Chapter Two – Buck

“Good to see you, Buck.” Mason greeted Buck as he got out of the car and stretched his arms above his head. It had been a long drive, but worth it. One glance at the mountains around Bear Creek had told him that.

“Wow, now I know why you moved here,” Buck said as he turned a full three-sixty to look at the view. His bear was desperately trying to escape so he could take his first run over the mountains.

“The mountains aren’t the only reason.” Mason gave him a brotherly hug. Not that they were brothers, but they had worked together on several building projects over the years and had a mutual respect. Which was why Buck was here. This wasn’t just a social visit, Buck was also here for business reasons.

“Are you going to rub the fact you have a mate and I don’t in my face one more time?” Buck asked lightly as they walked up the steps and onto the wrap-around porch. “This view is amazing.”

“It is. Maybe this evening we can go for a run and you can get a real good look at what Bear Creek and the surrounding area has to offer.”

“You sound like a real estate ad,” Buck teased.

“I can’t help it. It’s perfect here. I’m certain you’ll agree.” Mason led Buck around the side of the house. Ever since moving here himself, Mason had been trying to get Buck to come visit and see what all the fuss was about. However, Buck had been working abroad for the last few months. “This is where Tiana’s parents live. We have a separate entrance around the back.”

“How’s it going, living with your in-laws?” Buck asked.

“They’re good people and that makes it easier. Especially with the baby on the way. I wouldn’t want Tiana going back and forth up and down the mountain to visit them. And I wouldn’t rest easy knowing her parents might need something in the middle of the night and have no one close by to help.”

“Her family is your family,” Buck said easily as they reached the door at the back of the house that led into Mason and Tiana’s home.

“Yes, and that goes for Tiana’s son, too. Who has come home for a long weekend.” Mason lowered his voice. “We don’t know why. Not yet, but it seems he’s decided college might not be for him.”

“Did something happen?” Buck asked. He remembered school days only too well. Academics were not exactly his thing and he’d often struggled with some of the lessons since words did not come easy to him. Which was why he became a builder. He could envisage a house, he could read plans, he could build whatever he was told to build. But he could not describe it with words on paper.

“Tiana’s giving him some space, leaving him to broach the subject when he’s good and ready. He just said he was homesick.” Mason shrugged. “I can remember what it was like at that age. He’s a good kid, I’m sure it’ll sort itself out.”

“I’m sure it will. I can’t wait to meet them. You’re a lucky man.” Buck meant it. The fact Mason had met his mate at a mature age gave Buck hope. But damn, he wished fate would hurry up and send a woman his way. He’d built up a sound company, a good nest egg and now he’d like to share it with someone before he got too old to enjoy life to the fullest. Someone who shared his ideals of family coming first.

We just need a family, his bear informed Buck.

Indeed we do. Buck smiled as he caught sight of Tiana coming to meet them.

“Hi, Buck. Welcome to our home.” She kissed him on the cheek. As she pulled back, Mason reached out and took her hand.

“Good to meet you, Tiana. Sorry I couldn’t make the wedding.” He cursed silently for not bringing a wedding gift.

“No problem, Mason said you were building a school. Much more important.” She beckoned him over to the kitchen area while Mason went to sort through some papers in the living room area. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” He sat down on a stool and looked appreciatively around the open plan house. It was light and airy, but soft furnishings in warm colors and a large open fireplace left the room feeling cozy, too.

Tiana passed him a steaming mug of aromatic coffee. “Here, you look as if you need it.”

“Thanks, it was a long drive.” He glanced down at Tiana’s swollen belly. “I didn’t realize you were so far along.”

“Oh, the baby.” Tiana smoothed her hands over her stomach. “I can’t wait to meet him, or her.”

“Me neither,” Mason said as he sat down across the table from Buck and laid a sheaf of papers on the table.

“Work already?” Tiana asked, sitting down next to Mason.

“I thought we’d get our heads together over coffee. Later, I planned to show Buck around town and then we can go up to the site and have a poke around.” Mason gave his wife a sideways glance and she chuckled.

“Mason wants to persuade you to move here,” Tiana admitted.

“I’ve already persuaded myself,” Buck replied. “At least temporarily while we work on this project.” He jabbed his finger at the plans sprawled across the table. “I might also look out for my own plot of land. I’ve always wanted to build my dream house.”

