Going Polar: A Stand Alone Holiday Howls Polar Bear Shifter Romance Read online

  “We have a VIP holiday package?” Beau asked, earning a few chuckles.

  “It was Nolan’s idea,” Bill said, nodding toward the township treasurer. “Thought we might put a little extra in the town coffers this year, what with people being more generous around the holidays and all.”

  “What’s the difference?” Finn asked.

  “A personalized Swarovski ornament and miniature stuffed plush as souvenirs.”

  “Nice,” someone murmured.

  “Any single females?” Arthur asked hopefully.

  Bill fixed him with a stern look. “You know the rules, Arthur. No sexing up the guests.”

  Finn had to turn away to hide his smile. Arthur made no secret of the fact that he was more than ready to settle down. The problem was, there weren’t a lot of eligible women in Aurora Falls, and the ones that were single, weren’t into pudgy, balding butchers with barking laughs and big mustaches. Not for the first time, Finn wondered if Arthur had any walrus in his bloodline.

  It was a valid point though. They put on a good show for the guests and got a cut of the tourist revenue, but a strict hands-off policy was in effect. Fraternizing beyond harmless flirtation was strongly discouraged.

  Bill went around the room, confirming everything was in place. Maureen Brown, more commonly known as Mo and head of lodging and accommodations, assured him that everything was ready. Alice Beauchamps, Beau’s mom and the woman who ran The Den—the lodge’s in-house restaurant—said her kitchen was well-stocked with VIP-worthy food and drinks. Roy Lavoie, head of the activities committee, confirmed that everything was set on his end as well.

  All that was left was the furry entertainment.

  Bill looked at Finn. “You’ve got the boys?”

  Finn nodded. “It’s all good.”

  As part of the Alliance agreement, adolescent shifters roamed around town, peered into windows, and generally put on a show for tourists. That community effort was what gave Aurora Falls its unique claim to fame.

  “Excellent.”

  “What about the storm?” asked Nolan.

  “It’s not supposed to be a big deal,” Bill said with a shrug, “but we’re prepared to hunker down if need be. In any event, it won’t hit until after everyone arrives.”

  Business concluded, Finn stayed around long enough to be polite and then slipped quietly back to the ice hut, feeling pretty good. This was going to be the easiest gig ever.

  Chapter Three

  Finn

  By nature, Finn was more of a loner than a social guy, but then most mature, unmated polar bear males were. Sure, he had friends and was a frequent visitor in his parents’ and sister’s homes, but it was when he was in his own space that he felt the most comfortable.

  He wished that were where he was as he quietly observed the newcomers milling around the VIP meet and greet. The event was something Bill and Ginny organized with every new tour group. It made the tourists feel welcome and gave the local shifters a chance to scope them out, get their scents. That often proved helpful in recognizing and tracking those who didn’t listen to warnings, ignored posted signage, and went wandering off on their own. Most guests were cool, but there was always one or two who thought the rules didn’t apply to them.

  And there he is, Finn thought, watching the polished tool in Italian loafers and cashmere, regaling the others with his most recent ski trip to the Alps.

  Besides Cashmere, there was the fifty-something couple who were celebrating their thirtieth wedding anniversary and seemed to be good people. Friendly and pleasant, easygoing, and interested in everyone else’s business.

  Finn’s assessing gaze flicked to the skinny, pale guy with glasses who looked completely out of his element. Finn immediately pegged him as a scientist, probably interested in the research center nearby.

  The fifth VIP was a semi-attractive brunette at least ten years Finn’s senior, sporting heels and spandex, neither of which would suit her well in Aurora Falls. Finn hoped she’d brought along a good pair of boots and some fleece.

  “Pretty good group, I think,” Bill said as he made his way over to Finn.

  Finn wasn’t so sure. The older couple seemed okay, Specs looked like he was about to piss himself, and the brunette had cougar—the human kind—written all over her.

  “I thought you were expecting six.”

  “We are. One didn’t make the shuttle. Beau’s flying out to pick her up from the regional airport as we speak.”

