Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

T yler felt a little growly by the end of the day Saturday. He wanted Sunday off, and he'd browbeaten his brother into letting him close on Sundays for the time being. The shop was busiest on weekdays from eight to three, since it was mostly businesses around them that worked nine to five Monday through Friday. And the area was not a nightlife place at all.

He grabbed his bag of leftover pastry and headed out. He would have that as dessert after he got himself something wild and decadent for supper. He didn't want anything that even looked like a soup or sandwich.

Just as he was about to climb into his rental, he saw his little bear, Reed, scurrying past the parking lot, head down, hands in his pockets.

"Reed! Do you need a ride?" he called.

Someone looked miserable, unhappy and bruised around his eyes. "Tyler! Hey."

"Are you okay?" Poor baby. Tyler just grabbed him. "I was just going to get takeout and then watch a bad movie."

"I'm—Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I—It's been a hard week, you know?" Poor, sweet baby.

"Well, you should come with me. That way you have someone to vent to who knows no one you work with. But I'm happy to just give you a lift."

"I—Are you sure?" Reed met his eyes, the gaze desperate.

"I am absolutely. I understand needing to rest your head." He'd run to his cabin up in Estes more than once when Justin asked too damn much of him.

"Yes. Well, you know…"

He thought he heard someone yell, "Reed!" across the parking lot, and his little bear sighed. "Can we go now?"

"Yes. Come on." He opened the door to the SUV, helping Reed in, then ran around to hop inside himself. Doors closed and locked, no one could fault Reed for not hearing or seeing them. "Turn the sound off on your phone?"

"I did already."

"I'm sorry it's been so hard."

"Thank you. I just need—I need a day off."

"Sure you do. Well, I got a nice little rental with a comfy couch, and we can get some food and just flop. I could use the company." Poor Reed looked like he was on the very edge of a collapse. How could anyone treat this sweet omega bear that way?

"You-you don't mind?"

He reached over to pat Reed's hand. "Not one bit, honey. I swear. It gets lonely, not knowing anyone." Which was true enough.

"Yes. It does. So, how does it work? You open one store, then move to another?"

"Normally I train the trainers. I do a management school in Colorado. The manager I had lined up for this store got a better offer at the last minute." He growled a little, because the asshole hadn't told him he was considering anything but their job, and it had been a total waste of resources.

"Oh, that sucks. It's hard to find reliable people, I bet." The little bear was a natural nurturer.

"It can be. But the shop is doing well already, so it should be easier now to find someone to take over. Success is attractive." He wasn't sure where to go, but he got them moving so Reed was safe. "So, what's good to eat?"

"What are you interested in? There's Howie's—they have a honey-glazed salmon."

"Oh…" Now that sounded fine. "Do they have pie?"

"Blackberry cobbler. It's like heaven."

"Then we should go there." Tyler could just wallow in that.

"Sounds good. My treat, since you rescued me."

"Oh, you—" When Reed stared at him, he stopped. "Well, thank you."

"You're more than welcome. Turn left at the light."

He followed Reed's directions to a little hole in the wall a good ways away from their part of town. Maybe he knew no one would see him here, so it was comfort food and safe space. The whole look screamed den, so he could see why a bear would want in.

"Smells really good, honey. Why don't we eat in and take cobbler to go?"

Reed smiled and nodded. "I like that. Oh, it feels good just to be away from the office. Like, away away."

"I hear you. I go to work, and I go to the apartment. It's nice to be out and breathe and stuff." He opened the door for Reed at the restaurant.

It was dim and warm, and the woman who came up to them was open and welcoming, her smile bright. "Ah, please come in out of the weather. Let us comfort you."

"Hi, Angel. This is Tyler. I told him about your salmon."

She clapped her hands, looking delighted. "A grizzly. So nice to meet you."

"He also says you have cobbler," Tyler teased gently.

"Blackberry or mixed berry. Come, come. Sit here." She led them to a table. The yummy scents intensified, and he could smell honey and the brininess of fish and the tang of berries.

Reed relaxed here, turning off his phone and snuggling back into the chair. "Oh, it's good to be here."

"I'm glad." He felt weight fall off his shoulders, too, somehow. He hadn't realized how his every moment was consumed with work until they drove away from the store together, intending just to share a meal and an evening of quiet.

He could smell Reed, a mixture of cinnamon and berry that made him ache, and he found himself staring into those dark, shining eyes.

Reed stared back, lips parting slightly, the lower one damp and begging for a kiss.

Oh, little bear. He wanted to take Reed off somewhere quiet and sniff him all over.

Then Angel brought them steaming cups of honey and lemon tea, which broke the moment a little. That was probably good, or Tyler would have leaned across the table to taste Reed.

Reed lifted his cup. "To new friends."

