Shifter Wonderland: Twelve BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romances

by Christin Lovell

  “OK. So let’s make a toast. Or a pact. By this time next year, we will all be looking forward to our first Christmas at home with our families. It will be some other lonely bachelor’s job to keep things rolling, while we eat too much food and make love to our mates.” Dermot raised his glass.

  “Sure, why not,” Damon said.

  “I’m in.” Declan raised his glass, but then added, “But I still think it’s pointless. After all, we can’t change our fates just because we promise to.”

  “Damn it, Declan. Lighten up. You never know what’s round the corner,” Dermot said, slapping his brother good-naturedly on the back. And, if you haven’t found your mate by mid-summer, I’ll put your bad-tempered bear face on one of those dating websites. I heard Marjorie in Bear Creek was thinking of starting one.”

  “If you do that, I will disown you,” Declan growled. “I don’t need help finding a woman.”

  Dermot and Damon collapsed into fits of laughter. “Right, because your social diary is full of dates with women.”

  “That’s through choice. I’ve gotten to an age where it seems shallow to date a woman, when you know you are never going to settle down with her because she isn’t your mate.”

  “See, you are a romantic at heart, and there was us thinking you were a miserable bear.”

  “Listen, it’s hysterical to sit around and shoot the breeze with you guys,” Declan said sarcastically. “But some of us have got more important things to do than have their social life pulled apart.”

  “Hey, just because you’ve hit a dry spell,” Dermot laughed.

  “I have not hit a dry spell,” Declan ground out. “It is my choice not to date. The same as it is my choice to work at Christmas.”

  “It’s also your choice to be miserable at Christmas,” Damon said.

  “I am not miserable.”

  “Come on, any minute now the words bah humbug! are going to come out of your mouth as you tell some kid off for being too cheerful in front of you.”

  “Bear humbug,” Dermot said in his deep, growly voice, making Damon collapse with laughter.

  Declan came back towards them, placing one hand on the back of each of their chairs.

  “Thank you for the beer. I am so glad that no matter how miserable I am feeling, I can always count on you two to cheer me up.” Then, with a broad grin, he ruffled both his younger brothers’ hair and growled “Bah humbug” as he left the bar.

  Chapter Two – Maria

  Maria was seated in the small reception area outside sheriff’s office, which was locked. It was cold, and she kept looking at the door leading out onto the street, willing it to open and for someone to come in. Although she had avoided meeting people since she had moved to Bear Bluff to look after her nephew, now that she needed help, she cursed being left hanging around.

  The weather outside had taken a turn for the worse. Snow was beginning to fall heavily, prompting her to come for the sheriff instead of giving Jason more time to bring himself home. Surely, the office shouldn’t have been left empty this long time. Bear Bluff might be a small town, but it didn’t mean the sheriff could just abandon his post for hours!

  She guessed he probably had other duties, maybe personal obligations to attend to; it was the day before Christmas Eve, after all. There was no way she could blame him for being home with his family instead of at his desk. But surely someone should be here?

  Getting up from her seat, she decided to go across the street to the diner to ask if they had any information on his whereabouts. Reaching for the door handle, she placed her hand on it and pulled it open. At the exact same time, someone on the other side pushed it towards her.

  “What the…” The door flew open with such a force that she fell backwards. Hands flailing, the floor rushed towards her, or rather she rushed towards it. Maria braced herself for the impact; however, just as she was about to hit the floor, a hand reached out and grabbed her. The owner of the hand had lightning-fast reflexes, his quick reaction the only thing to save her from injury. In one swift movement, he pulled her back to her feet, making her marvel at his strength.

  “Thank you,” she said, her breathing fast. As she looked at the man who had pulled her upright, she took in the flush of pink across his cheeks and then she caught sight of his eyes. His sexy-as-hell green eyes that held the look of a man possessed. Great, she had fallen into the arms of a deranged maniac who had probably had too much Christmas cheer at the local bar.

  Then she realised the man, who still had hold of her arm, was wearing a uniform. Even better. This was the man she had been waiting for, the man whose help she needed. Unfortunately, he didn’t look as if he had enough control of his faculties to help anyone.

  Wasn’t drinking on duty against the law? Because he must be drunk. His eyes were out of focus and his breath, warm on her neck, smelt like beer. But the most unnerving thing about him were his fingers, which were not exactly digging into her flesh, but into her soul.

  “Hi,” she said, taking a step back and trying to pull away from her savior, but he refused to let go. Instead, he was frozen in place, his face a mixture of fascination and confusion. She tried to break his trance by saying, “I was looking for the sheriff.”

  “The sheriff?” he repeated.

  “Yes.”

  “The sheriff.” He looked down at his uniform, staring blindly at the badge on his chest before coming alive and saying, “Oh. Yeah. That’s me.”

  “Are you sure?” She thought maybe he had stolen the uniform, or perhaps it was fancy dress. Men did like to dress up at Christmas for parties and such. Yes, that probably explained it. She had come face to face with a man who was playing sheriff. “Listen. Forget it. I’ll wait for someone else.”

