Paranormal's Love 12 - Tempting the Bear Read online

  Tempting the Bear

  A Paranormal’s Love: Book Twelve

  By

  Charlie Richards

  Dedication

  To my readers who love ‘tail-play’.

  Chapter One

  Wren Cleaver slid the spatula under the grilled cheese sandwich and tossed it onto the stainless steel prep counter. After setting the utensil on the holder, he picked up a knife and quickly cut the sandwich diagonally, twice, creating four triangles. Wren set down the knife, then placed the triangles in a plastic basket already lined with waxed paper. Finally, he grabbed the French fry scoop, filled it with fries, and poured them in the basket, filling it to practically over-flowing.

  Picking up the red basket, Wren placed it on the pick-up window tray. He grabbed the chicken Caesar salad he’d already prepared, then the basket holding the bacon cheeseburger and fries that he’d finished before grabbing the grilled cheese. He placed both of them on the counter as well, then hit the bell and called out, “Order up.”

  Just as Wren began to turn, he noticed Jimmy heading toward him. The slender, blue-eyed young man smiled sweetly at any customer that looked at him as he made his way over to the counter. The young cutie was always so attentive.

  Jimmy was still the new guy, since he’d only worked for Wren at his restaurant, Goldy’s Burgers & Bites, for two months now. Having had no waiter experience, and with no busboy positions open, Jimmy had begged Wren for a chance. However, the desperation in Jimmy’s blue eyes was what had really drawn his attention.

  Resting his elbows on his desk and holding Jimmy’s gaze, Wren had asked, “I can see you really want this job, Jimmy.” He’d searched his face for any tells of lying—Wren hated liars and that would have caused him to send Jimmy packing no matter what he’d said—and ordered the young man, “Level with me. Why do you want this job so badly?”

  Jimmy had lowered his gaze to his lap, his brows furrowing. After a few seconds, he’d lifted his head and met Wren’s eyes while he’d swallowed hard enough to cause his Adam’s apple to bob. He must have decided he could be honest, for he finally explained.

  “I, uh, I’m gay and, um, I just came out to my parents,” Jimmy all but whispered. “My dad was mad and yelled, but I expected that. My mom cried, but I expected that, too.” He flushed, lowering his gaze to the desk between them. “Later that night, I overheard my dad say to my mom that he’d find one of those correction places. You know. One of those places that fixes gay people.” He shuddered. “I really need a job, so I can afford my own place and I’d heard you’re a gay friendly employer.” He lifted his gaze once more to Wren’s, his blue eyes wide and his cheeks pale. “I can do the job. Please. Just give me a chance to prove it.”

  Wren had had to clench his jaw and swallow down a growl. Standing at a broad-shouldered, heavily muscled six-foot-four and weighing in at two hundred-eighty pounds, no one had messed with him in over a decade. The thick beard and tattoos running up his arms and disappearing under the sleeves of his shirt only added to his burley appearance. Wren hated that others were not as fortunate almost as much as he hated the bullies that preyed upon them...even if said bullies were a person’s parents.

  In Wren’s opinion, someone should never use love to manipulate another person.

  Wren had given Jimmy the job and loaded him with as many hours as he could handle. Last week, Jimmy had told him that he’d gotten his own place. Wren had felt a little like a proud father. At least, how he assumed a proud father should feel when his son displayed hard work, ethics, and ambition.

  Not having any family of his own, Wren considered those in his employ his family. There were currently over a dozen men and women working for him, and another three that had since moved on, having graduated college or gotten married. Wren still kept in touch with them, too.

  “Thanks, Boss,” Jimmy called, grinning.

  Wren nodded once, his thoughts returning to the here and now as he strode toward the sink. He peeled the plastic gloves off as he went, dropping them in the trash. Afterward, Wren washed his hands, dried them, then donned a new pair of gloves. Wren knew it wasn’t necessary to go through the ritual between preparing each meal, he did it anyway.

