“I was lucky I got here,” Kassia told the doctor. “The bus only went as far as the highway, but I managed to get a lift to Bear Creek with the local sheriff. Apparently, when I called Betsy to tell her I was stuck, she called Brad and said it was an emergency. He came straight out and gave me a ride.” She looked toward the kitchen. “Which reminds me, I made him some brownies. I was going to take them along to the sheriff’s office as soon as Betsy is settled.”
“They smell good.” Dr. Bradford tilted his head back and inhaled deeply. His eyes twinkled as he savored the scent.
“Would you like some?” Kassia asked eagerly. “I baked extra and I know my hips would be grateful if I didn’t eat too many myself.”
“They do smell good...” The doctor hesitated then grinned. “Maybe just a couple. My daughter loves brownies.”
“You have a daughter?” Kassia loved children, she loved seeing the world through the eyes of a little person, who saw everything as new and exciting. “I bet she’s proud of her dad the doctor.”
“Jane, she’s eight. It’s tough, I’m a single dad and often worry I neglect her because of the long hours I work but I think she’s proud of me. Although, only if I can cure her dolls and teddy bears of all their ailments.” He smiled wistfully and Kassia warmed to him more.
“Oh, I can only imagine. Children do have the best imaginations.” She pointed toward the kitchen. “Please. Take some with you for when you get home. Maybe they might help cure Jane’s dolls and teddy bears. If you have them at a tea party, of course.”
“Thanks.” His expression was unreadable as he followed her to the kitchen. “I’ve certainly had my fair share of tea parties. Although, Jane is on the verge of discovering the world outside of her dolls. We’ve been out exploring in the snow. It makes everything a little more magical.”
“Like the ice princess.” Kassia placed four of the still-arm brownies into a container and handed them to the doctor. “There we go, Dr. Bradford. And thank you again for coming to see my aunt.”
“Shawn.” He nodded as he took the brownies. “Please call me Shawn. And please call me if there is any change in Betsy. She must be sensible for a couple of days and not put too much strain on that ankle. I know how she likes to be independent but this time she needs to be careful. The last thing she needs is another fall. She was lucky not to have a concussion.”
“I’ll remind her, Shawn. Although, I don’t think Betsy sees herself as lucky.” Kassia nervously picked at her jeans as she met the doctor’s eyes. He was sweet and kind, just the kind of man she’d love to settle down with, and he had a daughter she would love to mother. But she wasn’t looking for a relationship. She’d sworn off men for life, but part of her was lonely. A large part of her. The part that also wanted a child or two of her own.
“See you soon.” Shawn turned around and headed to the front door, with Kassia following.
“Bye.” She waved at him briefly before shutting the door and going back to the kitchen. The brownies were ready, and she wanted to take them along to the sheriff’s office, but she didn’t know if she could trust Betsy to stay in bed.
Pouring a cup of coffee and placing a brownie on a plate, Kassia took the sweet treat upstairs to her aunt, who was lying in bed watching TV. Betsy looked up as Kassia walked in. “The doctor is nice.”
“He is.” Kassia set the coffee cup and the plate containing the brownie down on the nightstand. “Here, I just made some brownies and fresh coffee. Can I trust you to stay in bed and watch TV while I go to the sheriff’s office?”
“Of course!” Betsy’s eyes lit up at the promise of freedom.
“Do you need help getting to the bathroom before I go?” Kassia asked.
“No, and I can manage even if I do need to go.” She pointed to the crutches by the side of the bed. “I’ve mastered the art of keeping most of my weight on my good leg.”
“I’d prefer it if you stayed in bed while I’m gone. In case you fall.” Kassia sat down on the side of the bed and studied her aunt’s face. “I need you to get well.” Tears pricked her eyes and she dashed them away.
“Oh, honey. This is just a sprained ankle. I’m not going anywhere.” Betsy enveloped her niece in her warm, comforting arms. “I promise to behave.”
Kassia sniffed loudly and got up off the bed. “Then I will see you in half an hour. Or less.”
