Silverbacks and Second Chances Read online

  “I’ve never needed a man,” Ruth insisted.

  “This isn’t about needing a man. It’s about needing love. We all need love, Ruth.” Dani’s son ran up to her and took hold of her hand, pulling her away. “Give it a chance, what have you got to lose?”

  Dani was right, what did she have to lose? Herself? The part of her that she’d fought to nurture during the years she became mom to her siblings? Her memory dredged up the times when her stepfather was too distraught to deal with any of the day-to-day chores.

  A shifter’s love was different than normal love, obsessive even. Was that the kind of love she wanted?

  When she looked up to see Michael standing in the doorway, his eyes searching for her, her heart answered with a resounding yes.

  The very thing she had been running from since her mom died was staring her in the face. Was she brave enough to reach out and take it? Brave enough to own it, and not let her past destroy a precious love?

  Chapter Four – Michael

  There she was, the woman of his dreams. His mate. What were the chances of them finding each other? At a Renaissance Faire of all places.

  Michael took a deep breath and walked across the room. In his mind, a sea of people parted for him, and somewhere in his head, heavenly music played. But that was just his bear howling like a wolf with excitement. No wonder he lived an unconventional life.

  Can we behave normally for a few minutes, while I speak with our mate? Michael asked his bear.

  I’m showing my appreciation of her, his bear replied.

  Do it a little quieter. Michael plastered a smile on his face, but his top lip stuck to his teeth. He was so damn nervous. Now that the initial shock had worn off, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do or say. Sure, years ago he’d given a lot of thought to the first conversation he would have with his mate.

  But those days were long behind him, and the words forgotten.

  Michael ran his tongue along his teeth, took a deep steadying breath, and tried to look natural. Ruth was a grown woman, an intelligent woman, and she’d see through any pretense. Schoolteachers were good at that.

  “Hello again.” Michael was aware of Dani, another schoolteacher, and her family. They stood a few feet away and could hear everything he said. When Ruth’s eyes flickered from Michael to Dani, he realized they were here for moral support, too.

  “Hello.” She smiled, looking nervous. “You found me.”

  “I did.” His bear looked pleased with himself, insisting it was thanks to his super enhanced senses. “My shifter senses could locate you anywhere. Now that we’ve got your scent.” He winced. “That makes me sound like a bloodhound.”

  Ruth smiled. “I’m not a shifter myself, but I have spent enough time around them to know how this all works.” Although, there was a brief flicker of emotion across Ruth’s face that made him question whether she liked how this all works.

  “Would you like to go get some coffee?” Michael asked. “I could help you put your art work away.” He moved closer, circling around to look at her drawings. “Wow, not what I expected.”

  Ruth stepped forward, putting herself between him and the drawings, which were caricatures of people. “I can manage.”

  “Are you hiding something from me, Ruth?” Michael asked with a twinkle in his eye.

  “No.” She shuffled her drawings together.

  “You drew me, didn’t you?” It was a small gesture, and Michael didn’t care what it looked like, but it meant she at least had him on her mind.

  “It’s not finished.” Ruth gathered the drawings up and put them in a folder.

  “Can I see it, when it is finished?” Michael asked, watching her as she packed up the rest of her stuff.

  “Maybe. If I finish it.” Ruth was flirting with him.

  “If you want me to pose for you, I’d do it. Clothes on or clothes off, your choice.” That got her attention. She laughed.

  “I don’t do those kind of portraits.” Ruth handed him a stack of easels. “I’m sure if you like taking your clothes off, you can find an art school in need of a live model.”

  “I’ll pass. You are the only artist I’d take my clothes off for.” He shook his head. “Not that I am offering to take my clothes off.”

  “At least not on the first date?” Ruth raised her eyebrow at him.

  “Not unless you asked me to.” Michael got the feeling they were heading down a road he didn’t want to go. “I’m not an exhibitionist, is what I am trying to say.”

  “And yet here you are. At a Renaissance Faire, dressed up.” Ruth cast an appraising gaze over his costume. Luckily he’d stowed the hat in his truck along with the rest of his equipment.

