Joey: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 6) Read online

  She stretched out her legs and sighed in contentment as they drove along the mountain road, climbing higher and higher with each bend in the road, which meandered serpentine through vast forest and cliffs that dropped away into steep-sided valleys.

  “And what is your stance on bugs?” Joey asked.

  “Me?” Breeze shook her head. “I am not being drawn into this debate. I would not like to take sides. You boys can sort it out between you.”

  “Aunt Breeze doesn’t like spiders, but she always comes and takes them out of my bedroom or out of the bathtub.” Tristan smiled at her and her heart squeezed in her chest. He was a good kid who deserved more from his parents. “You never kill them. So I guess that means you like them after all.”

  “I don’t believe we should kill any animal or creature for the sake of it,” she admitted. “The spiders don’t come into your room to pick a fight with you. They’re just doing their thing.”

  “Spinning webs and trapping flies,” Joey said. “Have you ever seen a spider making its web?”

  “Nope. I have a life,” Tristan said sarcastically. Wherever did he learn to talk like that? Uri. His dad had a deep vein of sarcasm running through him.

  “Watching a spider spin its web is incredible,” Joey enthused.

  “As I said, I have a life.” Tristan went back to watching the world go by outside the truck window. It occurred to Breeze that was what he’d spent most of his life doing. Tristan’s parents worked long hours and were often so wrapped up in themselves that they never thought of taking their son to the theater or a zoo, or even the beach.

  “Is this the first time you’ve been into the mountains?” Joey asked.

  “Yes. We’ve been planning to hike up here, but I was worried about the bears and wolves.” She smiled at him, liking the way his eyes crinkled as he smiled back. “I appreciate this, Joey. I really do. And so does Tristan.”

  “No problem. I was thinking after we’ve eaten, I could teach you some survival stuff. Things like fire lighting and shelter building. And about bears.” He paused as if leaving something unsaid. “Then if you two ever do come up here together, you will be prepared.”

  “We’re going to light a fire?” Tristan asked excitedly.

  “I thought that would be fun.” Joey glanced at Breeze. “If that’s okay with your aunt.”

  “Yes, as long as you promise me you won’t ever light a fire unless there is an adult with you. Fires can be very dangerous.” Breeze fixed Tristan with one of her stern looks which he interpreted as this is not up for debate.

  “I promise. I will never start a fire unless there is an adult with me.” He looked up at the tall trees that towered above their heads before they broke out into the open mountainside. The peaks were close now, it was as if they could get out of the truck and stroll to the summit, though Breeze suspected the high peaks were farther away than they seemed.

  “I can’t believe how beautiful it is here.” She slowly turned her head taking in the view before them as the road petered out and became a dirt track. The truck dipped down into potholes made by the rain and climbed over slabs of rock left exposed by erosion.

  Breeze clung to the sides of the seat to stop herself from bouncing around. Even with her seatbelt on, it felt as if she might be flung across the cab of the truck.

  “Not much farther.” Joey gripped the steering wheel tightly as he expertly maneuvered the truck toward their destination.

  Then the hill leveled out and they drove across a flat grassy plain. A couple of hundred feet ahead, another truck was parked and a few of people were setting out a picnic blanket while a child played with a man.

  “We’re here.” Joey grinned and waved as the couple who were setting out the picnic straightened and waved back.

  “This is an amazing spot,” Breeze said, although she was really thinking—what if Joey’s friends didn’t like her? Which was ridiculous, but for some reason, it meant a lot to her. She wanted to fit into his life with as little friction as possible.

  We have just met, she reminded herself, but it didn’t help as butterflies filled her stomach, fluttering around so much she didn’t think she could eat a bite of any of the food she’d packed.

  “Okay.” Joey glanced her way and held her gaze. “They’re really nice.” Could the man read her thoughts? Did he know she was scared? Unreasonably scared, she reminded herself. She met new people all the time at work. This was the first time she was going to socialize as herself, not Breeze the midwife.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I think the bumpy trail knocked the wind out of me.” She hoped she covered her real fears.

