Bear Treble (Highland Brothers 4) (8 page)

H
e stood on the porch
. He picked up one of the guitars. In another day they would have to leave Highland House. Hudson said he needed the place, and Dylan didn’t want to interfere with his cousin’s work.

They had come back for a two-week break. They both needed the alone time. Layla’s schedule was around the clock work for both of them.

When he first arrived here six months ago he had writer’s block. He couldn’t put a single note on a page. He couldn’t feel the music in his fingers. He sat on the rocker, pulling the guitar in his lap.

All of that was different now. He had faced his bear, and instead of destroying his life it had made it whole. Layla had made him whole. She was music. She was the lyric he needed most.

He strummed a C chord and sang the first words that came to mind. He belted out the rest when he heard Layla clear her throat behind him. He turned and smiled as she walked toward him, her hand resting on her round belly.

“What did you think?” he asked.

“Is that for the cubs?”

“I didn’t know I could write a lullaby.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her stomach.

“I think they’ll love it.” She looked out into the woods. “I can’t believe everything that has happened in the past six months.”

He stood next to her, circling his arm around her waist. “Let’s see. You have a number one album with four number one hits. You had the highest-grossing world tour. Well, the part you were able to finish.” He brushed the hair off her neck to kiss her. It was one of his favorite spots. “And we found each other.”

She threaded her fingers through his. “And we have these two.” She looked down at her stomach. “Two cubs on the way.”

“I’m sorry we have to leave tomorrow, baby.” He knew how much she loved Highland House. It had become her refuge as much as it was the brothers in the family. It was the one place the paparazzi hadn’t yet discovered.

They were clamoring to get a picture of her in maternity clothes, or shopping for the nursery.

“I was thinking….”

“Uh-oh. Do I want to know?”

She twisted those pouty lips together, and Dylan felt his bear start to jerk loose. She drove him crazy. “What if we get a place like this? Somewhere in the middle of nowhere where we can raise the cubs? You can teach them what they need to know about their shifter heritage, and I can…I can teach them how to sing.” She smiled sweetly.

“You want your own Highland House?”

“I was thinking we could call it the Highland-Love House.”

Dylan chuckled. “I think it sounds like a good idea.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If it makes you happy and keeps the cubs safe, then yes. Let’s do it.”

Layla squealed. “Ok, this is perfect because there is some land for sale.”

“Wait, you’ve already looked at land?”

She batted her eyelashes. “Dylan, I knew you’d say yes.”

Her tilted her chin upward. “You do know me don’t you?”

She sighed as he kissed her. “And I know what we should do before we have to leave.” She winked with mischief. “You, me, and a piano?” She walked out of his embrace and toward the door.

Dylan grinned. He didn’t know embracing his bear could bring him the balance he so desperately needed. It brought the music back, and it brought him the love he always needed—Layla.

Happy Reading!- Ally and Meredith

Keep reading for a preview of Delta Bear…

B
ear Reading by Meredith Clarke
& Ally Summers

Highland Brothers

The Write Bear

The Steel Bear

Bear Exposure

Bear Strokes

Bear Treble

R
ogue Bear Series

Ranger Bear

Delta Bear

Beret Bear

A
lly Summers Magical
Shifter Series

S
pells of Fate

Fated Night (Book 1)

Fated Possession (Book 2)

Fated Light (Book 3)

Fated Shadows (Book 4)

J
ax threw
his pack on the bed, looking around the dusty room. It should feel good to be home, but it didn’t. The Army had forced him to take leave. After two years in Razastan and a failed mission that almost cost him his entire team, he was back in the U.S., unwilling and restless.

Nothing about it felt right.

He tried to remember what it was like to live under a roof. The desert sky had been his ceiling. The conditions were rough, but his bear liked being outside. He was trained in the worst conditions. The men around him were tough and fearless. They had to be if they were going to be part of Delta Force.

He closed the bedroom door behind him, inspecting the cabin as he moved room to room. No one had been here since he had left. It wouldn’t be long before his clan knew he was home. He didn’t want to think about the obligations he had to them.

He opened a cabinet door in the kitchen. It was bare. As much as he hated it, he was going to have to drive into town for groceries. He slammed the cupboard, scattering dust around the kitchen. There were a lot of things he could live without, but food wasn’t one of them.

Jax walked to his truck, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the ignition. He could make a quick trip into town to pick up a few things.

H
e threw
a few things in the shopping cart. He felt like all the other customers were watching him. Maybe he was used to being paranoid. Everyone in Razastan was a suspect. Even children carried bombs. He didn’t look at people the same way as everyone else. As far as he was concerned they were all walking weapons.

He tossed a few loaves of bread into the cart on top of everything else and wheeled it to the register.

He reached into his wallet to pay for the bags of groceries.

The woman smiled at him. “Let me guess…you are back with that unit at Fort Phoenix back from overseas. I know an Army man when I see one.”

“How did you know?”

She ran the items over the scanner. “Well, your haircut for one.” She started placing the food in paper bags. “And I saw on the news last night a lot of the soldiers came home.”

Jax rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t like talking about the Army.

“It’s nice to see you home.” She smiled.

He nodded. “Thanks.”

“Did your family plan a big welcome home?” she asked, loading packages of steak into a paper bag.

“Here.” He handed her the money. “No. Not really their thing.”

She opened the register to give him change. “It’s nice when our soldiers come home. I love the banners and the flowers. I wish we could have a parade for you.”

“That’s not necessary.” He knew he sounded gruff, but she was quickly getting carried away.

“Do you at least have a girl waiting for you? Someone to cook you a hot meal?”

This woman was damn nosey. “No, ma’am.” He took the receipt from her.

“Well, it’s not much, but thank you for your service.”

He tried to smile, but he felt eyes on him, and he didn’t like the attention the conversation was drawing.

He loaded the bags in his arm and deposited them in the back of his truck. He couldn’t peel out of the parking lot fast enough. He wasn’t comfortable in the store. He wasn’t comfortable talking to the clerk. And he sure wasn’t comfortable giving her any information about his military status.

He threw the truck in drive and headed back to the cabin. At least there he would have solitude. He didn’t know who needed it more: he, or his bear.

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