Loving The Bear

  Evernight Publishing ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2014 Vanessa Devereaux

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-945-5

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Kerry Genova

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  For Emma Devereaux

  LOVING THE BEAR

  Kalispell Shifters, 3

  Vanessa Devereaux

  Copyright © 2014

  Prologue

  Lilly fell to her knees before struggling toward the door with Katlin secured tightly in her arms. If she couldn’t keep herself safe, at least she’d protect her daughter with her life if she had to. She rested the side of her head against the wall, hoping to get some time to think about her next move.

  Feeling her temple starting to throb, she squeezed her eyes shut. She guessed she’d taken so many beatings that her body had grown numb. Today she hadn’t realized just how much damage he’d done to her body until she stopped to think and the pain finally registered.

  A tear rolled down her cheek. It stung and she guessed it was passing over one of the open cuts on her face. She’d always been so sensible, so how she found herself in this awful situation was beyond her. Bloodied and battered. She was a complete idiot to stay as long as she had in this downward spiraling relationship. Now she was paying the price.

  Katlin began crying again. She clamped her hand over her daughter’s mouth, noticing the blood stain on her fingers and the smear on Katlin’s tiny cheek. The baby was hot and flushed and no doubt had the flu that was going around town.

  Bile rose in Lilly’s throat as she heard footsteps getting closer to the door. She reached out and gripped her fingers around the handle making sure it was closed. Judging by the angle of both her pinkie and ring fingers, she was pretty sure he’d broken them in his last attack on her.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  Lilly jumped, convinced that his fists would break through the thin wood of the nursery door.

  “Lilly, this is stupid because you can’t stay in there forever. Come out now and I promise you your punishment will be a lot less severe than if I have to break this door down and come in there.”

  She didn’t want to even take a breath just in case he heard her. She knew it was stupid because he knew she was in the room. Another tear ran down her face, stinging so bad that she almost cried out this time.

  He was right. He was always so damn right. She and Katlin couldn’t stay in this room forever.

  She eyed the window. It was on the second floor, but it wasn’t so high that jumping from it would be impossible. She could lower Katlin down to the ground using some blankets and then hopefully she’d be able to squeeze through it and jump to safety. She lifted herself up off the floor, trying to ignore the pain. She would not cry out and give him any gratification, not today.

  “It’s okay honey, I’m going to get us to safety,” she whispered in her daughter’s ear.

  Lilly put Katlin in her crib and set about tying together any blankets and baby clothes she could find. If she looped them securely together and then placed Katlin inside one that she’d make into a sling, it should be strong enough to hold her.

  Not that he’d ever touched the baby before, but he was in a bad mood with all the crying their daughter had been doing so who knows what he’d do in his rage.

  Ignoring the pain in her fingers, Lilly began tying the blankets together, tugging on them to secure the knots tight enough to hold the baby. She then took the last one out of the crib and made a harness, tying it to the ends of the makeshift rope she’d created.

  Lilly lifted Katlin and placed her inside it. The baby gave a little whimper.

  There was another noise outside the room.

  “Don’t think I’ve gone away. I’m sitting here waiting for you. You’ve disobeyed me for the last time, Lilly. I gave you your chance.”

  She swallowed. She had to escape because she had the feeling that if he touched her again, he’d either kill her or maybe she’d kill him. And he wasn’t worth the jail time.

  She carried Katlin and the escape rope over to the window, pushing it open with her free hand.

  Shit, it was stuck. She pushed harder, this time making it squeak.

  “Now you wouldn’t be thinking of using that window would you Lilly, honey? Your ass is way too big to fit through it and I’d hate to see you get stuck.”

  Whether it was or not, it was her only hope and way to escape.

  She put Katlin down and took out the screen and then looked out of the window and down. Luckily there was a bush directly underneath the window so she could lower Katlin onto it for a softer landing.

  “Okay, honey, it’s going to be okay. Mommy will be right behind you.”

  She kissed her head, feeling the heat of the baby’s skin against her lips. She was burning up and once she got to safety she’d get both of them to the nearest ER.

  She lifted her over the edge while keeping a firm grip on the homemade rope. It hurt her hands and arms to hang onto her, but she’d do it. She gently lowered her down, watching Katlin get closer and closer to the bush.

  Lilly released the breath she’d been holding when she saw her safely resting on top of the bush. She tied the rope to the metal band on the window and climbed up on the chair, knowing all she had to do was get herself down to safety and they’d be home free.

  She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of getting stuck in the window so she pushed her way through the frame, feeling the metal bit into her hips and thighs. If only she’d lost more of her baby weight but the odd cookie or chocolate or two had been her escape of sorts. Lilly pushed again, this time freeing herself until she balanced precariously on the ledge. She grabbed the makeshift rope and slowly pushed herself off using her legs, hanging onto the rope, knowing that both their lives depended on it holding.

