Chapter Two – James
James Pike had been trained for emergencies, dangerous calls, blizzards, and backcountry rescues. He’d faced down injured wildlife, aggressive drunks, and the occasional cougar wandering too close to town.
But nothing…nothing…had prepared him for the moment Doreen Whitlow’s hand slid into his.
Even now, as he watched her walk toward the cabins beside Sorcha, the ghost of her touch lingered against his palm. Warm. Soft. Sure. A touch he’d somehow been waiting for without knowing it.
Mate. His bear’s voice thundered through him, a low rumble of certainty. Our mate. Finally.
James inhaled sharply, bracing a hand on his duty belt as the world tilted. He felt off balance, like the ground had shifted under his boots.
Easy, he muttered under his breath. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Ahead? His bear spluttered. We’re years behind. Go to her. Touch her again.
No! If I march after her to “touch her again,” she’ll think I’m deranged.He rolled his shoulders back, trying to steady his breath. Get it together. You’re a deputy sheriff. A trained professional. Not some half-feral teenager with his first crush.
His bear huffed impatiently. But she felt it. You saw. The way she looked at us? She knows we’re mates.
His bear was right. At least, Doreen had sensed there was a connection between them. He had seen it. That flicker in her eyes. Surprise. Recognition. Something deeper than a stranger’s curiosity.
But she didn’t know they were mates.
From what Sorcha had told them, Doreen had no clue about shifters and the mating bond. There had been no plan to tell Doreen either. Sorcha had been planning to stick to the story that her romance with Christopher had been a whirlwind, love-at-first-sight human magic.
But now… now everything had changed. Doreen would have to know, eventually.
Had to understand what that touch meant. What the connection between them was.
He closed his eyes for a moment and relived that touch. Where, for one impossible moment, he’d felt the world fade away until only she existed.
It wasn’t an impossible moment, his bear snorted. It was real. Our mate is real, and she is here!
It was hard not to get swept along with his bear’s enthusiasm. But he had to be careful. Steady. Patient.
He’d waited years—watched friends and acquaintances find their mates while telling himself he was fine. That it would happen when it happened. That he didn’t mind being the one left standing on the edges of their happiness. But now? Now she was right here, and patience seemed impossible.
And goodness, she was the most incredible woman he had ever seen. Even if she looked a little frazzled around the edges.
His bear rumbled, softer now. We can take care of her.
James blew out a slow breath. She might not need taking care of. From what Sorcha had told them, Doreen was a strong, capable, independent woman.
Which, in truth, only made him want her more. Not as someone to rescue but as someone to stand beside.
Before the bear could argue, a small hand latched onto his.
“Come on, Deputy Pike! You gotta help me make Bash-proof the cabin!”
Jake—wide-eyed, earnest, and glowing with excitement—was suddenly dragging James forward with surprising determination.
How can you refuse? His bear chuckled.
How indeed?
“All right,” James agreed. “Lead the way, buddy.”
Jake tugged James toward the cabin with the unrelenting eagerness of a boy on a mission. They stepped inside, and the warmth enveloped them immediately, a more than pleasant contrast to the icy mountain air outside. The cabin smelled of pine and cinnamon, with undertones of fresh linens.
James tried to focus on Jake’s chatter about dog-proofing strategies, but his attention kept drifting to Doreen, who stood by the kitchen counter as Sorcha walked her through the cabin’s amenities.
“And the fridge is fully stocked,” Sorcha was saying, “but if you need anything else, there are well-stocked stores in town, which is only about a ten-minute drive away.”
“This is perfect,” Doreen replied. “You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“Yes, I did, since you offered to come all this way with the contracts,” Sorcha replied. “Contracts for a book deal that would not exist without you.”
“Well, I wanted to make sure that mountain man of yours hadn’t kidnapped you,” Doreen teased. “But I have to admit I have never seen you so happy. You are positively glowing.”
“I am happy,” Sorcha said as color flooded her cheeks.
And one day soon, our mate will look just as happy, his bear said with conviction.
James swallowed hard. He hoped so. He truly hoped so.
“Deputy Pike!” Jake tugged his sleeve. “Is this a good spot for Bash’s bed?”
James blinked, dragging his attention back to the boy.
“Let’s see. We want to make sure he has a clear view of you, but not too close to any exits.
” He crouched down to Jake’s level, pointing to the corner of the living room.
“How about over there? It’s warm, away from drafts, and he can see the whole room. ”
Jake nodded solemnly. “That’s smart.”
For the next fifteen minutes, James helped Jake create what the boy called “Bash’s safety zone,” explaining how to secure latches and showing him which windows were low enough that a determined dog might try to escape through.
And from what he had seen so far, Bash was as determined as a dog could be.
“The most important thing,” James said, “is to never leave the door open, even for a second. Bash seems like he’s fast when he wants to be.”
“He is,” Jake confirmed. “Especially when there’s squirrels.”
