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

  “Are you a fisherman?”

  “You mean, when I’m not providing personal tours?” he teased.

  “Yes.”

  “Then, yes. My father and I run the family business.”

  Eventually, the sky began to darken in earnest, and it was time to return to the lodge. Despite spending the whole day with Finn, Lainey still felt a sense of loss when he left to do whatever it was that he had to do. The only consolation was, he didn’t seem any happier about it than she did.

  Bypassing the restaurant, Lainey went back to her suite, ordered room service, and prepared for a cozy night in. Perhaps it was for the best. If she’d invited him back to her suite for room service and hot-tubbing, he probably would’ve ended up spending the night.

  Would that have been so bad? she asked herself as she removed the cover, slipped into the Jacuzzi, and let the pulsing jets knead her tired muscles.

  Her answer: No. It wouldn’t have. Not bad at all.

  Chapter Nine

  Finn

  Finn’s bear was grumpy. He hadn’t wanted to leave Lainey. He wanted to follow her into her suite and spend the rest of the evening wallowing in her scent and covering her with his.

  Which was exactly why he’d had to leave. His bear wanted Lainey just a little too much, and feeling that level of want for a human female—especially one of Bill’s VIP guests—had trouble written all over it.

  As if to prove that point, Bill was waiting for him at the rec center. Most of the kids were already there, killing time by playing video games and grabbing snacks until showtime.

  “Finn, got a minute?”

  Finn glanced at the clock on the wall and nodded. He followed Bill to the office and waited until Bill closed the door.

  Bill’s mouth pulled down in a frown. “I want to talk to you about one of our VIP guests. Dr. Lainey Swann. I believe you’ve met.”

  “We have,” Finn said carefully.

  “Beau says you went on a helicopter tour with her yesterday.”

  “That’s true,” Finn admitted. “I was at breakfast when Beau suggested it. Dr. Swann was on the fence. We thought she’d feel more comfortable if someone else went along.” It was mostly true.

  Bill nodded. “Beau told me that too.”

  He still didn’t know where Bill was going with this. Bill was a good guy, but he sometimes had trouble getting to the point.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “What?” Bill seemed surprised. “No. In fact, I wanted to thank you. I know helicopters aren’t your thing, and I appreciate the extra effort you’ve made to make Dr. Swann feel more comfortable.”

  Oh.

  “You’re welcome. Is that all?”

  “No. I want to ask a favor.”

  Here it comes. He’s going to ask me to stay away from Lainey and—

  “I’d like you to spend some more time with Dr. Swann.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Bill held up his hands, his face showing concern. “I know; I know. I usually discourage personal involvement, and you don’t really like fraternizing with the guests. Normally, I wouldn’t ask, but it was painfully clear last night that Dr. Swann is not comfortable with group activities. Roy said she hasn’t signed up for anything. You know Roy. He’s taking it personally.”

  “Maybe she just wants a relaxing, peaceful vacation,” Finn suggested. “She’s a doctor, right? She’s probably relishing the downtime.”

  “No doubt. And I respect that. But I don’t want anyone to feel isolated, especially around Christmas. You and Beau are the only ones she seems to have taken a shine to.”

  Finn raised his eyebrows. It seemed that, of the two of them, Bill would be more likely to reach out to Beau. Unless, of course, he already had.

  “Have you asked Beau?”

  “I have. He said his schedule’s pretty full.”

  Finn made a mental note to thank Beau for that. “So, what do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing much. Be a friendly face. Offer suggestions if she asks.”

  Finn appeared to consider it. “I can do that.”

  Bill nodded and raised his hand to pat Finn on the shoulder, but as Finn was a foot taller than Bill, the mayor simply patted his arm instead. “Thanks. I knew I could count on you.”

  Finn walked out of the office, feeling much better than when he had gone in. Rather than warning him off, Bill had actually asked him to pay more attention to Lainey. Both he and his bear were totally on board with that.

  Still, he’d have to proceed with caution. Bill’s request was to make Lainey feel more welcome and most certainly did not extend to engaging in the kind of activities Finn’s imagination had been envisioning lately.

  Did locals sometimes break the rules and provide extra hospitality? Sure. As long as it was a meaningless, temporary fling involving consenting adults, alliance members generally turned a blind eye. The problem was, the strong attraction Finn had toward Lainey didn’t feel all that temporary.

  By the time he returned to the gathering room, the rest of the kids had arrived. Finn went over the night’s plan, and then he shifted with the rest of them and led them out. They paraded through town in small waves of twos and threes, spread out in timed intervals to make it not look too contrived. Then, they gathered outside the lodge, where Arthur had already set out half a dozen garbage cans filled with high-fat-content treats.

  The kids made short work of dumping the cans, sitting down, and eating, much to the delight of the guests inside. Once again, Lainey was not among them, which was unfortunate. After she’d let it slip earlier that she had a thing for polar bears, he thought she would have enjoyed the night’s performance.

  Finn thought briefly of leading a few of them over to Lainey’s balcony for a private show and then nixed the idea. If that was where she was, then she was also probably in the hot tub again, and Finn didn’t want the adolescents ogling her.