  While the latex gloves made slicing vegetables a little harder, it also kept the blasted health inspector off his back—Reginald Coruscant. The man liked to drop by at the most inappropriate times. Reginald seemed to love interrupting his busiest of hours.

  Turning, Wren looked up at the electronic monitor displaying the orders still needing to be prepared. Reading through them, he calculated the length of time it’d take to make each item and the order he should do them, so he’d get each item at a table finished at the same time.

  Wren quickly got to work.

  Wren lost himself in the activity of molding the perfect hamburger patties, grilling cheeseburgers, and dicing and tossing the vegetables for salads. He prepared baskets of fried fatty foods alongside healthy salads with the dressing on the side. A couple of times, Wren even reached into the cooler and pulled out a pie, cutting a slice and adding whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

  He listened with half an ear as Mace, the fry cook on duty, bustled around behind him. Fry cook was a loose term—his title really—since the young man did more than just cook the fries. Mace prepared the side dishes, making certain they were ready and at Wren’s fingertips when he completed the main dishes.

  While Wren considered all his fry cooks well trained, he had to admit, he enjoyed working with Mace the most. The young man was quiet, proficient, and accurate. His second fry cook, Parker, sometimes fell behind, because he enjoyed chatting with the servers and busboys a little too much. Ned, his third fry cook, tended to flirt with Wren, making a distraction of himself.

  During a lull, Wren removed his gloves and once again washed his hands. He didn’t like the dusty feeling he had on his fingers when he removed them, which was actually his reason for washing. Wren had noted a few of his employees look at him oddly for his propensity, but he didn’t care.

  Wren would never admit to being a germ-a-phobe, but he definitely had his moments.

  Turning around, Wren spotted Mace washing a head of lettuce. He glanced at the monitor. Seeing no new orders were listed on the screen, Wren headed toward the young man.

  “Mace,” Wren called. “You ready for a break?”

  When his employee didn’t respond, seemingly lost in the world of lettuce, Wren touched Mace’s shoulder lightly.

  Mace squeaked and jumped sideways, clutching the lettuce wrapped in damp paper towels to his chest. The dark haired, slightly plump boy had a cute boy-next-door look going on...when he didn’t look like a scared rabbit. With big brown eyes, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, Mace peered up at Wren.

  “S-Sorry, Wren,” Mace stuttered. He flushed and lowered his gaze to the lettuce. He frowned at it as if seeing it for the first time. Setting it on the counter, he used the paper towels wrapped around it to pat it dry as he asked, “Um, what’s up? Did I miss something?”

  “No, you didn’t miss anything,” Wren assured. He narrowed his eyes as he noticed the way Mace moved...his shoulders were tense and he kept his left arm tucked to his side. Something on the young man was sore. “I was just suggesting you take a break, although you should have told me you needed one earlier.” Wren glanced pointedly at Mace’s side and ventured, “Especially with...what? A bruised or cracked rib? A wrenched shoulder? It’s hard to tell with the way you’re standing.”

  Mace’s cheeks turned a ruddy color and he focused on the lettuce. “It’s nothing.” Turning away, he mumbled, “I’ll take my break. Be back in twenty.”

&nbs
p; Wren nodded absently as he watched Mace limp from the room. Scowling, he realized, now that he took the time to notice, Mace’s side wasn’t the only thing that seemed to be bothering him. His collar bone, too, maybe, and perhaps his hip. Maybe some combination of the three. Either way, something had happened to his employee.

  Once Mace had disappeared into the employee lounge, Wren peered out at the dining room. At just after three in the afternoon, there wasn’t much action. A mother and son were eating at one booth and a pair of men sat in another. He could hear his goddaughter, Penelope Grath, greeting a new set of guests at the front.

  Thinking of Penelope, Wren’s brows drew together as he scowled. His goddaughter had recently taken up with a much older man, Golren Rabenau. He wanted Penelope happy, and he feared her new boyfriend was seducing her for some reason...he just hadn’t yet been able to figure out why.