"Cheers to that." He clinked his mug gently to Reed's. "It's been a while since I met someone new. I mean, that wasn't an employee." Did that sound awful to Reed like it did to him?

Reed snorted. "I meet new people daily. Most of them don't even see me. They're all very self-involved." Reed closed his eyes for a second. "And that sounds awful."

"No, it sounds like the entertainment industry." He knew enough to know that. It was a statement of fact more than an indictment. If you were in that dog-eat-dog world, you had to look out for you.

This little bear wasn't a consumer; he was a doll baby. He was going to get himself eaten up, and Tyler could see it.

"This is good," he said when he tasted the tea. Tyler was usually a coffee guy.

"It is. I like how clean it tastes."

"Yeah. Really clears the palate." He sipped again, humming, his shoulders coming down from around his ears a little.

"So, have you met any celebrities yet? Anyone you were excited to meet?"

"Mmmm. That guy who plays the wolf superhero? Yeah."

Reed chuckled. "You mean Weaver Rimes?"

"That's him."

"He's actually a very nice man, very polite and kind."

"Is he? I saw him on the street, but I didn't have the guts to say hi. I've watched some of his stuff." Tyler liked movies and things, but he wasn't into the newest thing, a lot of times.

"He's one of my boss's clients. He likes raspberry jellybeans, girl-on-girl porn, fuzzy socks, and sandalwood goat-milk soap."

"Wow. That's a lot to know, huh?" He propped his chin on his hands. This looked like the kind of place he could do that. "What's the weirdest request you ever had?"

"Weirdest? Probably ten pounds of only white jellybeans in any room the client went to."

"Ten pounds? Did they ever eat any?" Who dug a scale out of a suitcase to weigh them?

"I don't think so. Honestly, I don't think so." Reed gave him a sweet, tickled little grin.

"That is an odd one." He grinned right back. "What would you ask for?"

"If I was famous and had a rider?" He nodded and Reed smiled. "Soft music, I think, and apple juice. You?"

"Hmmm." He tapped his other fingers. "Honey. A toaster to make peanut butter toast for my honey." He winked when Reed laughed.

"I sense a theme."

"You know it. I love my sweet stuff. But fuzzy socks sound pretty good too."

"Anything fuzzy. I have a collection of fuzzy blankets in my room."

"I have lots of stuff at my house in Denver. Blankets. A giant beanbag that's bear resistant…"

Angel brought a breadbasket. With a bottle of honey.

Tyler moaned. She got them.

"A beanbag?" Reed groaned, and that was sweet and sexual, all at once.

"Uh-huh. It's king size. I got this 1970s house with a sunken den? It's amazing to wallow on, and I have all pillows and blankets and a big screen."

"That's neat!" Reed offered him a grin. "I rent a room about three blocks away from the office."

In the center of all those glass and metal buildings? What an awful place for a bear. He wanted to shake his head, but he held it back. Reed didn't need him judging. "Should I try the bread?"

"Oh, yeah. It will be warm inside. The honey is good, and so is the cinnamon butter."

"Are you going to indulge?" He didn't want to eat alone.

"I shouldn't…" Reed bit his lip. "I get teased a lot at work for being chubby."

His eyebrows flew up. "You? I know you said something about a diet before. I'm sorry I wasn't listening as closely as I should have." He leaned over, catching that sweet dark-brown gaze with his. "You are perfect."

"What?" Oh, that hope there was beautiful and brutal, all at once.

"You're amazing, Reed. Not chunky at all. Are you built like a bear, like me? Sure. We're barrel-chested. Don't let anyone make you feel bad just for being who you are." He thought Reed was darling and also desirable. "Eat with me. We are who we are."

Reed leaned forward, the move sudden, and pressed their noses together, giving him the sweetest little nuzzle.

He hummed, wanting to slide a hand behind Reed's neck and hold him there, but they were in public, so he just shared a breath or two. He knew how it felt to be the odd man out.

Then someone walked by, and they both eased back into their chairs, and Reed took a roll.

Thank goodness. They both put butter and honey on their bread, and he had to watch Reed eat his in neat little bites, moaning as he did. That was better than some sex he'd had with other men.

This little bear was enough to drive him out of his mind.

He munched food to fill the need gnawing at his belly, but Tyler knew that wouldn't be enough. Still, Reed had been pushed around to the limit by his job. He would never stress him out by making an unwanted advance.

Hopefully it would be wanted soon, but he was okay if it wasn't tonight.

He was a very, very patient bear, when it came right down to it.

The salmon was flaky, the glaze perfect, and it came on a bed of potatoes and kale. He was in heaven. By the time they were done, he was smiling, patting his belly. "Should we get our cobbler to go?"

"Oh, yes please. My belly is full. That was delicious—just the right amount of sweetness."