  He’d have to come up with a suitable alternative.

  Once the youths made short work of the snacks, Finn emitted a series of grunts, hisses, and chuffs, moving them along. They continued past the lodge, then headed into the trees, and circled back out of sight. He praised each one as they filed past him into the rec center, silently counting in his head. All were present and accounted for—with one exception.

  “Where’s Lars?”

  “He said he had better things to do,” said a spirited young sow named Sonya, her features twisted in a grimace as she followed the others over to the gaming consoles.

  “Ah, young love. I remember it well,” Steve said as he emerged from the shadows and fell into step beside Finn.

  “I thought you weren’t getting back until tomorrow.”

  Steve frowned. “Change of plans.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “That depends on who you talk to. Doc Wilson wasn’t there. Some young guy fresh out of med school was covering for him.” Steve shook his head. “He’s completely in the dark. He took one look at Hildie and wanted to run a bunch of tests.”

  “What the hell? What was Doc Wilson thinking, bringing in someone like that?”

  “The replacement wasn’t Wilson’s doing. He had had a heart attack and was rushed to the ICU. The office got whoever they could at the last minute, I guess.”

  “Shit. Is he going to be okay?”

  “We don’t know. It doesn’t sound good. His private nurse is notifying Doc’s special patients, but we didn’t get the message in time.”

  “What about the issues Hildie’s been having?”

  “We talked to his nurse. She said it’s probably nothing to worry about and just to keep an eye on things.”

  Finn frowned. “Probably?”

  “I’m not any happier about it than you are, but it is what it is. The alternative is to travel all the way into Manitoba, and that’s too far with Hildie so close and a storm rolling in. She’s at your mom’s house now. We’ll be staying there for the foreseeable future.”

  Finn was glad to
hear it. Hildie would always have someone around that way. “I bet Mom is loving that.”

  Steve cracked a smile. “Oh, she is, and I’ll be honest, I’m not half as good a cook as your mom. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. Thanks for taking care of these guys.”

  “No problem. They’re great kids. If you want to stay with Hildie, I’ve got it covered.”

  “Thanks for the offer. As of right now, I’m good, but that can change at any moment.”

  Finn grinned knowingly. “They kicked you out of the house, didn’t they?”

  “Yes,” Steve said on an exhale. “Hildie said I was hovering. I have to tell you though, this is some scary stuff.”

  Finn slapped him on the back. “Relax. Hildie’s going to be fine, and you’re going to make a great dad.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “I know I am.”

  With Steve’s assurances that he had everything covered, Finn left the rec center, pondering what to do with the rest of his evening. He could head back to his place, maybe catch the end of the game.

  Or, he thought, changing direction, I could wander past Lainey’s room and see if she’s around ...

  Chapter Ten

  Lainey

  Hot tubs might just be one of the finest inventions ever, Lainey thought as she slipped further down into the hot, fragrant water. It ranked right up there with great sex. If she got the directorship and the bump in pay that came with it, she was going to seriously consider getting one, especially since getting a top-of-the-line Jacuzzi was more likely to happen than getting great sex.

  An image of Finn came to mind. With those amazing green eyes and the hint of dimples that appeared when he smiled, he was good fantasy fodder. And that voice? Deep and slightly rough, almost growly, it was perfect for dirty talk. She shivered, imagining the possibilities.

  She looked up into the sky, finding only a blurred sea of gray and black instead of the northern lights. Not even the moon was visible through the clouds that had been building throughout the day. The air felt thick and heavy, suggesting that the storm Beau’s mom had mentioned might arrive a bit sooner than expected.

  That was all right. According to Mayor Bill, Aurora Falls was well stocked and had everything they needed, and she had nowhere else to be.

  No sooner had she had that thought than big, fat flakes began to fall. They didn’t quite make it into the hot tub, melting as they neared the steamy water. Lainey enjoyed them for several minutes before her rumbling stomach reminded her it was time for dinner.

  She exited the tub, donned her robe, and went inside, using the remote control to cover the Jacuzzi and save some energy. Once the panel slid into place, she placed an order with room service and changed into comfortable flannels.

  When the knock sounded thirty minutes later, Lainey was expecting to see Mark or Mike with her meal. She certainly wasn’t prepared to find the star of her recent fantasies, holding a large tray of delicious-smelling food at her door. Her stomach—and other parts—rumbled in hunger.

  “Finn! What are you doing here?”

  His smile sent tingles all the way down into her toes.

  “Helping out. Mo has the boys treating the walkways before things get too bad, so I offered to deliver this. May I?”

  “Of course.” She stepped back and opened the door, allowing him to enter her room.

  “Over here okay?” he asked, pausing near the small, circular table.

  “That’s fine, thanks. Does this mean you’re done with whatever you had to do tonight?” she asked, hoping she didn’t sound too transparent.

  “It does, and I am.”

  “Can you stay for a while?”

  He looked at the tray. “I don’t want to interrupt your dinner.”

  She waved at the food. “There’s more than enough to share, and I’d like the company.”

  “In that case, I’d love to.”

