Page 3 of Bearly Mine
I jogged into the tree line, waiting until I was out of sight before shifting. I shook out the sting of the shift as I lowered to all fours and started toward my cabin, pushing my speed, my bear not wanting to leave the woman alone for long.
I lumbered up the steps of my back porch and shifted, pulling on the clothes I had left draped over the railing before heading next door to ask Dylan to check out the car. If anyone could get it going, it was him. Though I wasn’t optimistic after my quick look at the engine. He was sitting on his front porch with a beer in hand when I arrived.
“Human broke down on the highway. I’m giving her a ride to Dryston. Can you see if you’re able to get her car running?”
He lowered his beer and raised a brow. “What’s a human doing all the way out here?”
“Probably took a detour. Didn’t you hear the main highway was closed for roadwork today?”
“You know I don’t pay attention to that stuff.” He stood up and stretched. “I guess I can come along. I’d like to meet this human brave enough to detour through Shifter Alley.”
My bear gave a warning growl, and we both stilled. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. “Now I definitely want to meet her.”
Another low growl slipped out before I could stop it. I shook my head. “Sorry. My bear is acting weird today.”
We crossed over to my truck and climbed in. I grabbed the keys from behind the visor and pulled out of the drive. The trip was silent, but I knew Dylan was watching me, curious about my bear’s reaction. As we pulled to a stop behind her car, sheclimbed out, shading her eyes with her hands. Her scent floated across the distance and through my open window.
My bear let out a purring rumble, and my stomach tightened as I figured out why I was so drawn to her. She was my mate.
Lily
I ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich while I waited. There was still time to make it to my interview if he got back quickly enough. I told myself that was why I was anxious for his return. It had absolutely nothing to do with how handsome he was. Or how safe he made me feel.
When I heard a truck approaching, I jumped out of my car. I shaded my eyes against the sun, quickly recognizing the man behind the wheel. There was another guy in the passenger seat, but I barely registered him, unable to tear my gaze away from my rescuer.
He was slow to exit his truck, but when the other guy came near me, he picked up his pace, his long legs eating up the distance between us. Even clothed in jeans and a T-shirt, he captured my attention fully. There was an added intensity to his stare that wasn’t there earlier. He held out his hand and somehow the moment felt huge. As if he was offering more than just a handshake. I dismissed the silly thought and stretched my hand to his.
His hand swallowed mine, his palm hard and warm. My body erupted in tingles and my breath caught. A slow smile spread across his face as he tugged me closer. “I forgot to introduce myself earlier. I’m Dean.”
“Lily.” My voice was breathy.
He repeated my name almost reverently. I liked how it sounded coming from him, almost as much as I liked how my hand felt in his. And the way he looked at me. As if he saw beneath the surface to who I was inside, and approved. Was this some special shifter allure I had never heard about? If so, it was probably best they didn’t live among humans, because it was hard to resist.
A throat cleared, drawing my reluctant gaze away from Dean. And shattered the notion of the special shifter allure. Because the other man didn’t even remotely tempt me. Despite his good looks, with messy dark blond hair, and size, being almost as tall and broad as Dean. His sky-blue eyes twinkled as he watched us. “I’m Dylan. But don’t mind me. I’m just here to fix the car.”
“Oh. Thank you.” I turned and walked back to my car to pop the hood again, trying to ignore the sensation of Dean’s gaze on me. I was hyper-aware of my movements, and when I realized I was probably showing him my ass, bent over the way I was, I awkwardly crouched down in my pencil skirt and reached in to release the latch that way. “It just sort of sputtered and died on me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Dylan gave me a quick grin before passing me to lean over the engine. An inventive string of curse words from him had me ready to reach for my swear jar at the same time I mentally filed the creative phrasing away for future use. He stood, running his hand roughly through his hair. “Sorry. I meant to say, I look forward to the challenge.”
“Call me if you need any parts from Dryston,” Dean said. He slipped an arm around my shoulder and led me to the passenger side of his truck, a gesture that should have been too familiar, but instead caused me to melt into his side.
He opened the door, helping me in, and I used the time it took him to reach the driver’s side to lecture myself on my reaction to him. I wasn’t the type to swoon over handsome men.I had no time for that sort of thing. My life was about survival, and right now my survival depended on the job interview I had today.
Dean slid behind the wheel, immediately filling the space with his presence and almost making me forget my brief lecture.I can’t sleep on Maddie’s couch forever,I reminded myself. Maddie was too kind to kick me out, but I refused to take advantage of her generosity. Besides, I wasn’t used to having to rely on others, and I didn’t plan to start now.
THREE
Dean
“What’s the interview for?” I wanted to hear Lily’s voice again. She had been quiet since I helped her into the truck. “There’s not a lot in Dryston.”
“I’m a teacher. Or, more accurately, that’s the plan. I just graduated from college a few weeks ago.”
“Congratulations. What ages do you want to teach?”
“Anything in elementary school. I want to help kids get a good start in life.” I almost asked about the wistful tone evident in her words, but resisted, not wanting to scare her off by prying. If Lily were a shifter, she would know we were mates, allowing me to dive straight in to the deep stuff, but because she was human, I needed to ease into things.
“My mom homeschooled me until I was a teenager,” I shared. “Most shifters are. When we approach adolescence, we need someone trained to help us. That’s when our shifter halves start waking up.”
