Going Polar: A Stand Alone Holiday Howls Polar Bear Shifter Romance

by Abbie Zanders

“I bet.”

  She offered him a glass of wine, which he accepted, and then he went on to explain, “Employee-guest canoodling is generally frowned upon.”

  “But you don’t work for the lodge, do you?”

  “Technically, no. However, Mayor Bill did ask me, as a personal favor, to ensure you had a good time.”

  Lainey stiffened, the implication chilling the warm and fuzzies created by wine and Finn. “Is that why you—”

  “No,” Finn said firmly, cutting her off before she could finish her question. “Not at all. Bill didn’t even approach me until after the welcome dinner, and by that point, I’d already known I wanted to spend more time with you. The official request just gave me an additional reason to. And to be clear, Bill’s suggestion included only resort-approved, family friendly, wholesome activities, nothing more.”

  She relaxed slightly. “You didn’t want anyone to think there was more to it.”

  He nodded. “The no canoodling rule, as you called it, is taken pretty seriously, though it does happen. Bill just asks for discretion when it does. He worries about the reputation of the lodge and the people who live and work here. Aurora Falls depends on tourist money to survive.”

  “I get it,” Lainey said. And she did. It wasn’t any different than anywhere else really.

  People had affairs at the animal hospital all the time despite the fact that they were strongly discouraged by management. It wasn’t an issue unless someone made it one—usually a spouse or a jealous crush.

  The older woman who’d been ogling and pawing at Finn came immediately to mind.

  “Did someone say something?” Lainey guessed.

  “Another guest noticed the time we had been spending together and complained. Bill, of course, believed it was because of his request.”

  “Did you correct his assumption?”

  “No,” Finn admitted.

  While she understood, it still stung a little. “I see.”

  “Like I said, it’s complicated.”

  “And like I said, I get it. I’m only going to be around for a few more days, and then I’ll be heading back to Vermont and hopefully a regional directorship. So, let’s enjoy the time we have while we have it and not overthink it, okay?”

  Instead of the relief she’d expected to see on his face, the corners of Finn’s lips turned downward. She took the initiative, straddled his lap, and tried to kiss his frown away.

  “And I promise not to include any of your very personalized attention in my Yelp review.”

  Finn

  THE THOUGHT OF LAINEY leaving wasn’t a pleasant one. His bear didn’t like it either and pawed at his insides in protest. However, with Lainey’s warm, soft weight in his lap and her sweet lips touching his, it was difficult to think of anything beyond the fact that they had the entire suite to themselves.

  He allowed his hands to slip underneath her top and caress her silky, smooth skin, planting kisses along her jaw and down the column of her neck. She shifted, narrowing the space between them until there was hardly any space at all.

  A crashing sound out on the deck startled them both.

  “What the hell was that?” Finn asked, looking toward the drawn panels over the sliding doors.

  “It’s probably just the bears again,” Lainey told him, catching her breath as she rested her forehead against his.

  “Bears? What bears?”

  “Polar bears. There was one on my deck earlier, peering through the door at me.”

  “What?!”

  She shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “That’s the charm of Aurora Falls, right? It’s not the first time they’ve been by. I saw a big one on my first night here when I was in the hot tub. He didn’t crawl over the railing though.”

  Finn knew about the “big bear” because that had been him. What he didn’t know was which of the adolescents had taken it upon themselves to kick things up a notch.

  “You weren’t scared?”

  “No, not at all. It seemed more curious than dangerous really. Then, a bigger bear—not the same one from the other night—came along and roared, and the smaller bear scampered away. I swear, it was like an adult chastising a youngster.”

  That’s exactly what it was, Finn thought.

  But that didn’t explain who—or what—was out there now.

  Finn gently lifted Lainey from his lap and went over to the sliding doors. He opened the thermal-backed panels and came face-to-snout with not one, but two young bears trying to sneak a peek through the draperies. Zoe and Lars.

  Their eyes widened when they saw him. A low warning growl erupted from deep in his chest. They nearly fell over themselves in their haste to run away.

  “Did you just growl at them?”

  Finn looked down to see Lainey standing by his side. He made a conscious effort to push his bear back down before answering. Once he was sure he could speak in his human voice, he said, “Yes. It’s something you learn when you live here.”

  “Impressive. I think I want to hear more.”

  He closed the draperies—tightly this time—and then for the next several hours, he was only too glad to grant her request.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lainey

  Lainey was vaguely aware of an incessant buzzing, like that of a fly that wouldn’t go away. She snuggled closer against Finn’s warm, hard body and tried to ignore it. Floating in a haze of satisfaction and comfort, she didn’t realize what it was until Finn gently untangled himself from her arms and legs, went over to the chair, and pulled his phone from his pants pocket.

  “When?” His deep voice said into the muted silence. Then, “I’m on my way.”

  She could make out his frown in the flickering glow of firelight. “Problems?” Lainey asked sleepily.

  “My sister’s gone into active labor,” he said, reaching for the rest of his clothes. “I have to go.”

  She forced herself to sitting. “I hope everything goes well.”