  Lilly knew it wouldn’t be safe much longer so she hurried down and then jumped the last few feet. She rolled onto the grass, got up as quickly as she could, and grabbed Katlin who was now screaming at the top of her lungs. She was about to stand when she saw Matt standing there with his blue metal baseball bat in his hand.

  “I’ve always told you we can do things the easy way or the hard way. Why do you always have to pick the way that’s going to hurt you the most?”

  “Please, Matt, just let Katlin and me leave, and I promise I’ll just tell everyone that I fell down the stairs. I’ll make up a story like I always do, but I have to get Katlin to a doctor because she’s burning up. It’s why she’s crying.”

  “You put her first, you always put her first, and I’m the one who needs your attention, me and my supper.”

  Lilly swallowed as he headed her way, raising the bat. If he swung it down now, he’d catch Katlin’s head. She couldn’t let that happen. Knowing an attack from him was imminent, she raised her arm, feeling the bat snap her bone in half.

  She cried out and then covered Katlin with her body as another blow fell on her shoulder and then she heard a gunshot ring out and he never hit her again.

  Chapter One

  Christopher stopped sketching, reached over to his CD player, and upped the volume of the music a notch. Someone had been banging on the door of another condo for about five minutes, and shortly after a dog had
started barking. Usually his building was quiet this time of the day which made it ideal for him to brainstorm new ideas. However, the disturbance had caused him to lose focus. Even cranking up his music hadn’t helped block out the noise of the dog’s incessant yapping.

  Giving up on getting any work done, he turned off the music and turned his head to listen. A woman was calling his neighbor’s name, and the dog’s barking was getting more frantic. Something had to be wrong and he needed to go check if someone needed help. Putting down his pencil, he walked to the front door, opened it, and then stepped outside into the hallway.

  “Mrs. Nelson, can you hear me?” A young woman with long, strawberry-blonde hair was on her hands and knees and calling through the mail slot of the lady who lived two doors down from him.

  She must have sensed Christopher’s presence because she glanced his way.

  Pretty, very pretty. Not shifter.

  He put his nose in the air, instantly falling in love with the smell of her perfume. Floral undertone; and she wasn’t heavy handed with it. Some humans were and it irritated the sensitive nerve endings in his nose.

  “You need any help?” he called to her.

  He’d always been the type of shifter who couldn’t resist coming to the aid of a damsel in distress. She stood. He walked toward her, seeing a vacuum cleaner and bucket standing on the other side of her.

  “I’m supposed to be cleaning Mrs. Nelson’s condo this morning. I rang the bell and knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer. Her son said she’d be at home so I didn’t need a key. I can see into the living room, and I’m sure she’s sitting in a chair.”

  The dog barked again and Christopher could hear its nails scraping against the door. He could smell fear in there too. He’d been right, something was wrong.

  “I know she’s hard of hearing,” said Christopher walking closer to the woman and liking what he saw more with each step. “You want me to take a look?”

  “Could you? That would be great.”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  He got on his knees and pushed on the cover of the mail slot to take a peek. Barney, Mrs. Nelson’s Pomeranian, jumped up on the other side barking frantically. Christopher lifted his nose as the dog came face to face with him. Definitely fear that he smelled on the little guy. When the dog finally moved out the way, Christopher could see that the young woman had been right, it did look like Mrs. Nelson, or at least someone, was sitting there. That was strange because even if she was hard of hearing, the dog’s incessant barking should have alerted her to someone knocking on her door.

  “Hi, Mrs. Nelson, it’s Christopher Renner. Remember me? I live two doors down. You want to let this young lady in so she can clean your condo,” he shouted through the slot.

  Still no response. Still this person hadn’t moved. Something wasn’t right. He didn’t want to alarm this woman, but he was pretty sure he smelled death or near death. He needed to get in there and fast.

  He stood. If his inner bear emerged, he’d be able to easily kick in the door and get to his neighbor, but he had a witness standing right beside him and explaining what had happened to him was the last thing he wanted to do.

  “I think something might be wrong with her. I’m going to try and get in there so we can see if we can help. You’ll want to stand back.”

  She stood to the side, not taking her eyes off him. Barney continued to bark. Christopher shouldered the door.

  Fuck…doing things the human way hurts like hell.

  He smiled at the young woman. She smiled back.

  Probably thinks I’m a weak jerk.

  He took a few steps back and took a run at it this time.

  Double fuck, at this rate he was going to throw his shoulder out of its socket and still wouldn’t get into the condo.

  He closed his eyes. This was a desperate situation so he had to do something. He’d never tried this before but maybe he could tap into just little of his bear strength without shifting all the way.