  “You sent Beau off to pick up a lone female, unescorted?”

  Bill laughed. “He might toe the line occasionally, but he won’t step over it. Alice would have his ass.”

  “True enough.”

  When the cougar began to head their way, Bill made his apologies to Finn. “Sorry to jump ship, but Ginny’s already got her claws out about this one. Be nice, okay?”

  “I’m always nice,” Finn muttered, but Bill was already walking away, and Finn was left to fend for himself.

  “Well, hello there, handsome,” said the cougar, looking him up and down with an appreciative gleam in her eye. “I’m Mae. What’s your name?”

  Finn hid his shudder as the wave of expensive perfume hit his sensitive nose. He offered what he hoped was a friendly, but not too friendly, smile. “Finn. Welcome to Aurora Falls. First timer?”

  She nodded. “Please tell me you do personal one-on-one tours.”

  “I don’t, but my buddy Beau does,” Finn lied, feeling only a slight pang of guilt for throwing his friend under the bus. He’d make it up to Beau later. “I’ll be sure to tell him you’re interested.” He lifted his gaze and glanced past her. “Please excuse me; it looks like I’m being summoned.”

  Mae turned to look over her shoulder, but before she could verify, Finn was already making his getaway.

  He walked behind the bar and through the kitchen, exiting through a side door. He took a moment to breathe in a lungful of clean, fresh air. No one with a working nose would have any trouble finding that woman if she wandered off.

  Finn thought about going back in and then decided against it. There was no reason to stick around any longer. He’d done his part by meeting the guests and getting a feel for what they’d like in terms of the experience, so he could direct the kids.

  A plan was already forming in his mind. Some playful antics for the older couple. Limited exposure and interaction when Specs was around, lest that antisocial awkwardness turn into professional curiosity. Perhaps an exhibition of size and strength for Cashmere and Cougar Mae.

  Piece of cake.

  Finn was looking forward to an icy dip and some time in front of the television, watching his favorite ice hockey team lay waste to his least favorite. Bright and early the next morning, he’d meet with the team and give them a game plan. If they did a good job, he’d have Beau reward them with a helicopter ride back out to the floes.

  Lainey

  LAINEY SIGHED WITH relief when the lights of Aurora Falls appeared in the distance, like an oasis in a dark, frozen desert. It had been a long trip, and more than once, Lainey had thought she might not make it.

  First, it was Henry’s increasingly frequent calls, wearing down her decision to vacation alone. Each one was slightly different, but they all said basically the same thing. Henry wanted her to reconsider spending Christmas in Vail, confident that Vicki would eventually come around.

  Lainey was actually beginning to cave too—she’d always had trouble saying no to her twin—until Henry admitted that all of the guest rooms at the ski house had been spoken for, so if she did go, she’d have to stay somewhere else.

  Not only was that a bad idea, but it was also well out of her price range. A quick internet search confirmed that her ten-day VIP holiday travel package to Aurora Falls cost less than three days of renting a place in Vail would.

  Then, there was the string of emergencies at the animal hospital that made her miss her original flight. Since there was no direct route to the remote northern Canadian village,
that one missed flight resulted in a chain reaction of missed connections requiring a lot of scrambling and reorganizing. Thankfully, the travel agents she dealt with were very accommodating.

  Now, however, she’d finally arrived, much later than originally expected but there just the same. She swallowed the slight nausea that came from flying and gazed down at the snowy expanse below, illuminated by the lights on the chopper, and felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For the next ten days, there would be no family drama. No life-or-death animal emergencies. Just peace, rest, and relaxation.

  “Here we are, pretty lady.” The pilot’s words came through Lainey’s headphones as he landed the craft expertly.

  Beau was a personable sort, empathetic to her anxiety about flying in a helicopter over icy water at night. He’d maintained an upbeat, funny running monologue to distract her, which she appreciated. It was her first time in a helicopter, and she found the experience as thrilling as it was terrifying.