  “Me too.” He finished dressing and gave Lainey a quick kiss. “I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Uncle Finn.”

  He grinned at that and left in a hurry. The suite—and the bed—seemed so much emptier without him.

  Lainey stretched, relishing the delicious aches of yet another night of passion. Feeling both well rested and well sated, she decided against trying to go back to sleep.

  She dressed and went for a walk, appreciating the quiet silence of the early morning until the lodge restaurant opened for service. The dining room was pretty empty, just as it had been every other time she ventured out at that hour. She looked around for Beau, slightly disappointed when she didn’t see him, and selected a table near the window, so she could watch the sun rise while she sipped her coffee.

  “So, she decided to come out of hibernation,” Beau said a short while later, sliding into the seat perpendicular to hers.

  “That I did.” She laughed.

  “If you’re hoping to see Finn, he won’t be around this morning. His sister went into labor overnight.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Lainey commented. She didn’t tell him she already knew. “Her first?”

  Beau nodded. “Twins in fact, like Finn and Hildie. They’re pretty common in that family.”

  “I’m a twin too,” she told him.

  “No kidding?”

  “Yep. I have a twin brother.”

  When Beau laughed, she asked, “Is something funny?”

  “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Just enjoying the fact that you and Finn have so much in common. You and your brother, are you close?”

  “We used to be,” she answered honestly.

  “Why not anymore?”

  “He’s gotten involved with someone, and we don’t exactly get along. I try, for Henry’s sake, but she’s not willing to meet me halfway. It’s become a stress point between us.”

  “How so?”

  “Henry doesn’t like conflict. He says that, as an
only child, Vicki doesn’t understand the bond between siblings but that she’ll come around eventually.”

  “You don’t agree.”

  “No, I don’t. As long as Vicki keeps getting her way, there’s no reason for her to change.”

  Beau’s brows drew together. “No one should have to choose between their family and the one they love.”

  “No,” she agreed with an exhale, “they shouldn’t, but it is what it is. Honestly, as long as Henry’s happy ... that’s all I care about. Who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll find myself in the same situation.”

  Beau set aside his now-empty plate and sat back, regarding her intently. “If you did find yourself in the same situation—hypothetically speaking, of course—what would you do?”

  It was an excellent question and one she’d been asking herself a lot since Thanksgiving. The answer had seemed black and white when applied to Henry’s situation, probably because she’d never met anyone she’d prioritize over her twin brother, but that was before she met Finn.

  “If you’d asked me that a week ago, I would have said that I wouldn’t want to be with someone who forced me to make a choice like that.”

  “And now?”

  Now, she was beginning to understand what it felt like to find someone you completely gelled with. “Now ... it doesn’t seem quite so cut and dried.”

  Beau hummed softly. “What’s changed?”

  Finn.

  Aloud, she said, “I think that sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, and what it wants is worth making the hard choices for.”

  “Fair enough. Hey, will I see you tonight at the festivities?”

  “Probably not. I thought I’d stay in and catch up on some reading.”

  He frowned. “That doesn’t sound like fun.”

  “Maybe not to you, but being able to curl up with a good book and read it from start to finish is a luxury I don’t get often.”

  “Booorrrrinnng,” he drawled, patting his mouth over a fake yawn, but his eyes were twinkling. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

  “I think I left it in your helicopter during that last flight.”

  He laughed. “Ah, come on. It’s Christmas! Finn will be busy with his family, and it sure beats sitting alone in your room all night. What do you say? We can keep each other company, pound some spiked eggnog, watch animated classics. Just two friends keeping the cougars and hounds at bay.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’ve even heard a rumor that Santa might be stopping by at some point with presents for all the good little boys and girls. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very, very good this year.”

  Beau winked, and Lainey found it impossible not to smile back.

  “Fine. Make it hot chocolate with Baileys and Kahlúa, and you’ve got a deal.”

  He grinned. “I knew I’d wear you down eventually. No one can resist the Beauchamp charm forever. Uh-oh.” He looked over her shoulder. “Don’t look now, but Mae and Bradley are headed into the dining room. We should both skedaddle before they see us.”

  “Good plan.”

  Lainey followed Beau, looping around the back of the dining room to make a clean escape.

  “Remember,” he told her before they parted ways, “tonight. Don’t leave me hanging, Doc.”

  “I won’t.”

  LAINEY GOT INVOLVED in a great book and did exactly what she’d told Beau she was going to do. She read it from start to finish, taking only occasional breaks to use the bathroom or grab snacks. She was surprised when she finally set her e-reader down and noticed how dark it had become.

  There had been no word from Finn, though she hadn’t really expected any. She hoped his sister was doing well and that everything had gone smoothly. He’d seemed worried when he left earlier that morning, but perhaps it was just a case of first-time uncle jitters.

  Lainey made good on her promise to Beau. She arrived at the dining room shortly before dinner and found a decent crowd already there. When she said as much to Mo, the lodge manager told her that with the small number of guests, Mayor Bill had decided to combine it with the annual employee holiday party. That was just fine with Lainey. More people at the party meant less pressure to be socially graceful.

