Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan 2)
Finding Her Bear
Bear Creek
(Book Two)
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Note from the author:
My books are written, produced and edited in the UK where spellings and word usage can vary from U.S. English. The use of quotes in dialogue and other punctuation can also differ.
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All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
© 2015 Harmony Raines
Silver Moon Erotica
Kindle Edition
Kayleigh leaned over and set his cup of coffee on the table in front of him. Daryl breathed in her scent, ignoring the smile barely hidden on his brother's face.
“Thank you, Kayleigh,” Sam said, smiling broadly now. “How are you today?”
Kayleigh put Sam’s order in front of him. The full English breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage and mushrooms. It smelt wonderful to Daryl, but when Kayleigh was a round he could barely talk, yet alone eat.
“I’m doing good thank you, Sam.”
“Are you settled here in Bear Creek, Kayleigh?”
“I am, or at least I was. The holiday season is almost over. I’ve haven't found another job yet, so I guess I’ll be moving along.”
Daryl nearly choked on his coffee. “You can’t leave.”
Kayleigh looked a little shocked at his outburst. No wonder, it must appear he could hardly string a sentence together when she was near. Then this outburst.
“I don’t have a choice.” The look she gave him was laced with a ‘why should you care’ attitude.
“But...” He had nothing. How can you pour all your love and longing for another person out in the middle of a diner.
She glanced at him again, and the colour rose in his cheeks. He was blushing like a schoolgirl. Damn he always looked like such an idiot in front of her.
“What Daryl means to say,” Sam said, coming to his rescue as always. “Is that Bear Creek always looks wonderful in the winter. Snow covers the ground, and the rivers freeze. We’ve even gone skating before on the big pond at the farm in the past. Would be a shame for you to miss it.”
“That sounds wonderful. I'd really love to stay. I thought I would settle here. But maybe it wasn’t to be. I’ve always developed itchy feet and moved on after a couple of months. I thought this might be different, but if I can’t make the rent, I’ll have to move on.”
“That would be a shame, Kayleigh,” Sam said, looking at Daryl with sympathy.
“Thanks Sam.” She looked around the diner. “I have to go.”
She went off to her other tables, and Daryl couldn’t take his eyes off the way she moved. Another part of him tuned into her too. His cock had become incredibly hard, just like it did every time he saw her. What the hell was he going to do? There was no way he could let her leave.
“It seems, Daryl, that unless you wake up and talk to her you are going to lose your mate for good.”
“What am I supposed to do?"
"I don’t know. But you’d better come up with something fast.” Sam picked up his knife and fork and began to eat. Pausing, he said, “By the way, I still need that barn roof fixing. I thought you could come over and give me a hand next week if you don’t have anything on.”
“I am pretty stacked out, Sam. It might not be for a couple of weeks.”
“Come on. Do your brother a favour.”
“I’ll be able to fit you in after I’ve finished the Rawlings’ place.”
“No way I can twist your arm?”
“Sorry, Sam.” Daryl let his gaze wander back to Kayleigh as she walked to the kitchen with her order. When she thought no one was looking, her face slipped and she blinked back tears.
Sam’s heart jolted. He had to do something to help her, and help himself. She couldn’t leave. He had to come out of his shell and make her stay.
Having spent her whole life moving from one foster home to another, she had finally felt as though she belonged. The people were friendly. Even if some of them were a little intense. Well, one of them. Daryl Cartwright. He looked at her in a way that made her heart ache, but then never spoke to her. Not a single coherent sentence in the two months she had been here.
At first, she thought he was shy, but lately she had concluded that he was just not into her. Until his short outburst a moment ago. She swept her thoughts aside; she had to concentrate on her job. She would be leaving in a couple of weeks, and no amount of wishful thinking was going to change that.
“Here we are, Johnny. Table three’s order.” She handed the slip of paper to the owner of the diner, who also happened to be the cook.
“Thanks Kayleigh.” He smiled at her, and began cooking.
The door to the diner opened and in spilled a group of bikers. Their hangout was a secluded place out in the woods, but they always came in for breakfast.
When she first moved here, they had frightened her. But this was not your average biker gang, and their leader was not your average man. Six foot four, and one of the most handsome men she had ever seen, Will, was always polite. And tipped big. Right now, he was seated at one of her tables.
“Hi, boys, what can I get you? The usual?”
“Yes, please Kayleigh. And might I add you look particularly pretty today.” He smiled, and set her at ease.