“And fill it with your dream mate,” Mason said, not unkindly. Buck and Mason had often shared a beer on a Friday evening at the end of another workweek and talked over how they longed for a mate and a family.

“I have you to inspire me,” Buck told him with a grin. “Since you are living the dream.”

Tiana erupted into laughter. “Wait until he’s knee-deep in diapers.” The phone rang, and Tiana left the table and went to answer it.

Mason shook his head. “I don’t think Tiana realizes how much I am looking forward to this baby.”

“That’s because it’s your first time,” a young man, who Buck took to be Tiana’s son, Rhett, came into the kitchen and poured himself some orange juice. “Mom knows what to expect. Apparently, I didn’t sleep through the night for the first six months.”

“Rhett.” Tiana came across to them, looking concerned.

“Is everything okay?” Mason asked, standing up to go to her side.

Tiana covered the mouthpiece of the phone. “Haley is in crisis. Her bathtub leaked, the ceiling fell down and she needs a babysitter, so she can work tonight.”

“I can babysit,” Rhett offered, raising his hand.

“Thank you.” Tiana placed her hand on his shoulder. She took her hand off the mouthpiece. “Rhett can sit with the girls while you work.”

“And we can drive by and assess the damage,” Mason offered as he finished his coffee and rolled up the plans. “It’s not far out of our way.”

“Thank you,” Tiana mouthed and kissed his cheek. “Mason will come look at the ceiling.” She paused, her forehead creasing as she listened to her friend. “That’s what friends are for, Haley. It’s no trouble.”

Buck drank the rest of his coffee and stood up. After the long drive he wasn’t looking forward to getting back into his truck, but he sure was looking forward to getting stuck into work. He loved starting a new project and watching the drawings on a page turn into a real-life building.

“Tell her we’re on our way,” Mason said as he waved goodbye to Tiana.

“Can I come, too?” Rhett asked and grabbed an apple out of the fruit bowl as he followed them to the door.

Mason looked at Tiana and she shrugged. “Sure, you can make arrangements with Haley about watching the girls tonight.”

Rhett looked relieved as he followed Mason and Buck out of the house, as if he’d dodged a bullet. But if the young man thought he’d fooled his parents he was wrong. They were just giving him time.

Exiting the house, they went back out into the cool, pure mountain air. Buck had to confess he felt at home here already. His heart, and his bear, were ready to set down roots, to make a home, even if they lived there alone.

“My truck or yours?” Mason asked as they walked across to the graveled area in front of the house.

Buck shrugged. “We can take yours, since you know the area and where you’re headed.” Riding shotgun would give him an opportunity to take in the scenery and get his bearings.

“Hop in then, boys,” Mason said, placing the plans behind the seat as he pulled himself into the truck.

They buckled up and Mason started the engine, driving slowly down the gravel trail leading toward the road. Rhett was sandwiched between them, and Buck took advantage of being next to the window to roll it down and lean his elbow on the door. All he needed was a hat and a piece of straw hanging out of his mouth and he’d feel part of the landscape.

“So Mason tells me you’re at college?” Buck asked as they turned away from the mountains and headed toward town.

Rhett’s eyes narrowed. The boy thought his mom or Mason had put him up to this. Interesting, he must have something to hide if he was this suspicious. “Yes.”

“Are you enjoying it?” Buck asked. “I only ask because it was never my thing.”

That got Rhett’s attention, and Mason’s.

“You didn’t go to college?” Rhett asked.

“No, I never got along with words. Or they never got along with me.” He grinned. “When you read they stay in order, when I read they have a game of tag or something. They just run around and don’t stay straight.”

“You’re dyslexic?” Rhett asked.

“I am. And no matter how many times I’ve tried, it has me beat.” Buck sighed. “I just learned not to let it hold me back.”

“You’re a self-made man,” Rhett clasped his hands together, his left thumb rubbing across the knuckle of his right thumb.

“I am. Although I’d say life might have been a little easier if I had gone to college. I learned everything I know through sheer hard work and determination.” They were coming to a halt outside a row of houses and he wanted to impart some wise words on Rhett, but a strange sensation crept up on him and he couldn’t think a coherent thought.

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked toward the house to his left as Mason switched off the ignition and opened the door to get out. Buck yanked on the door handle and stumbled out of the truck, feeling like he’d been drinking all night and was nursing a hangover.