  “For a good cause.” Surely that would work in his favor?

  Ruth picked up the rest of her drawing paraphernalia. “I’m ready to leave.”

  “And I am ready to follow.” He nodded his head. Michael would follow wherever she led, her scent was unmistakable even in a room full of people. But beyond that, he could sense her, as if they were joined by an invisible thread.

  “Bye, Dani.” Ruth spoke to the other women as they made their way outside into the bright sunlight. “It’s been a good day.”

  “It has, we should have raised a lot of money for the nature garden.” Michael spotted Jason and Jenny walking alongside Dean and Elizabeth.

  “Hello,” Ruth said to Jenny.

  “Hello, Mrs. Bishop,” Jenny replied.

  “Miss Bishop,” Ruth corrected and Michael sighed with relief. He hadn’t checked out her ring finger. If she’d been married already, he would have died. “Have you had a good time?”

  “Yes. We saw the alpacas and ate cakes. And bobbed for apples.” Jenny’s face shone with excitement.

  “It’s good to meet you, Miss Bishop,” Dean said, juggling the boxes in his arms to free up a hand, which he held out to Ruth. “I’m Dean and this is my wife, Elizabeth.”

  “Hello.” She shook Dean’s hand. “You’re fostering Jenny and her brother.” Ruth looked at Jason. “We haven’t met yet, have we?”

  “Nope,” Jason replied.

  “I’m Miss Bishop, or Ruth when we’re not at school.” She winked at both the children.

  “So?” Jason asked.

  “So, if you want to say hello any time, now you know my name.” Ruth smiled winningly.

  “We’re only staying for a couple of weeks,” Jason said.

  “Oh, this isn’t a long-term placement?” Ruth asked.

  “Yes, it is. But Jason doesn’t believe us,” Dean replied evenly. “No matter how many times we assure him.”

  “Everyone says that. Then we move,” Jason replied.

  “You don’t know that,” Jenny told her brother.

  “Yes, I do.” Jason looked sullen as he answered his sister.

  “I guess we are just going to have to show you,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Miss Bishop will have you in her class all year, Jenny.”

  “And Mr. Scott will have Jason in his class all year.” Dean grinned. “I expect Mr. Scott will have a lot more gray hairs before the year ends.”

  “Jason’s going to be good, aren’t you, Jason,” Jenny told her brother firmly. “Because if you aren’t, we might not stay here long. And I like Bear Creek.”

  “And we like having you here,” Elizabeth said. “Now, let’s get all these leftover plants into Dean’s truck, before my arms drop off.”

  “See you in class, Jenny,” Ruth said. “Good to meet you, Jason.” The boy grunted in response and followed Elizabeth.

  “Michael, I still plan to twist your arm on adopting those two,” Dean said when the children were out of earshot. “Ruth, maybe you can persuade him… Wait…” Dean looked from Michael, to Ruth, and then grinned. “You’re mates, right?”

  “We are,” Michael admitted.

  “You never said,” Dean accused as his grin widened.

  “We’ve only just met,” Ruth said quickly.

  “Then I
have to persuade you both to adopt two children.” Dean looked like a man on a mission. “You would have your own readymade family.”

  Ruth shuffled uncomfortably. Perhaps she thought they were too old for children. Perhaps she was right. Were they too old to adopt two young children? No, he was young at heart, and as fit as a man half his age. Plus Ruth was a school teacher. What better role model for Jason and Jenny.

  “We should get going. Feel free to drop by with Jason and Jenny anytime. Tell Jason I’ll help him make that wooden sword.”

  Dean nodded. “I’ll take you up on that, Michael. He’s full of energy, it would be great to focus it.”

  “Anytime,” Michael confirmed.

  “Bye, Dean.” Ruth continued on toward her car.

  “Good kids,” Michael said as he caught up with her.

  “Yes, Jenny is lovely, although I think Jason is a rascal.”