  “That was so cool,” Tristan said, not sharing his aunt’s thoughts on the ride up the mountain.

  “Well, we get to do it all over again on the way down.” His concern for Breeze laced his words. Joey opened the door and climbed out. “Let’s go meet everyone, they can’t wait to say hi.”

  Joey jumped out of the truck, landing lightly on the ground, He swung his arm around and the flat of his palm smacked against the door. The door shut with a bang and he strode around the front of the truck and yanked the passenger door open. The guy sure had enthusiasm to spare, he would be good for Tristan.

  Good for her, too.

  Breeze had come here looking for a new start and she’d found it. Instead of being scared, she needed to reach out and grab hold of it with both hands.

  Just as she needed to reach out and grab Joey’s hand as he offered it to her. “Thanks.” The truck was higher than she was used to, and she placed her hand in his as she slid down from the cab.

  “Hi there,” the woman who had been spreading out a picnic came over to meet them, followed by two men and a young girl who was swinging between the two men, one hand held in each of theirs.

  With a carefree whee, she swung through the air.

  “Hi, you must be Joanna.” Breeze extended her hand, unsure whether to shake, hug, or just give a brief wave.

  “I am.” Joanna took hold of Breeze’s hand and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so happy to meet you at last.”

  “At last.” Breeze frowned. “I’ve only just met Joey. Or do you know someone whose baby I delivered?”

  “No,” Joanna replied, giving Joey an apologetic look. “I only meant that Joey has told us so much about you already.”

  “He has?” Breeze shot Joey a questioning look.

  “You delivered Polly’s baby. That was such an amazing thing,” Joey said quickly. “I needed to tell everyone.”

  “And I am extra interested since I am pregnant.” Joanna’s cheeks flushed pink as Joey stepped forward and engulfed her in his strong arms.

  “You are?” Joey’s expression was priceless. A mixture of joy and love crossed his face. Joanna meant a lot to him. Just as Polly did. The guy was full of love. Full of fun and she wanted to scratch the surface and get to know the man underneath.

  “I am.” Joanna’s eyes brimmed with tears which she quickly dashed away. However, they soon returned as O’Malley, who still held onto Jane’s hand, hugged Joanna, too.

  “That is amazing.” O’Malley shook his head. “This is incredible.” He looked at Joey. “For all of you.”

  “Congratulations,” Breeze added her voice, too, unsure of what the look O’Malley had given Joey meant.

  “I’m sorry to steal the limelight,” Joanna told Breeze as she wiped away tears. “We’ve been waiting to tell people for a couple of weeks.”

  “You’ve known for a couple of weeks?” O’Malley asked in surprise.

  “We wanted to make sure everything was okay before we told everyone,” Shawn told them.

  “I kept the secret, too,” Jane said. “Dad didn’t think I’d be able to. But I locked my lips.” She let go of Shawn’s hand and mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.

  “I knew you could do it, really,” Shawn laughed.

  “Hey, do you want to go and explore while the grownups talk babies?” Jane asked Tristan, who ha
d hung back by the truck.

  “Sure.” He took a couple of uncertain steps forward, but Jane let go of O’Malley’s hand and went to Tristan, falling into step with him as they walked across the grassy plane toward a small mound of rocks.

  “I didn’t think you could make it,” Joey said to O’Malley.

  “I’ve worked hard all day and I could not resist the thought of food in the open air. So I decided I needed a break.” O’Malley tilted his head back and inhaled deeply. “Nothing like mountain air to work up an appetite.”

  “I think he means we should eat.” Joey clapped his hands together. “I have a mission to make Tristan like fruit and vegetables and convert him to a bug lover.”

  “Wow, if you can accomplish that in one day, you must have magic skills,” Joanna said as she kissed Shawn on the cheek.

  “I do have magic skills.” Joey walked back to the truck and grabbed the picnic bags. “I just don’t know how to use them yet. But I’m working on it.”

  “Come give me a hand, Breeze, if you don’t mind.” Joanna beckoned to Breeze.

  “Sure,” Breeze replied.

