Chapter One – Frankie

“Thanks for taking the children out for the afternoon.” Ruth hugged Frankie, in the way a mother hugs a child, and then stood back, assessing her younger sister. “You do feel up to taking Jason and Jenny out for the afternoon?”

“Yes, I do. You fuss like a mother hen,” Frankie replied good-naturedly and kissed Ruth on the cheek, finding comfort in her scent. Ruth was the mother she’d never known, the person who had sacrificed her youth to raise her half-brothers and half-sisters when their mother died and their dad abandoned them. “Enjoy some alone time with your new husband, while I take Jenny and Jason for afternoon tea at the hotel.”

“Do I have to drink tea?” Jason asked in disgust, making a face as if he were about to gag.

“Yes, you do,” Jenny told him firmly. “Or you can’t have cake.”

“That’s not true,” Jason’s voice wavered as if he wasn’t quite sure.

“Yes, it is. If you don’t drink tea, Jenny and I will have to eat all the cakes.” Frankie grinned at Jason. Tough on the outside, but soft on the inside, Jason had still not learned to let his guard completely down. His fierce need to care for his sister was the reason they had ended up in foster care. When their father, grief-stricken from the loss of his wife, left them to fend for themselves, Jason had been forced to steal food. Once their plight was discovered, Jenny and Jason had been fostered by a local couple, which led to Ruth and Michael meeting them.

The rest, as they say, was history. But Jason had not learned how to give up his own history. Not yet.

Remind you of anyone else, Frankie’s bear asked.

“I know you’re not that mean, Aunty Frankie,” Jason told Frankie, while glaring at Jenny over her betrayal. His sister giggled and flung her arms around him.

“Ahh, you know how to hit me right in the heart.” Frankie put her hand over her heart, her palm pressed against her breast comforted by the steady rhythmical beat.

“Are you okay, Frankie?” Ruth asked with her usual concern as Frankie froze in the moment.

“Yes.” Frankie smiled brightly, putting up her own facade. “Perfectly all right. Come on, kids!”

They left the large wooden cabin Ruth lived in with her husband and their two adopted children, Jenny and Jason. Nestled in a clearing, surrounded by three hundred acres of forest, with a mountain range looming up behind it, this was the ideal place to raise two children. The forest was also perfect for bear shifters, and Frankie visited as often as she could, which was almost every day since she’d moved into Ruth’s old house in Bear Creek. However, Frankie made sure she didn’t impose, or outstay her welcome. Ruth and her new family needed time to bond and establish their relationships—without Frankie cramping their style.

“Make sure your seatbelts are on,” Frankie instructed as she got in her little red car and started the engine. More suited to town than country, it bounced along the trail leading from the road to the cabin. Jenny and Jason found it hilarious, while Frankie worried about her suspension. The last thing she needed was a big bill from the garage. “Are you ready?”

“Yes!” Jenny shouted out excitedly.

Frankie looked at Jenny in the rearview mirror. With her hair in a ponytail, she wore her best dress, which Ruth had helped her choose for the party they held after the adoption went through. “You look very pretty, Jenny.”

“Thank you.” Jenny lifted her legs and examined the skirt of her dress, which was embroidered with small forget-me-nots.

“What about me?” Jason gave Frankie a wide cheesy smile.

“You look very pretty, too.” Frankie giggled as Jason made a choking sound. “What was that? No cakes for Jason?”

“Not that again.” Jason rolled his eyes.

“Well, I guess you have been a good boy. So maybe you can have one cake.” Frankie switched her attention back to the trail and navigated around the worst of the bumps, but the rocking motion of the car still made her queasy. It was like being in a small boat, rolling over waves in the ocean.

“Jason has been good,” Jenny confirmed, clutching the side of the car as they left the trail and turned onto the road. “He helped me with my homework.”

“He did? In that case, he can have two cakes.” Frankie drove along the back road that took them along the edge of the mountains. Skirting Bear Creek, it meandered through breathtaking scenery, toward Bear Bluff. The Catherine Hotel was situated about halfway between the two towns and stood in beautiful grounds. Frankie had visited there twice before with Ruth and Michael. The owner of the hotel, Julius, had been on duty and made sure they had the best of everything the hotel had to offer.

Frankie sighed. Her sister and Michael were well suited and very much in love. And although she was overjoyed for her half-sister, Frankie could not help experiencing a twinge of jealousy. Not that Ruth didn’t deserve every scrap of happiness. She had given up her life to look after Frankie and her siblings when their mom died and their shifter dad went AWOL.

If not for Ruth, the children would have ended up in foster care. Instead, they grew up knowing they were loved and cared for by their big sister.

“There it is.” Frankie turned off the road and drove around the busy hotel parking lot until she found a space. “I think news of the scrumptious afternoon tea served here must have gotten out.”

“Will we still be able to have tea?” Jenny asked in a voice that was used to being disappointed. Slowly, Ruth and Michael, with help from Frankie, were building up her confidence and self-esteem.

“Julius booked us a table,” Frankie reassured her. “And he told me that Adam will take care of us.”

“I like Adam,” Jason stated. “He will make sure I get lots of cake.”

“Is that right?” Frankie grinned. “I haven’t met Adam yet. Whenever I’ve visited the hotel he’s been off duty.”

“You’ll like him,” Jenny told Frankie. “Even if he does look a little sad.”

“Does he?” Frankie asked. “Do you know why?”

“No. I heard Mommy and Daddy talking and they said it was because he lost his mate.” Jenny sighed. “He has a broken heart. I wish I could mend it for him.”

