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  Amanda found herself counting down the hours until Jed was due back at the office. At lunchtime she resisted the urge to go and check on them; Dylan had left her in charge and she couldn’t abandon her post. So she sat outside in the sunshine, and ate alone, listening to the sound of birds in the trees, and thinking she must have been truly blessed when her grandma left the cabin to her.

  She knew she could be happy here, with Jed. If only her past stayed in the past. She sighed, looking up at the vivid blue sky, watching soft cottony clouds float by. If she wanted a life with Jed, she wanted to know all about his past. She needed to know there were no sword-wielding skeletons in his closet that would burst out one day to tear their lives apart.

  That meant she had to be truthful with him too. She had to tell him about her past. She had to tell him about Mason. Damn him.

  Her appetite suddenly gone, she packed her sandwiches away and stowed them back in the cooler with the rest of the picnic. She had wanted this evening with Jed to be perfect, but the ghost of her old lover had risen up to spoil it.

  Putting the cooler into her car, she headed back to the office and worked hard, using sorting out the paperwork in her inbox as an excuse not to think about how she was going to tell Jed she had been in jail.

  Amanda felt like a hypocrite. When she had first met Jed, she had been put off of him due to the incident over the lunch money stolen from a thirteen-year-old boy. But she had been charged with something worse. A six-month prison sentence, the hardest months of her life, had been handed down for the crime she was accused of.

  That crime would follow her, her whole life; it was the reason she had changed her name. Well, one of the reasons. The other was that she hoped to leave Mason behind. If he couldn’t find her, he couldn’t cause her any more trouble. Not that she expected him to come looking for her. After all, he had gotten what he wanted from her, and then left her to rot in jail.

  The sound of the truck arriving was a welcome relief. Having Jed around consumed her senses, leaving no room in her head for another man. She itched to go out and meet them, but she wanted Dylan to know she had been working hard. Although her empty inbox should be proof enough.

  “How did it go?” she asked as her boss came in, and she hid her disappointment that Jed wasn’t with him. “Everything OK?”

  “You mean where is Jed?” Dylan asked.

  She pressed her lips together. “Am I that obvious?”

  “Yes.” He grinned. “I dropped Jed off at home, he wanted to shower before your hot date.”

  “It’s not a hot date,” Amanda snorted.

  “Are you sure?” Dylan asked.

  “Positive, there is nothing hot about a picnic.”

  “You never know. Some sandwiches, a glass of wine…” Dylan smiled at her. “Go. Get home and have a great evening.”

  “Thanks, Dylan.”

  “Oh, any messages?” he asked.

  “On your desk,” she replied, grabbing her purse and heading out of the door. “Any queries, give me a call.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, I might be interrupting something,” he replied, sitting down at his desk.

  “See you tomorrow,” she said, poking her head around the door.

  “On time.”

  “Of course,” she said, swinging around and heading for the door. She practically skipped out to her car, her tiredness slipping away. This was going to be a good evening.

  Getting into her car, she started the engine, put it in drive and began the short journey home, singing along to whatever song came on the radio. It didn’t matter what it was, everything sounded better, everything looked better. Doesn’t it always when you are in love?

  Her mood slipped. Yes, it always did when you were in love. That was how she had been sucked in by Mason. All because she was totally smitten by him, and she thought he returned her affection.

  How wrong she was. That led her to another thought. Was she wrong about Jed?

  Or would he be wrong about her? Would her confession break up their new relationship? She reminded herself about the bond. But it was no good.

  “To hell with it,” she said out loud. “That man is not going to ruin my life anymore.”

  She turned the radio up louder and sang tunelessly along, not caring if half of Bear Bluff heard her. She was happy, she was in control, and she was going to have a great date, with a great man.

  And God help anyone who might stop her.

  Chapter Eight – Jed

  A picnic. It sounded innocent enough, only he didn’t want it to be innocent. He wanted it to be, well…

  “That is what you are wearing on a date?” Kes asked as he came out of his bedroom.

  “Yes.” He looked down at his clothes. “What’s wrong with them?”

  “Did you actually change when you came home from work?” she asked, folding her arms and leaning back against the wall.

  “Yes,” he said, emphasizing a nod.

  “I doubt Amanda will be able to tell. This is supposed to be a romantic picnic, not a working lunch.”

  “Thank you so much for your input, Kes, but this will have to do.” He walked past her and started down the stairs.

  “Don’t you at least have some jeans that aren’t so worn?” Kes asked. “Or a shirt that doesn’t have a heavy rock band on the front?”

  He turned midway down the stairs and said, “No. I don’t. It might surprise you to know I have better things to spend my money on than trendy shirts.”

  Kes let her hands drop to her sides. “Sorry, Jed, I just wanted you to look your best.”

  “Hey.” He held out his arms and she came and hugged him. “I appreciate your advice, but I’m afraid until you have all been though college, worn jeans and T-shirts are going to be all I can afford. I want you all to have a shot at a better life.”

  “I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I hope Amanda knows what kind of a man she’s lucky enough to have as a mate.”