  “That’s code for will you answer all my questions about pregnancy and birth,” Shawn warned Breeze. His eyes twinkled as he teased his wife. They were both so happy, they glowed.

  “I love talking babies and pregnancy,” Breeze admitted. “So ask away. Anytime.” She pointed a finger at Joanna. “Although, I would be grateful if you have a sudden question pop into your head at three o’clock in the morning you don’t call me right away.”

  “I won’t. I promise.” Joanna linked arms with Breeze and guided her toward the picnic blanket already spread across the ground. “I am so happy you are here.”

  “So am I,” Breeze replied. “So am I.”

  Chapter Eleven – Joey

  “How are things between you and Breeze?” Shawn asked as he helped Joey fetch the picnic from the truck.

  “Good. I think.” He shut the back of the truck and hitched a backpack onto his shoulder. “It’s hard to tell. I think you got off easy.”

  “I did?” Shawn asked. “I did!” he quickly agreed.

  “Good save.” O’Malley laughed. “I won’t tell Joanna that you think your relationship with her is hard work.”

  “That is not what I said,” Shawn protested, which made O’Malley laugh even harder.

  “I mean that with Joanna being a shifter, you both got the connection. You both knew.” Joey watched the two women talking as the men carried over the picnic bags.

  “I still wouldn’t say it was easy,” Shawn replied. “Don’t say it,” he warned O’Malley.

  “I was joking before,” O’Malley assured him. “I know it was hard for you guys because of Jane. Because of what happened when she was a baby.”

  Shawn nodded. “Until we had all that figured out, it was hard to focus on us.”

  “But now,” O’Malley slapped Shawn on the back. “A baby. I am so happy for you both.”

  “Me, too,” Joey added. “You’re a lucky man.”

  “And so are you,” O’Malley said. “You have a mate. Sure, it’s going to take some explaining.” He dropped his voice. “The whole turning into a bear thing. That is not the kind of thing you learn every day.”

  “I’m worried she’s going to freak,” Joey admitted. “I’m scared she’ll think I’ll be a bad influence on Tristan.”

  “You will be a bad influence,” O’Malley teased. “In the best possible way.”

  “Hey, hunter-gathers, we need some food,” Joanna called to the three men.

  “Coming,” Shawn said and hurried to his wife.

  “Thanks, honey.” Joanna caught hold of Shawn’s hand as he walked past. “Could you grab me a cold soda, please?”

  “Sure.” He squeezed her hand lightly and headed toward his truck.

  “Feeling nauseous?” Breeze asked.

  “Yeah, it comes and goes. But a cold soda and then something to eat helps.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “I hope I don’t feel this way all through my pregnancy.”

  “You won’t, before you know it everyone will be telling you that you are glowing,” Breeze assured her. “Just don’t be too hard on yourself. Enjoy it, every bit.”

  “I intend to.” She accepted the soda from Shawn. “We intend to.”

  “We do.” Shawn set more food down on the picnic blanket and began unpacking it. “We should have made this a campout. We have enough food for days.”

  “Why don’t you invite Kelos and Amber to join us?” Joey asked as he opened a couple of Tupperware containers and offered them around.

  “I could text Kelos.” Shawn took out his phone and looked at the screen. “If I can get a signal.”

  “Oh, how is Kelos? He was nearly as big a hero as you, Joey. Flying Miles back for the birth…” Joanna coughed as she suddenly realized what she’d said. Her eyes went wide, and she shot an apologetic look at Joey.

  “So Kelos is the one who flew Miles back to Bear Creek. Is there a landing strip nearby?” Breeze looked over her shoulder at the town below. “I’ve never seen one.”

  “I think Carter Eden has one on his grounds,” Shawn said quickly.

  “The Carter Eden lives in Bear Creek?” Breeze asked.

  “He does,” Joey said, hoping the news might cause a distraction.

  “Now that is one guy I would like to arrest.” Joanna took a gulp of soda as Shawn took a sharp breath.

