“Sure.” Dean took the bottle from Zak, and then asked, “So you drink now?”
“Occasionally,” Zak replied. “I’ve learned that one won’t hurt me, and you taught me I was never going to turn into my old man. So I’ve made peace with the demon drink.”
“You’ve grown,” Dean observed. “And I don’t just mean in the muscle department.”
Zak lifted his arm and made a fist. “I work out a lot. It’s one way to wrinkle out life’s frustrations. Plus, I find it helps me work.”
“Over dinner, you can tell me all about it.” Dean thrust some steaks at him. “I thought we’d have a BBQ since it’s such a glorious evening. You go ahead and light it. You do remember how, right?”
“I do.” Zak took the steaks and some rolls outside. The BBQ had been upgraded since he was here last, but he soon had it lit. Dean was right; it was going to be a glorious spring evening.
The sound of an engine made him turn. He recognized the sound. How the hell had she found him, and more importantly, why?
Zak headed around the side of the house, just as she opened the car door and got out. She stopped dead in her tracks, the car door still in her hand. Her expression was unreadable at first, and then it changed, she looked mad.
Slamming the car door shut, she took two long strides toward him, before she stopped.
“Hi there, Mommy,” Dean’s voice said from the front porch, where he was standing with Storm in his arms, waving her little hand at Louise.
“Hi.” Louise’s body language softened, and she waved back at Storm. “How are you doing?”
“We have had an exciting day. One of my old kids came back to town.” Dean passed Storm over to Louise, and then called, “Zak, come say hello to Louise.”
Zak took a calming breath, shaking off his dazed expression. This was going to be awkward. “I’m here. Hi, Louise.”
“Hi, Zak.” They looked at each other, a little hostility in the air.
Dean, being Dean, picked up on it. “Do you two know each other?”
“We met earlier today,” Louise said, kissing Storm’s cheek.
“You did?” Dean asked warily. “You didn’t get into a fight?”
“No, Zak fixed my car,” Louise said.
“You let a stranger fix your car?” Dean asked, sounding like a protective father.
“Louise was on the side of the road. She said she had called for help, but I offered.” Zak shrugged. “I took her to work and then came here for the wrench.”
“You got onto the back of a bike with a stranger?” Dean asked. This was not going well, Louise’s face paled, and she looked close to tears.
“I’m sorry. I was going to call you, but I didn’t want to be late. You know how difficult it’s going to be for me to get a job, without having my CV say tardy.” Louise’s voice was high, and she looked close to tears.
Dean noticed, and his voice softened. “I’m sorry, honey, I just worry about you.”
“I’m a grown woman,” Louise tried to counter, but she was visibly shaken.
“Hey, I shouldn’t have yelled.” Dean pulled Louise into his arms. “I’m sorry. Come on, Storm has had her dinner, and we are going to have a BBQ in honor of Zak coming home. We might have to wrap up against the chilly air, but it will be worth it.”
“I’m the wayward son Dean never had,” Zak said, winking at her, and then he punched Dean lightly on the arm. It was hard for Zak to resist the temptation to take Louise in his own arms and tell her it was OK. He also had to fight the temptation to punch the old man in the nose for upsetting his mate. But Zak figured that news should wait until a better time. “And anyway, you know girls can’t resist this face.”
“I think it was more likely the pants,” Louise owned up. “Ronni has been talking about your butt all afternoon.”
Dean burst out laughing. “You’ve only been back in Bear Creek for a couple of hours and you already have the girls running around after you. Some things never change.”
“Thanks,” Zak said, not wanting to give Louise the wrong impression of him. “Those days, and those pants, are behind me.”
“Oh, they were behind you, all right,” Dean said with a guffaw which made Louise giggle, and Storm shriek.
“Wow, that is ear-splitting,” Zak said, putting his hand to his ear.
“Sorry, she is learning to make a variety of sounds, but Mommy does not seem to be one of them,” Louise said, her tone tinged with sadness.