"It was." He waved down Angel. "Can we get dessert to go?"

"Of course, of course." She patted Reed on the shoulder. "Do you want ice cream?"

"I have vanilla at my place."

"Oh, well, then, you must go with this man." She winked broadly.

Reed flushed. "He invited me."

"You should go. He suits you. I can see that."

Reed's cheeks were going to go up in flames.

"He needs a break," Tyler agreed. "I'll take care of him."

"I'm usually the one that takes care of people, you know."

"Are you?" Tyler reached over to take Reed's hand. "So am I. So we'll just have to take turns."

"Oh, I like the idea of that. Very much."

"Me too." Tyler grinned, and they stared at each other until Angel brought the cobbler and the bill. He reached for it, but Reed pushed him back.

"My treat, remember? We take turns."

Okay, he could live with that.

"I like the idea that I get a turn next, little bear."

Reed blushed, which was so adorable, and headed off to pay the bill. Tyler watched that round little ass, feeling the heat of wanting rise in him happily.

He wanted, fiercely, to take care of Reed. And he hoped he got his chance starting tonight.

Reed was full and happy and warm and sitting on a fairly comfy couch with a very solid grizzly.

It was probably a terrible mistake, but he was too happy to stress it.

The movie was something about superheroes, but it could have been the Hunting of the Three Bears or something equally horror-based and he would have been able to ignore it.

Tyler took all his attention. Big with shaggy brown hair with blond tips and golden-brown eyes, he was gorgeous, and he was kind. Kindness was in short supply in entertainment.

Reed soaked in the care like a sponge. He was so tired of being exhausted and worried and scared.

Tyler was warm, one arm around his shoulders, his breath rising and falling against Reed's side. Like this, he could fantasize they were a couple, just hanging out.

It felt normal and more real than anything he could have imagined.

"You need anything?" Tyler rumbled against him. "Time for cobbler?"

"I'm so happy," he admitted. "This is heaven."

"I'm loving life right now, too, honey." Tyler kissed the top of his head, which sent a thrill through his whole body. "I'm so glad you came with me."

"It was perfect that you found me when you did."

Tyler stroked the back of his neck gently. "I think it was fate."

He shivered, his nipples drawing up. "Mmm. Someone was looking out for me, for sure. I feel like I've lost a year of tension."

"You work hard from what I've seen."

"I do. I'm trying to impress the boss, but—" It was impossible. Nothing he did seemed to impress.

"He sounds like a grumpy bastard." Tyler's tone stayed light, but he knew it was serious.

"He's very important, and he works with important people." And Reed was the lowest man in the pecking order in the office.

"Mmm. I know from experience that doesn't mean he's a good person, huh?" Tyler just patted his shoulder. "You're a good man though. I can tell."

"I want to be. I want to be someone people can trust." He liked people, liked organizing things. He'd thought he'd be arranging venues and creating parties and such. He bought a lot of coffee and did a lot of scheduling things on his phone.

"You are. Whether or not they're smart enough to do it is something else." Tyler's warm breath on his ear made him shiver.

"I—" He swallowed hard. "Thank you. I want you to think that."

"I can tell about people. Years as a barista."

He leaned hard against Tyler, knowing that Tyler was a good man, too. He could feel it.

"I bet you make the best lattes."

"Oh, little bear. I make a honey caramel mocha one…"

He moaned.

"Mmmhmm. Just the tiniest hint of chai." That smile was downright wicked.

"Oh wow… Tell me what to order Monday morning."

"I will. I might even make you one here." When he stared, Tyler shrugged easily. "I went to Target and bought an espresso machine and milk foamer as soon as I got off the plane. Even in a rental, I can't do without."

"You are amazing." He grabbed Tyler's hand and squeezed it.

"Am I? My brother says I'm picky as hell." Tyler played with his fingers, the calluses rubbing his skin.

"Picky is okay. I understand picky." He had an advanced degree in picky.

"Do you?" Tyler shook his head. "I don't believe it. I mean, not personally. Maybe you get it from other people." They shifted around and slid on the couch, and before he knew it, he was in Tyler's lap, enfolded in those brawny arms.

"Oh…" What a luxury, to know that he was held in someone's arms, and held so well.

Tyler nodded. "I needed to hold you, Reed." That shaggy head rested against his, Tyler leaning. He hoped Tyler was soaking up care as well. He'd never felt so surrounded, so utterly comforted, and he cuddled in with a happy little sigh.

Tyler held him close, not pushing or pawing at him, just letting them rest together. So what he needed.

"This good?" The rumble vibrated against his ear.

"This is perfect." He sucked in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.

"Good. Rest your head for a little while, honey. I got you."

Reed nodded a tiny bit and closed his eyes. This was a fantasy come to life, and he was going to savor every moment of it.