  “No.” He let go of her arm and took a step back, straightening his jacket and puffing his chest out. “I’m the sheriff. That’s me.”

  She raised her eyebrow and opened her mouth to disagree. No man who took his job seriously would behave like this.

  However, he insisted, “Really. I am. It’s just that … you … took me by … surprise.”

  “Surprise?” Why would a woman waiting in his office take him by surprise? Bear Bluff might be quiet—the citizens appeared to behave themselves impeccably from the scarcity of scandalous news in the local paper—but she was sure it wasn’t such a backwater town that the sheriff never had anything to do.

  “Yes,” he said with a nod, his eyes still not quite focused, and she wondered how many pints of beer he had drunk.

  “You mean because it’s Christmas and most townsfolk know you would rather not be disturbed?”

  Now, that might be the answer. Well, if it was, he was not going to be happy about the reason she was here. At that thought, a lump rose in her throat. She needed his help, or someone’s help, and fast.

  “No. Not at all. I just… Never mind,” he said, walking past her, putting as much distance between them as he could. This guy was a man of contradictions: one minute he wanted to touch her arm, and never let go, the next he acted as though she would burn him if he got too close.

  Just as her arm still burnt from where his fingers had made contact with her. It wasn’t the only thing that was warming up; her spine tingled and the sweetest sensations radiated through her body.

  Now who was thinking inappropriate thoughts?

  She watched him sit down at his desk, all muscle, all man. If anyone could help her, she was sure he could, despite his dazed expression. He looked as if he knew how to handle himself out there on the mountain. The lump of fear freed itself and erupted in a strangled hiccup in her mouth.

  “Hey…” He half rose, his hand shooting out as if he wanted to touch her again, comfort her. And she longed to fall into those strong arms and let him tell her it was all right. But it wasn’t all right.

  To her relief, he withdrew the offered comforting hand, realising it was inappropriate, and instead said, “Why don’t you sit down and tell me why you’re here?”

&
nbsp; “Thank you,” she said, when she could trust herself to talk and not melt into a sobbing heap.

  Opening his drawer, he got a piece of paper out of his desk and picked up a pen. This was it. She was about to make a missing person report; she was about to make the situation real. Crossing her arms over her chest, she tried to shield herself from the accusing looks he was bound to give her when she told him what a complete and utter failure she was.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?” he asked gently.

  “I’m not really sure where to start,” she said, trying to gather her thoughts.

  “The beginning is always the best place,” he urged.

  So where was the beginning?

  Would she have to start with her childhood, or her lonely years in the city? Because all of those things must have shaped her character. Made her into the kind of woman who had frightened off her orphaned nephew. Made him run away just before Christmas.

  “I came here to look after my nephew. When his parents died.”

  She thought back to that day when a police officer had knocked on her door and told her the news. It was the day her life had changed. That day, she had given up everything to come and look after a child who didn’t want her there and had made it quite clear she would never replace his parents. And no matter how many times she assured him she knew that, he still wouldn’t let her in. Not one inch.

  The sheriff’s eyes narrowed and he looked at her closely. “You’re Yvonne’s sister. I see the resemblance now. I’m sorry for your loss. That was tough. Hit and run, I attended the scene.”

  Tears came now. They ran down her cheeks to plop onto her still-folded arms. “Thank you. She was my only sister. It just seemed so unfair; I know how in love she was with Matthew. They were so close and she was so happy.”

  He nodded. “The marriages in Bear Bluff last for ever.”

  “So she said.”

  He wrote something on the piece of paper. And then put his pen down. “Is this something that would be better dealt with in an unofficial capacity?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, wiping her eyes.

  “Tell me why you’re here. Is it about their boy, Jason?” he asked, his voice understanding, drawing the words from her.

  “Yes. He hasn’t accepted me as his guardian.”

  “I see. Boy’s at a difficult age.” Whatever unprofessionalism had crept in at their first encounter, it had gone now. The sheriff was like a laser, targeting the problem and working out how to deal with it. Her confidence in him grew; he would be able to help her. Although going up a mountain the night before Christmas Eve was probably not on his list of things to do.

  Her eyes glanced at his ring finger. Empty. At least he didn’t have a wife at home waiting for him, wanting to spend Christmas with him. That thought made her happy despite her fears for Jason. It was immediately followed by a dose of self-loathing. Everyone should be with someone they loved at Christmas.

  Especially a thirteen-year-old boy who had lost his parents.

  “He ran off,” she said simply.

  “He can look after himself. He’ll be back before you know it,” the sheriff said confidently.

  “He’s been gone since this morning.” Then she confessed. “At least that’s when I noticed he’d gone. I think he left after he heard me go to bed. That would make it nearly twenty four hours ago.”

  “I see.” His gaze drifted past her to look through the window, where the snow was coming down and settling on the ground.

  “That’s what scares me. He’s out there all alone in the snow.” Another heart-wrenching sob. She saw his hand tighten around his pen, as if he was willing himself not to reach out to her. Or maybe he just hated women crying in front of him. She wiped her eyes and tried to get control of herself.