  She responded to his easy compliment with a genuine smile, happy to be on solid ground again.

  Two strapping young men came out to meet them, and her pilot, Beau, tasked them with taking care of her luggage while he led her toward the lodge. Her first impression: the place looked every bit as good in person as it had in the brochure, a massive log cabin frosted in snow and warm, welcoming lights glowing through a multitude of large picture windows.

  “Welcome to Aurora Falls Lodge,” Beau said as he guided her to the reception desk. “Mo will get you all checked in, and then you can come to the bar. Drinks on me.”

  After the trip she’d had, Lainey just wanted to go to her room, change into flannel PJs, order room service, and then sleep for the next twelve hours. Beau was nice and admittedly handsome, but she wasn’t interested.

  “Thanks, but I’m going to pass. It’s late, and it’s been a long day.”

  “Of course,” he said with a smile and a slight bow. “The offer stands. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  “I do, thanks.”

  Mo was a short, round woman with plenty of laugh lines and sparkling blue eyes. She reminded Lainey of Tanta Kringle from the old, animated Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town claymation special.

  “Don’t mind Beau, dear. He’s persistent, but he’s harmless.”

  Lainey laughed. “Good to know.”

  “I’m Maureen, but folks around here call me Mo, and I expect you to do the same. You must be Dr. Swann.”

  “Lainey, please.”

  Mo handed her a folder and gave her a brief overview of the contents. Key card, amenities, schedule of events, menu, et cetera. “The boys will escort you to your suite. Settle in and get some rest. Kitchen’s open until midnight. Call the front desk if you need anything, you hear?”

  “I will, thanks.”

  Her escorts were massive, identical-looking white-blond cuties with dimples and infectious smiles. Neither of the boys, who she’d learned were named Mike and Mark, wanted to accept the tip she’d shoved into their hands but relented when she told them to think of it as a secret Christmas bonus.

  The suite, like the lodge, lived up to the hype. She had a bedroom, large bath, and living area, but what really impressed her was the hot tub on her private deck. After a quick call to the lodge restaurant to order some dinner, Lainey dug through her suitcase to find her swimsuit and changed. Unpacking the rest could wait.

  She used the switch inside the door to retract the mechanical cover, revealing a glowing, steaming pool of awesomeness. The five or six steps from the French doors to the hot tub were cold ones, but Lainey soon forgot all of that as she sank into the heavenly, fragrant water and closed her eyes.

  The next ten days were going to be amazing.

  Chapter Four

  Finn

  A few steps were all it took to be swallowed up by the darkness. Finn was nearly to the ice hut when he heard the thwump-thwump-thwump of Beau’s approaching chopper.

  Mildly curious about the last guest, he turned around and headed back, watching from the shadows as Beau landed the craft on the helipad behind the lodge.

  Beau was practically tripping over himself to help the woman from the helicopter, which meant she was probably young and attractive—two of Beau’s favorite qualities in a woman. Finn couldn’t make out much beneath the parka—now, there’s a woman who knows how to dress sensibly—but he did catch a glimpse of blonde hair, the color of corn silk.

  He lifted his snout and sniffed the air. Beneath the scents of snow, helicopter fuel, and Beau’s cologne was a uniquely feminine scent. Warm and fresh, she smelled like the first day of spring after a long, cold winter.

  An unexpected growl rumbled in the back of his throat when Beau placed his hand on the woman’s lower back and led her inside.

  Where the hell did that come from?

  Forgetting about the game, Finn adjusted his immediate plans and reentered the lodge through the back entrance. Beau entered the bar alone a few minutes later and spotted him. The newcomer’s fragrance clung to Beau, the result of sharing a tightly enclosed space with her. Finn had the sudden urge to bare his teeth. He bought Beau a drink instead.

  “Thanks.” Beau lifted the mug to his lips and took a long drink.

  Finn waited until he was finished before asking, “Rough trip?”

  “Just some mild turbulence, but my passenger was white-knuckling it for a while there.”

  “You were showing off again, weren’t you?”

