Chapter Six – James
Maybe we could. Hope bloomed in James’s heart. If Doreen stayed for the festival, he’d have a few more days to win her trust. His fingers tightened slightly on his glass as he tried to maintain his composure while his bear practically purred with satisfaction beneath his skin.
“You’ll love it,” he said, surprised at how steady his voice sounded despite the thundering of his pulse. “It’s a little different from most winter festivals...”
“Yeah, most winter festivals don’t have dogs!” Jake said as Bash thumped his tail in enthusiastic agreement.
Christopher launched into a description of last year’s festival, explaining how the dog show had nearly descended into chaos when one overexcited beagle decided Santa’s velvet sack was obviously a prize meant just for him.
The dog had darted across the square with the sack dragging behind him, gifts scattering like confetti while Santa gave frantic chase.
Doreen pressed a hand to her mouth as laughter burst out of her, bright and unrestrained. Her whole face lit up, eyes twinkling like the fairy lights strung across Christopher’s porch.
The sight knocked the air straight out of James’s lungs. His pulse kicked hard in his chest.
His bear rumbled with pleasure. That sound. We need to hear that every day.
We will, James said. Unless you scare her off.
I am very charming, thank you, his bear sniffed.
Being wrapped in soft fur doesn’t automatically make you less terrifying, James pointed out.
I’ll make sure she sees my gentle side, his bear replied primly.
Christopher clapped his hands once, drawing everyone’s attention. “All right, everyone! Let’s eat before this wonderful meal gets cold.”
Chairs scraped softly against the wooden floor as they all took their places around the table.
Jake scrambled into the seat beside James, bashing his knee into the chair leg with a wince he pretended wasn’t painful.
Bash flopped down beneath the table as if he intended to supervise dinner.
Or catch any crumbs that might fall his way.
Doreen slid into the chair across from James and took a sip of her cider before placing it on the table.
For a heartbeat, James let himself simply watch her, the way her cheeks flushed with color after being outside in the cold, the careful way she helped Jake settle, the small, nervous smile she sent Sorcha when she sat down at the table.
“Dig in, everyone,” Sorcha urged. “There’s more than enough. At least I hope there is.” She shot Christopher a look filled with pure love.
How he wanted Doreen to look at him like that. For her to know her place in his world.
But first, he had to get through dinner without drooling. Not over the food, but his mate!
The low hum of gathering plates and murmured thanks filled the warm cabin. Jake was first to load his plate, piling potatoes with the enthusiasm of a boy who’d spent most of the day outside. James reached for the chicken, passing it across the table toward Doreen, who murmured a quiet thank you.
Conversation blossomed easily as hands reached, dishes swapped, and steam curled upward from roasted herbs and buttered vegetables. It felt…right. Familiar in a way James hadn’t expected. Almost like they’d done this before.
“Jake, slow down a little,” Doreen said gently as he shoveled potatoes into his mouth. “The food isn’t going anywhere.”
She was so good with him, firm but always kind. A sudden realization struck him with surprising clarity: this—quiet domestic chaos, good food, Jake’s chatter—this was the life he wanted. With her. With a family of his own.
An ache pierced his chest. He’d watched other shifters settle into lives filled with noise and chaos.
He’d eaten dinner with them, witnessed the warmth, the love, the laughter.
And every time he’d driven home afterward and unlocked the door to his own silent house, the quiet had hit him like a hollow space he wasn’t sure how to fill.
Sitting here now, with Doreen’s smile and Jake’s excited chatter, he realized how badly he wanted this for himself…
not someday, not theoretically, but soon.
His bear hummed in warm agreement. Yes. Soon.
As if they’d shared a silent communication, James passed the bread basket toward her just as she glanced around for it. Their eyes met briefly, and the corners of her mouth lifted in surprise and thanks.
She is meant for us, his bear whispered, the certainty vibrating through his bones.
After the main course, they left the table. Sorcha began collecting plates, stacking them with practiced efficiency, and Christopher refilled wine glasses, while Jake kneeled on the floor, showing Bash a new trick involving a napkin and a treat.
James found himself drifting toward the sideboard where Doreen was arranging dessert plates beside a steaming apple crumble.
