but I’m mad at her, okay?” Alex admitted. “I hate to see you like this, bro.”
“See me how?” James asked.
Alex shrugged. “I know you said you chose her, but today’s the loneliest I’ve seen you in a long time. It’s not right. I like Kaylee plenty, but if she’s not able to be there for you, something’s got to change.”
Like a switch being thrown and the light coming on, that was all it took. The missing bit of information. The idea that had eluded him.
James’s heart beat wildly, smashing against his rib cage. He slammed his hands down on Alex’s shoulders and squeezed tight, sheer joy rushing his veins. “You’re absolutely right.”
Alex cringed as James’s hands made impact—probably figured he was about to be taken apart by one pissed-off bear. Instead, James hauled him in for a tight hug, pounding him between the shoulders before shoving him away and grabbing hold of Cooper. He offered his oldest brother the same enthusiastic back-pounding before stepping away. “You guys are the best. I mean that.”
Cooper’s expression turned suspicious. “What are you up to?”
“Making a change,” James announced before whirling. He took the stairs three at a time, only slowing when he reached the edge of the auditorium stage.
Grandpa Giles was holding court in the middle of the stage. The spotlight on the debonair gentleman turned him into the feature presentation at a rock star’s sold-out farewell tour.
But alert as usual, he spotted James and motioned him forward. “There he is. I guess it’s time for me to stop boring you all with my stories. I’ll let my grandson carry on the festivities. James?”
Grandpa Giles held his arms out welcomingly. James marched forward. He took the old man’s hand and sho
ok it while out in the audience, polite applause rose.
James took control of the microphone, but then when his grandpa would’ve walked away, James held him back.
“Before I get started, I wanted to say a few words to my grandpa.” James knew how to work a crowd, and if there was ever a time to do it, this was it.
Maybe Kaylee wasn’t there, yet she was. She was there in his heart, and while he needed to get this done so he could get off the stage and go find her, there was something important that had to be accomplished first.
He looked his grandpa in the eyes and offered a wink, just to get the old man wondering, before he turned to the audience before him. “Not all of you have the pleasure of a close-knit family like mine. I’ll tell you that usually it’s a wonderful thing. Although occasionally…” He pulled a face, tilting his head as he looked out over the invisible crowd before him.
A trickle of laughter rose.
“But between the rare times we don’t get along, and the many times that we do, there’s something that binds us all together. Borealis Gems, it’s a true family operation. You all know my oldest brother, Cooper, and my brother Alex are involved with the intricate details of running the place on a daily basis. My parents, although not here in Canada, are doing what they can to help out, looking for new sources and making sure that everything is being done in a way that’s ecologically sound and follows the family mandate. Because that’s important to us here at Borealis Gems.”
Applause again, this time stronger with a few shouts of approval.
James glanced back at his grandpa, his grandma waiting in the wings with curiosity on her face. “Here is part of the reason why we have such a strong family ethic. This man, my grandpa. He’s the one who taught all of us the business. He taught me how to tell a joke, how to pick the perfect setting for the perfect situation. Hell, he taught me how to fish. With a rod, and with the paw—and if you want a good story, ask him to tell you about the time we got caught in a flash flood up on the White River in the Yukon.”
Grandpa Giles wore a huge grin. He shook his head, waggling a finger in James’s direction.
The sweet sensation inside James’s chest was growing. As if something was unraveling. The need to go find Kaylee increased until it was a pulse inside his body, urgent. Dire.
It was a good thing he was nearly done, yet he owed it to his brothers and the family to finish this properly. “Yes, everybody needs to have somebody in their life like Grandpa Giles. Not only does he teach us things, but he’s one of those people who light a fire under you and make you do the right thing even when you don’t feel like it at the time. Which is why right now, before all of you, I want to say thank you, Grandpa Giles. Thanks for your leadership and guidance and encouragement, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He glanced over at the wings of the stage where Cooper and Alex had moved into the very edge of the light. He met their eyes steadily. Alex looked worried. Cooper seemed rock solid as if he suspected what James was about to do. He dipped his chin in approval.
James took a deep breath and turned back to his grandpa. “I’m handing in my resignation, effective immediately.”
A gasp went up from the crowd. Grandpa Giles blinked, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.
Wow. Amazing. It was a moment to savour. It wasn’t often that anyone managed to make the old man speechless.
But James didn’t have time. Somewhere out there Kaylee needed him, and this was only one step in doing the right thing.
It was time to finish it. James spoke to the crowd in the auditorium again. “I’ll continue working for the company, but in some other role. You see, while up until now I’ve been a son, a grandson, and a brother, I recently added a new title to the list. I want to be able to spend time with my mate, and that requires a change. She’s the most important thing in my world—family is still high on my list, but my Kaylee is at the very top. I can’t wait to see what each day I get to spend with her brings.”
There was a crash to the side of the stage.
James glanced over to discover Kaylee standing beside his brothers.