  He took a deep breath and then let it out, feeling his eyes changing color, and his hands, arms and shoulders growing bulkier muscle. He gave one shove with his right shoulder and the door fell inwards, almost knocking over Barney, who at first retreated away, but then obviously smelled his bear and began showing his teeth and growling.

  “How did you do that? That’s amazing,” said the young woman.

  “Nothing, really, probably weakened the screws after my first couple of attempts. Okay Barney, let’s see if we can help your mom.”

  Barney backed up away from him as Christopher and the young woman stepped farther inside. The dog wouldn’t quit barking so the young woman picked him up and he began licking her face.

  The old lady was sitting in an armchair by the TV. A cup of tea by her side, an open book at her feet, and her head was now slumped down on her chest.

  “Mrs. Nelson,” said Christopher tapping her on the hand. His instincts had been right. The old woman was cold to the touch. He felt for a pulse but knew there wouldn’t be one because he couldn’t even hear her heart beating.

  The only heartbeat he heard besides his own was the young woman’s and it was picking up crescendo every second it set blood around her body. She was scared too.

  “Is she okay?” she asked.

  Christopher shook his head. “I’m guessing she’s been dead a couple of hours.”

  “The poor woman. Should we call 911 or what do we do?” Barney began howling. “Oh you’re okay there, little fella.” She stroked him and kissed him on the head. Christopher was suddenly envious of the pooch.

  “I’ll call 911 and if you have the son’s number, I can give him a call too,” said Christopher.

  “Sure, I have it here in my pocket.” She put Barney down and he sat on the young woman’s running shoe while she dug through her jacket pocket.

  “By the way, I’m Christopher Renner.”

  “I’m Lilly Banks.” She handed him the piece of paper with Mrs. Nelson’s son’s name and number written on it, and then burst into tears.

  Christopher without thinking put his arm around her, smelling the perfume drift up from her hair and body. He almost wanted to kiss the top of her head.

  “It’s okay. I’m sure she didn’t feel any pain. She might not have even known anything about it, just drifted off to sleep and never woke up.”

  She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face from big, beautiful blue eyes. He quickly counted the freckles over the bridge of her nose. She had eleven of them.

  “You’re going to think I’m an awful person because it’s not the reason I’m crying.”

  He didn’t care why. He just wanted to soothe her pain.

  “I’m crying because Mrs. Nelson was my first and only customer.”

  Honesty. He loved honesty most of all in a person. She’d just won him over big time.

  Chapter Two

  Lilly had wanted to leave Mrs. Nelson’s condo as soon as the police had finished taking statements from her and Christopher. Just having them question her brought back memories she’d tried to suppress for more than a year.

  Once they were done with her, she’d planned to collect her vacuum and cleaning supplies and make a swift exit, but Christopher had looked pretty shaken up himself and when he’d asked her if she’d like to go to his condo for a cup of tea, she’d been unable to say no. He’d been so sweet and she didn’t know what she would have done if she’d walked in there all by herself and discovered the woman dead in the chair. He’d saved the day and by the look of things, she’d be doing him a favor by keeping him company for a while.

  “I suggested tea because I don’t drink coffee anymore, but is that okay with you?” he asked peeking around the kitchen door.

  “It’s perfect,” said Lilly feeling more like she really did need something to drink with every passing minute. Good thing it wasn’t every day you stumbled upon a dead person.

  While Christopher busied himself with the tea, she looked around hi
s living room. A table with sketches upon it sat by the window that overlooked the parking lot. She hoped he didn’t think her nosy, but she couldn’t help but look at them.

  “You like them?”

  She jumped. She hadn’t heard him walking into the room with two mugs in his hands.

  “They’re wonderful. You an artist?”

  “Sort of. I’ve been doing mostly graphic design for the last couple of years and now I’m trying to land a job with a game designer and they’re my samples.” He nodded at the sketches.

  “Well, if they have any taste for talent, you’re the man for the job.”

  He handed her the mug just as the doorbell rang. “I’ll be right back, make yourself at home.”

  She continued to look at the sketches, so wanting to turn the pages over to see more, but scared she’d ruin them or spill her tea on them.

  She heard Christopher talking to a man, and as she turned she saw him walk in with a man she quickly recognized as Mrs. Nelson’s son who’d she spoken to two days ago when he’d asked her to clean his mother’s condo. Under his arm was Barney who had his nose in the air sniffing around.

  “Ms. Banks, so nice to see you again,” he said. Barney was doing his best to wriggle out of his arms, but he kept a firm grip on him.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” said Lilly.

  “Thank you, and thank you both for breaking in there like that.”

  “I only wish we could have gotten to her sooner,” said Christopher.

  “I don’t think it would have helped. They think she had a heart attack and died in her sleep. The only thing I’m grateful for is you found her when you did. I’m heading out of town for five days so it could have been a while before she was discovered. Ms. Banks, I’d like to pay you for the cleaning.”