Chapter Fourteen: Martha

Chapter Fourteen – Martha

The cabin felt cold and empty without Clint, even though he’d only just left and the sheets were still warm from the heat of his body.

Martha lay back against the pillows and sipped her coffee, heat pooling deep in her belly at the memory of Clint’s hands on her body. His touch had been gentle, and yet somehow all-consuming, as if he was branding her with his desire alone.

Martha finished her coffee and then she got out of bed with a sigh. The bedroom was chilly, causing gooseflesh to ripple down her arms, but there was no point heating it up since she would be leaving soon.

She was a little nervous about her dinner plans with Clint’s friends and wanted to look her best. Not that she had too many options to choose from when it came to her wardrobe. She’d packed relatively lightly when she left for Bear Creek. The rest of her stuff was in storage until she found a place to settle down.

Scanning the few items of clothes she had brought with her, she picked out a pair of warm slacks and a thick sweater before heading into the bathroom to brush her hair and put on some light makeup.

When she was ready, Martha grabbed her coat and favorite beanie from the closet and placed them by the front door for when it was time to leave.

A peek at the clock made Martha’s stomach twist. She had thirty minutes to fill and doing nothing was out of the question, unless she wanted her anxiety to spike even more. After tending the fire, she went to the kitchen and filled the sink with hot soapy water, determined to leave Clint’s cabin cleaner than when she’d arrived. Martha had a habit of cleaning when she was anxious or needed to wrap her brain around a case, something about it offered her the clarity she craved.

There was a soothing quality to the act of cleaning that quietened her mind, and, more importantly, her inner voice.

Once all the dishes were put away, Martha pulled on her new hiking boots and laced them up. The icy conditions outside demanded something sturdier than the familiar comfort of her pumps, which she tucked in her purse to wear at Lana’s.

As Martha flexed her feet in the stiff new boots, she wished she had a dessert or a bottle of wine to take with her as her contribution toward dinner. But until she visited town, and there was no time now, she had nothing to offer other than herself.

With that thought in mind, she bundled up warmly against the cold and made her way out into the night to stand on the porch and admire the ambience of the surrounding forest.

The night had a different feel to it, each breath of wind stirring up flurries of snow that sparkled in the moonlight and created a glimmering blanket around her. She heard an owl’s call in the distance, something she’d never heard before living in her city apartment. As she stood in silence, a current of anticipation rushed through her veins.

Clint was out there, in the mountains, somewhere. She could almost feel him, like a warm presence in the night.

It was as if the connection between them stretched out over any distance. It felt as if he was so close, yet so far away, and Martha longed to be reunited with him again. To run her fingers through his bear’s soft fur and feel the warmth of his enormous body as he pressed against her, comforting her with his presence.

Martha could never have guessed that a creature so big, so dangerous, could make her feel so safe. Yet he did. When she’d stood next to Clint’s bear, it was as if nothing could ever hurt her again.

Which was nonsense. But still...

The sound of an engine alerted her to Ryan’s arrival. His truck painted a stark picture against the ebony night, its headlights blazing a trail through the darkness. As the vehicle slowed to a stop in the parking lot, she held her breath.

What if she messed this up? She wasn’t good at informal dinners, she never knew what to say. Ask her opinion on a case and she could talk for hours, but ask her about herself... What was there to say?

Well, she’d have to think of something. Perhaps she should have put more thought into topics of conversation than dreaming about Clint.

Or perhaps not,she thought with a smile.

The driver’s door opened, and Ryan got out first. “Hey there.” He raised a hand and waved at her.

Martha froze. How had he seen her? The porch was cast in shadow. Oh, Ryan must be a shifter too, which meant he had the same enhanced senses as Clint.

Ryan hadn’t needed to see her. He could sense her presence.

“Hi.” Martha shouldered her purse and stepped down off the porch, her hiking boots making her feel awkward.

More awkward than she already was.

They would soon wear in and fit her feet like a second skin, but for now, they were stiff and inflexible, making her feel more out of place than she already did. Standing there in the cool night air, Martha felt exposed and vulnerable in a way that she hadn’t expected.

As Martha crossed over the parking lot to the truck, Kay appeared from the large cabin that was set back from the main building. She wore a coat that looked far too big for her, but it was stretched tight across her baby bump.

“Hey, guys!” she said, her voice ringing with excitement. “It’s so nice to have a break from being a mom for once—Adele’s out for a sleepover.”

“Let’s hope that little one isn’t going to pop out over dinner,” Ryan joked and kissed Kay on the cheek as she reached the truck.

“Oh, don’t say that!” Kay placed her hand protectively over her swollen stomach. “They’ll bed me down in the stables like they do with the horses when they give birth!”

“Let’s get you both in the truck. It’s warmer in there.” Ryan beckoned to Martha. “Come on, my driving isn’t that bad.”

“Stop teasing.” Kay reached out and lightly grazed Ryan’s arm in an affectionate slap and then waved at Martha. Her face lit up with a smile. “I’m so glad you were able to join us. It’ll be great to get to know you a little before my life is consumed by diapers.”

Ryan gave Martha a sheepish grin as he opened the passenger door for her.

