Goldie and Her Bears (5 page)

Grabbing up beers, Torben passed them out as they all reclined in the living room. Settling across from Goldie, he scrubbed a hand through his hair before taking a long pull on the bottle. “I’m just going to say it outright, you may not want to be drinking when I do,” he warned her. “We shifters, Goldie." All three men's eyes focused on her as Torben continued, "We’re known as Weres. Bear shifters to be precise. All three of us are Grizzly bears. We’ve known one another since we were small; we’ve remained friends through everything. Including the loss of many from our community, where Grizzly shifters once lived, it was a nice, big area, spread out and yet we were there for one another if needed. They were our friends and neighbors, even some family.”

“Hunters, damn hunters,” Arkadios muttered.

Mahon nodded slowly; swallowing hard, enough she could see the bob of his Adam's apple. “We got lucky though, to a degree. We were at Torben's goofy off when mine and Ark's parents decided they wanted a night out. So all the kids were coming to Torben’s place for a sleepover. We hadn’t wanted our siblings there but Torben's mom told the other parents she would watch them, leaving her stuck with the lot of us. We didn’t even know what was happening until the first explosion, we think it was a propane tank going up,” Mahon stopped to swallow and Torben picked up where he left off.

“Hunters are humans who have knowledge of Weres,” Torben said. Obviously picking up on her confusion, likely it was written all over her face. “With us living as we were as a community so close knit, the hunters were able to find us easily. You have to understand, Goldie that Grizzles normally don't live close to one another after coming into adulthood. We were unique, but it cost us because we thought we held security in numbers. After they found us and it was all said and done, we never made that mistake again, we all separated afterwards and spread out, which makes it more difficult for them to track us and find us so easily now. My mom ran in and got us all on our feet and in our coats, so fast.”

“She’s always been more drill sergeant than not,” Ark said, a small and affectionate smile on his lips.

“We were rushed out to the vehicles,” Mahon picked up the story again. “Between hers and the truck belonging to Torben’s dad we were all crammed in. I don’t even recall where they took us but we got out of there fast, really fast.”

“I don’t think they cared where we were going, as long as we were leaving. I remember we stopped at one of the other houses. Martina’s I think,” Torben said.

Looking to her, he explained it was one of his mother's friends; a woman who did a lot of babysitting after her mate and husband had passed on. They went on to tell her about the other vehicles, filled with the living, all getting off the plot of land in the dead of night with whatever they wore or had managed to grab. All in all, too many had died but many were saved because of the distance between homes and the hunter’s error in blowing up a propane tank.

She set the beer down and looked at the three men she had been so intimate with only bare minutes ago. She felt dizzy, she felt as if she was going to pass out. “I’m sorry, what?” She had to have heard him wrong. She knew she had to have heard him incorrectly because she didn’t understand what he was saying. “There is no such thing as shifters, Weres, or whatever. If you guys won't mind, could you show me what medication you are currently on? Did you take it today?"
No fucking way, this guys have to be insane or on drugs because this couldn't be true.
However, she knew though, somewhere deep in her soul, this was her favorite childhood fairy tale. Adult version that is.

As the men said nothing but continued to stare at her, her mind began to process what they had said and everything they did since she was found in their home began to piece together all she had heard and seen from the men.

“The growl, when you talked,” she swallowed, hard, "how it rumbles from your chest. The sniffing of the air in the kitchen. Come to think of it, the way you carry yourself when you walk. All of it." It was all true and she somehow knew it. “So what happens now?” she whispered finally, her voice thick with emotion. “Are you going to kill me now that I know?

“No, it is solely up to you,” Arkadios told her quietly. He was rolling the bottle he held between his palms, as if he was nervous. “You’re our mate, we recognize it. We knew when we caught your scent. However, we won't claim you claim you or mark you as ours unless you accept us. The choice has to be yours to choose us or not. Either way,” he shrugged and took a deep drink.

“Oh my God.” She rose and began to pace. Her mind was freaking out. She was freaking out. She didn’t know what to think or do. It was so much easier when they were just a memory of a book. But real life bears, holy hell. Her mind was telling her to run out the door while down deep in her gut, laid the knowledge that it was all true. It was so very hard for her to think, to do anything at all, it was not a good feeling. Choosing to test the waters, to see how they would react, still just a little unsure if she could do it but she had come this far and sometimes you just had to say 'fuck it'. “I really think you should hug me,” she blurted. “Because I’m totally freaking out right now.”

Torben caught her hand and drew her onto his knee. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed his cheek to hers. “Slow your breathing, sweet,” he said, rocking her slowly back and forth. “You don’t have to make any decisions now—nor tomorrow. We’re here to answer any questions you might have and always will be. Think it through and make the choice that you want to make, not the one you think we want you to make. We just want you happy, Goldie, with us or not, but it must be your choice.”

She nodded and held onto him. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she held onto him, forcing herself to calm her breathing, her heart slowing nearly to beat with his. “All I know is I have feelings for you that I’ve never had before. For all three of you. I’ve never once just jumped into bed with anyone, ever, so yeah.” She sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I really don’t,” she whispered honestly to him.

For several minutes, she didn’t speak and then she raised her face, taking in all the men and yelled, “That is it! That is why you seemed so familiar to me.” She pressed her face into the crook of Torben's neck and laughed, “I go by Goldie. You are three bears. I broke into your house in the middle of nowhere.” She snickered, “Why had this not registered as it was happening.”

“Trust us,” Mahon commented in a dry tone, “The fact hasn’t eluded our notice. Rather poetic when you consider it.”

