Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance (6 page)

“Is it safe to take her outside in her
other
shape?” Aria’s stubborn chin gestured toward the cub cradled gently in Victoria’s arms.

Ben’s gaze followed her motion. Damn, from the looks of Tori’s legs, the cub had gotten a hell of a mouthful or two trying to escape. Aria’s comment about the cub’s other shape floored him. Strange magic threatened her grandmother and child but she was worried about what form they wore? Bear snarled his frustration and drove them through doorway. Ben wrested control back from the beast, took three giant steps, then stopped and settled Tori and the babe gently on the ground. He pointedly ignored the whimper Tori made when her damaged legs made contact with the cement. Despite the tang of iron in the air, there wasn’t enough there to indicate a mortal wound. Pain sucked, but Ben and bear both accepted it as a part of life.

His cub wasn’t so discrete. Her brilliant blue-eyed gaze met Tori’s green pain-filled one. The cub’s eyes grew round and wide. Her pupils shrunk and silver flooded in, obscuring that gorgeous baby blue. Ben’s heart was lost when the cub shivered twice, then flowed smoothly from bear to tot without a single cry of pain. Ben was impressed with the ease of that shift. It had taken him a year to become that proficient and smooth. Bear was even more impressed. Ben got a vague impression of great age and wisdom from bear, but that didn’t make a lick of sense. Faith was just a baby, after all. Bear huffed his annoyance, but subsided when the scent of salt-water tinged the air.

Tears streamed down the girl’s face. She kept repeating one word over and over. Ben couldn’t quite make it out, but it sounded a bit like “sident.” He shook his head, trying to figure out what that meant in baby speak, but before he could make a guess Faith threw herself into Tori’s outstretched arms and wailed ”sorry” at the top of her little lungs. Ben’s heart thudded in his chest. She was going to be magnificent when she was grown. Assuming he could protect her long enough to grow up. Bear had no such doubts, and as far as he was concerned
his
cub was more than magnificent now. If Bears’ instincts were right, then Faith would be downright terrifying as an adult. Bear’s gentle hum indicated satisfied agreement with that assessment, but Ben refused to believe. That angelic little girl would never be terrifying. Never. That was his baby.

Tori’s faded blue eyes met his gaze, sharp and direct. He could sense a question hovering behind that look, but from the tense lines around her mouth, Tori wasn’t speaking until she could do so without causing the child further worry. Even Bear was impressed.

Tough old vixen,
Bear huffed proudly. It seemed his bear was more than happy to claim Victoria Fox as family, too. Ben wasn’t so sure that would go well. The deadly glances Aria was sending his way from behind Tori suggested that his bears’ hopes were way too high. They’d be lucky to even claim their mate at this rate. He had no idea where to even begin explaining things.

***

Aria struggled to stay still. She was certain from the way Gran snuggled Faith that the tot was under control, at least for now. And she had one hell of a bone to pick with their rescuer. A bone three years and a ton’s worth of heartache in the making.

Movement caught her attention for a moment. Delilah knelt carefully in front of Aria, blocking her view of Tori’s injured leg. Tori pulled Faith up against her chest until the girl’s pudgy cheek rested against her shoulder. Aria was surprised that Faith snuggled up into the new position without protest. But her serious gaze seemed to follow every motion Delilah made. Tori’s soft sigh hinted at pain eased, and a moment later Del stood and brushed her pants off.

“Punctures are deep, but clean. No vital nicks or tears. That poultice will keep the wounds disinfected while your shifter healing does its thing.”

It felt like a mountain had been lifted from Aria’s shoulders with Del’s words.

Gran would be okay.

This time, but what about next time?
Goosebumps trailed down her arms at the dark turn her thought had taken. But considering what she’d just witnessed maybe a little darkness was necessary.