  Beau grinned. “Just a little. She said it was her first time, so I took it easy on her. I gotta say, she did better than most.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Settling in. I invited her to join me for a drink, but sadly, I don’t think she’s going to take me up on it.”

  “Smart woman, huh?”

  Beau chuckled. “That she is. Beautiful too. But she’s here for ten days, so I’ve got time.”

  Beau could be tenacious when he wanted something, and more often than not, women eventually gave in to his charms. Finn normally didn’t care, but for some reason, he didn’t want Beau sniffing around the new female, not yet. Not until he had a chance to discover why her scent had affected him as it did.

  Finn spotted Arthur chatting up Cougar Mae and got an idea. “Since you’re free, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

  “Who?”

  “Mae. She’s interested in personal tours.”

  Finn led Beau over to Mae, where Arthur was trying valiantly to keep her interest and failing. Finn didn’t know who he felt sorrier for—Arthur or Mae.

  Her glazed-over eyes brightened when she saw Finn.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but I’m on my way out, and I wanted to make sure you two met. Mae, this is my friend Beau, the guy I was telling you about. Beau, Mae.”

  Leaving them to get acquainted and feeling only slightly guilty, Finn once again made his exit, but this time, instead of going to the ice hut, he went into one of the maintenance sheds and shifted into his bear. He had to know more about the new guest. As a man, he couldn’t go peering into guests’ rooms, but as a polar bear, he definitely could.

  The lodge was set up in a semicircular shape. A large, three-story main building took up the middle section, housing public areas, such as the lobby, bar, gift shop, restaurant, and observation deck. The private guest rooms were located along each side arc.

  Finn padded over the packed snow on his snowshoe-sized paws, pausing frequently to lift his snout and sniff the air until he found what he was looking for. When he did, he almost wished he hadn’t.

  Lainey

  IF THERE WERE SUCH a thing as heaven, Lainey was pretty sure it was something like this. Hot, fragrant water. Pulsating jets gently massaging away aches and pains while she sipped complimentary champagne and watched gorgeous ribbons of multicolored lights rippling in the night sky.

  I could live here, she thought drowsily.

  Movement on the ground caught her attention. She lower
ed her gaze to the deck railing in front of her, shocked to find a real, honest-to-goodness polar bear watching her.

  The beast was huge, at least nine feet tall when standing on two legs, as it was. His paws—she instinctively knew it was a he—were the size of hubcaps against the railing. He extended his snout nose toward her and sniffed, and then he pinned her with the hypnotic gaze of an alpha predator.

  Other than the occasional twitch of his nose, he remained still as their staring contest continued. Afraid to move, she took in his luxurious white fur, dagger-sized black claws, and ... green eyes?

  No, that couldn’t be right. Polar bears had brown eyes. Didn’t they?

  She blinked, rationalizing that it was a trick of the deck lights reflecting on the water. Her heart beat a heavy tattoo, so loud that she was certain he could hear it. When the bear’s gaze flicked past her and into her room, she realized that the audible pounding wasn’t in fact coming from her chest, but from the interior door to the suite.

  “Room service!” announced a male voice.

  Lainey pulled herself out of the hot tub, keeping her movements slow and nonthreatening. Her body was now so warm that she didn’t even feel the biting artic air, but she donned the complimentary robe anyway and walked backward until she was inside. The bear’s gaze remained fixed on her, but otherwise, he didn’t move.

  “Room service,” repeated the young man when she opened the door.

  She recognized him as one of the boys who’d carried her luggage earlier. Mike, she thought.

  His friendly smile faded when he looked at her face. “Is everything okay, ma’am?”

  “Yes, fine. It’s just ... there was a polar bear watching me!”

  The young man’s smile was back instantly. “Yeah, they do that. They won’t bother you though.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Mike entered the room and carried the covered tray to a table in the living area. He looked out toward the deck and laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure. They’re nosy but friendly, as long as you keep your distance. Just don’t leave your doors open, and you’ll be fine. Enjoy your dinner, Dr. Swann.”