  Penelope was the daughter of Wren’s best friend, James Grath. After James, a single father, had died in a plane crash—while Wren’s vice was motorcycles, James’s had been flying—Wren had hung up his leathers for a few years and took Penelope in. She’d been sixteen at the time, so while it had raised a few eyebrows, because Wren was openly gay, it hadn’t caused quite the scandal as if he’d been a straight man.

  Wren had gotten used to looking after Penelope. Even after she’d moved out and begun living on her own, he’d still paid attention to her activities.

  That included her dating life.

  As Wren returned to work, he decided it was time to get more information on this Golren Rabenau. He split his attention, trying to remember if he knew anyone still on the police force. His friend, Coleson had left after coming out, but had Lorian?

  Resolving to call his old riding buddies later, Wren returned his focus to his work.

  Wren rolled to a stop on the opposite side of the street of Penelope’s house. Balancing his 2014 FV6 Sport Goldwing between his thighs, he pulled his helmet off his head and tucked it under his arm. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling out his hair band so he could scratch his skull as he watched the man striding up Penelope’s walk toward her front door.

  After waiting three days, Wren had finally heard back from his cop buddy, Coleson. The news hadn’t been good. He hadn’t wanted to upset Penelope at the restaurant, so he’d planned to tell her in private. Golren Rabenau hadn’t even existed until seven years before. Coleson hadn’t been able to find anything on the tall, slender African American.

  Glaring, Wren watched Golren knock on the door. A few seconds later, Penelope answered. When Golren pulled Penelope into an embrace, Wren looked away. He clenched his jaw and scowled at the gas tank, feeling uncomfortable spying on his goddaughter.

  Wren looked up again and spotted Golren helping Penelope into his SUV. After pecking one more kiss to her lips, he said something that earned him a brilliant smile. Then, Golren shut the door, shielding her from view.

  Golren rounded the front of his vehicle. As he opened his door, the man turned his head and looked directly at Wren. He nodded once, acknowledging him and revealing that he’d recognized him all at the same time. Then, Golren climbed into the vehicle and closed his door.

  As Wren watched the SUV back out of Penelope’s driveway, he struggled with what to do. He needed to know more about this Golren character and why he was after Penelope. It wasn’t that he didn’t think his goddaughter was attractive, but they seemed like such an unlikely couple. Wren didn’t want to see Penelope hurt.

  In the end, Wren finally decided to follow them. He just hoped Golren’s attention was on Penelope and the road ahead of him, and not on his rearview mirror.

  Wren replaced his helmet and restarted his motorcycle. Gunning the FV6’s engine, he quickly caught up to Golren’s SUV and followed it out of town. They traveled deep into the woods for a good fifteen minutes or so. Finally, he watched the vehicle turn onto a very nicely graded gravel driveway.

  After driving past it, Wren pulled onto the side of the road. He frowned, swallowing hard. He knew where that driveway led. The Falias Estate. There were a lot of rumors surrounding the place...from that it was used by a cult, to it being the home of a reclusive and eccentric millionaire, to that it even housed a nudist colony.

  Wren decided if this Golren character was taking Penelope to this place, he was going to check it out. Carefully turning his bike around, he headed slowly down the driveway. Wren spotted the estate through the trees and whistled under his breath as he came to a stop.

  Damn.

  That place is a fucking mansion!

  The building had three levels with plenty of balconies and a massive patio. The intricate stonework of the front patio gave way to deck planking on the left side of the house, disappearing somewhere around back. It was difficult to figure out where the home ended in the deepening gloom of the evening. There was even a turret on the right side of the structure.

  As Wren swept his gaze over the building, he thought he saw movement on the roof of the place. Squinting, he focused on the shadows near the turret. After a moment, Wren shook his head at himself, deciding the twilight was playing tricks on him.

  Wren rolled his bike into the trees at the side of the driveway. After securing his helmet and refastening his hair with the band, he rounded the structure. He jogged quickly to the right, keeping in the trees as he swept his gaze over the building.

  After rounding the turret-like structure, Wren spotted a massive arboretum. He thought that might be a likely place to slip inside the building and headed toward it. As Wren had suspected, when he tugged on one of the doors, it opened easily.