“Maybe you might see Dr. Bradford while you are out.” Betsy arched an eyebrow. “He’s a good man. Quite the catch.”
“If you were wanting to catch a man.” Which Kassia most definitely wasn’t.
“There are some good men in Bear Creek,” Betsy told her niece. “They sweep their women off their feet and stay together forever.” Betsy sighed. “If only I’d met the right one.” She looked up and locked eyes with Kassia. “But there’s still time for you.”
This was not a conversation Kassia wanted to get into now. “Behave. I’ll be back as quick as I can. Don’t forget your coffee and brownie.”
“Take your time,” Betsy called after her. “You could do with a break from looking after me.”
“You know I enjoy it. Now, I need to go.” Kassia ran down the stairs, hoping she could trust her aunt. Visions of Betsy lying at the foot of the stairs stalled her. Perhaps she should wait until she could find someone to sit with Betsy?
“I promise!” Betsy must have read Kassia’s mind.
“A promise is a promise,” Kassia said in return.
Running to the kitchen, she quickly packaged up the now cool brownies and grabbed her purse and keys before heading out of the house. Kassia paused once to listen for movement upstairs but all she could hear was Betsy laughing along to an old comedy show on TV.
Betsy might complain, but Kassia suspected Betsy was enjoying all the fuss and attention. The time off from working at the diner, which she’d owned for as long as Kassia could remember, might do her good. Betsy tended to work long hours without much time off. Last time Kassia visited, she thought her aunt looked tired and worn out.
Perhaps the fall was a blessing in disguise since it had forced her aunt to rest. The diner had been closed for a couple of days because of the bad snowstorm, but Betsy’s assistant, Carol, had volunteered to open the diner tomorrow and would run it until Betsy was fully recovered. If they could keep Betsy out of the diner for that long.
Tucking the brownie box under one arm, Kassia picked her way carefully along the sidewalk. Most of the snow had either melted or been cleared, but the cold temperature meant there was plenty of ice on the ground. The last thing she needed was to slip and fall and end up lying in bed next to Betsy with no one to look after them.
Kassia stopped at the corner of the street to get her bearings. The sheriff’s office wasn’t far from the diner and so she made her way there first. It would set Betsy’s mind at ease to know the place was still standing.
“Morning.” An elderly gentleman smiled as he passed her by.
“Morning.” Kassia crossed the street, slipping as she reached the middle of the road, but she managed to keep on her feet. She did not need the attention falling down in the middle of the street would give her. A low profile was what she needed. Coming to look after Betsy had been a blessing. Kassia had needed somewhere to disappear for a while and Bear Creek in the winter was ideal. Not that she had wished bad luck on Betsy.
Reaching the diner, Kassia stopped at the closed door and peered inside. Betsy’s diner reminded her of happier days when she used to visit Bear Creek with her mom. Kassia’s throat constricted as she pictured her mom seated at one of the tables in the window. When they came to Bear Creek to visit Aunt Betsy, they would often come to the diner for lunch. They had a favorite table that Betsy would save for them each day. Kassia and her mom would sit at the table and look up at the mountains while eating a delicious dessert and drinking coffee. If the diner was quiet, Betsy would join them, and the three women would just sit and relax in each other’s company.
Wiping a tear from
her cheek, Kassia took a deep, steadying breath and turned away from the diner and the memories it contained. She needed to find the sheriff’s office and then head back to her aunt.
Buzzing like a swarm of angry bees filled the air as she walked along the street. Half-turning, she glanced in the direction of the chainsaw. There was a tree down across the main street through town with the cars being diverted. By the sheriff.
Crossing the street, she hung back a little from the small crowd of people who were gathered around watching as two broad-shouldered men cut the tree into sections, ready to clear it out of the way of the traffic. Stepping closer, she leaned forward. There was Dr. Bradford talking to a red-haired woman.
“Kassia!” Shawn held up his hand and beckoned to her.
“Hi, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Kassia walked over to the doctor as the noise from the chainsaw ceased.