Frankie smiled to herself at Jenny’s faraway voice. Her head was filled with princesses and fairy godmothers, who could mend broken hearts with a flick of their magic wand. “I still can’t get used to you calling my sister Mommy.”

“She is our mommy,” Jason said defiantly.

“Oh, I know, and I am so happy you couldn’t begin to believe it…” Frankie shook her head. “But she’s my sister. And I never thought she’d have kids.”

“And now she has two,” Jenny said proudly as she leaned over and hugged Jason. Most boys Jason’s age would shove their little sister away, but Jason tolerated his sister’s affection and often hugged her back—as long as no one was watching.

“Two wonderful children, who have an aunty who wants to spoil them. So, we’d better get inside and eat cake until we can’t eat anymore.” Frankie opened the car door and got out. The children followed, closing their doors, and then coming around to join her at the front of the car.

“I love the hotel, although I’d like a castle named after me,” Jenny said in a whimsical voice.

“Girls.” Jason rolled his eyes at Frankie, obviously forgetting his aunty was a girl, too.

“One day you’ll appreciate them,” Frankie told him. “But not today. Today we are going to appreciate cake!”

“Yesss.” Jason jumped in the air and ran to the door leading into the hotel lobby. He hauled it open, standing to one side as Frankie and Jenny walked inside.

“Thank you.” Frankie bowed her head at him theatrically, and Jason made a low bow in return.

“You are welcome.” He let the door go when they were inside and fell into step beside his sister, who was taking the whole afternoon very seriously.

They walked over to the reception desk where a young woman stood, smiling at them. “Welcome to The Catherine Hotel.”

“Hello…” Frankie searched for the receptionist's name badge. “Emily.”

Emily smiled and patted her name badge. “How can I help you?”

“We have a table booked for afternoon tea.” Frankie looked down at Jenny and Jason. “Three for tea.”

“Would you like to go through to the dining room? Someone will seat you.” Emily extended her arm toward the large glass doors opposite the reception desk, which led into the large, airy dining room with views over the mountains in the distance.

“Thanks. We were wondering if Adam was around? We’re friends of Julius and he said to let Adam know when we arrive.” Frankie watched Emily’s expression change from her well-practiced fixed welcome to borderline interested.

“I’ll page Mr. Painter and tell him you are here.” Emily’s eyes swept over the children and then came to rest on Frankie’s ring finger.

Resisting the urge to explain that she wasn’t old enough to have given birth to the two children by her side, Frankie said, “Thanks. If he’s busy, it’s not a problem.”

“I’ll make sure and tell Mr. Painter.” Emily fixed her smile back on her face and watched as they made their way into the dining room, where they were met by a server.

“Table for three?” he asked.

“Yes, we have a table booked. I’m not sure what name it’s under. Julius booked it for us…” Sounding like a name dropper, Frankie smiled her brightest smile. “He’s a friend of the family.”

The server returned her smile. “Julius said to expect you.” He looked down at Jenny and Jason. “I was told Jason doesn’t drink tea, so we have hot chocolate as a special treat.”

“With whipped cream and marshmallows?” Jenny asked, her eyes wide.

“I think that can be arranged,” the server smiled indulgently. “Since it’s a special treat.”

“Thank you.” Frankie warmed to their server immediately. He was older than most of the other servers in the restaurant, with a twinkle in his eye that made Jason and Jenny giggle. Jovial, that’s the word Frankie would use to describe him, a little like an out-of-season Santa Claus.

“What’s your name?” Jason asked the server.

“Hank Rivera,” was the reply. “Here’s your table.”

“Cool name,” Jason complimented, earning himself a wink from Hank.

“Thanks, Hank.” Frankie helped Jenny and Jason to push their chairs in and then turned to sit down in a chair opposite. As she moved, her chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe. Panic consumed her. Not here, not now. She breathed deeply, trying to fight the rising dread drumming in her head like a drumbeat.

“Miss.” Hank’s voice reached through the haze surrounding her, it was as if time stood still. “Miss…”

“Frankie, her name is Frankie.” Jenny’s sweet young voice gave Frankie something to focus on.

“Is everything all right, Hank?” Another voice came from across the room. It was a voice she recognized but didn’t know. A contradiction, she mused as Hank pulled out a chair and helped her sit down.

“This young lady, Frankie, had a funny turn, Mr. Painter. Shall I call an ambulance?” Hank’s worried voice asked. “You look a little peaky yourself, Mr. Painter.”

“I’m fine, thanks, Hank. Give me some room.” A hand took hers and the moment their skin connected, a jolt of electricity struck her, waking her up. In a moment of clarity, she looked at the man before her.

“You.” Frankie stared at him, etching his features indelibly into her mind, so she would never forget. Dark hair, the color of coffee, with bronze tones that matched his eyes almost identically. His lips were full, but with a sadness about them that made the corners turn down. “Turn your frown upside down.” She pressed her fingers to the corner of his lips, and he closed his eyes, a moment of ecstasy that was broken when he stood up abruptly.

“Are you all right?” His concern was deep and genuine.

“Yes.” Frankie ripped her gaze from his face and looked at Jenny and Jason. “I’m fine, just a…”

Just a what? Frankie looked up at Adam Painter. Just two mates meeting.

Yet the look of confusion on Adam’s face made her second-guess herself. But he’d felt it, too, Frankie was certain he had.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?” Jenny asked with concern. “We can come back another day.”

“No. I’m fine.” Frankie looked up at Adam. “Could I speak with you privately for a moment?” She had to know what was happening. She had to know if Adam was the reason her heart had felt as if it were about to implode. Her fragile heart. Her borrowed heart. Her lonely heart.

Had she found her mate, the one who completed her?