“She’ll say it when she’s ready,” Dean said gently. “Don’t worry.”
“OK, the BBQ is ready, let’s get some food on.” Zak walked back around the house.
“You two go ahead, I’ll bring the rest of the food out,” Dean said, shooing them away.
“Are you sure? I can help you,” Louise insisted.
“No, you go and sit down, you look exhausted, and let us men wait on you.” Dean disappeared into the house, leaving Zak and Louise almost alone.
“She’s a cute kid,” Zak said, not knowing what else to say. “Dean dotes on her.”
“He’s been really good to us,” Louise admitted. “More than I deserve.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Dean is a good judge of character, he must think you are deserving if he took you in.”
“So you are you one of his kids?” Louise asked, pointing the conversation in a different direction.
“I am. I have my photo on the wall.”
“Oh, the rogues’ gallery.” She tilted her head and looked at him closely. “I don’t remember seeing you.”
“My hair was longer, I was attempting to grow a beard.”
She snort-laughed, then blushed. “Sorry.”
“I see you recall the picture.” He laughed. “I was into ZZ Top, and wanted one of those long beards.” He pretended to stroke an imaginary beard, but then shook his head. “You’ve probably never heard of them.”
“I have. I know exactly what you mean. But I’m sorry to say, it looked like peach fuzz.”
“Thanks.” He rolled his eyes and then laughed. “You are probably right. I soon shaved off the beard.”
“And is that when the ladies started to chase after you?” Louise asked.
“That and the leather pants. I started experimenting at a young age. What can I say, everyone wants to tame a bad boy.” He held out his hands and walked around in a circle, until he realized he looked like a strutting peacock. “But that is the old me.”
“I see. The female half of the population of Bear Creek have been saved from themselves.” Louise laughed. “Hear that, Storm? The ladies won’t be fighting over Zak.”
“Yeah. I’m not that kind of a guy anymore.” He clapped his hands together, which made Storm jump, her big blue eyes nearly popping out of her head. “Sorry.”
“It’s OK, isn’t it, Storm? We like clapping our hands.” Louise switched Storm around so that she was supported in the crook of her arm and then Louise began to clap. Storm looked at her mommy’s hands with total absorption, and then tried to clap her own hands, but didn’t have the coordination.
“I’m going to get some food on this BBQ,” Zak said, turning away from Louise. It had suddenly hit him that he was going to go from being single to having a family. He hadn’t just found his mate today, he had also found his first child. A child he was going to learn to love as if she were his own.
As Zak put the food on to cook, and Dean came out with salad and potatoes, Zak wondered where Storm’s father was. Had he died? Or simply left her and the baby? Of course, it also explained why Louise had tried to push him away when they first met.
If he read her right, she wasn’t looking for a man, because she was learning to be a mother. Zak knew he was going to have to play this very carefully. His urge to open up and tell her of his undying love would be enough to frighten her away. He could not risk that, not when she was so happy here.
At least he could talk to Dean about this. The man always gave the best advice. Zak only hoped that Dean would
not be disappointed when he found out Zak was Louise’s true mate.
Chapter Seven – Louise
No matter how hard she tried to keep her eyes off Zak, she could not stop herself from watching him as he cooked the steaks. He looked so at ease, so comfortable in his own skin, and that was what she found fascinating. At least that was what she tried to tell herself she found fascinating.
But she could not deny he was one of the sexiest men alive.
“How is your steak?” Dean asked, sitting next to her on a lawn chair.
“Good. Really good,” Louise turned her attention onto Dean. “I’m sorry I let you down.”
“How did you let me down?” Dean asked, taking a mouthful of food.
“You know, with my car.” Louise bounced Storm on her knee. She was growing into one of the wiggliest babies Louise had ever known.
Dean sighed. “I’m sorry I got mad. You are old enough to make your own decisions.”
“No, you were right, I should not have taken the risk.” She kissed Storm’s head and earned herself a squeal, which drew Zak’s attention. Inwardly, she acknowledged she was not the only one doing the staring. Zak watched her as much as she watched him.
