Red's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) (4 page)

Rena knew that just like when her mother went off about
her grandmother this could go on for almost an hour.

“Well, you know I’m allergic to those things,
grandmother.”

“Allergic. Hm. Maybe you should have
your
doctor
retest you.”

Laughing at the heavy attitude in her grandmother’s
voice, Rena said, “You may have a point. Especially in the last month or so
I’ve been having a craving for both of them. Particularly honey.”

Just saying the word made her mouth salivate and images
of the golden syrup flash into her mind. Her hand around the phone began to
shake. She switched hands and took a deep, steadying breath.
It will pass.
It will pass.

“Red sweetie, did you say you’ve been craving fish and
honey?”

Rolling her bottom lip between her teeth, she licked it
and her mind tried to imagine the taste of it—honey.

“Yes, ma’am.” Her throat was tight making the words
come out high and squeaky.

“Hmm hm. Look, dear, since you have time off now, why
don’t you come here?”

“Oh, that would be nice. But, all I can do for the most
part is lay around. You’re so active, Grandma, I don’t want to be in your way
or slow you down.”

“Nonsense. That was the reason for my call. I will be
away from home for a few days and I need someone to keep an eye on my house.”

“You live in the middle of the woods. Have you been
having trouble with people coming around…bothering you?” Rena’s body was on
full alert. Her grandmother was extremely vital for a woman of her eighty plus
years, but Rena still worried about her. 

“Oh, no one’s stupid enough to be in Den County where
they don’t belong. Not without great risk,” Genma declared. “Anywho. I have a
landscaper coming to do something around the house. So, it’s really about
having someone let him in or tell him where I want things. Come on and help
your old granny out.”

Not caring about the pain it caused her, Rena let out a
loud laugh. “Grandma, you have
never
been old.”

“That’s true and I don’t plan to ever be.” Her
grandmother’s robust chuckle flooded the line. “What do you say?”

Pulling her legs to her chest, Rena stared through the
rails of her porch and considered her options.

“I really think the woodland air will do your body
good. I’ll bake you a batch of my famous muffins. People love them here.”

“Now you’re just playing dirt. But it worked.”

“It always does. When can you come?”

“You’re the one taking a trip. When do you leave?”
Getting up, Rena went back into her apartment. Leaving the patio door open, she
went to the couch and sat.

“On Monday. Can you be here Sunday?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Excellent. I’ll get everything set for your arrival.”
If it was possible, her grandmother’s voice was filled with even more vigor.

“Please don’t go through too much trouble.”

“You just keep yourself healthy enough to make it here.
I’ll handle the rest.”

Smiling, Rena, was getting excited too about the trip.
It had been way too many years since she’d seen her grandmother. Mostly because
of her mother’s wishes, but also because of distance, Rena’s schooling and
trying to excel at her job. Now, she hated that she’d given so much of her time
to her career only to have it disappear.

“You got it. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Red. Call me once you have your
flight arrangements. I’ll pick you up from the airport.”

“I can just take a cab to your house, Grandma.”

“See that proves you have been away for way too long. A
cab will not come this distance nor be allowed into Den County at that time,”
her grandmother declared.

Frowning, Rena asked, “Not allowed?”

“Don’t worry about it. Talk to you soon, dear.”

“Grand—” Rena held the dead phone away from her face,
shocked at how fast her grandmother rushed from the phone.

Shrugging it off, she set her cell on the table and
curled up on the couch. As she pulled the throw blanket up over her body she
admitted that she felt a little better with the plans to visit her grandmother.
Even though physically she was still ill, emotionally she felt bolstered and
recharged.

Closing her eyes, her last thought as she drifted off
to sleep was…
Maybe things will be better for me after this trip to Den.

  ~YH~

“I’ll have a big bowl of your famous stew, Ann.” Cord
leaned back in the booth seat and smiled up at Ann Gobi, his good friend Theo’s
aunt.

Ann and her husband Paul owned Gobi’s Diner. It was the
only home-style eatery in town.

“You got it. I’ll get you some bread out here, too. A
growing man needs all his nourishment with the coming week ahead.”

“Bring me some of your wonderful sweet butter to
slather on the bread while you’re at it, please.”

“I sure will.” She winked at him and moved toward the
kitchen.

He turned and stared out the window. There really
wasn’t any need for anyone to remind him that the First Frost Moon was coming
up. Everyone in town was abuzz about it. People were already moving stands and
tents into the field on the far end of the park. It was the most exciting time
in Den for all residents.

On Sunday, his father, as the mayor of Den, would be
making a speech officially closing down Den for the week of the festival. There
would be games, shows, cookouts, family picnics and people selling various
foods and items that they had made during the year. All of it just celebrated
who they were as Weres.

There were not many visitors to Den, but blocking off
all the outside roads that led to town kept anyone from ‘happening by’. He
chuckled to himself as he thought about how the cinderblocks had not been a
barrier to Theo’s mate ending up in their town. Presently his friend and his
family were out of town visiting Theo’s mate Riley’s family.

Through the diner window, he watched all the families
and couples moving about the town and felt a deep ache in his gut. They
appeared happy and content, as the male and female Were-bears made eyes at each
other or walked with arms linked as kids followed behind. This week, the
festival, was all leading up to one thing–the Bear Run. It happened the last
night of the festival. All of the eligible female and male Weres ran through
the woods in hopes of finding their life mate. The females would scatter
through the forest and the males would give chase, allowing their noses and
hearts to lead them by the scent of the one the Great Spirit meant for them.