“I couldn’t drive to my next patient because of the tree, so I thought I’d walk. Then I met Martha.” The doctor looked at his companion. “Martha, this is Kassia. Kassia, this is Martha.”
“Hi.” Kassia held out her hand. “I’m Betsy’s niece.”
“Oh, Shawn said Betsy had sprained her ankle badly when she fell in the snow. I hope she’s okay,” Martha sounded genuinely concerned.
“She’s doing okay. Although, she’s not the best patient and thinks she knows better than her doctor.” Kassia glanced at Shawn but then her attention was drawn to one of the men who had been cutting up the tree. He was staring right at them with a weird expression on his face. “Is he okay?”
“Who?” Concerned, Shawn turned around to look at the two men who had been using chainsaws.
“Beck?” Martha left Kassia and the doctor and rushed forward but the man who had been working the chainsaw stared straight past her. It was as if he didn’t see the flame-haired woman—because he was too busy staring at Kassia.
Kassia backed away. Did the guy know her? Did he know what she’d done? Fear curled its hands around her heart and squeezed hard and she struggled to breathe as panic hit her square in the chest.
“Kassia.” Shawn’s voice penetrated her fogged brain and she looked at him, searching for an answer, searching for help. “It’s okay.” He reached out a hand to her and she lifted her arm, but then dropped it to her side. She should run. She couldn’t trust anyone in town.
“Kassia.” Martha ran to her side and took hold of her arm. “It’s okay. Beck just...”
“Beck?” Kassia looked at the well-muscled man who had stopped walking toward her but still stared at her with open...longing. Kassia swallowed down her panic. She’d misread the situation completely. The man didn’t seem to mean her harm. But the look of longing on his face was just wrong since they hadn’t even met. Kassia didn’t believe in love at first sight. But love was what she saw in the eyes of Beck.
“Beck is the brother of my fiancé,” Martha was explaining quickly. “He’s been out of town for a while and just got back.”
“Why is he staring at me?” Kassia tore her gaze away from Beck and focused on Martha. If she looked into Martha’s eyes, she’d know if she was telling her the truth. It was a talent she’d honed over the last few months. A talent she used to keep herself safe, to keep herself from getting hurt again.
“He...” Martha held Kassia’s gaze, she didn’t shy away from the intense scrutiny. “He likes you.” Her forehead creased. “People around here...they have this knack of knowing when a person they meet is the person for them.”
They sweep their women off their feet and stay together forever. Wasn’t that what Aunt Betsy had said?
“I’m not really interested in meeting anyone right now.” Or ever. However, Kassia had to admit there was something incredibly sexy about Beck. Something raw, even primal, that spoke to her on a different level. It was as if she knew deep down that he was the man for her. A man who would honor her and protect her. A man who would never use her and betray her.
Perhaps, she was just desperate for someone to prove to her that there was someone out there for her. Yes, she was that lame. Hadn’t she decided that she didn’t need to be settled down and married with kids for her life to be complete?
So why should that change now? Just because Beck looked at her that way, just because he made her feel alive even though they’d never spoken, never touched, it didn’t mean he was right for her.
It didn’t mean he couldn’t betray her and break her heart. The same heart she’d spent months putting back together piece by piece.
Chapter Three – Beck
There she was. In the middle of the street, looking as if she wanted to turn around and run.
Relax, you’re staring, his bear told him.
Beck blinked rapidly as if coming out of a trance. Dragging his gaze away from Kassia, he hesitated, unsure of what he was supposed to do next.
Everyone is looking at you, his bear told him.
Color rushed to Beck’s face as he slowly turned around. His bear was right, everyone was looking at him. Damn, what was he supposed to do?
“I can handle the job for a few minutes,” Joey jumped to his aid. As a bear shifter, he’d read the situation and figured out what was happening to Beck. “As long as Brad can hang around. For safety’s sake.”
“Sure.” Brad had witnessed the whole thing. Probably not for the first time. “Go ahead, Beck.”
“Thanks.” Beck took a step forward, his legs weak.
