Page 22 of Bear Creek Father's Day
“I can’t thank you enough for coming tonight. The little ones had a wonderful time, and so did I. It meant the most to Rayn, and I can tell she feels safe with you.”
Zak’s confused feelings almost got the better of him, and he reached out to cup Orrin’s bearded face with both hands—thumbs stroking the soft, dark hair. Not content with a simple peck on the lips, Zak claimed Orrin’s mouth with a kiss they would both remember; hot, sweet, and filled with emotion he couldn’t identify or express. It left him breathless, hard, and dizzy, yet he still managed to say a few words to the amazing man.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening. I haven’t had this much fun for a long time. Can I pick you up for lunch tomorrow, and then maybe we can spend the afternoon together?”
Orrin’s gentle smile didn’t come close to matching his riotous scent—joy, lust, hope, and a healthy dose of anticipation.
“It’s a date! Goodnight, Zak.”
Orrin opened the front door, sending the man off with a final wave before going back upstairs to watch over the children. Iftonight offered a tiny glimpse of what theycouldbe, then he wanted more—even as his bear pushed to hurry things along.
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Zak drove home in a daze, wondering what he’d gotten himself into. What happened to his plan to resist Orrin Crosby? Why had he agreed to see the man again? How could he be thinking of a settled future with children when his new practice hadn’t even opened? Was there something in Bear Creek’s water or had he lost his mind? Maybe this was all DeeDee Tillman’s fault—first for convincing him to come to Bear Creek, and then for finding a sneaky way to keep him here.
Returning to a dark, empty home only made Zak yearn for the warmth, love, and belonging he’d felt at the Cub House. Though it was Orrin’s scent that had attracted him initially, the complex man himself was irresistible, drawing him into his world as though Zak had belonged there all along. Were they meant for one another? Did Orrin’s bear consider them mates?
And what about precious little Rayn? He’d encountered or treated thousands of children in the last decade, and yet she’d gotten under his skin almost immediately. Somehow, they needed one another, but what did that mean? Yes, they were both quasi-shifters, but did it suddenly qualify him to be her parent? Zak didn’t think so, but then if Orrin was part of their combined future, maybe hecouldbe her father.
Swirling thoughts, doubts, and questions followed him to bed, keeping him awake far longer than usual. The answers he sought weren’t going to be revealed instantly, which meant taking things one day at a time. That much he could do, and Zak eventually fell asleep thinking of tomorrow and his first real date with Orrin.
Chapter 11
Sunday, January 26th
Orrin debated what to wear, taking stock of his closet and dresser drawers. Shifters didn’t date in the traditional human sense, and his job only required durable, comfortable clothing. He wanted to look good for Zak but wasn’t sure where they were going today. Fortunately, he got a text around ten o’clock that clarified things.
Zak
>I’ll pick you up by 11:30. Dress comfortably! See you soon.
Orrin
>Got it. Can’t wait!
First, Orrin spent time taming his unruly mop of long hair into something appealing. While working, he normally bundled it on top of his head and ignored it for the rest of the day. Instead, he’d carefully washed and conditioned, giving it a controlled but tangled appearance. Wearing it down and loose also revealed strands of lighter brown that matched his bear’s coat, though his facial hair was uniformly dark.
It was often assumed that Black Bearsalwayshad black fur, but it wasn’t true. Their coats came in many colors, including brown, cinnamon, blond, blue-gray, and even white depending on location. Here in Pennsylvania, nearly all bears had black fur with a tan-colored muzzle, and many sported a white patch on their chest called a ‘blaze.’ Orrin’s father, however, had been born in the northwest, giving him a beautiful blond coat. His own bear was a soft brown, like coffee with lots of cream, and he stood out in this region of the country.
To complete the desired look (hot enough to make Zak drool), Orrin pulled on a form-fitting pair of blue jeans and a snug T-shirt that hugged his chest, topped by a loose flannel shirt. His single-minded bear approved of the outfit, but only if it led to naked time. While his ursine half wasn’t demanding that he claim Zak (at least not yet), he was more interested in him than anyone else Orrin had encountered over the years—even during mating seasons. Perhaps it was because Orrin, Rayn, and Kip were also drawn to the kind doctor, and the time had come to get serious about a mate.
With several minutes to spare, he left his quarters and entered the Cub House through a connecting door on the second floor. The little ones would all be downstairs, eagerly awaiting lunch, and Orrin headed for the kitchen to check in with Tasha. She gave him the once-over and growled.
“You certainly clean up nice. Dr. Hall won’t be able to resist, if that’s what you’re after.”
Scout and Birdy were on kitchen duty, and both of them stared as if they’d never seen him before. Birdy finally found her voice.
“You look different, Orrin. Where are you going?”
Though he wished they wouldn’t make such a big deal out of it, it was natural for the cubs to notice.
“I’m having lunch with Zak today, and probably won’t be back until late. You be good for Tasha, all right?”
Scout answered for both of them, as he often did.
“We will. Hey—someone is here!”
Orrin hurriedly exited the kitchen to reach the door before anyone else got there. Unfortunately, the other children hadalready gathered in the entryway to see who it was, meaning a discreet exit was impossible. Orrin opened the door just as Zak was about to ring the bell, and his smile morphed into something heated when he got a look at his date. He was dressed in navy chinos and a cream cable sweater, looking all kinds of sexy and prompting Orrin to growl. Zak swallowed hard before trying to speak, mindful that the children were watching.