This set off a nervous flutter in her chest. Was he really interested in her, or was he jealous she monopolized so much of Dean’s time? Zak would not have expected to come home and find a woman and baby in Dean’s house.
“I told you, sometimes you have to take risks. I was just concerned. I promise not to get mad again.” Dean looked up as Zak came and sat with them. “Good food, son.”
“Thanks, steaks are my specialty.” Zak stuck his fork into a piece of steak and ate it. “Oh, god, that is good.”
“Modest,” Dean accused.
“I try,” Zak said, his eyes sparkling with laughter. “Anyway, it’s a reflection on you, since you taught me to use a BBQ.”
“True.” Dean took a bite of his steak, and said, “You are right, it’s real good.”
They all laughed, and Louise found herself sitting back in her chair, Storm in her arms, and dreaming that this was her perfect life. What she wouldn’t give to have a dad like Dean and a man like Zak in her life forever.
Her mood slipped, and her lip trembled. Now that Zak was back, what if Dean decided he had done his duty by Louise and Storm? She didn’t feel ready to move on.
“So is Louise’s car OK, or do I need to check it over?” Dean asked.
“Nope, it’s good, just a loose hose.” Zak speared a tomato. “So what is the story with the car, anyway? Is it a family heirloom?”
“No, it was the cheapest car we could buy that still ran,” Louise said. “I plan to pay Dean back as soon as I have a job that earns me money.”
“We got lucky,” Dean said. “It runs like a dream.” He gave Zak a look that she could not interpret.
“What am I missing?” Louise asked, not wanting there to be secrets between them. Not when it concerned her.
“Nothing,” Dean said quickly, and concentrated on his food.
“My dad used to have cars like that,” Zak began. “All beat up. I used to have to fix them up for him. Then he’d sell them for cash, so he could buy booze.”
“That doesn’t sound like a happy childhood,” Louise stated. She didn’t want to pry into Zak’s life, but obviously something had gone wrong at home, or he would not have been in Dean’s care when he was growing up.
“It wasn’t. But then I got lucky—he beat the crap out of me, and I ended up here.” Zak shrugged it off.
“Parents do not behave as they are supposed to,” Dean said. “If they did, I would be out of a job, and I would not have been fortunate enough to have met you two fine young people.”
“Feeling is mutual,” Zak said, finishing his food.
“So are you going to tell me about your adventures, Zak?” Dean asked. “You’ve been gone for nearly two years.”
“That is not fair, I’ve never missed a birthday and I have Skyped whenever I could,” Zak protested.
“It is not the same as having you here,” Dean said, sitting back in his chair. “Now, spill.”
“Well, I traveled some, bummed around mainly. Then, when I was in Australia, I got together with a band and wrote some songs.”
“Wow, that is amazing,” Louise said, feeling boring in comparison. Zak was like a star shining bright, whereas she felt as dull as ditchwater.
“It was.” Zak nodded.
“You were in a band?” Dean asked incredulously. “They heard you sing, right?”
“No, they did not.” Zak grinned as he speared a potato with his fork.
“Good, because from what I remember you can’t hold a tune,” Dean said amiably.
“Still can’t, at least not with my voice. But I can play the guitar, and that was all I needed to do. I played them a couple of my songs and they were sold.” Zak shrugged. “I made some decent money, and traveled with them on tour. After six months on the road, I decided it was time to come back here. I was homesick.”
“I’m glad you are home, but incredibly proud of you,” Dean said.
“Yeah. I’m proud too, I went out there to prove myself, and I did.” Zak tilted his head up and looked at the inky blue sky. “I missed this place.”
A quiet settled around them, and they each watched as the first stars came out. Then Louise sat up. “I should get Storm into bed. Give you two a chance to catch up.” She got up wearily. “Leave the dishes, Dean, I’ll come down and clean up when Storm is asleep.
“No, you won’t. You go and take a bath, you look all done in,” Dean said.