“Can you walk, Gran? Or should I go get my car?” Gran barely glanced Aria’s way before returning her focus to Faith. Tears still trickled down her baby’s cheeks, and she still whispered the words ”
sorry, sident, sorry”
over and over. Gran hugged her close, stroked her blond curls and whispered back to her. Aria wanted nothing more than to scoop Faith up and cuddle her, but from the way she was clinging to Gran and apologizing over and over, she doubted Faith would be willing accept her cuddles. Aria couldn’t hear what Gran whispered back, but she was certain from the lightening expression on Faith’s face that it was pure love and encouragement lifting her daughter’s spirits. When the tears stopped, Gran finally answered Aria’s question.

“I could walk, but it’d hurt pretty dang bad. Don’t thing that’s a good idea right now.” Gran tapped Faith’s back gently, emphasizing just why she thought it wouldn’t be good. “But I don’t want to wait on a car either.”

Before anyone could say anything more Ben swooped in and lifted the pair up once again. Aria’s heart fluttered at the pained, helpless glance he shot her way before he spoke. “Where to?” His growly tone sent an entirely different sort of goosebumps shivering down Aria’s spine.
Damn if he hasn’t gotten even sexier in the past three years.

But she wasn’t sure she could forgive him for leaving her. And she really wasn’t sure she could forgive him for keeping his shifter ways a secret. She was however, more than prepared to accept any help he offered at this point.

“My cabin, of course.” Gran gestured imperiously towards home. “Del, I think you need to join us for this trip.” Del’s slow nod convinced Aria the witch would rather not be present for the trip, but felt obliged to follow Gran’s orders. Aria just wished she could figure out why everyone deferred to Gran.

“As you wish, Lady Vixen,” Ben said gently. He paused to plant a soft kiss atop Faith’s blond curls before heading towards the cabin faster than most unburdened people walked. Aria and Delilah struggled to keep up with the pace he set. Aria was almost positive she heard the witch chanting in a foreign language the whole walk home. Whatever she was saying, it must have had some effect on people, because the few people they passed on their ten-minute walk acted like there was nothing to see, as if the strange group were invisible.

Aria couldn’t believe her eyes, she was seeing real magic in action. She glanced at Delilah, eyes wide, struggling to contain her fear. She could handle a bear shifter for a daughter, surely she could handle this. The witch nodded once, seeming to answer both the question and the fear that consumed Aria.

Aria admired Ben’s gorgeous physique and his gentle strength the whole walk back to the cabin. The sheer immensity of that strength hit home as she watched him tiptoe up to the cabin’s entrance so smoothly he barely jostled his precious cargo. Faith must have felt safe enough, considering his big strides had lulled her to sleep. Gran’s exhaustion was written plainly in the pallor of her cheeks, and the dark circles under her eyes. When Ben paused at the front door, Aria slipped past him and pulled it open as quietly as she could. She held still as possible as the large man shuffled sideways, back turned towards her, to keep from knocking any stray limbs on the door jam.

His arms brushed against her shoulder as he sidestepped slowly through the door. Desire flared heating her skin. That thoughtless touch brought forth memories she’d stuffed away long ago. A very visceral part of her remembered being with this man, and desperately wanted to be with him again.
Down girl
, she chided herself.
Can’t just leap headfirst into trusting the one man who abandoned you.
Aria kept hold of the door until Ben and Delilah had entered the cabin, then followed them. She closed the screen door as softly as she could, and held back a wistful sigh at the confusion etched in the fine lines around Ben’s face as he scanned the living room.

The room felt too small with all of them standing around. Aria slipped over to stand in front of Gran, still cradled in Ben’s arms. She gently eased her hands under Faith’s sleeping frame, lifted the tot up slowly, and cuddled her close. She couldn’t help herself, and dropped a half dozen kisses on that angelic little head as she pivoted and eased herself over to the playpen. She reversed the process she’d used to pick Faith up without waking her, lowered her down slowly until the babe lay sleeping soundly in the bed.

Aria turned back toward the dining area, only to catch Ben’s bright gaze locked on every move she made. Gran and Delilah were nowhere in sight, but from the whispers coming from the kitchen she guessed they were debating that age old question: Tea or Coffee. She wondered for a moment how Ben had managed to carry Gran to the kitchen so soundlessly. Then the heat she saw flooding Ben’s gaze as he watched her erased all thoughts of Gran and tea and coffee from her mind.