“We all can’t wait,” Jody half-turned in the front seat. “Kay and Curtis have so many offers to babysit, they will forget they are new parents.”

“Oh, I am going to take you all up on the offers to babysit if this little one is not a good sleeper,” Kay joked as Ryan opened the door and helped her into the truck. “I’ll be glad to get my figure back. I would like to see my feet again. Although I will miss the back rubs Curtis gives me each evening.”

Kay settled into the seat, and Ryan held out his hand to Martha.

“I think I can manage,” she told him.

“Clint said you were confident and capable.” Ryan’s eyes twinkled as Martha hoisted herself into the seat.

“Ryan is teasing.” Jody cast a warning look at Ryan. “Clint hasn’t had a chance to tell us anything about you since he was so shell-shocked when we spoke to him this morning.”

Martha felt her cheeks flush as she looked at Jody, worried about what he was referring to. “Shell-shocked?”

Jody waved a hand in the air. “Nothing bad,” he blurted. “Just that Clint was kind of stunned. He’d given up on the idea of ever meeting his mate.”

Martha felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at Jody, and then at Ryan. Had Clint really thought he’d never meet his mate? She couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been for him, in so many ways being a shifter was freeing but in another it was so restrictive... when it came to affairs of the heart.

She glanced out the window, feeling thankful that fate had chosen her for Clint, and that he’d found someone to share his heart with. She only hoped she could be the mate he deserved.

“We’re just so happy to see him...” Kay leaned back in her seat and shifted position, her hands cupped around her belly. “So fulfilled.”

“Fulfilled?” Ryan cast a glance over his shoulder as he drove away from the lodge.

“Yes, fulfilled, as if he’s found a missing part of himself.” Kay smiled at Martha, her eyes bright with tears. “You don’t know what it means to us that you walked into his life.”

Martha felt her throat tighten and tears pooled in her eyes. She had no words for the emotions she was feeling—gratitude, joy, love, all of them wrapped up in a single moment. She reached out and squeezed Kay’s arm and gave her a smile that was full of understanding.

As they drove down the winding road, Martha watched the night sky pass by, feeling a deep sense of thankfulness for finding her place in the world.

That’s how she felt, as if she was home, surrounded by people who loved her, or who would love her when they got to know her.

This was where she belonged, and no matter how much she’d fought it, fate had put her here. She knew that this was the place she fit—into Clint’s life and his friends’ lives, too.

Despite her parents warning her she would feel out of place in a small town, this was exactly where she was meant to be.

Although, as they wound their way through the mountains to the ranch, Martha questioned whether she was in the exact right place. The terrain was rugged and the road winding, and Ryan had to drive carefully around icy patches and snowdrifts. Ryan was a skilled driver, but she was still a little anxious about the trip—especially since she was seated next to a heavily pregnant Kay.

Martha stole a sideways glance at Ryan and saw the determined look on his face. He was so focused, he obviously took the well-being of his passengers very seriously. Martha pushed away her anxiety and tried to enjoy their moonlit drive. Ryan knew what he was doing, and Martha could trust him to get them safely to the ranch.

“You’re tense.” Kay reached across the seat and touched her upper arm.

Martha nodded and gave her a small smile. “I’m more used to city driving,” she admitted.

Kay laughed softly and shook her head. “You’ll get used to mountain roads soon enough.” She arched her back and adjusted her position as they went around a sharp bend. “It just takes time.”

“How long have you been living in Bear Creek?” Martha asked, curious about Kay’s life here.

Kay smiled and patted her belly. “Just about nine months,” she said.

“Oh!” Martha covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes widened. “You got pregnant almost right away?”

“Yeah, the time has flown by.” Kay stared out of the window into the darkness. “I can’t believe it. Sometimes it’s like a dream.”

“I can’t believe I haven’t even been here for one day,” Martha replied.

“Things move fast in Bear Creek.” Jody half-turned in her seat to look at Martha. “I was the new mate in town until this morning.”

“You haven’t been in Bear Creek long either?” Martha was surprised. She had become something of an expert at reading body language, it helped when she was questioning a person in court. More than one of her cases had been won after she figured out a witness wasn’t telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If she’d had to guess, she’d have sworn that Jody and Ryan had been together for years. It was in the way they looked at each other, the way Ryan’s hand lingered on her arm when she spoke, and how Jody leaned into him as if he were a rock she could rely on. They were two people who had found their place in the world, and it was here, with each other.

Was it possible that she and Clint would have this same kind of body language so soon?

The language of love. Martha smiled to herself.

She truly believed that she and Clint belonged together, like two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly in place.

Martha closed her eyes and could almost feel his hands on her body, his lips on her skin. She shivered at the memory, her skin tingling with anticipation as she recalled how it felt to be in Clint’s embrace. His arms were strong and sure, encircling her in a protective cocoon that made her feel safe and loved. His lips were gentle yet passionate, his touch exploring her body as if he were uncovering the secrets of her soul.

Martha felt an ache in her heart and a warmth in her belly.

Then she remembered where she was and her eyes flew open, as Kay said, “We’re here!”