James felt a prickle of awareness and looked up to find Doreen watching them, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Their eyes met, and that same electric current from earlier zipped through him. His bear practically purred.
“Deputy Pike?” Jake’s voice broke the moment. “Would you help me carry in Bash’s stuff? He has a bed and toys and food and…”
“Jake,” Doreen interrupted gently, “we’ve already taken up enough of Deputy Pike’s time. I’m sure he has important sheriff’s business to attend to.”
“Actually,” James said, standing a little too quickly, “I’m happy to help.” His voice cracked slightly, and he caught Sorcha’s knowing gaze over Doreen’s shoulder and felt heat creep up his neck as his dignity quietly died.
Oh, no. Sorcha knew. Of course, she knew… to anyone aware of the mating bond, it was probably obvious. The way he looked at Doreen, the way she looked at him… Although there was more than a little confusion in the looks Doreen gave him when he thought he wasn’t looking.
Curiosity, his bear said. Doreen can sense something, but she has no clue what that something is.
That’s going to change, James said. Just as soon as the time is right. And when she’s ready. Not a second sooner.
Sorcha’s lips twitched. “Why don’t we all help bring in the luggage?
” she suggested, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
He didn’t know Sorcha that well, but he got the feeling she was going to make sure this mate bond worked out.
“Jake, why don’t you show me where Bash’s things are?
We can get him settled while James and Doreen handle the rest.”
Before James could respond, Sorcha was shepherding Jake and Bash out the door, leaving him alone with Doreen in a suddenly too-quiet cabin.
Doreen turned to him and smiled shyly to reveal the most adorable dimple that he longed to kiss.
His bear melted into a puddle. James wasn’t far behind, as he melted from inside out, all his carefully maintained control dissolving like snow in spring sunlight.
“Shall we?” Doreen asked, gesturing toward the door.
James blinked. “Shall we what?”
“Help get the luggage in?” she clarified, her expression bemused.
“Yes, the luggage. Of course.” James turned on his heel so quickly he nearly stumbled, making a beeline for the door.
Smooth, real smooth. His bear shook his head in dismay.
Get it together, man, he scolded himself. You’re a deputy sheriff, not a tongue-tied teenager.
Lovesick teenager, more like, his bear chuckled.
Not helping, James replied tartly.
By the time he reached the car, Sorcha and Jake were already heading back to the cabin, arms full of dog supplies. James surveyed what remained—two suitcases, a duffel bag, and a tote overflowing with books. He gathered it all in one go, determined to make just one trip.
A terrible idea, but his pride insisted on it.
The stack wobbled precariously as he made his way back. He passed Doreen on the path, her cheeks pink from the cold.
“Let me help you with some of that,” she offered, reaching for a bag.
“Got it,” he mumbled from behind the tower of luggage, his voice muffled and strained.
She gave him another bemused look before continuing toward the car.
You’re not exactly giving the impression of a man who takes safety seriously, his bear muttered.
I have no idea what you’re talking about, James retorted silently.
In the next moment, his boot caught on the edge of the porch step. He lurched forward, just barely regaining his balance before everything went tumbling. A suitcase slipped dangerously in his grip, but he clutched it tighter, his knuckles white with the effort.
Through sheer willpower—and sheer terror of humiliating himself in front of his mate—he made it inside.
Then, he put the luggage down in the living area with more care than was probably necessary. His bear was laughing at him. He could feel it—a rumbling amusement deep in his chest.
“Thank you,” Doreen said as she entered behind him, carrying a small tote bag she must have retrieved from the car. “That was... impressive.”
“Happy to help,” James replied, trying to sound casual and not like a man who had nearly face-planted on her cabin porch.
Jake bounded over. “Now, can we set up Bash’s stuff? I brought his favorite blanket and his special chew toys and…”
“Let’s get him settled,” James agreed, grateful for the distraction.
As he patiently helped Jake arrange Bash’s bed and toys, James couldn’t help but steal glances at Doreen, who was unpacking kitchen supplies with Sorcha.
Each time he looked at her, it felt like discovering her all over again—the expressive movement of her hands, the thoughtful tilt of her head, the way she listened intently.
Beautiful. Kind. Strong. And already slipping under his skin.
This is not exactly the good first impression I was hoping to make, he said ruefully.
But it is an impression, his bear teased. She won’t forget us anytime soon.
That was true enough. And James had to admit, as he watched Doreen laugh at something Sorcha said, that he wouldn’t trade this awkward, fumbling beginning for anything. Because it was their beginning. The first chapter of their story.
“Deputy Pike?” Jake tugged on his sleeve again. “Do you think Bash will like it here?”
James smiled at the boy, seeing something of Doreen in the thoughtful set of his eyes. “I think Bash is going to love it here,” he said. “And so will you.”
And so will your aunt, he added silently, as his bear hummed in complete agreement.We’ll make sure of it.