There were leaves in her hair, the long strands plastered across her face in wet strands. She was naked except for a brightly coloured swatch of fabric wrapped around her body like a toga.
Mud streaked her face, lines of it covering her knees and arms. There was a dark blob clinging to the tip of her nose, but most importantly, she was there, staring at him with wonder in her eyes.
She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
20
K aylee didn’t know her feet were moving at first. Nothing registered except that tug deep inside that said she needed to be next to James. Right. Damn. Now.
Next to the big bear shifter who owned her heart, body, and soul.
It had taken forever to run the distance between her parents’ and the fairgrounds. Three of the rivers she had to cross had been swollen to excess with spring runoff, leaving her an exhausted mess by the time she made it across the distance.
Then once she’d shifted, the only thing she could find to pull on had been the banner hanging across the front gate. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and she’d ripped it from its moorings, wrapped it around her body and raced for the auditorium in time to hear James give up everything for her.
This wasn’t how she’d planned to notch up her shaky confidence. She was supposed to be perfectly groomed and dressed like a princess, but it didn’t matter.
None of that mattered, because James stood in front of her with love in his eyes, his arms outstretched.
Screw it. She didn’t need to impress anyone but him and clearly, he was going to be a sacrificial bastard if she didn’t get a move on.
She paced across the stage, her feet leaving wet prints behind.
His gaze never wavered, but his smile grew broader, and his hand rose to cover his chest, fingers spread wide as if attempting to contain his heart.
There were a million things she could say. There were a million things she should be worried about, but none of them mattered even a fraction as much as the one thing pounding through her brain.
She stopped directly in front of him, staring into his eyes. “I love you, James Borealis.”
He slipped off his suit jacket, sliding it around her shoulders, staying in contact, his touch warm through the layers of fabric. “Convenient, because I love you too.”
Shock waves of joy raced, but it wasn’t enough. Kaylee took a deep breath then stole the microphone from his hand. “Grandpa Giles?”
The old man stood only a few feet to the side, amusement written on every inch of his face. “Yes, darling?”
“I need you to pretend you didn’t hear a word James said during the last five minutes. I mean, remember the part where he loves me, but not the quitting nonsense.” She took a deep breath, braced herself, then turned to look at the crowd.
Shockingly, she saw nothing but darkness, the house lights shining in her eyes. It left her blind in a way, but somehow, she knew that if she could see each individual face in the crowded room, she now had the courage to deal with it.
“Hello, everyone. I assume you’re out there. If I could have your attention, please. I also need you to pretend you didn’t hear that last bit. Of course, James is not stepping down from his role at Borealis Gems. He’s the most wonderful spokesman they could have, and incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the company and the direction it’s going in the future. If any of you have questions or want to arrange publicity events, you’ll want to make an appointment soon before he gets booked up.”
There was a rumble of laughter, disconnected voices, and soft amusement, and yet instead of freaking her out, it felt a little like sharing stories with James in the dark.
Those days so long ago when they used to camp in the backyard, and she’d lie in the tent and he’d lie outside so he could shift to his bear form without messing with zippers.
She ha
dn’t been able to see him then either, but as they’d stay up late to tell stories and share secrets, she’d always known he was there. Guarding her. Caring for her.
Learning how to love her.
Every bit of their past made it easy to keep going. “You’ll definitely want to make your bookings as soon as possible because part of what he said was right. I hope to be occupying more of his time. You see, James was trying to be gallant for my sake. That’s why he was going to give up the job that he is so perfect for, but it’s my turn to do the right thing. Somehow, I’m going to figure out what needs to be done so I can be by his side and help him. I know I can do it, because James has told me I can.”
She faced him. James, who she could see perfectly. James, who was the center of her universe, now and always, the way it was supposed to be.
“He hasn’t only told me recently, though. He started years ago. Everything he’s done, and all the time we’ve spent together, affirmed how much he cares about me and how proud he is of all the things I’ve accomplished. How certain he is that I’m capable of doing anything I put my mind to.”
James stepped toward her.
Kaylee took a deep breath. “Sometimes it’s scary to step out from behind the camera or step into a new relationship. But when your best friend tells you you’ve got the balls to do it, you have to believe the guy.”
The ripple of laughter that burst free from the darkness sparkled like fireworks, but Kaylee barely registered it because James had caught her fingers in his hands. He tugged her body against his as he slid an arm around her torso and held on tight.
“Does this mean you’ll stop arguing with me?” he teased, his voice going softer.
She clicked off the power on the microphone. “In your dreams, Borealis.”
James tilted his head. “Then what are you saying, Banks?”
“I think…” She slid a hand up his chest until her palm rested over where his heart beat as rapidly as her own. “I think I’m perfect for you, even if I’m not your mate. I’m yours, you’re mine. I choose to believe that one hundred percent with everything in me. I’m going to do everything I can to love you with every bit of me. Always—”