  “Boys, I remember when I was that age and my mom used to despair. She figured I’d end up in juvie or in a gang.”

  “Why didn’t you?” Ruth asked bluntly.

  “Why didn’t I end up in trouble?” Michael asked.

  “Yes, I’m interested.” Ruth balanced a box on her knee while she unlocked the car and opened the trunk. “It’s difficult for kids to get themselves out of trouble once they are in it.” She placed her box in the trunk and shook her arms with relief. “I worked in a poor neighborhood before I came here. Gangs were a way of life. A rite of passage if you like.”

  “Sounds like the place I grew up in.” Michael placed the easels in the trunk and brushed off his hands. “I got lucky. I became interested in music, and joined a band. We toured for some time and it gave me a different view on the world.”

  “Ahh, seeing outside of your bubble. That’s hard for a kid. I hope Jason can let go of whatever is holding him back from trusting Dean and Elizabeth. If not, his idea that they won’t be staying long in Bear Creek might become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Ruth shut her trunk. “What now? So far all I know about you is that you like to pose nude and you might adopt two children.”

  Michael chuckled. “I’m not sure which of those two options scares me the most.”

  “You don’t like children?” Ruth asked.

  “No, I do. But you get to a certain age and you begin to think that’s all behind you. Not an option.” Michael sighed and looked at his mate, taking in the way her hair curled around her face, and her eyes sparkled as she talked. When she smiled, laughter lines appeared around her mouth and her eyes. Ruth gave off an air of fun and enthusiasm. She would make a wonderful mom.

  “Do you have kids?” he asked suddenly. “I mean, are you married, have you been married?”

  All these questions he’d never considered. Just because he had lived his life alone, didn’t mean Ruth had. She might have ten children for all he knew. That might explain why she looked uncomfortable when Dean talked about adopting the children.

  Or he might be reading too much into everything. They had only just met. Gaining a husband and potential children in one day was a big step for anyone.

  But not for Michael. He would take the whole package given half the chance.

  Chapter Five – Ruth

  “No kids,” Ruth admitted. “At least not in the literal sense.” How did she explain her life to Michael? Over something stronger than coffee.

  “I’m intrigued.” Michael stood close to her, the warmth of his body heating her skin. Or perhaps it was her imagination and her body had gone into hormonal overdrive at the thought of having a man in her life. A real, flesh and blood man, who wanted her.

  She swallowed down that thought. “I have a nice bottle of chilled wine at home, and some steaks we could throw on the BBQ. Unless you have to get home.”

  “No. I’d like that.” He looked bemused. “Or I could take you to dinner.”

  “You could.” She looked down at her dirty clothes. “But I enjoy cooking. And cooking for one is not as much fun. You can take me to dinner when I’m not covered in paint.”

  “And I’m not covered in sawdust.” Michael held out his hands. “Perhaps I should go home and change first.”

  “You look fine just the way you are. And I’m starving.” Ruth went around to the driver’s door of her car. “Do you want to follow me?”

  “We’ve already established I’ll follow you anywhere,” Michael answered.

  “I might put you to the test one day,” Ruth teased. She liked Michael, liked the way he made her feel. Like a sexy, desirable woman. Not a middle-aged schoolteacher.

  “Anytime.” He smiled, and her insides erupted in bubbles of desire. Perhaps taking him home wasn’t such a good idea. One thing might easily lead to another…

  Too late to change her mind, they drove back to the small house she rented on a quiet back street of Bear Creek. The house might not be large, but the garden was, and Ruth had great plans for what she wanted to do with it. The last occupants of the house had let it grow wild, and since she moved here, her evenings had been spent slowly gaining control of the weeds that threatened to choke the life out of any pretty flower that dared to raise its head above the soil.

  Ruth parked her car in the driveway, and Michael pulled his big truck up behind it. She got out and waited for him to join her. “I feel as if I should have stopped for flowers.”

  “No need, although if you want to dig over a flower border while I prepare dinner, I won’t say no.” Ruth opened the front door and went inside.

  “Nice place,” Michael remarked as he looked around.