He stood close enough that their elbows nearly touched, intimately aware of her proximity.
The scent of her shampoo mingled with the cinnamon from the dessert, and he inhaled deeply, letting it fill his senses.
“You’re good with him,” James said quietly, nodding toward Jake.
Doreen flushed slightly, her fingers pausing on the edge of a plate. “I don’t know about that,” she replied with a self-deprecating smile. “But I try.”
“You succeed,” James assured her, as the color in her cheeks deepened.
She liked that. Say more, his bear urged.
No. That would make it weird, James countered.
Coward, his bear grumbled.
She’s already blushing. Behave, James replied, trying not to smile.
Doreen reached for the serving spoon just as James moved to pick it up from the sideboard.
“Oh…” The handle slipped beneath her fingers. The spoon clattered once against the wood and tipped toward the floor.
Instinct kicked in, and both of them lunged forward to catch it.
Their hands collided, skin against skin, before he deftly twisted his hand and caught the spoon.A jolt shot through James so fast it stole his breath. Doreen inhaled sharply, which told him all he needed to know. She felt it too.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Her palm rested against the back of his hand as something unspoken flickered between them. Surprise, longing, the awareness of how close they suddenly were.
She licked her lips, and it would be so easy to just lean in and kiss her. But this was not the right time or the right place.
They straightened together, still caught in the moment.
“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
James managed a small, helpless smile. “Anytime.”
Before either could say more, Christopher appeared at James’s elbow, carrying a steaming jug.
“Custard, anyone?” he announced cheerfully, oblivious to the tension he’d just shattered as he set down the pitcher of warm vanilla custard beside the crumble.
Doreen startled and stepped back. James did too, slowly letting out the breath he’d been holding.
His bear sighed. We almost kissed her. Over a spoon.
Not helping, James replied, though his heart hadn’t quite stopped racing.
Doreen busied herself arranging the dessert on the table, though James saw the way her fingers lingered for a fraction too long on the spoon’s handle, like she was still feeling the warmth of his touch.
The dessert, like the rest of the meal, was delicious. But they hadn’t long finished and washed the dishes when Jake let out a massive yawn that seemed too big for his small frame. Bash, sensing the change in energy, flopped dramatically onto the floor with a heavy sigh.
“I think that’s our cue,” Doreen said, smiling at her nephew, who was rubbing his eyes. “It’s been a long day.”
They shuffled toward the door in that awkward dance of departure, grabbing coats and scarves from hooks while Sorcha insisted they take leftovers home. James lingered near Doreen as she slipped on her coat, breathing in her scent.
“We should do this again before you leave, Doreen,” Christopher said, clapping James on the shoulder and flashing him a smile.
“I’d like that,” Doreen replied. “If it’s not too much trouble. This must be a busy time of year for you.”
James didn’t want to hear any reminder that Doreen would one day leave. But he would never turn down an invitation to spend more time with her.
“Oh, we’ll find time,” Sorcha said.
“Okay.” Doreen kissed Sorcha on the cheek. “I’ll bring the contracts over for you to sign. But it might be in a couple of days. I’ve asked for a small revision to one section.”
“You’re the best,” Sorcha said, catching James’s eye as she looked over Doreen’s shoulder.
She is, his bear rumbled in agreement.
“I’ll walk you back,” James offered, trying to sound casual. “Paths get icy once the temperature drops.”
Doreen hesitated for just a second, adjusting her scarf, then nodded. “That would be nice, thank you.”
We escort our mate to safety. Obviously, his bear stated with satisfied certainty.
James kneeled down to help Jake with his coat zipper, which had caught on the fabric. “There you go, buddy,” he said, giving the boy’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Thanks, Deputy Pike!” Jake grinned up at him, then turned toward the door where Bash waited impatiently.
As they stepped out into the snowy night air, James felt a sense of rightness settle over him.
The stars glittered overhead in the clear sky, and their breath formed small clouds in the freezing air.
Jake, who seemed to have found an energy reserve, ran ahead with Bash, their footprints marking fresh tracks in the snow.
“Be careful on that slope,” James called after them, then turned to Doreen. “May I?” he asked, offering his arm.
