Page 36 of Bear Creek Valentine
Dash shook his head, unable to look Aiden in the eye.
“No, it wasn’t you. We drove through my old neighborhood and I... it was too... lots of memories, that’s all.”
Aiden knew Dash still struggled with his painful past, but it wasn’t healthy to hold it all in, either.
“Your life with Harv isn’t something you need to hide from me. You enjoyed a beautiful relationship that ended way too soon. I don’t expect you to forget him or your life together, but now we get to make new memories together, right? I’ll worry less if you just share these things with me.”
Dash let go of the breath he’d been holding, grateful that Aiden was so understanding.
“Okay, I’ll try. You’re nervous about meeting my family, aren’t you?”
Now it was Aiden’s turn to fess up.
“Yes. I’m afraid they won’t like me or think I’m not good enough for you. Plus, I’ve never dated anyone long enough to meet the guy’s family. What are we going to talk about?”
Dash pulled him close, rubbing his back as he considered what to say.
“You make me happy, so they already like you. They don’t care if you’re a human, either, and bear shifters love to meet new people. You’ll be too busy answering questions to worry about what to say, and once they taste the Bear Brownies we brought, they’ll make me keep you.”
Aiden looked down at Dash with an impish grin.
“Good. I want you to keep me, with or without the brownies.”
Aiden swooped in for another kiss and swatted Dash on the ass, prompting a throaty growl. A heated make-out session followed until they forced themselves to stop. It was either that or have sex right there at the overlook, but still a close call. Besides, getting arrested would make them late for lunch. Aiden held Dash’s hand as they jogged back to the car and kissed him again before they got underway.
####
This was it—the moment of truth.
In a few seconds, Aiden Romero would be scented within an inch of his life by an entire family of shifters. Besides Dash, the only thing protecting him was the heavy stack of boxed treats he was carrying. The front door opened before they reached the porch steps, releasing an army of children, all screaming for “Uncle Dash!” at the top of their lungs. While his lover tried to hug and sniff each one, an older couple approached Aiden, all smiles.
“Welcome! I’m Jeanor Mom, whatever you’re comfortable with. This is my mate, Lamont.”
Dash bore a striking resemblance to his father—same oval face, broad forehead, and adorable dimples. At second glance, Aiden noticed Dash had his mother’s eyes and height; short for a male, but average for a female shifter. They seemed quitepleased to meet him, and according to Dash, were thrilled he’d found a love interest after so many years alone.
Despite, (or perhaps because of) the stack of treats, they both gave Aiden a thorough scenting before stepping back to do the same for Dash. The kids had apparently disappeared into the house, leaving an awkward silence. Lamont reached for the heavy boxes.
“Here, let me take those. Whatever you’ve brought smellswonderful. The rest of the family is eager to meet you, Aiden. Come on in and we’ll get the introductions over with.”
Amid overlapping conversations and multiple scentings, Aiden only caught the names of Dash’s parents and littermates. Strangely enough, his brother, Bram, looked more like their mother than any of his three sisters—Isobel, Sorcha, and Kamdyn. All were mated with a dozen cubs between them, in a wide range of ages. Aiden had never been with a large shifter family group like this before, and they werenothinglike his own relatives.
The huge dining table fairly groaned under the weight of so much food. Aiden ate quietly at the start; Dash’s meaty thigh pressed against his while the others attacked the feast with gusto. Once bellies were half full, the conversation flew thick and fast. Most of it went over Aiden’s head, though he noted questions to ask Dash later. The grilling started when the little girl sitting next to him piped up with a blunt inquiry.
“Do you like bears? You’re not afraid of us, are you?”
Nearly everyone stopped talking, and the child’s mother, Sorcha, attempted to run interference.
“Sorry, Aiden. Scarlett has never met a mixed couple before, and she’s curious.”
Aiden simply smiled at the wide-eyed beauty, put his fork down, and answered the question.
“I like bears very much, especially your Uncle Dash, and no, I’m not afraid.”
She smiled back at him and clapped her hands.
“Good! Gramma promised we could shift after lunch and eat the brownies you brought.”
The table erupted in laughter, followed by questions aboutDelicious, how Aiden met Dash, where he grew up, and whether he had any siblings. Aiden’s scent soured when he spoke about his family, and Dash noticed.