  He laughed and let her go, starting down the stairs again. “If she doesn’t, she soon will. Poor, with no fashion sense.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Kes called after him.

  “I know,” Jed said as he reached the bottom of the stairs and went to the kitchen to say goodbye to his mom.

  “Don’t you look handsome.” His mom looked up and smiled, a sad look in her eyes. “Listen, Jed, I know you said you would pay for all of your sisters and Liam to go to college. But Kes should get a full scholarship, and Liam isn’t sure about college. It’s not his thing and old Mr. Tulliver said he would take him on at the farm.”

  “If that happens, great. But I promised them all. And I intend to keep that promise. I asked Dylan today to let me have as many hours’ overtime as he can. I’ll work hard, and make it work.”

  His mom smiled. “Always have an answer, don’t you?” She went back to kneading the dough on the table in front of her. “Say hi to Amanda for me. We can’t wait to meet her.”

  “I was going to ask you about that.” He hesitated. “How about I bring her home tomorrow?”

  “Of course. Invite her over for dinner. I’ll send Liam out with his rod to catch some fresh fish, and ask him to see if Mr. Tulliver has any of his wonderful potatoes. We can have fish and chips.”

  “I’ll ask Amanda.” He kissed his mom goodbye and left her mentally going through what they would have for dinner tomorrow. Going out of the house he breathed in the fresh mountain air, and then headed across the road and up along the lower slopes, following a trail he had used so many times he knew it by heart.

  As kids, they may not have had much money, but they had each other. He and his brother and sisters would play on these lower slopes. Sometimes as bears, sometimes as humans. Hide and seek was a great game whatever form your body took.

  Slipping under the trees, he breathed in the scent of pine, and then shifted into his bear, running through the prickly needles, trying to keep his balance when the ground slipped away from him as he ran. This was hi
s idea of life. Freedom.

  He didn’t mind how hard he had to work as long as the hours in between were filled with things he liked to do, like running on four paws, and visiting his mate.

  Faster, his need to be with her building up inside him, until he struggled to breathe, he raced across the lower slopes, the trees giving way to open meadows, where he caught glimpses of the setting sun. This was going to be a picnic by candlelight.

  Romantic, after all.

  He smelled the wood smoke before he saw the fire. Breaking out of the trees, he saw she had set out a blanket on the ground. The food was on a low wooden table, and on the opposite side there was a small open fire. Enough to keep the chill evening air off them, and to give them enough light to see by.

  Shifting back to his human form, he walked towards her. She sensed him, her head lifting and then she turned to watch him, a small smile on her face. “There you are. I was going to start without you.”

  “Sorry. My sister was giving me fashion advice.”

  “Really?” Amanda asked.

  He grinned. “Yeah, that’s pretty much the look she gave me.”

  Amanda laughed. “You know, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.”

  “Or I could strip off my jeans and T-shirt,” he offered, watching her eyes drop down to his crotch, and then she blushed. Which he liked, a lot.

  “No, that’s OK. I don’t think I’d be able to concentrate on eating if you were naked.” She turned and resolutely headed back towards the blanket she had laid out. “And I am starving. So sit, eat, and enjoy the evening.”

  She passed him a plate, and he helped himself to roast beef sandwiches, some salad, and some kind of fancy things in pastry cases that seemed to melt in his mouth. “These are delicious. I’ll have to get the recipe so my mom can make some.”

  Amanda coughed, and he wondered what he had said wrong. Maybe it was the passing the recipe to his mom that had done it. He forgot he was a grown man, and that was not what a grown man should say. He should be independent, not living under the same roof as his parents and brother and sisters.

  “Sorry,” she said, recovering herself.

  “No. I’m sorry. I’m not exactly a good prospect, am I? I don’t have a penny to my name, and can’t even provide for you. I mean, as a first date, I feel kind of cheap.”

  She put her plate down by the side of her, and slid across to him. “That’s not why I nearly choked,” she said, stroking his hair, making his appetite for food disappear, only for it to be replaced by a different appetite.

  “Then why?” he asked.

  “My mom would be highly amused by you thinking I could cook that well. She always said I needed to either meet a man who could cook, or who earned enough to buy takeout every night.” Amanda looked across to the food. “I made the sandwiches, but everything else is store bought. If you live with me, you are going to miss your mom’s home cooking.”

  “It would be worth the sacrifice,” he said, and pulled her head down so their lips met.

  They didn’t need money; this was the most perfect date, food, a fire and his mate. Perfect, and Amanda seemed to agree, as she returned his kiss and sighed contentedly.

  Chapter Nine – Amanda

  “The food will be ruined,” Amanda said, pulling back from him.

  “I don’t care,” he said, holding her tight against his body. “You are everything I want, everything I need at this precise moment.”

  She giggled nervously. “I’m not sure if I want things to move that fast.”

  “Why not?” he said, pulling back from her enough to look into her eyes. “I thought we had come to an understanding about this whole fated mates thing.”

  “We have. I just…” She sighed and sat up, hugging her knees.

  “It’s just what?” he asked, coming to sit beside her. “I know I’m not exactly the most successful man in the world. I admit I do not actually own anything other than a few pairs of faded jeans and some seriously dodgy T-shirts. But I will try to make you happy.”