  “The mother of my unborn child wants to place another man in handcuffs?” Shawn asked in mock offense as he reached up, phone in hand, trying to get a signal.

  “I blame it on my hormones,” Joanna said. “I can do that, can’t I?” she asked Breeze.

  “Absolutely. Your hormones are out of whack for sure.” Breeze giggled, it was a good sound.

  “Okay, I am going to go a little way back down the mountain and see if I can pick up a signal.” Shawn kissed Joanna on the cheek and then jogged off toward the road. As soon as he was out of view, Joey sensed him shift into his cougar and run sure-footed and fast down the road.

  “Oh, this was a good idea,” Joanna said, kicking off her shoes.

  “Remember you are eating for two,” Joey said as he offered her some sandwiches and placed some chocolate-covered strawberries in a bowl. “I made these, too. We have to save some for Tristan so I can convince him fruit is good to eat.”

  “Where are the children?” Breeze asked, suddenly alert as she looked around for her nephew.

  Joey pushed out his senses, locating the two children near the small clump of trees farther along the plane. “They’re just over there.” He pointed.

  “I can’t see them,” Breeze said, sitting up straighter before standing on her feet. “Can you see them?”

  “I caught a glimpse of them,” Joey said, which was a lie.

  We should never lie to our mate, his bear told him.

  What am I supposed to say, I used my super senses? Joey could not wait for Breeze to know about shifters. Then there would be no secrets between them.

  “Shall I go and get them?” Joey asked.

  “We could go together,” Breeze suggested. “I’d love to get a good look at the view from up here.”

  “This way.” He inclined his head toward the trees, and she fell into step with him.

  “Thank you. For all this,” she said.

  “The view is not due to me,” he replied. “That has been there for as long as anyone can remember and then some more.”

  “You know what I mean,” she said. “I would never have ventured this far up the mountain alone. My car would never have made it for a start.”

  “It’s not the easiest place to reach. But that means it’s usually quiet.” He breathed in the mountain air. “I love it up here. I used to think it would be amazing to spend a whole summer living on the mountain. No work, no chores, just fresh air, and freedom.”

  “The joy of being young, free, and single.” Her expression clouded. “If you don
’t want a relationship…” She stalled before she began again. “I know you think we have a connection, that there is something between us. But if you decided you would rather meet a woman who has no commitments, no baggage, then don’t worry about me.”

  “Breeze,” Joey stopped walking and turned to face her. “There is no one else for me. When I said we had a connection, I meant it. A deep, unbreakable connection.”

  Breeze swallowed hard and her cheeks flushed pink. Joey cursed himself, he should have held back. But it was next to impossible when she was close. He wanted her to know exactly how he felt. If he thought it wouldn’t freak her out completely, he would go stand on top of the nearest cliff and shout out his undying love to the world.

  Now that would be too much, his bear said.

  Yeah, I know but that doesn’t stop me feeling it. Joey knew his bear would do the same. If he could, he would climb to the highest peak and roar into the wind telling the world he had a mate and she was his.

  “I feel a connection between us,” Breeze admitted. “But it’s not unbreakable.” She gave a short laugh. “I’ve seen this before. When my sister met her husband, she swore their love was unbreakable. But guess what? It broke. And Tristan is living with the consequences.”

  “This is different,” Joey assured her.

  “That’s what we all say. That’s the lie we all tell ourselves. My sister used to practically rub my face in it. She used to tell me that her love for Uri is stronger and deeper than any love anyone in the world has ever known.” She laughed, low and humorless. “I used to be jealous. I used to want that same kind of love. But seeing what it’s done to Tristan, seeing how he’s having to cope with the fallout of their marriage breaking down…” She turned away from Joey and kept walking.

  “This is different,” Joey insisted.

  “That is what everyone says,” Breeze replied.

  “And you don’t believe it’s possible for us to be different?” Joey asked. Had Breeze’s experience with her sister made her so cynical she couldn’t take a leap of faith and believe in what she felt for Joey? He was in her heart, he knew he was, in the same way he knew that the winter snows always melted when the sun warmed the ground each spring,