“Deep breaths,” Brad advised before he turned his attention back to the fallen tree and the small crowd gathered around it. “Okay, folks, there’s nothing really to see here.”
A ripple of protest went through the small gathered crowd who had come to watch the tree that had blocked the road removed and instead had seen a shifter see his mate for the first time. There was no doubt in Beck’s mind that was what had happened. No doubt at all.
“Beck.” Martha, whom he’d only just met, beckoned to him and he took a stumbling step forward before he remembered the chainsaw in his hand. Switching his attention to the chainsaw, he made sure it was turned off and the safety catch was on before he strolled over to Martha, trying to look cool. Although, he felt anything but cool. His forehead was beaded with sweat despite the cool morning air and he wiped the back of his hand across his fevered brow before he forced a smile on his face. Shell-shocked didn’t even come close to describing how he felt.
When he decided to come home back to Bear Creek, he’d expected to slip into a fairly normal, kind of boring life. He hadn’t expected to meet his mate in the middle of the street.
“Hi.” He dragged his hand through his hair and smiled awkwardly. Everything about this was awkward. And his mate felt it, too. “I’m Beck.”
“So I gathered,” she answered. There was a long pause before she said, “I’m Kassia.”
“Good to meet you, Kassia.” He frowned, this all sounded so lame.
“Beck has just come back from traveling,” Martha desperately tried to make conversation as the awkwardness continued.
“Really?” Kassia asked, sounding interested, although Beck couldn’t tell if she was just being polite.
“Yeah.” Beck nodded. Nothing good would come of him talking about his yearlong adventure. Or misadventure as he now saw it.
“I’ve always wanted to travel. I just never got around to it.” She gave a short laugh. “I don’t think I was ever brave enough to go on my own and none of my friends were really interested.” Color skimmed her cheeks.
“Listen, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” Martha asked as the sound of the chainsaw filled the air.
“Oh, I can’t. My aunt is stuck at home and I can’t leave her for long. Doctor’s orders.” Kassia glanced at Shawn. “Betsy isn’t allowed to walk on her ankle too much for a couple of days. She also needs to rest since she bumped her head pretty hard, too... You don’t need to hear all that.”
“Maybe I could buy you dinner,” Beck suggested. “And come over with i
t.” He frowned. “Take-out. Or whatever you’d like.”
Kassia stared at him but didn’t answer. She was searching for a way to politely say no. His heart ached for her. His body ached for her. He’d blown this first meeting and first impressions lasted. Maybe they lasted a lifetime.
“Could I talk to you in private for a second?” Martha hooked her arm in Kassia’s and took a couple of steps away from Beck.
“What’s going on?” Kassia asked when they were a couple of feet away. She had no idea Beck and Shawn could still hear every word she said.
Beck looked at Shawn, who raised an eyebrow, looking uncomfortable, but the doctor stood his ground.
“I know this sounds kind of weird. But I wasn’t joking when I said that people around here have a knack of knowing when they meet the perfect person for them.” Martha sighed. “It’s kind of weird, I know. But would you give Beck a chance?”
Kassia looked past Martha to where Beck and Shawn were standing together, half-turned to watch Joey as he cut through the tree trunk. Beck really needed to get back to work. There was another tree that needed clearing on one of the side roads off the main road, but he couldn’t leave without some reassurance he would see Kassia again. He needed hope that she would one day be his.
“And you expect me to invite him into my aunt’s house?” Kassia shook her head. “No offense, but I’ve only just met you. And I’ve only just met Beck.”
“Your aunt must know the family. They own Winter’s Sawmill.” Martha looked over her shoulder at Beck. “Why not give her a call and ask her?”
Kassia shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. My aunt is supposed to be taking it easy.”
“Well, I don’t know about your aunt, but I know when my mom was sick, having someone new to talk to raised her spirits.” Martha was working hard to get Kassia to invite Beck over to dinner. But he didn’t want her to put too much pressure on Kassia. It might just backfire. “Call her. Let her make the decision.” Martha tilted her head to one side and smiled. “You could say you were leaving it to fate.”
Beck (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 2) Page 2