Cecily reached for his hand, surprised he didn’t pull away. Her heart squeezed as he let her lace her fingers with his, sharing the painful memory. “Leave the food, Chase. I’m suddenly not that hungry.”

He flipped the hamper lid closed and turned toward her on the blanket. “I didn’t tell you this to make you pity me, Cecy. You wanted to know about my life. However uncomfortable, this is my story.” He ran his thumb over her hand. “I guess we’re not really that different. We’re both orphans, but we have each other now, right?”

“I guess. At least you had both your parents for most of your life, and you knew you were loved, unconditionally. I lost my mother before I was old enough to remember her, and then suddenly my stepmother, Susan, was in the picture, with a new baby that turned out not to be my father’s child. After that letdown, my dad became exacting and demanding of me. All because the Montgomery line and everything that entailed was in my hands.”

“Were you sent away to boarding school like most rich kids, or were you allowed to stay home?”

A soft grin played on her lips. “Home. I attended a private school in New York City, so I got to see my father.” She nodded almost to herself. “He was pretty involved with my schooling. To be honest, having him around for plays, track meets, and teacher conferences was kind of cool, even if he was a bit of a bastard. At least he loved me enough to show interest.”

“Track meets, huh? I played a little hockey in middle school and then in high school. True, I wasn’t the best of students, but I managed a solid B-plus average. Got me into college, anyway. There were just so many distractions.”

She laughed. “Distractions? Another way of saying you were a ladies’ man?”

“Maybe a little. But my brother Stephan was a legendary Casanova. I can still see my mother chasing him all over the house with her chancla for his indiscretions.” His eyes grew soft, and he laughed a little. “The neighbors would hear him down the block. ‘Mama, ow…stop! I’m sorry! OW!’” He lifted one hand, ducking an invisible attack.

“A chancla?”

Chase nodded with a grin. “The deadliest weapon known to a Latin kid. Mama’s flipflop.” He kissed her fingers and then let go of her hand to open to food basket again. “You might not be hungry, but all this remembering has left me starving.”

Scooting over, he placed the foil-wrapped chicken between them, along with the container of potato salad, bread and dessert. Cecily took the paper plates and plastic cutlery wrapped in napkins and set two places.

“Christmas was a lot of fun,” he continued, taking a bite of a crispy chicken leg. “Like most Latin families, we celebrate on Christmas Eve. Lots of presents, music, dancing, and of course, tons of food. The bar was closed to the general public, but open to everyone in the neighborhood. No one was turned away. Lots of good vibes. Good karma. I think that’s part of the reason God sent someone to save me from myself that fateful day. So I didn’t throw my life away because of grief and guilt.

“I got help, and then gave help. I volunteer at the local Veterans Center, helping other soldiers deal with transitioning home. Every Vet loses a part of themselves when they face combat, and when they come home it’s a silent war just to feel normal again. It takes time, patience and a lot of love for people to be that honest, and push through their pain. It’s why I can’t stand underhanded people, like your stepbrother, Jackson. People out for themselves.”

Cecily nibbled on a piece of chicken but didn’t reply.

“What about you?” he asked. “Aside from your asshole stepbrother and stepmother, what was your life like growing up?”

She put her chicken down and then wiped her mouth and hands on a napkin. “Well, I didn’t really have many friends. When you live on a compound all summer, you don’t really have neighbors. I had friends at school and at the compound, but no one group I’d call my crew. We were all from the same—” She hesitated. “I don’t know, socio-economic background?” She shrugged, continuing. “Most of the kids I knew had too much time and too much available cash for anything but trouble. Drugs, partying, clubs. You name it, they did it. And they could be mean. Cruel, really. To anyone who didn’t fit in. When I went away to college, it was better. I have a few friends, still, but they’re scattered across the country.

“Growing up, Jackson was sort of a ringleader at school. Susan kept him on a leash when it came to me, even though I’m four years his senior. I was the golden ticket, since my father knew he wasn’t his true son.” Cecily snorted. “That woman would have liked nothing more than to see Jackson and I married. It would have solved everything. Problem is, he’s such a jerk. Still, I got to travel. I speak three languages, and we had a terrific staff. They loved to tell me stories about my mother. She was beloved.” A soft smile lit her face. “I guess I am, too.”

Chase leaned over, taking her chin in his hand. “And why not?” He kissed her mouth, letting his lips linger. “Good people are always drawn to good people.”

She opened for a deeper kiss, but a loud snap turned their attention toward the trees. Chase peered into the shadows, lifting a finger to his lips. “Get behind me,” he whispered, and then reached for the rifle.

He climbed to his feet, his eyes still on whatever lurked beyond sight. Cecily did the same as a huge bear lumbered into view, his black snout sniffing the air. She drew a sharp breath, and the animal seemed to zero in on them both. It swatted the ground and roared, long front claws scoring the ground.

“Cecy, back up slowly and work your way toward the Jeep. Don’t wait for me.”

She inhaled, taking in everything about the animal’s scent. “That’s not a bear, Chase.”

“Well, it’s doing a pretty good impression, then.” He pointed the rifle at the huge beast. “Take a hike, Yogi. No picnic baskets for you.”

Cecily’s eyes burned yellow hot. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her breath came in short, rapid pants. Electricity screamed through sinew and bone and her knees buckled. The bear lunged, but she pushed Chase out of the way as she fell to all fours.

He pivoted with the shotgun, taking aim. The shot echoed off the crags and the bear bellowed, jerking back in its tracks. Blood poured from the animal’s shoulder as Chase cocked the rifle for a second shot. He froze with his finger on the trigger. A low, painfilled howl left the bear’s mouth and when it lifted its huge head, Chase’s mouth dropped. Blue eyes. Human eyes.

The animal turned with another bellow, disappearing into the woods again, and Chase lowered his weapon. “Jesus, you okay?” he asked, helping Cecily up from the ground.

“Did we kill him?” she asked, craning with a wince.

Chase shook his head. “No, but he’s injured, badly.”

“He’ll heal when he shifts back to human. Maybe not completely, but he’ll be okay if he shifts quickly and hasn’t lost too much blood,” she said, dragging in a steadying breath.

“What about you?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. Just give me a sec.”

“You nearly shifted. Is it okay to stop yourself mid…mid…transition?” he asked, both concerned and fascinated.

Cecily chuckled, shaking her head. “Your guess is as good as mine, but that wasn’t mid-phase. I know it’s been a while, but if memory serves, I’d be on all fours with a hell of a lot of fur and sharp teeth.”

“But you’re sure you’re okay, right?”

“Fine.” She nodded. “Although, it might be a good idea if we pack up and head back to the cabin. My senses are sharp enough to tell that wasn’t a regular bear, but I can’t tell who it was or if they were alone.”

Chase looked from her to the broken branches and blood-covered leaves leading into the woods. “You think he was purposefully looking for us?”

“I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t remember how cognizant one is in animal form. Maybe he was more animal than human when he stumbled into the campsite, and just reacted.” She shrugged, helping him carry the remnants of their picnic back to the car.

Chase paused after closing the rear hatch. “Maybe we should ask Dan at the bonfire tonight. He was in wolf form when he looked for Daisy. He must have been cognizant of his reasons, or why bother?”

“True. But let’s ask him when we get him alone. I don’t want to worry anyone if this was random.”

Chase nodded, walking to open the driver’s side door. “Deal. Now let’s get you home so you can demonstrate a little of that sharp teeth action while on all fours.”

“Be careful what you wish for, sexy. I might be too much for you to handle right now.” She growled, snapping her teeth with wink.