  Still, she was relieved when she spotted Beau. He was an outgoing and popular guy in Aurora Falls, and because of that, Lainey got to meet a lot of locals simply by hanging out with him. Even better, Beau did most of the talking, and all she had to do was smile and enjoy the evening. Occasionally, Lainey felt the hairs on the back of her neck rising and would turn around to find Mae shooting a scathing glance in her direction, but Lainey was having a good enough time not to let it bother her.

  The dinner itself was outstanding. Mayor Bill had spared no expense, and they feasted on a variety of fresh seafood and a host of delicious accompaniments. Lainey couldn’t help but wonder if some of the fare had come from Finn’s family, since he’d told her they were fisherman by trade.

  At some point while the dessert was being served, Mayor Bill mysteriously disappeared, and “Santa” showed up to hand out personalized crystal ornaments and gift bags to everyone in attendance. They took turns hanging their ornaments on the massive fir. Then, Santa turned on the twinkling lights, and everyone took a group photo.

  Afterward, the gathering broke into smaller groups. Some went to the bar for dancing and drinking; others went up to the observation deck for hot cocoa and Christmas movie classics. Some locals went home to wrap last-minute gifts or spend time with their families.

  “So?” Beau asked much later that night. “You had fun, right?”

  “I really did,” Lainey admitted.

  “And you wanted to hide out in your room alone all night,” he teased, shaking his head.

  “You were right, all right?” She laughed. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  “It is. My job here is done. Merry Christmas, Lainey.”

  “Merry Christmas, Beau.”

  It was just past midnight when Lainey returned to her suite. Officially Christmas—at least, in her time zone. She texted Henry a merry Christmas, and then she changed into her pajamas and slid beneath the sheets.

  The pillows still held a hint of Finn’s scent. She snuggled into them, closed her eyes, and fell into a content sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Finn

  Finn was no doctor, and he sure as hell didn’t know much about having kids, but even he knew things weren’t going well. Hildie was getting weaker by the hour, and despite the increase in pain, she didn’t seem any closer to giving birth.

  “We’ve got to do something,” Steve said, his face a mask of worry and fear, emerging from the guest room to join Finn and his father, who’d been relegated to the kitchen. His mother was a trained midwife in the shift community, but whatever was happening was beyond her expertise.

  “I don’t know what else we can do, son,” his father said quietly. He looked as if he’d aged a decade in the last ten hours.

  “Can’t we try calling Doc Wilson again?”

  “I did, an hour ago,” his father answered. “Doc Wilson is back in the ICU. He’s not able to help anyone right now. We’re on our own.”

  “There must be something we can do,” Steve said, his voice laced with desperation. “Someone who can help.”

  Finn stood. “Maybe there is.”

  He began stripping and moved toward the door, ignoring the questions his father and brother-in-law shot toward his back. He wasted no time, shifting into his bear and plunging into the icy water.

  He emerged a short time later in the ice hut and changed quickly, donning human clothes and running toward Lainey’s suite, determination fueling every step. He wasn’t just going to break the rules; he was going to shatter them.

  If he didn’t, Hildie and the babies didn’t have a chance.

  Finn jumped up on Lainey’s deck rather than approach from within the lodge. The fewer people he ran into, the better.

  “Lainey! It’s Finn. Op
en up, please.”

  Lainey pushed back the curtains, blinking against the light as she slid open the door. “Finn? What are you doing out there? What’s going on?”

  “Lainey, I need your help. Please. It’s Hildie. Things aren’t going well.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “But what can I do?”

  “You’re a doctor.”

  “I’m a vet, Finn. I’m not an obstetrician. I’m not qualified to deal with complications of human childbirth.”

  She was more qualified than she knew.

  “Please, Lainey. I’m begging you.”

  For long moments, he was certain she was going to refuse, but then her face softened. “I’m not sure what I can do, but if I can help, I will.”

  She threw on some jeans and shoved her feet into her boots, grabbing her coat as she followed Finn out into the cold Christmas morning.

  “Isn’t there a doctor in Aurora Falls?” she asked, jogging to keep up with Finn’s long strides.

  “Not the kind she needs.” Before she could inquire further, he headed for the large shed where they kept the equipment. “We’ll take the snowmobiles. It’ll be faster.”

  Finn climbed on, indicating that Lainey should get on behind him.

  “Hang on tight and don’t let go.”

  The moment he had the machine running, Finn opened up the throttle. They flew over the snow in a blur of speed until they reached his parents’ den. His father threw open the door.

  “Dad, this is Lainey. She’s a vet.”

  His father’s face was stricken. “Son, what have you done?”

  “What I had to do. Please, Dad. Let her try.”

  Lainey

  NOTHING COULD HAVE prepared Lainey for what she saw when she went into that room.

  Nothing.

  Not eight years of higher education. Not a lifetime of working with and around animals. The closest she’d ever come was when she read a paranormal romance she’d accidentally downloaded once.

  But that was fiction, written purely for entertainment purposes.