Chapter Three: Clint

Chapter Three – Clint

Clint stood alone in the reception area of Bear Creek Lodge, watching as his mate, Martha, disappeared from sight. He could still sense her presence, and the need to be with her overwhelmed him.

Clenching his fists, he strode across the room, his heart pounding in rhythm with his steps. He wanted to chase after her, to crush her against his chest, and never let her go. But he needed to control the urge and give her space to settle in before he revealed his true self.

She was here for a reason and until he knew that reason, he was determined to honor her boundaries. He couldn’t risk losing her, and that might happen if he invaded her space too soon. He’d just have to find a way to be patient while he waited for fate to reveal its purpose—so that Clint could capture her heart.

His bear raised his head and moaned, the sound one of a deep-seated want and need that he had never voiced before.

Don’t worry,Clint assured his other side. She’s here for a reason and if the last few months have taught us anything, it’s that our paths, our fates, are entwined.

You’re right, his bear agreed. When the time is right, all will be revealed.

You sound like a magician, Clint chuckled, trying to chase the chill from his bones.

As a bear shifter, he was usually immune to the chill of winter, but not today. Despite the heat from the fire, the cold seeped into his bones, numbing him from the inside out. He felt as if Martha had taken all his warmth along with her when she walked out the door, leaving him feeling lonely and empty.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. But the scent of her lingered in the air, making his heart race even faster. He could feel her presence as if she was standing right beside him.

His fingers twitched, as if itching to reach out and touch her.

To feel the frisson of electricity that had passed between them only moments before.

She’d felt it, too. Clint had heard it in the small gasp that escaped her lips and seen it in her eyes as they searched his for an answer she was not ready to hear.

He could almost feel her, and his fingertips longed to brush against her skin. His body ached to feel the warmth of her touch on his flesh...

But Martha wasn’t here. She was out there in cabin number five.

He opened his eyes and stared out into the distance and a peacefulness settled over Clint as he watched the snowflakes drift down outside the window. All he needed was a little patience. Martha was not going anywhere. At least not for the next five days.

He let out a long sigh, searching for the inner peace that he’d always taken for granted. However, it was gone. The thought of being without her for even a moment longer was almost too much to bear.

He sank down into one armchair and stared at the fire, lost in thought. The lodge was quiet, and Clint was alone with his thoughts and his overwhelming desire for Martha.

“Clint.” Kay entered the reception area through the door that led to the kitchen. He’d been so wrapped up in his need to be with Martha that he hadn’t sensed her approach.

“Hey.” He pushed himself to his feet, swaying on the spot as he fought to regain his equilibrium.

“Are you okay?” Kay’s voice was a whisper as she took a hesitant step toward him. “Should I call Jesse and ask him to come give you a check-up? Or I could drive you to the hospital.”

A wave of warmth flooded through Clint, a reminder that he was not alone. He had friends, good friends.

And now we have a mate, his bear reminded him.

Clint nodded and smiled at Kay. “Yes,” he whispered. “I’m fine.” He gestured to the flames in the fireplace. “I’m just taking a moment...”

“A moment.” Kay crossed the room and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Clint took a deep breath as the words formed in his head. But for a moment, they seemed stuck there. Then he finally said, “I’ve found my mate and...”

His voice trailed off as a wave of emotion crashed over him, threatening to overwhelm him. As time passed by, he’d made peace with the fact he’d never speak those words. His life had turned on its head the moment he sensed Martha.

Kay’s face lit up with excitement, and she stepped forward, wrapping him in a hug. “Oh, my goodness! That’s amazing!” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “So, don’t keep me in suspense, who is she?” Kay’s voice was low, her words were filled with warmth, and her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity, and before he knew it, Clint felt his body relax involuntarily.

A feeling of immense relief overwhelmed him, as if a great burden had been removed from his shoulders. He inhaled deeply as if he had been released from an invisible jail; a prisoner without cause after an eternity of incarceration.

His bear roared, feeling the same sense of freedom. Our mate has freed us from our solitary life.

“Her name is Martha.” Clint searched for something else to say about his mate. They had only just met, but he felt as if they’d known each other forever. But they hadn’t. Clint knew nothing about his mate other than her desire to start over. “She’s a guest here...”

“It’s okay.” Kay held up her hand. “You need time to adjust.”

“Adjust?” Clint nodded. “Yeah, that’s about it.”

“Curtis had the same dazed expression on his face when I met him for the first time.” Kay hooked her arm through his. “Why don’t we go make some coffee? Or we could crack open something stronger.”

