Chapter Sixteen – Matthew

Matthew lurked until Sian left the animal shelter. It wasn’t difficult to blend in with all the workmen who were beginning the massive task of renovating, or more like rebuilding the stone building into a house fit for Ronni and Lucas to live in. Yet the buzz amongst the workers was filled with optimism and a sense that they could not fail, they could not let anyone down.

“Spying on us, Matthew?” a stern voice inquired.

Matthew swung around. “And what if I was?” His instant go-to response was to get defensive.

“It was a joke. I’m Will Frasier, the person who said they could accomplish a Christmas miracle and get this all ready for Christmas.” The man, tall, broad, and a bear shifter from the scent of him, cracked a good-natured smile. “If you want to make yourself useful, you can help carry some of the equipment across from the parking lot.”

“I would, but I’m kind of hiding.” He grinned. “I’m waiting for Sian to leave.”

“She’s your mate, right?” Will asked.

“She certainly is.”

Will raked his hand through his hair and gave Matthew a sidelong glance. “I know you’re new to having a mate in your life, but you do know you’re supposed to want to spend every waking hour with her? I’ve never met anyone who actually tried to avoid their mate before.” He paused and frowned. “Except maybe me.”

Matthew put his hands up. “I’m trying to avoid her for the right reasons.”

“Now I’m intrigued.” Will cast a glance at his workmen. “But I have to get this bunch organized.”

“Listen, once I’ve spoken to Ronni and Lucas, I’ll come and help.” He held out his hand to Will. “Good to meet you. Maybe we can talk business sometime.”

“I like the sound of that.” Will shook Matthew’s hand and nodded while he appraised Sian’s mate. “Look after your mate and her girls. From what I hear they’ve had a rough time of it.”

“I intend to.” Matthew let go of the surge of annoyance that built inside him. Of course, he would look after them. It was his duty. Yet he was glad there were people like Will looking out for others. It was something he could aspire to.

Wow, who hit you over the head with Christmas goodwill? his bear asked drily.

Matthew ignored his bear’s good-natured jibe and turned his attention back to the reception area of the animal shelter. His mate was on the move. There she was going to her car. He held himself back when all he wanted to do was run to her and hold her in his arms. But he needed to speak to Ronni and Lucas alone.

Sian started the car engine and he watched her back up carefully, then she stopped and her head jerked up, her eyes searching...for him? Could she tell he was there watching her? Matthew jerked his head back so she couldn’t see him and slid further around the side of the wall until he was certain he was completely out of sight. To compensate for his loss of visual he instead listened for the sound of the car engine. For a couple of moments it was stationary then the wheels scrunched over the gravel covering the parking lot and the sound of the engine grew more distant.

Not that he needed to hear or see her leave. The mating bond was a deep connection between their souls and he could feel the loss of her presence keenly. Sian was his only weakness. After a life of having no real connections, no vulnerabilities, this came as a shock.

If anyone tried to harm her, we would deal with them swiftly, his bear assured him firmly.

Matthew nodded, but the idea shook him to the core. The deeper their bond became, the more vulnerable he would be to anyone who wanted to hurt him or his business.

But she also gives us strength, his bear said firmly. She has taught us how to feel again. How to interact with people in a good way. And how to love.

You are wise, Matthew told his bear.

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to witness our old lives, his bear said. I like this new one much better.

With a smile, Matthew left his hiding place and ventured out into the new world, a world filled with hope.

“Matthew. You’ve just missed Sian,” Lucas said as he entered the reception office.

“I know.” He gave one wistful look over his shoulder before he turned his attention on the reason he was here. “I’m here because I need your help and advice.”

“You do?” Ronni’s surprised expression mirrored her tone.

“Yes.” He looked from Ronni to Lucas and smirked. “We’re letting the past go, right?”

“Yes. Absolutely,” Lucas said. “Unless you mess up and hurt Sian or anyone else. Or unless you try to tear down anyone else’s property.”

“Great.” He was not going to try to defend his previous actions. It wasn’t worth it. Plus, he wanted Ronni and Lucas to like him.

Christmas magic, his bear whispered in his head like an ethereal ghost.

“I bought the pampering day...” Matthew began, but Ronni interrupted him.

“Don’t tell me you are here because you need the money back?” Her pale face told him the money was already allocated to projects for the animals.

“No. It’s yours.” He smiled reassuringly, which felt alien on his face. “I want to reverse the pampering day and do something for Sian since she works so hard. Both here, with the kids and on the classes she’s taking.”

“Oh, in that case, coffee?” Ronni’s expression brightened, and she led them into the back office where a yellow Lab thumped her tail happily at him. “Jessie likes you, so you must have turned over a new leaf.”

Matthew bent down and stroked Jessie’s broad head. “Hi there, Jessie.”

A kitten popped its head out from the back of the sofa and sprang down to bat Jessie on the head before spinning around and leaping away. Jessie rolled her eyes and started puffing, which looked like a giant grin.

“She mothered the kittens when we rescued them from an old dilapidated farmhouse over on Downend,” Lucas explained.