After a moment’s hesitation, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. Even through layers of winter clothing, the contact sent warmth radiating through him. His bear rumbled in contentment as they started down the path, their steps falling into a natural rhythm.
“It’s so peaceful here at night,” Doreen said softly, her words forming delicate clouds that hung briefly in the space between them. “In the city, you never see stars like this.”
James followed her gaze upward, to where the stars glittered between the dark silhouettes of pine branches. The sight was familiar to him, but seeing it reflected in her eyes made it new again.
“This is my favorite time of year,” he admitted, careful not to hold her arm too tightly as they navigated a slippery patch of path. “The whole town just feels... closer somehow. More like family than neighbors.”
The moonlight transformed the forest around them, casting blue-silver shadows across the pristine snow. Each step they took created a satisfying crunch that echoed in the quiet night. From ahead came the distant sound of Jake’s laughter, punctuated by Bash’s excited barks.
“How are you finding the cabin?” James asked, his voice low so that he wouldn’t disturb the tranquility surrounding them.
“I really like it,” Doreen replied, and he could hear the genuine pleasure in her tone. “Especially the window seat. I spent an hour there this afternoon with my coffee, just watching the snow fall.” She laughed softly. “That probably sounds boring.”
“Not at all,” James said, meaning it. “Sometimes, the quiet moments matter most.”
Doreen hesitated, then added softly, “I didn’t realize how much I needed the quiet. I haven’t breathed properly in a long time.”
James slowed slightly, meeting her gaze. “This is a good place to learn to breathe again,” he said, although he wanted to say more. But he didn’t want to let on that Sorcha had told him about Doreen’s pain.
They walked in silence for a stretch, and James marveled at how comfortable it felt. No pressure to fill the space with words. Just two people walking side by side beneath a canopy of stars, their breath mingling in the cold air.
But beneath the calm, a thin thread of panic twisted through him. Don’t push. Don’t say something stupid. Don’t rush this. She’s finally relaxing.
His bear grumbled at the self-scolding.
What terrified him wasn’t losing the moment. It was how easily he could imagine losing her. One wrong word, one too-bold step, and she might retreat behind the walls she’d only just begun to lower. He’d protect her from anything, but protecting her from himself felt like the hardest task of all.
The path curved gently, and Doreen’s cabin came into view, golden light spilling from the windows. Jake and Bash had already reached it, the door standing open as they tumbled inside, leaving small boot prints and paw prints in the fresh snow.
They slowed as they approached the threshold, neither rushing to break the connection between them. Soft flakes began to fall, catching in Doreen’s hair and eyelashes like tiny stars. The porch light illuminated her face, highlighting the gentle curve of her smile.
Their eyes met, and the world narrowed until it contained only this moment, this connection. The rest of Bear Creek faded away, leaving just the two of them standing in a pool of golden light as snow fell silently around them.
Kiss her, his bear urged with unexpected intensity.
Not yet. She’s not ready, James responded, even as every cell in his body leaned toward her. Was he really going to turn down a second chance to kiss his mate?
Then Doreen broke eye contact, ducking her head slightly as she stepped inside the cabin. For a heartbeat, James felt that hollow sense of loss, as if something precious had been pulled away too soon.
Then he saw it. The shy tilt of her head, the soft color in her cheeks, none of it looked like rejection. If anything, she seemed as overwhelmed as he felt. Like she was standing on the edge of something she didn’t quite trust yet but wanted all the same.
“Goodnight, James,” she said as she reached for the door.
“Goodnight.” He forced himself to sound casual as she inched the door closed.
But then she opened it wider once more. “See you in the morning.”
James was filled with unexpected joy. “I can’t wait,” he answered before he could temper his enthusiasm.
A blush spread across her cheeks, visible even in the dim light. Her smile deepened, reaching her eyes in a way that stole his breath. “Neither can I,” she replied, then gently closed the door.
James stood motionless in the snow for a moment, heart thudding against his ribs.
Did you hear? She can’t wait to see us again, his bear practically purred.
Oh, I heard. A smile spread across his face, impossible to suppress even if he’d wanted to.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.