Rarely was there ever a mistake. Rarely was there a
Were-bear who just selected one that was available without the soul tie. However,
that would be the case for him. He wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Hey, Cord.”

He picked up on her scent before she’d spoken.
Hibiscus. That’s what Marcella’s smell reminded him of. The floral woodsy aroma
wasn’t offensive, just notable. Since she was frequently around, he picked up
on it quite often.

“Marcella. How’s your day going?” He brought his gaze
around to her. At five-five with a small frame and dark brown straight hair,
the Asian woman was a small brown bear, but one of the quickest females in
town. 

Her cheeks tinted, but she didn’t take her eyes off
him. “Very well now. You mind if I join you or are you expecting company?”

He didn’t want to encourage her. He knew she was
interested in him. Over the years since he’d returned from his wandering time,
she’d let him know that she was available and attracted to him. They’d messed
around a few times in the past, but for him there hadn’t been any connection.
During the last time, she’d asked him to bite her and it had been like a bucket
of ice water tossed in his face.

Not yours.
His bear had screamed within him.

After that encounter, he’d let her know that he wasn’t
ready for a commitment yet and she should consider that being around him might
be keeping her life mate away. Last run he’d gone away for a month surrounding
the festival hoping she’d participate and someone would claim her. No such
luck.

“Not expecting anyone. Just came in for a quick lunch.”
He owned Digging Deep Landscaping, even though his warehouse was in town, he
spent most of his time working on jobs with his crew. When he was able to get a
meal in at Gobi’s it made his week. However, it made avoiding Were’s he
preferred to stay away from a little more difficult. Like Marcella.

Sliding into the seat on the other side of the booth,
she gave him a small smile as she beguilingly tilted her head. “I’ll just keep
you company.”

“If you want.”

“So, are you looking forward to—”

“Here you go, Cord. A nice steaming bowl of soup, warm
bread and lots of honey-sweetened butter.” Ann’s timing was perfect as she came
to the table and placed the food before him.

“Ah, Ann, you steal my heart. I do believe I’d starve
if not for you.”

Swatting his arm, the older woman laughed. “All you Den
males are such charmers. You know your momma taught you well.”

“That she did,” Cord agreed. Eating was something that
Were-bears loved and with the winters being so heavy in the area, everyone
learned young how to cook.

“Can I get you anything, Marcella?” Ann turned to the
younger woman.

Cord could only imagine what Ann was thinking. Everyone
in Den probably expected that he’d choose Marcella during the run. The only
person that didn’t agree was his bear.

“No, thanks, Ann. I’m fine,” Marcella said.

“Alright, let me know if you change your mind.” Ann
moved back to her place behind the counter.

“How’s the salon going?” Cord wanted to get her on
another topic before she journeyed back to the one about the festival. Tearing
off some bread, he smeared a healthy amount of butter on it before dipping it
into the salmon chowder soup then placing it in his mouth.

“Good. Real good. Mama actually listened to some of my
ideas about it. In the spring she’s going to have Theo start on a second floor
where I can begin some of the treatments and spa services.”

“Well, that’s great. I know how important that is to
you, being able to use your massage therapy degree.”

“It is.” Her dark brown eyes lit up. “I’m glad you
remember.”

Oh, shit. Did I make a mistake?
“Of course. I try and recall those
things about my
friends
that they hold dear.” Spooning the thick, creamy
soup into his mouth, he hoped she’d picked up on his emphasis on friend.

Stretching her hand across the table, she cupped the
back of his hand that was holding another piece of bread.

He could feel the heat in her hand, but other than that
his body had no response. Not even a residual bubble of lust from their past.

“I was hoping that we could be more than friends again,
Cord. I’ve never gotten—”

Dropping his chin to his chest, he took a deep breath
and sighed heavily. “Marcella. I don’t want to lead you on. I can’t make any
promises about Friday night.”

“I’m not expecting you to. I just want you to know that
I’m more than willing to be—”

“Cord, there you are!” Genma Berend came bustling into
the diner with all the energy and vigor she always had. Beside her was her
partner in crime, Octavia Bjorn, his grandmother.

Thankful for the timely interruption, Cord set his
spoon down, moved his hand from beneath Marcella’s and rose to greet the two
older women.

“Nana.” He kissed his grandmother’s cheek first then
her best friend’s. “Ms. Genma.”

“I went by your business and Rand said you were here.”
Genma prattled on.

“What can I help you with?” he looked from one to the
other.

His grandmother looked pointedly at Marcella, then him.
He couldn’t read her expression, he hoped that she wasn’t about hassle him like
the rest of the town was over choosing Marcella.

“We’re not disturbing anything are we? You don’t mind
excusing us do you, dear? I see you don’t have anything to eat or drink, I
assume you were just briefly stopping by.” Octavia was anything but subtle even
with the wide grin on her mouth.

Apparently, his grandmother figured whatever she and
Genma had to discuss with him was more important than what Marcella was talking
about.

“We don’t want to hold you. I know how busy the salon
can be at lunchtime. Especially with the festival coming up next week.” Genma
gave Marcella a sweet smile.

Cord feared that if Marcella didn’t leave soon the two
older Were-females would shift and bodily move her from the seat.

“I do need to get back.” Rising, Marcella looked at
him, a cloud of emotions shadowing her eyes as if she were attempting to
communicate something with him. “Cord, I’ll see you later, so we can finish our
talk.”

“Take care, Marcella.” He shook his head as he saw the
female walk away, swaying her hips. It would probably take an act of the Great
Spirit to get her to see there was no future for them.