  Ruth’s cat, Mr. Scratch, came running up to Ruth and rubbed against her legs. She picked him up and kissed his soft fur. “We like it. The last place we lived was in the city, and Mr. Scratch spent all his time looking out of windows. He is now officially an outdoor cat and spends all his time asleep in the sun in the back yard.”

  “How long did you say you’d lived here?” Michael asked as he followed her through to the kitchen, where she set down the cat and went to the cupboard to get his food. Unless she wanted to trip over him while making dinner, Mr. Scratch should always be fed first.

  “Ten days. I moved here last minute when a position became available at the school. They were looking for someone who knew about shifters. My name was passed to the recruitment team.” She stroked her tabby cat, and stood up to look out of the kitchen window. “I was ready for fresh air and the mountains looked wonderful, so I took a chance and agreed to the move.”

  “You know about shifters, but you aren’t one?” Michael asked as Ruth got the chilled wine from the fridge.

  “Here, you can open it while I get some glasses.” She looked around the kitchen, trying to remember where she’d stowed the wine glasses. “My mom married a shifter when I was ten. Ah, there they are.”

  “And you have siblings who are shifters?” Michael asked, pouring the wine.

  “I do.” Ruth picked up her glass and swirled it between two hands, staring at it as she collected her thoughts. “My mom died in childbirth with my youngest sister. There were…complications. My dad fell apart and I raised my brothers and sisters since I was fifteen.”

  Michael paused, his glass raised to his mouth. He huffed and lowered his glass, placing it down on the counter. Then, the unexpected happened, he closed the space between them and hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Ruth stood stiffly in Michael’s arms, before slowly relaxing. She was so used to being the comforter, she’d forgotten what it was like to be the comfortee. Was that even a thing?

  When her mom was alive, Ruth always knew she could go to her with any problems she might have. Warm encouraging words of comfort and a hug were enough to chase away all but the worst of fears. But when her mom died, Ruth lost that comfort. Instead, she had learned to stand on her own two feet, and comfort her younger brothers and sisters. She’d grown up fast, burying her own needs and wants under those of her siblings.

  A small hiccup escaped Ruth. Michael
straightened up. “Are you all right?”

  Ruth dashed away a silly stray tear. “Yes. It’s been a while since anyone held me.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “I’ll always be here to hold you. To comfort you…”

  “I know.” She nodded and pulled away, taking a large gulp of the chilled wine. “I’ll get the matches. Are you any good at lighting BBQs?”

  “Lighting fires is my specialty.” Michael watched her with hungry eyes as she searched for the matches.

  “Here. I’ll come out and show you where everything is.” Ruth unlocked the back door and went into the garden. “I cleared this area as soon as I moved in. I love sitting outside on the evenings.”

  “In that case, I can’t wait to show you my woodland. I have a bench and firepit in a clearing at the highest point, and I sit out there in the evenings, whittling wood.” His expression became distant. “I’ve been lonely, too, Ruth.”

  Ruth handed him the charcoal. “This is just going to take time. I came to Bear Creek, set on concentrating fully on my career. I didn’t have any romantic notions, they are long behind me.”

  “Were long behind you,” Michael corrected. “I hope us meeting has given your life a new perspective.”

  “It’s adjusting to a new perspective.” She put her hands on her hips and breathed in the scent of the jasmine that clung to the fence behind the old bench that she’d uncovered from under a pile of stone. “I’m going to wake up tomorrow and think I dreamt it all.”

  “Then I’ll come around and remind you.” Michael spread the charcoal out on the BBQ and then lit the match, sending it flaming into life before it died down to smolder, the flames almost hidden. They stood and watched as the embers slowly grew brighter, hotter, just as their love would.

  Or so fate would have them believe.

  But did Ruth truly want to marry and settle down with a shifter? She’d come here to make a difference, content in her single life. Yes, the dream had always been there, if eroded away by time. Faced with a choice, did Ruth want to abandon her ordered life to be with a man who fate decided belonged by her side? What if she didn’t like him?