  Amanda turned to him, quickly saying, “It’s not you. Not at all. It’s me.”

  “And you don’t want to tell me. I don’t care. What’s past is past. Unless it’s likely to rear its head again, in which case, I’m a bear. I can bite it off. Any head. Any time.” He put his arm around her and gently pulled her towards him. “I know this is weird, it’s too quick. But it’s also right.”

  “I know it’s right. But what if I’m wrong? Wrong for you.”

  “Not possible. Fate always gets it right. That’s what we shifters are brought up to believe.” He turned her face to his, gently tilting her chin up to face him. “Why don’t we forget about everything except this moment? The past, the future, they can’t touch us in the present.”

  “I hope you are right,” she answered. “And whether you are or not, I’m willing to believe you.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said, and his lips pressed against hers and he kissed her.

  Amanda melted into him, her hands on his arms to keep herself steady as his mouth drowned her senses. Jed slid his tongue along her lower lip, sending shivers along her spine, and she opened her mouth to allow him access. In and out he teased, with a rhythm that heightened her arousal, leaving a hot ache between her thighs, and a stirring in her stomach that was all for him.

  She had to trust in this mating bond, and if it turned out to be a whole load of hogwash, then the more fool on her. At least she would have had a chance to experience something wonderful, and that had to be worth a risk.

  “Shall we go inside?” she asked, pulling back from him.

  He leaned forward and nipped her bottom lip. “I don’t mind where we go as long as I can make love to you. I want to lick every inch of your body and kiss you until you can’t think straight. And then I’m going to...”

  She placed her hand over his mouth. “That part can be a surprise,” she said hoarsely, her body unable to cope with the thoughts and sensations his words conjured up.

  Breaking away from him, she got up, taking a moment to gain her balance. Her legs were shaky, and her eyes a little disorientated. Jed rose to stand by the side of her, and took her hand. “You seem to be under the influence of something exotic.”

  “Exotic?” she asked. “I haven’t been drinking.”

  “I was thinking more of love.” He kissed her again, this time putting his arm around her waist to keep her upright. “Or lust,” he breathed in her ear.

  Hot damn, he turned her on. “You are a terrible tease.” She straightened up and slipped away from him, and began to pack everything away.

  “I am not teasing,” he said, coming to help her. “This is most definitely a promise.”

  “Just help me get everything into the cabin.”

  “And then?”

  “And then I am going to make us some coffee to see if I can rescue my senses from you.”

  He chuckled. “You can try. But I have a power over you that is hard to resist. I will bend you to my will.”

  “Is that right?” she asked, not so sure she liked the idea of that. The last time she had fallen so hard she had been terribly used.

  “Yes. But you’ll bend me even more, make me beg like a dog if you deny me.”

  “I can’t see you ever begging like a dog,” she said, packing the last of the sandwiches away.

  “That is because you have no idea of the pull you have on me.” He came around and stood by the side of her. Taking her hand, he placed it on his heart. “When I’m near you it’s as though our hearts beat to the same rhythm.”

  She took her hand away. “You are teasing me again.”

  “No. I’m not, Amanda. I would give you my world if you asked.”

  The intensity in his eyes was almost too much. “I would never ask it.”

  “I know. But I’d give it all the same.” The words stood before them endlessly. She frowned, shaking her head as if she could shake the intimacy away.

  “Jed. Please sl
ow down.” She started to walk towards the house. “Sex is one thing, but I can’t swear undying love to you. Not now, not when we have only just met.”

  “I understand. But that doesn’t stop me wanting you to know how special you are to me.”

  “I get that. But enough with the words.”

  “I thought women liked to hear their men tell them they are special.”

  “We do. I do. But I don’t feel worthy of those kinds of words. Let’s take a step back and, I don’t know. Talk.” Did she want to talk? Yes, she did.

  “Coffee it is, then,” he said, hiding his disappointment well.

  Inside the cabin, she put on a fresh pot of coffee. Jed helped her pack everything into the fridge, and then she poured him a large mug full of the hot strong liquid. Luckily, he seemed to have calmed down, his mouth no longer swearing undying love to her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I am usually a man of few words, I have no idea what came over me.”

  “Love sick,” she said carefully.

  “Love sick, you are right. It’s like this strange feeling swept over me. If I’d gone on any longer, I would have started quoting poetry.”

  She laughed, nearly spraying her coffee across the kitchen. “I never took you as a poet.”

  “Hidden depths.” He smiled. “What about you? Tell me something that you keep hidden from the world.”

  Her face clouded and her heart beat faster. Now would be the time to tell him about Mason. To warn Jed off her. But she didn’t want to. The longer she watched him as he stood only feet away from her, drinking his coffee, the more she wanted to quit with the words and let his mouth work on her in other ways.

  “The thing I keep most hidden,” she said, putting her coffee cup down on the counter, and sidling up next to him, “is how much I love to work in the kitchen.”

  He looked at her, frowning. “I thought you said you weren’t a very good coo…” She slipped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his and moving up and down as she rubbed against his hard length. “Oh.”