“I already feel intoxicated,” Clint replied as they headed toward the kitchen.

“So, this is where you have been hiding.” Jesse burst through the door into the reception area.

“I wasn’t hiding,” Clint insisted, then noted Jesse’s eyes sparkling with humor.

“Jesse,” Kay said excitedly. “Clint has found his mate!”

“I was a witness to their first awkward meeting.” Jesse crossed the room to embrace Clint in a manly hug. “I waited until she left before I came over.” He stepped back, his gaze searching Clint’s face. “How do you feel?”

Clint let out a long sigh, his heart heavy with emotion. “I feel... I do not know,” he admitted softly, tears welling in his eyes.

Like we won the lottery,his bear replied.

Clint chuckled. Like we won it ten times over.

“I feel good.” Clint rolled his shoulders and straightened up, feeling ten years younger than he had when he rolled out of bed this morning. “I feel really good.”

Jesse arched an eyebrow. “Finding your mate seems to be a miracle cure. I should prescribe it to all my single shifter patients.”

Clint’s eyes darkened as he looked at Jesse. “It’ll happen for you one day, Jesse.”

Jesse shrugged and brushed off the comment. “I’m just happy for you. For all of you.”

Jesse is the last of us,Clint’s bear said. He’s the only one of our close friends who doesn’t have a mate.

“She’s out there, somewhere,” Kay assured him. “And I know she’ll find her way to you.”

“Ah, enough about me,” Jesse replied. “When are you going to see Martha again?”

“Now.” Clint’s reply was met with surprise. “I said I’d take some of the stew I made over to her.”

“The way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach,” Kay told him. “Especially when she’s driven along the mountain roads in these conditions.”

“As a physician, I concur with your plan of action,” Jesse said with a wink, before he followed Clint out to the kitchen.

Clint fetched a container for the stew and heaped a large portion into it. But then he hesitated. “I don’t want to invade her space,” he admitted, his voice low. He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “I just... I have this urge to be with her and never let her out of my sight.”

“That’s understandable,” Jesse said, giving him an understanding look. “But it sounds like you’re fighting the urge.” He paused for a moment, looking deep in thought. Then he nodded as if he’d come to a conclusion. “You’re one of the wisest men I know, Clint, and I’m sure you’ll handle it perfectly.”

Kay smiled reassuringly and nodded in agreement. “You’ll know what’s best for you and Martha,” she said. “Take it slow, listen to your heart, and you’ll be just fine.”

Clint smiled. “Are you sure I’m the wisest man you know? Because you both give brilliant advice.” He pressed a lid down on the container and headed out of the kitchen with renewed determination.

“We learned from the best,” Kay replied lightly, but her voice was thick with emotion.

Jesse nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “We did,” he said. “Now, you need to take that beef stew to Martha in cabin number five.”

“I do.” With one last nod of gratitude, he stepped out into the cold winter air and made his way toward Martha’s cabin.

He paused in front of the door and took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. He knocked softly, his heart pounding in anticipation.

When the door opened, Clint’s breath caught in his throat as he saw Martha standing there.

“Clint.” Her eyes lit up with genuine pleasure as she saw him standing there with the container of stew in his hands. “Please, come in.”

Clint stepped inside. As he walked into her cabin, he felt a calmness settle over him and he smiled, knowing that everything was going to be all right.

“I brought the stew.” He held up the container, aware he was stating the obvious, but his mind had gone to mush, so it was the best he could do.

“That’s so kind of you.” Martha closed the door behind him.

“Kitchen?” he asked.

“Yes, please.” A small smile crossed her lips. “You know where it is.”

“I certainly do.” Feeling more at ease, Clint set the container down on the kitchen table.

When he turned around, Clint’s eyes locked onto Martha’s, and he felt a surge of warmth spread through his chest.

“The stew smells delicious.” She clasped her hands together and turned away from him, heading back toward the door. Did she want him to leave already?

We don’t want to overstay our welcome,his bear replied, forlorn at the thought of their visit being so short.

“Is the cabin okay?” he said, his voice low and earnest. “I wanted to make sure you were comfortable.”

Martha smiled back at him, a softness in her expression that made Clint’s heart skip a beat. “I appreciate it,” she said, her eyes twinkling with warmth. “It’s perfect. Just how I imagined it.” She wrapped her arms around her body and hugged herself.

“Let me light the fire for you,” Clint offered, already moving toward the hearth.

“Oh, you’ve done enough already,” Martha insisted with a shiver.