“So that was one of the little devils Sian is adopting?” Matthew asked as a paw snaked out from the side of the sofa and made a grab for Jessie’s tail.

“They’re all in here somewhere. Jessie is babysitting to give the momma cat a break. They are almost ready to go to their new homes.” Ronni passed Matthew and Lucas a cup of coffee. “Although Sian’s asked me to hold onto hers since she has no heating.”

“Sian and her daughters are living in my house now,” Matthew said as he stood up and sipped his coffee. “But you already knew that.”

“Does that mean they can have the kittens? Sian said Ella and Rachel are disappointed. It was kind of a Christmas gift for them.” Lucas caught one of the little demons with claws and held its tiny body in his hand. The kitten purred and rubbed its head against Lucas’s fingers. “They are super cute.”

“And yet I am unmoved,” Matthew protested. However, this was his chance to show them all he was a changed man. A man who could take in a couple of animals who needed a home. It seemed right somehow since this was the place where it all began. If the shelter had never been in danger and the auction had never happened, then he would never have met his mate.

“Not just a little moved?” Lucas held the purring kitten out to Matthew and Jessie barked in encouragement.

“This is not why I’m here,” Matthew protested as he took the kitten from Lucas.

“Isn’t it?” Ronni asked. “See, I thought you came here to help Sian, to turn her pampering day on its head. Because you want to make her happy. And the thing that will make Sian really happy is taking home the kittens she promised her daughters.”

Matthew sighed, he was a good negotiator and he knew when he was beaten, he’d witnessed it enough times after all. But always from the other side. “Okay. They can come live at my house when they are ready to leave their mom.”

“Great. Since we all know now Sian and the girls are living there, they are never going to leave, are they?” Ronni asked pointedly.

“I hope not. But we have a way to go before Ella and Rachel accept me as their mom’s new man. They don’t know about shifters or mating bonds, or any of it.”

“They’ll be okay with it. Once they see how happy Sian is with you, they’ll understand.” Lucas drank his coffee and then put his cup down on the sink. “Okay, so why are you really here?”

“The pampering day. Ella, Rachel and I were brainstorming ideas of what Sian would like and we came up with helping to get the pet salon up and running. So I need to know where she is with everything and what I can do to help.” Matthew tried to ignore the cute bundle of fur in his hand. They were somehow irresistible in a way he’d never expected.

“Oh, that would be amazing. I know Sian has been waiting for the money to come through when her divorce is finalized, but Peter is being difficult.” Ronni glanced at Lucas. “But maybe she wants to do it on her own. I don’t know.”

“Why not loan her the money?” Lucas suggested. “That way she can pay you back when she starts to make a profit.”

“Good idea. But instead of loaning her the money, I’d like to buy the equipment and have it installed.” He watched their expressions. “Or will that upset Sian? That is the last thing I want to do.”

“I have a list of everything she needs. We checked it off against what the shelter already owns. The idea is for Sian to rent the space in the building we use for new arrivals. It’s where we wash them and treat them for fleas while we assess their temperament.” Ronni went to her desk and opened a drawer. After rummaging around, she came back with a piece of paper. “Here, this is the list. I can copy it out for you.”

Matthew took out his smartphone and took a photograph of the list. “This will do fine.” He handed the piece of paper back to Ronni. “Can I arrange to have it all delivered straight here?”

“Sure, we can tell Sian it’s for our house.” Ronni folded her arms and stood back to assess Matthew. “You know, you’re not so bad.”

“Thanks,” Matthew answered wryly.

“I mean it. I thought you were a complete asshole when you came here posing as a potential adopter, just so you could nose around. But I might just have changed my opinion of you.” She let her arms drop to her side and came toward him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him.

His shocked expression was met by one from Lucas. “Thanks.” He patted her back gently before she pulled away and wiped her eyes.

With a loud sniff, she said, “Sorry. I’m feeling a little teary right now. What with the building work beginning and your offer to help Sian? It feels as if our dreams are starting to come true.”

“They are, honey,” Lucas said and wrapped his arms around his mate. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and then looked up at Matthew. “This all gives life new meaning, doesn’t it?”

Matthew nodded. “It does. I never saw it before, but my life was empty until I came here to Bear Creek.”

He put his phone back into his pocket. “I’m going to make some calls, then I offered to help Will for a while.”

“You can stay away from your mate for that long?” Lucas asked as his arms tightened around Ronni.

“With some difficulty,” he admitted. “But I don’t want to crowd her.”

Ronni smiled through although her eyes were full of tears. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder?”

Matthew gave a short laugh. “More like absence makes my heart yearn for her more and more.” He headed for the door. “Thank you both. And please keep this to yourselves, I want to surprise Sian.”

“I think you’ve surprised us all,” Lucas told him.

“I’ll see you later.” Matthew left the reception office and headed around the side of the building. He would make a few phone calls before helping Will as promised, but all he really wanted to do was get back to the house where his mate was. But a promise was a promise and Matthew intended to be the best he could be so his mate would be proud of him.