Her Reluctant Bear: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 5) (8 page)

Was he kidding? Sure he’d only met his sister a few months ago, but that was no excuse not to visit. “I bet she’d like to see you herself.” Hell, Elana would be upset if Brian didn’t show up.

“She’s tired, and I don’t want to make things worse.”

“Not seeing her will make things worse. Your visit will perk her up.”

“You think?”

From the way Elana spoke about Brian, she was thrilled he was back in her life. Jillian returned the soft bear with the black eyes and light brown fur to him. The red heart attached to its chest was totally sweet. “Now go. You can ask at the desk what her room number is.”

“Okay.” Just like at the party, Brian took off. A woman could get a complex being around him.

When he disappeared, she turned to the remaining group. “When do you think he’ll tell Elana that he’s one of us?”

Rye’s mouth turned downward. “What do you mean by
one of us
?”

Jillian glanced behind her. “Brian’s a shifter of some sort.”

He shook his head. “I never detected anything.”

You know because he’s your mate
.
He’s so repressed, no one else can tell.
Her tiger’s voice held way too much glee.

Well damn. “Maybe I was mistaken.”

*

Given it was
already past midnight, Jillian decided it would be best if she came back the next day to speak with Elana. Visiting hours were definitely over. After Brian’s visit, she had a lot of thinking to do. Had she been wrong about him? She’d never mistaken a human for a shifter before. Why now?

What have I been telling you? You need to do a better job of listening to me.

Shut up.
Her animal was driving her crazy. Maybe she should go for a run to tire her out. The problem was finding a location where no one would see her. If anyone spotted a white tiger, it would be plastered all over the news. She knew all about that. It had happened about five years ago. Since then, she’d been cautious.

After saying her goodbyes, she headed to Dalton’s house, hoping no one caught sight of her blur as she raced back. A wave of safety washed over her when she spotted her brother’s vehicle in the drive. With the key he’d given her, she let herself in.

“Hey,” she said.

Dalton was in the kitchen making eggs. “How was the party?”

“Bizarre, scary, and then wonderful.” She slipped off her jacket and placed her purse on the arm of the sofa.

“Sounds interesting,” he said as he transferred the eggs from the pan to his plate. “You hungry?”

“Actually, I’m starving. I had to use my magic to speed from the party to the hospital.”

He froze then set down the spatula he’d been using to remove the eggs. “What? Start from the beginning.”

“When I first arrived at the party, Teagan’s brother Sam was doing some kind of mind control act with a woman named Missy.”

He smiled. “He’s quite the powerful Wendayan. From what bits and pieces Kalan told me, Sam can make people believe something is in front of them when it’s not. He was instrumental in helping Kip and some others from McKinnon and Associates retrieve stolen Wendayan magic.”

He’d written her about the theft. “I can see why. He’s very impressive.”

“What was the bizarre part?”

This would be hard to explain, but she needed a sounding board. “You’re aware that Elana was human until she mated with Kalan, right?”

“Yes. She’s now a bear. So?”

“That means her brother should be human.”

He set the hot pan in the sink and the contact with the water made it sizzle. “Your point?”

She crossed her heart. “As goddess is my witness, Brian gave off a shifter signature, faint though it was.”

He shook his head. “You probably sensed the other shifters in the room and became confused. Were you drinking?”

Her mouth dropped open. “No, I’d just arrived. And why would you doubt me?”

“I’ve met Brian. He’s all human. No shifter blood in him.”

He’s your mate! Only you can tell.
She wished her tiger would go to sleep, especially since her animal was being so freakin’ horny with no basis for it.
Tell your brother how your body vibrated with intense need, and then how you could feel my claws dig into your belly because I was begging for my release.

Ignoring her little inner demon, she conceded. “Fine. Maybe he’s not a shifter, but I was curious about him. I asked him how long he’d been in Silver Lake, to which he promptly set down his drink, excused himself, and walked out of the party.”

Dalton slid the plate of eggs in front of her. “Eat these. I’ll make more.”

“No, you take them. I’ll fix myself a sandwich.”

He pulled the plate back toward him. “Are you upset that he didn’t fall for your siren ways?” Dalton asked, acting like the typical, smug big brother.

She waved a hand. “I don’t have siren ways. All I wanted was to find out more about him. Between you and Elana, I’ve learned that he had a rough life.”

Dalton shoveled a forkful of eggs in his mouth, chewed, and then swallowed. “True.”

“Anyway, as soon as Brian left, Elana went into labor and stopped breathing.”

Dalton dropped his fork, and it clanked against the edge of the plate. “Is she okay? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Both she and baby Aiden are fine. Sorry. I’m still a little dizzy from all that running.” Even now, her muscles were shaking. “I had to carry her in my arms from the Cove to the hospital, but we made it in time. Rye said the baby had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. I think when Elana sensed her shifter baby choking, she lost her own air for a few seconds.”