“Are you okay?” Rhett asked with concern.

“I am. I just need some air. Maybe it was the long drive to Bear Creek. I need to stretch my legs and unkink my muscles.” But it was more than that. There was something wrong.

“Here.” Mason retrieved a toolbox from the back of the truck and handed it to Rhett. “You’re the youngest, you can carry this inside.”

“Sure.” Rhett took the toolbox and nodded his head toward Buck, as if to ask what was wrong with their guest.

Mason shrugged. “Maybe you need something to eat.”

“No, I’m fine.” Buck straightened up and shook his head. “Lead the way.”

Mason inclined his head toward the house and Rhett opened the gate leading to the driveway with the two elder men following. When he reached the house, he knocked twice and then opened the door. “It’s us, Haley,” he called before stepping inside.

“Hey, Rhett.” A young girl, maybe thirteen, came to meet them. “Are you coming over tonight while Mom’s at work?”

“I am. I heard your mom needed a babysitter.” Rhett emphasized the word and earned himself an eye roll.

“If I wasn’t so pleased to see you, I’d put worms in your coffee when you come over later. Because that’s the kind of thing babies do.” She smiled menacingly.

“Yeah, but we all know you love him too much for that, Alicia,” Mason said, earning himself an eye roll from both of them. “What? We’re practically family.”

“Mom’s through there.” Alicia pointed and shook her head as Mason walked toward the kitchen, with Rhett and Alicia behind him, and a disconcerted Buck bringing up the rear.

The sensation prickling his neck intensified and sweat broke out on his forehead. Maybe it was the flu?

“Hi there, Haley. Wow, you were not joking when you said your ceiling had come down,” Mason said to the most beautiful woman Buck had ever seen.

So beautiful he had to stand and stare at her. He was certain he even had his mouth open.

Oh yeah, it’s open, his bear informed him, and Buck snapped it shut.

“Hi.” Haley glanced at Mason, and then back to Buck. “Are you okay?”

She was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, with her hair pulled back in a messy bun as she tried to tackle the mess in her kitchen.

“Yes.” The color rose in his cheeks as he realized all eyes were on him. Not something he enjoyed. “I was… I came to help.” He frowned. “With the ceiling.” He pointed upward as if no one else in the room knew what a ceiling was.

He hated people staring. Buck usually appeared calm and confident. However, a bad experience from his school days, concerning a stage and a line of words he was supposed to read out loud, had left him hating being signaled out.

“Do you want some coffee?” Haley offered as the color rose in her cheeks, too. Did she feel what he was feeling? Did she know what she was to him? Or was he making her uncomfortable with his staring?

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble. Since the ceiling is…” He nodded. “Coffee would be great.” He needed a moment to compose himself. What was the procedure under these circumstances? Was he supposed to blurt out that she was his mate or leave it until they were alone?

In the end, the decision was taken away from him.

“Is there something you need to share?” Mason asked as he tore his attention away from the ruined ceiling and placed it squarely on Buck.

“I’m…I think we’re mates.” He looked directly at Haley, whose hand shook as she poured coffee and it spilled on the counter.

“We’re…mates.” She pointed at Buck and then pointed at herself in slow motion, her face filled with confusion.

“Yes.” Buck wasn’t sure if he ought to apologize, since Haley did not look exactly happy.

“That’s great.” Mason grinned widely, his voice genuine. “That is just the best news.”

Did Haley believe that? As she grabbed a cloth and started cleaning up the coffee spill, Buck wasn’t too sure.

“Mom?” Alicia’s voice came from behind him. “What does he mean?”

“Buck means they are mates. Just like my mom and Mason are mates,” Rhett told her.

“Mom?” Alicia’s voice held a worried edge to it which Haley responded to.

“It’s a shifter thing. We talked about it, remember, when Tiana met Mason.” Haley glanced at Buck apologetically as she moved to comfort her daughter.

“But we don’t need a man.” Alicia sounded worried. “I know I said you needed to go out and have fun, but I don’t want…” She hiccupped and then turned and fled from the room.

“Sorry,” Haley said quickly as she went after her daughter, leaving Buck with a hole in his heart a mile wide and the only person who could heal it was Haley.

And he didn’t think she wanted to. Not if it meant upsetting her kids.

Because if there was one thing a bear shifter knew above all else, it was how important children were.