  They shared a lovely meal in front of the fire along with a bottle of wine. Finn was so easy to talk to. She told him about her job at the animal hospital and how much she enjoyed working with the wildlife rescue as well as the directorship position for which she’d applied.

  Over the course of the evening, they finished dinner and moved to the plush throw rug in front of the fireplace. Somehow, she ended up leaning against one of the flanking chairs with her toes tucked under Finn’s warm leg. He didn’t seem to mind, and she found the contact comforting.

  “What made you decide to come to Aurora Falls for Christmas?” he asked.

  The warmth and wine must have loosened her tongue because she found herself telling him about Henry and Vail and how things had changed since her brother had started seeing Vicki. How a vacation seemed preferable to spending the holidays alone at the farm or working.

  “That makes me sound like a real bitch, doesn’t it?”

  He chuckled. “Not at all. I get it. Hildie and I are pretty close too.”

  “But it doesn’t sound like you have a problem with her husband.”

  “No,” he agreed. “But Steve and I grew up together. Even if we hadn’t, he’s not the type to come between Hildie and her family. I’m sure there would have been problems if he had.”

  With her belly full, wine warming her insides as effectively as the fire warmed her skin, and Finn’s calming presence, Lainey felt relaxed and couldn’t completely stifle her yawn.

  “I should go and let you get your rest,” Finn suggested.

  She didn’t want him to go, but she supposed she had taken up a good portion of his day. In the course of getting up, she looked out the glass-paneled doors, where the snow beyond had already accumulated several inches, and felt guilty. She’d been selfish, keeping Finn to herself instead of letting him get back to his place. She didn’t know how far away he lived or how he’d traveled, but the roads had to be a mess.

  “It’s snowing pretty heavily out there.”

  His confident grin was powerful enough to melt her bones. “A little snow doesn’t bother me.”

  “Do you live far?”

  “Not that far. A couple miles.”

  A couple miles? In this weather?

  “Do you have a car?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  She looked out at the deck again. The snow was really coming down. She didn’t want him walking miles in that because of her, so she offered a reasonable alternative. “What if ... what if you stayed here?”

  He stilled. “Here? With you?”

  She felt the heat rise in her cheeks under his intense gaze. “Yes. There’s plenty of room. Unless ... you don’t want to.”

  “Oh, I want to. Wanting to isn’t an issue. It’s whether or not I should.”

  “Then, let me help you with that. You definitely should.”

  His lips curled slowly into an incredibly sexy smile. “I should, huh?”

  She nodded, feeling bolder by the moment.

  Chapter Eleven

  Finn

  The sun wasn’t quite up when Lainey slipped out of bed, moving slowly and gently, as if not to wake him. She needn’t have worried. He hadn’t slept a wink all night. Her thoughtfulness was appreciated just the same.

  Finn watched her as she padded quietly toward the bathroom, her shapely body a graceful silhouette in the low light.

  Only when the door closed with a soft snick did he let out the breath he’d been holding and run a hand over his face.

  He was in such deep shit.

  When he’d shown up at her door the night before, it hadn’t been with the intention of sleeping with her. He’d just wanted to see her. To spend some time with her. Get to know her a little better.

  Well, you’ve certainly done that.

  In addition to learning about her brother, her practice, and her favorite flavor of ice cream, he now also knew exactly where to stroke and lick and bite to make her come apart in his arms.

  He learned something about himself too: he didn’t have nearly as much self-control as he’d tho
ught he did.

  With great effort, he forced himself out of the bed, knowing that if he didn’t, he would take her again when she returned. They’d made love several times throughout the course of the night, and each time, it was harder to keep his bear from marking her.

  That, he simply could not do. He’d broken several rules by sleeping with her, but he hadn’t done anything irreversible.

  Not yet anyway.

  What he needed to do was put some space between them to regain a proper perspective. Thinking clearly and rationally had proven impossible with her luscious body pressed against him and her addictive scent filling his lungs.

  He was dressed and waiting when she exited the bathroom, smelling of minty toothpaste and warm woman. She paused when she saw him standing there, fully dressed and ready to go. Disappointment flashed in her eyes before she masked it, making it even harder to walk away.

  “You’re leaving?” she asked softly.

  “Yes. I’m sorry.”

  She summoned a small but incredibly sexy smile. “Don’t be.”

  For the first time since he’d met her, an awkward silence stretched between them. Leaving Lainey felt wrong. And stealing away in the darkness? Even worse. But it would be light soon, and he had a better chance of making it out, unspotted, in the darkness. Still, he couldn’t seem to make his feet move.

  “Do you like snowmobiling?” he asked suddenly.

  “Yes. I love it.”

  “How about we go for a ride later? The snow’s stopped for a while. We can take advantage of the fresh powder, hit up some of the hot spots, see some bears up close.”

  He held his breath while she considered it, letting it out in relief when she finally agreed. “That sounds awesome.”

  With assurances that she would meet him at the rental garage around noon, Finn forced himself to leave. Luck was with him; he didn’t run into anyone on his way to the ice hut. Once there, he shifted into his bear and plunged into the icy water.