“That’s some scary shit about the baby and about you having to run all that way. Did anyone see you?”

“I doubt it. If they did, they wouldn’t know what the blur was. Besides, if anyone is going to get caught, it’s you. I haven’t used my Wendayan talents but a handful of times. Seems to me, you use yours more often.”

He shook his head. “I use my talents sparingly. Hell, Kalan doesn’t even know what I’m capable of.”

“I think he’ll figure it out now that he knows what I can do.”

Dalton lowered his head and finished off his plate of eggs. “I thought you wanted a sandwich.”

She had wanted something to eat, but now she’d lost her appetite. Dalton was a very private man, and she hoped she hadn’t messed things up between her brother and Kalan.

‡

F
or the last
few hours, Brian had walked the aisles of the lumber department, making certain that all the pieces of wood were lined up perfectly. It was the only way to keep his mind off Jillian and how he’d almost screwed up with his sister. What had he been thinking tossing a near stranger the bear and then asking her to deliver the present to Elana?

Answer? He hadn’t been. It was all Jillian’s fault too, with her wide-set eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day and hair the same hue as the richest golden oak. Her delicate face highlighted her perfectly formed pink lips and long lashes, so much so that no man could resist her. Being five inches shorter than him, made her even more perfect.

Why someone like her even bothered talking to him at the party was anyone’s guess. No woman as beautiful and soft as she was ever had before.

Thankfully, after a decent night’s sleep, he was calmer. Of course, having the anxiety pills kick in helped too. Though after the way his body reacted to her last night, he might need something stronger to take the edge off his racing mind.

A small smile lifted his lips as he remembered the look on his sister’s face when he walked into her hospital room carrying the bear. Her eyes had sparkled. Buying the teddy bear had been the perfect present. He’d found it a few weeks ago and had to get it for her. The only thing he wished had turned out differently was for her son, Aiden to have been there. Elana said the doctors were still checking him out.

Brian was already making plans to build his nephew a rocking horse for his first birthday. For sure, he’d have his own go-cart when he was ready. Aiden Murdoch would always know he was loved. Brian would see to it.

*

“When did they
say you could go home?” Jillian asked Elana, who looked beautiful with her brown hair splayed over the pillow. Even her coloring was almost back to normal and her skin looked smoother than ever.

“Later this afternoon, assuming Aiden is good. I’ve been very pleased with how cautious they’ve been. I guess breech births can be tricky, and the cord around his neck scared them a bit.”

Jillian was so happy for her. “You are going to stay home for a few weeks and rest, right?”

From their conversations, Elana was driven. She still had some loans she owed Izzy’s dad, and she was determined to pay them off as quickly as possible. She’d refused to let Kalan take care of them for her, and Jillian admired her drive.

“I’ll stay home for a few days. Being a shifter will help with the healing process, and while I’ll have terrible separation anxiety leaving Aiden, Kalan’s mom said she’d watch the baby during the day. I just can’t leave Anna to fend for herself at the store. Valentine’s Day is one of our busiest holidays.”

“I can help out,” Jillian blurted without even thinking.

Elana pushed up on her elbows. “You know something about being a florist?”

Jillian laughed. “Nothing. Okay, I can tell a rose from a petunia, but that’s about all. I’m sure I can figure out how to use a cash register, and I’m wickedly good with a broom. Would that help?”

Elana smiled. “You’re this big-time lawyer. Wouldn’t you be bored doing a menial job?”

“Bored? Try sitting all day at Dalton’s house doing nothing. No. I’m going crazy not being around people.”

“Then it’s a deal. I pay ten dollars an hour.”

Jillian waved a hand. “Nonsense. I work for free. You’d be doing me a favor.” While she could use the cash, she’d never accept payment. “Besides, I’m only a trainee.”

“That would be fantastic. I really am looking forward to spending time with my baby. I’ll call Anna now. When can I tell her to expect you?”

“I’ll stop over right after lunch. How about that?”

“Perfect.”

They chatted a bit more about how nervous Elana was raising a son, especially one who would be shifting by the time he was two or three. A few minutes later, the nurse came in carrying a fussy Aiden.

“Time to feed,” the nurse said, handing Elana the baby.

He was such a beautiful child, and Jillian’s mothering instincts kicked in. She’d always pushed aside the whole concept of having children, but after seeing Aiden’s sweet face, she might have to reconsider.

That would require a mate, however, and the chances of that were slim to none.

Brian, Brian
, her animal chanted.

Jillian wished she knew what she’d eaten to make her tiger so randy. It had to be the large number of shifters in this area that had woken her up.

“I’ll let you two bond. Don’t worry about your store.” Jillian smiled and waved goodbye.

After she stopped at a fast food place and chowed down a rather good chicken sandwich, she drove over to the Blooms of Hope. When she walked in, a woman about twenty-five with an armful of tattoos was working quickly behind the counter helping a man. The aroma of flowers was pervasive, but nice.