  Stepping inside the glass building, Wren felt muggy heat wrap around him. He swept his gaze over the rich green leaves and thick foliage. Hearing the murmur of voices, Wren weaved between trees toward them.

  Wren peered through the bushes and spotted Penelope and Golren staring up into the trees. “Come on, guys,” Golren called. “The barbeque is starting and I am not missing out on the jalapeno brats again because of you.”

  Movement in the trees caught Wren’s attention. He gaped and slapped his hand over his mouth, just smothering a shocked cry. Slithering down the branches was two of the hugest snakes Wren had ever seen. As they drew near Penelope and Golren, he moved his hand so he could shout out a warning, trespassing be damned.

  Except as the snakes coiled on the ground, something happened. This time, Wren couldn’t stifle his surprised yelp. He watched in disbelief as the snakes’ bodies changed. Their leathery scales blurred and smoothed into deep brown skin. Arms sprouted and the tail split.

  In seconds, two naked men rose to their feet...two naked men that Wren knew from his restaurant.

  Caladon and Taolma now stood amidst the trees...staring in his direction. “We have a guest,” Caladon commented softly.

  Wren felt the blood drain from his face as his mind shut down. As Caladon and Golren started for him, he told himself to run, to get the hell out of there.

  His vision swimming, Wren gasped as he struggled to get enough air. He experienced the odd sensation of falling, followed by a sharp pain in his head. Finally, darkness swept over his mind.

  Chapter Two

  Perseus had just shoved a big bite of his double bacon cheeseburger into his mouth when he heard someone calling his name.

  “Doctor Perseus!” Taolma yelled. “Doc?”

  Turning, Perseus spotted Taolma, a boa constrictor shifter, running toward him. While he knew the shifter was far too young for him, Perseus wasn’t dead. He couldn’t help but admire the man’s lean lines and toned body. Hell, his sweats hung so low on his hips that they clearly showed off the deep grooves of his hip bones and he could almost see the shifter’s pubes.

  Shaking his head, Perseus realized he needed to get laid.

  Perseus swallowed quickly as he waved the hand not holding his burger, one in which he held a bottle of Gatorade. Unable to speak, he grunted and began heading toward the male. As he moved closer, Perseus noted the lines
of concern on Taolma’s face. The young shifter didn’t even glance toward the food.

  Looking beyond the shifter, Perseus spotted Caladon leading a frowning Maelgwn, their gargoyle clutch’s leader, away from the gathering. To his surprise, Tobias was following, as was Einan.

  Damn, what is going on?

  Perseus reached Taolma and asked just that. “What’s wrong?”

  Still, his growling stomach wouldn’t allow him to skip breakfast completely. He shoved his burger into his mouth, taking another bite as he waited for a response from the lean man. Of course, the smell of the barbeque around him was what might have kept him eating. He decided it was probably a combination of the remembered taste of his yummy burger and the growling of his stomach.

  As a gargoyle, Perseus became a stone statue during the day. He awoke every evening when the sun set. His days were upside-down from the standard human. This late night barbeque was actually his breakfast.

  “Penelope’s godfather, Wren Cleaver, followed her and Golren here to the estate,” Taolma told him, his eyes wide. “He saw me and Caladon shift,” he added. Taolma shook his head. “Uh, he didn’t handle it well?”

  Perseus lifted his left brow ridge as he set down his Gatorade bottle. “Are you asking me or telling me?” he prodded, trying to figure out what they needed him for. He grabbed a paper plate from the nearby stack and set his burger on it, then refocused on the young shifter.

  Taolma grimaced. “When I said he didn’t take it well, I meant he passed out, hit his head on a rock, and we can’t seem to wake him up.”

  Growling softly, Perseus looked toward where Maelgwn disappeared. “The arboretum?” he guessed.

  “Yeah.”

  Perseus started that way. His rumbling stomach had him picking up his burger again. “Tell me more,” he ordered before taking another bite.