  “So where would he go?” the sheriff asked.

  “I’m not sure. But his dad used to take him up into the mountains. Jason told me about a network of caves up there. He used to say his dad had a den up there. It was their special place, where they would camp and watch the stars in the summer.”

  “A den,” he repeated and then sat and thought for a moment. “I think I know where you mean. There are a few caves, though. It might take a while to search them all.”

  “I’m just scared if that’s where he is, and the snow is coming down…” She took a shuddering breath. “I can’t let my sister down. I have to find him. Will you help me, Sheriff?”

  Chapter Three – Declan

  If only she knew who she was to him, she wouldn’t have to ask. Instead, he had to bury his feelings for her until Jason was found and returned to her safely. In her present condition, it wasn’t fair to tell her she was his mate. Fair? It went deeper than that—he would hate for her to think he was taking advantage of her on any level. No. This had to be his secret until he found her nephew.

  “Call me Declan, please.” He smiled at her, and watched as she hiccupped and then held out her hand. He took it, steeling himself for the strong sensations that burned through his body when her hand touched his, branding his skin.

  “I’m Maria.” She pulled her hand back and he let it go, although he wanted to hold onto it and kiss it, and then kiss her lips…

  He cleared his throat. “Listen, Maria, why don’t you go on home? As soon as I find Jason, I’ll bring him to you.”

  She stood up. “I’m going to help find him too.”

  “It would be better if I went alone,” Declan insisted.

  “No. He is my responsibility. I intend to come with you and help find him. It’s the least I can do.”

  Declan knew he would move much faster up over the mountain on his own, yet seeing her face, the determination there, he knew he had to let her come with him. “We’ll need to go back to my place for supplies.”

  “Your place?” she asked, her face going pink. He took that as a good sign; she wasn’t the kind of woman used to going back to a man’s home on her own. Or was it just him? Had he scared her off by almost drooling over her? He couldn’t help it; he wanted to taste her so bad.

  Shaking off his hunger, he said, “Yes. We need some warm clothing. And rope, and flares.” He began to make a mental list of everything they needed. His task was doubly important now. Not only did he have to find Jason, he had to keep his mate safe too.

  “OK. I’m ready when you are.” She nodded and he couldn’t help but smile and admire her determination. He only hoped she was this determined when they were up on the high slopes of the mountain in the freezing cold.

  “Then let’s go.” He got up, grabbing his hat and his keys. He would have to call on his deputy to watch over things here, which might not go down too well, but it was part of the job. He should also let his brothers know he would be out of town for a day or two. With his mate. Yeah, he might just keep that one to himself. There was no rush now he had found her; he had the rest of their lives to let the world know.

  Keeping it quiet might be difficult though, because right now he wanted to jump from roof to roof and yell at the top of his voice that he had found her at last. He took back everything he had said about the Holiday season; he no longer wanted to shout bah humbug.

  Instead, he dared to hope that Santa had come early to Bear Bluff this year.

  Chapter Four – Maria

  Relief swept over her. This man, Declan, was going to help her. For the first time since she came to Bear Bluff, she didn’t feel alone. Not that the people here hadn’t tried to be friendly. Yet somehow, she had pushed them away, preferring to be an outsider. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t allow herself to be absorbed into this small town. It wasn’t who she was; she could not see herself as the type of woman who was a soccer mom or did bake sales. Maria had learned to keep herself aloof and she was scared to be any other way.

  Jason’s behaviour compounded those feelings. He could see her for who she was, and he understood she didn’t fit in. So why was she surprised he had run off?

  “You do
n’t understand me. You don’t belong here.” She replayed the words he had thrown at her last night just before he had run off. He wanted to go out into the snow with his friends. She had told him it was too late and too dangerous. Jason hadn’t taken her decision too well. Storming off to his room, he had slammed the door shut and refused to speak to her when she went to make peace. Maria had thought he was sulking and that was why he hadn’t answered her knock on his door.

  When she tried again this morning and he still didn’t answer, tired of being ignored, she had entered his room. It was then she discovered he hadn’t been ignoring her. Looking at his unmade bed and open window, she realised he had run away from his controlling aunt.

  At first she expected him to come home, tired and hungry. When it got to lunchtime, and he was still absent, she began to worry and called his friends. Only to be told no, no one had seen him.

  Slowly panic had found a home in her heart and that was why she was here now, in front of the sheriff, whose smile made tendrils of desire uncurl in the pit of her stomach.

  That had to stop right now. This wasn’t the time or the place. He wasn’t the man for her. She didn’t want a man, she chastised herself.

  She had to sort her own life, and Jason’s, out before she could even think of any romantic entanglements. And who would want her anyway, when she came with so much baggage?

  That was unfair to Jason. He couldn’t help what had happened any more than she could. But they had to learn to live together before she could ever think of inflicting their disagreements and misunderstandings on a stranger. Jason was hurting and missing his parents, just as she missed her beloved sister, and she didn’t want him to ever think he wasn’t the most important thing in the world to her right now.