“Thanks Will. I’ll get your order.” She walked back to the kitchen smiling. She liked Will. She liked him a lot. Out of all the people in Bear Creek he was always nice to her, always complimented her. Above all, he was safe. In a big brother kind of way. He never made a pass at her. Early on, they had both accepted there was no mutual attraction.
“Breakfast for the biker squad,” she told Johnny.
He always put their order through as a priority. It appeared Will had more friends and influence than your average longhaired biker did. While she waited, she looked around the diner. Checking if any of her tables needed anything, not really concentrating on anything particular. Until Daryl Cartwright caught her eye. He quickly looked away. What was it with him?
“Here we go. This is for table three. Come straight back and the breakfasts will be ready.”
“Sure.” She weaved in and out of the tables, her eyes flicking over to Daryl once more. This time he was talking to Sam. A heated discussion. Those two never argued, and she wondered what it was about. None of your business she told herself.
“Thank you, Kayleigh.”
“No problem. Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No. That smells delicious.”
“Give me a shout if you need anything.”
Going to get coffee for Will and his friends, she poured it into their cups. Then she went straight back to fetch their food. Her feet were beginning to ache, and she couldn’t wait for her shift to end. Then she planned to go home to change, and take off for a hike up the mountain. It would be good to clear her head and get some perspective on her life.
“OK. Five breakfasts.”
“Thanks Honey.” Will watched her put the food down, and then looked up at her face. “Everything alright with you Kayleigh?”
“Yes. Thanks Will.”
“No one bothering you?”
She looked at him sharply. “No. Why?”
He lowered his voice. “You look a little upset.”
“Oh. It’s nothing important. I’m going to be moving on, that’s all.”
“You’re leaving Bear Creek. Not many people do.”
“It’s not that I want to. But my shifts only last for another week or so. Then I have to move on, unless I find another job. But I’ve been asking around. There doesn’t seem to be anything.”
“That would be a shame. I thought you were happy here.”
“I am. But I've got to make the rent or move on.”
“I understand.”
They all started eating, and Kayleigh went to wipe down her tables. The clock over the counter seemed to tick by so very slowly. She knew that the best thing was to keep busy. Still she wished she could turn the hands forward and get off work. For some reason today, everything felt too much. Too much noise, too much food, and too many people. The diner was not exactly the perfect job for someone who preferred the quiet and solitude of the mountains.
She caught herself staring out of the window, and went back to work. Once more catching the fleeting glances of Daryl. He might never have spoken to her, but she was going to miss him for some reason. Perhaps it was because ever since she got here she had fantasised about him talking to her. How sad was that? Not about him kissing her, or making love to her. Simply talking to her.
“Thanks Will.” He was leaving, a nice tip on his table.
“No problem. Listen. What time do you get off work?”
She looked at the clock, feeling a little nervous. “In half an hour.”
“I’ll wait down the street for you. Come find me when you finish.”
Kayleigh watched him saunter off, his crew in tow. She suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if everyone was looking at her. She ducked her head and began to clear the plates. Now she became aware of just who was staring at her. Daryl. His face clouded with anger.
She had never seen him react to anything with so much emotion. Even the time when she spilt hot coffee on him had provoked him into nothing more than a curse. For which he immediately apologised. Perhaps it was time to move on. She was becoming unsure if he might turn out to be some kind of stalker weirdo.
Still, she had to meet Will, if nothing more than for politeness sake. So when her shift ended she collected her coat and purse, and made her way out of the diner.
“Bye, Johnny. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye Kayleigh. Enjoy the rest of the day, while I slave over a hot oven.”
She smiled at him, knowing he loved his job. It made him the centre of gossip in the town. The waitresses were always passing titbits of information his way. Johnny was like the linchpin that kept the diner running, and she would miss him.
Standing outside, she looked down the road to where the motorbikes were parked. Well, one motorbike, it appeared Will was waiting for her alone. What was she going to do if he propositioned her? That was a joke. No man ever really showed interest in her. Except for Daryl, she reminded herself. OK, no normal man. She was a little too round for most men to appreciate. It stemmed from her days in foster care where she picked up the habit of comfort eating. It helped with all the uncertainty surrounding her and her sister. When you were never sure how long you were going to live in one place, it upset your moods. Kayleigh and her sister were six and eight when they went into foster care. This left them with no real chance of adoption. Especially when they were adamant, they wouldn't be split up. They often were moved on quickly to different homes, and this had influenced every aspect of her life.