Louise ran her hand through her hair; she probably did look a frightful sight. “No, it’s my turn to do the dishes.”
“We can manage,” Zak said, getting up and beginning to clear away the plates. “Really. I have missed all this.”
“What he means is, he needs to remember he is a kid from a small town,” Dean said. “We don’t want all these rock-star dreams to go to his head.”
“OK, if you are sure,” Louise said. “Say goodnight, Storm.”
Dean held out his arms and her daughter went to him for a good night cuddle, leaving Zak and Louise standing side by side, not knowing what to say. There was an awkwardness between them. Or was that her imagination too?
“I’m going to take a bath and go straight to bed,” Louise said. “So I’ll say good night.”
“Night, sweetheart,” Dean said, kissing her cheek. “You are not working tomorrow, are you?”
“No. The day after. If that’s OK with you?” Louise didn’t know what she would do if Dean could not babysit. Until she had a paying job, she would be lost without him.
“Sure, anytime, you know that,” Dean said honestly.
“Good night, Louise, night, Storm,” Zak said, a dim silhouette in the twilight.
“Night, Zak, it was good to meet you.” Louise meant it, she was pleased to meet him; she simply hoped life would not change too quickly. The stability she had found living with Dean was comforting in a way she could never have believed.
“You too,” Zak replied, his expression making her heart melt.
Trying to act normally, she walked away from the two men and entered the house, her emotions all mixed up. She was drawn to Zak, but that was all wishful thinking? The guy had so much experience of the world, while Louise was just a single mother who had never gotten further than Bear Creek, even when she ran away. Not that she didn’t love the town, and the people in it.
Anyway, if he was a shifter, and she had learned from Suzie that Dean usually fostered shifter kids, then it was obvious she was not his mate. There was no way she was putting herself through that kind of emotional trauma again.
I’ve found my mate.
She really was a piece of work, she was simply on the rebound from Ollie, in some perverse way, and she had latched onto the first man to make her heart beat faster. She had to get a grip on herself, there was no way she was going to spoil what she and S
torm had here with Dean. No way.
Yet as she got Storm ready for bed, and then took a bath, she was sure of one thing. Zak’s arrival had changed her life. Maybe only indirectly, because of his relationship with Dean. But it had changed nonetheless. And she wasn’t ready for the repercussions.
She was not ready at all.
Chapter Eight – Zak
“Australia?” Dean asked.
Zak chuckled. “It was as far as I could run without getting my balls frozen off. Even in the summer, the North Pole is freezing.”
“Is that what you were doing? Running away was never your style.” Dean stacked the lawn chairs while Zak made sure the BBQ was out. Then they carried everything back inside.
“I don’t know. I left here thinking I had to prove myself. I kept on going until I realized I had nothing to prove to anyone other than myself.” He stacked the dishes on the counter, while Dean ran the water into the sink.
“I could have told you that,” Dean replied.
“You did. Many times, if I remember correctly. But it was a lesson I had to learn for myself. And I did.” Zak picked up the dish towel and dried the dishes after Dean washed them.
“So where does that leave you now?” Dean asked. “Do you need money?”
“No. I have a nice big nest egg.” Zak placed the dry dishes on the counter.
“Are you going to need a job?” Dean asked. “I could put in a good word for you at the local brewery.”
“Bear Creek has a brewery?” Zak asked. “Things have changed since I went away.”
“We do. It’s run by an ex-movie star.” Dean looked sideways at Zak. “You could do worse.”
“I could, and I appreciate it. But I’m OK. The band never really needed me on guitar, but they did need my songs. So I’m going to continue writing for them and try to write for some mainstream artists too.”
“Are you telling me you really did make big?” Dean asked, his voice choked with emotion.
“You sound surprised.” Zak grinned. “You always told me I would. Now I find you never believed in me.”
“I believed in you. But to be honest, I would be happy with anything that doesn’t involve drink and a life of dealing.”
Bad Boy Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 9) Page 4