He stood so broad in the walkway between the living room and dining room that there was no way to squeeze past him without coming into contact with some part of him. Instead of trying to slip by, Aria stopped half a foot from him, nose to chest. She looked up, crossed her arms and waited. The wry grin that twisted his lips didn’t earn him any points in her book. She shot a pointed glance diagonally toward the kitchen, loath to speak and wake Faith. His eyebrows drooped low, as if he was thinking. Aria tapped the toes of one foot lightning quick, tossed a glance back toward her baby girl. Still asleep, but not for long if Ben started talking in his growly voice mere feet away from her bed.

He must have caught the meaning in her glance, because his expression lightened, and for the first time since he’d burst into the shop to save them, a real smile played on his lips, killer dimples and all.
Damn him, and damn those dimples too. Faith totally has his smile.
With a solemn nod and a faint grin, Ben turned and headed to the kitchen.

Aria had no idea how to deal with this Ben. This grown up, responsible, sexy Ben. He looked like her geeky, engineer Ben, but bigger, brawnier and a hell of a lot sexier.

And more protective.
This version of Ben didn’t seem like he’d abandon anyone, for any reason. Aria looked forward to finding out exactly what happened that fateful night. Her gaze was inevitably drawn to the curves of his butt, encased in tight, well-worn jeans. She wondered if the rest of him had filled out as well as the vision before her suggested.

A soft tsk drew her gaze away from his behind, and she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment when her eyes met his. The dimpled grin and twinkling blue eyes peering back over his shoulder suggested he didn’t mind her ogling him in the least.

Damn, this day was shaping up to be more than its share of interesting for sure.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Aria settled gingerly onto the bench in the breakfast nook. The nook was the furthest they could get from the playpen in front of the fireplace. At least the furthest without leaving the house altogether. After the evening they’d had, Aria wasn’t willing to do that. But she didn’t want to disturb the sleeping babe, either. From the way the other three slunk through the kitchen to join her, she figured the last thing they wanted to deal with was an upset cub again.

“So, who wants to start explaining first.” Aria scooted down the bench, closer to the bay window so Ben could settle in beside her. She met his eyes , then glanced at Gran and Delilah in turn. Three averted gazes and shamed faces sent her stomach plummeting to her feet.

“Seriously? Nobody.” Aria stroked the satin-smooth tabletop gently, struggling to keep her voice low and even. She met everyone’s eyes in turn again, silently demanding answers, information, hell any damn thing they were willing to toss her way. “Fine, I’ll start.” Aria shrugged, then shifted a bit on the hardwood bench as she gathered her thoughts. There was probably a best way to go about confronting these people she loved, but damn it, answers overrode hurt feelings as far as Aria was concerned. “Delilah, why do you have a murderous magical door hidden in your shop? And why did it try to kill me and Faith?”

“I wouldn’t say the door was trying to ‘kill’ you.” Delilah’s reply was soft and slow. From the look on her face, the wheels were spinning. Finally, the witch was actually considering the situation.

Ben’s low rumbly growl sent chills down Aria’s arms. His sharp gaze bored into the witch, challenging that statement. “I can smell a lie, Del. And you’re skirting the line.” Silver swirled through the brilliant blue of his gaze. Delilah’s hasty nod and hands up, palm out gesture must have been enough to ease Ben’s mind, because the silver faded to blue and the growl cut off abruptly. “What’s the issue then? We need to know everything to keep Aria and Faith safe.”

Del nodded once, then shook her head vigorously before nodding once more. Her wide eyes and pursed lips suggested she was seriously conflicted.

“I know, Ben.” Del’s voice was soft. “But there are some confidences I cannot break. Surely you, of all people understand that.” Her sharp gaze begged for understanding. .

Aria certainly sympathized. But confidences surely weren’t worth losing a life over.
“Del, either you’re going to tell me what I need to know, or I’m going back there to find out for myself.” Aria half rose from the bench and pushed gently against Ben’s bulky shoulder. He leaned into her hand, eyes flashing silver and mouth frowning.