“It won’t take me a minute.” That wasn’t exactly true, but Clint was a master at starting fires. “I usually have them lit for when guests arrive, but you caught me by surprise.”

In more ways than one, his bear chuckled happily.

“I appreciate it. A roaring fire will certainly add to the already cozy feel of this place.” Martha looked around the cabin. “You’ve done a wonderful job of making the cabin feel like home.”

“I do my best. When someone comes to stay, they want a home away from home.” As he worked, he stole sideways glances at Martha, admiring the way her hair fell in soft waves around her face and the gentle curve of her cheekbones.

“I guess you’re fulfilling a dream.” She sighed happily. “At least you’re fulfilling my dream.”

“I am?” Clint sat back on his heels as the kindling flared, the flames licking at the small pieces of wood he’d placed around it.

“Yes. That’s why I’m here.” Martha pressed her lips together and hesitated. “I’m hoping to move to Bear Creek. If I can find the right place.”

“I had no idea.” Clint leaned forward and blew on the fire until the wood was alight.

“Why would you? We’ve only just met.” Martha hunkered down next to him. Close, but not that close.

And certainly not close enough.

“Do you have a place in mind?” Clint swallowed hard and tried to keep his hands from shaking by grabbing the poker and stoking the fire, even though it was doing fine all on its own.

“I’m heading into town to talk to the realtor. I had seen a couple of properties online but they got snapped up pretty fast, so I thought it’d be better for me to be here, ready to pounce if the right property pops up for sale. I also wanted to get a feel for the town before I made a final decision about making a permanent move.”

“I’m certain the right house is out there waiting for you, Martha.” Clint looked at Martha, trying to appear composed. He desperately wanted to yell from the rooftops and tell the world that his mate was moving to town, but that would give away his enthusiasm.

Because that wouldn’t look weird at all,his bear told him. Why don’t you ask her what kind of place she’s looking for? We need all the details we can get if we’re going to help her find the perfect place to live.

The perfect place would be with us in Bear Creek Lodge,Clint reminded his bear.

True. Or we could leave, retire and move away from the lodge. His bear’s suggestion was something they had talked about before. Perhaps it was time to let Curtis take over running the business. He had the experience and was more than capable.

“Why don’t you tell me more about the house you’re looking for,” Clint asked, trying to keep his cool, despite his bear’s eager encouragement. “What kind of house are you hoping to buy?”

“I have some ideas,” she continued. “I want a place that’s comfortable and cozy, but also has enough room for me to start a small business. Although, I’m undecided on that.” She gave a short laugh. “I’m undecided on a lot of things.”

“It’s good to keep an open mind.” Clint hung the poker up on its stand and brushed his hands on his thighs.

“My... The folks back home think I’m crazy.” She stared at the flames, her eyes sparkling with tears.

“I don’t think it’s crazy to follow your heart.” Clint dug his fingertips into his thighs. He longed to raise his arm and casually drape it around her shoulders and give her a comforting hug.

“Not everyone thinks that. I had a good career.” She shrugged. “But it was now or never.”

Clint nodded in understanding. Now or never.

“If you need any help finding a place,” he offered shyly, “just let me know.”

Martha smiled warmly at him, and Clint felt a surge of hope run through him. Maybe this was the start of something special between them. A first step on a long road. A road they would travel together for the rest of their lives.

“I’ll certainly keep that in mind,” she replied softly before standing up again and heading toward the kitchen. “Where are my manners? I should have offered you coffee.”

“I should get going.” Clint stood up and reluctantly headed for the door.

“Oh, okay. Of course.” She followed him across the living room. “I might ask you one favor.”

“Anything,” Clint asked eagerly.

“I might need you to teach me how to do that.” She nodded toward the roaring fire. “You are a master at fire lighting, and I always like to learn from the best,” Martha said playfully, but there was a hint of admiration in her voice that made Clint’s heart swell with pride.

He turned to her with a gentle smile, feeling a deep sense of respect and affection for this woman he had only just met. “I have my uses,” he replied, his voice soft and warm.

“I’m beginning to see that.” She smiled back, her eyelashes fanning her cheeks.

“Anytime. You know where to find me.” Clint reached for the door, but Martha stepped in front of him and opened it, a gesture that made his heart flutter.

“I’ll look forward to your lessons,” she said as he walked out onto the porch.

He paused at the top of the steps and looked back at her. “Me, too.” He smiled before turning away and heading down the path, his heart filled with a newfound joy.

The shock of meeting his mate had worn off a little, leaving him with a deep sense of peace.

All he had to do was find Martha the perfect house. How hard could that be?