“Down, Mahon,” Torben murmured, stroking her hair. “You could quit laughing any time now, Goldie. It really isn’t all that amusing,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple and then her cheek.

“Yeah, well you missed me tasting the food you left, and your beds,” she muttered. Pulling back, she looked at the men and asked bluntly, “You aren’t going to hurt me are you? When Torben began to growl, for a moment I felt a little fear. Granted, it was quickly overridden because a part of me knew you wouldn’t but I want to hear it from you please.”

“We’d rather rip out our own hearts than ever hurt you, Goldie,” Arkadios told her. “We couldn’t hurt you anymore than we could hurt ourselves. You are everything to us, if you so choose to be. The growling,” he gaze flicked past her and then back “is something we can’t help when our emotions kick up.”

“Well that would totally explain why you guys weren’t ready to call the cops on me when you found me,” she murmured softly. “It would also likely explain why I feel so close to you, even though we have just met. Why I feel as if I have known you all my life. It is because I have. The fairy tale was my favorite as a little girl. But have to admit the adult version is looking a lot better than the animated picture book.”

“Huh, see what we missed by not liking storybooks guys. However, we recognize one another on a level that is beyond all that. Our souls know each other. We see each other for who we really are and know that in some cases words are not required.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” she said with a sigh. “Well, working together we will learn a great deal about each other, huh? And I do still get to work for you, right? Because I think it might be a conflict of interest for me to work for your competition and date you guys, right?”

“Major conflict of interest,” Mahon said. “And yes, the job is still yours if you want it. We would like to have you there, just for who you are, not because you’re ours. We happen to like you, Goldie, a lot. This will also give you more time to know us.”

“I think I would like that as well. I want to be able to get to know all three of you better. I happen to really like you guys. Even though I'm pretty positive, I want to see if that feeling will grow.” She knew she already had pretty intense feelings for them.

“They’ll grow,” Ark said, leaning back in his chair. “Whether you still like us as a result,” he shrugged and shot her a slightly cocky grin. “Just remember, we do bite.”

“Ark,” Mahon groaned, “none of that yet. Let the poor woman get used to us one weirdness at a time without that shit. Once she makes it a month, then you can unload the full freak on her.”

“Yes, please, let me get used to you first. I’m not easy to scare away and you should know that now, so stop trying to act as if I’m going to go running. I haven't ran yet, so I seriously doubt I will.”

Torben chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You good now?” he asked with a grin. “Because if you are, we should finish up our drinks and get some sleep. We have to get moving in the morning so you can run by your place and get whatever you need for the night and then dressed for the day.”

“I think that sounds like a good idea. Yeah sleep sounds good because I really, really need to have clean clothes for the day tomorrow,” she told him.

“Okay, come on. We will show you to the guest room. We won't pressure you for more Goldie until you are ready," Torben said.

Trying to lighten the mood, Goldie smiles as she teased, "So do you sleep in a puppy pile or what?

Shaking his head, Arkadios stood and finished his beer off. “If you are going to make fun of us, it's cubs. Now come on, sugar, let’s go and get you settled in while they shut the house down.” Handing his bottle off to Mahon, he held out a hand to Goldie.

Goldie gladly took his hand as he pulled to the stairs. Once upstairs they showed her to the guest room. The whole way up the stairs the only thing she thought about was please not the pink room.

As she entered the room she turned as Torben and Mahon came up the hall only to stop beside Ark.

“Good night, guys." She yawned and preceded to shut the door.

"Good night, Goldie," all three said in unison just as the door clicked closed.

Goldie was in her room getting ready for the upcoming party. She had spent the day with the men and was amazed at how attentive they had been to her all day. It didn't matter how many meeting or sites they visited showing her their company. They wanted her to be familiar with everything, making her feel like she belonged. Not once during the day did they pressure her or make any comment about her being theirs. The men really were leaving the decision up to her.

She had spent half the night looking at the whole picture of actually being a mate to three men, bears or not.
Three
—
unbelievable
. Goldie thought back to her childhood and how many times she had read her favorite book. To think she could live it everyday as a real life version was surreal.

A knock on the door sounded bring her focus back to present, “Goldie, you ready to go?” Torben’s voice drifted through the wood. She was getting dressed for the event that night, should have been ready already if not for a small issue. “We need to get moving in the next ten if we’re going to arrive in the fashionably late portion and not the late-late portion of the night.”

“It’s not my fault,” she peeked out the door with a grin on her face, “you men were the ones who kept working and then we still had to go by my apartment so I could grab what I needed." She opened the door all the way, walking out of the bathroom and smoothing her hands down over the skirt. “There, how do I look?” she asked with her arms wide to give him the full view of the skirt and shirt she was wearing.

“You’d better not be blaming us, woman,” he muttered, turning to take her in. He gave a low whistle, “Son of a bitch, woman, you are a fucking vision and a half. A goddess amongst mere mortals, we are truly not worthy,” he told her shaking his head.

“And you’re not bad looking either,” she teased with a grin. She winked at him and moved closer, “Good. Glad you think so.” Goldie turned to reenter the room.

“Hey, I thought you were ready. We fucking have to go or we’re never going to get there tonight. Which will not do, we need to go and schmooze. Plus every year at this event, Arkadios loves getting his paws on the appetizers and trying to figure out what they are."

“I just need my bag." Goldie leaned over and grabbed her evening bag off the bed then standing she turned to face Torben again. "All right then, let’s get out of here so we can go and play nice and do what we need to do in order to secure the contract you guys want.”

“And lay the groundwork for many more to come,” he said softly. “Your former bosses will be there, you going to be okay with that?” he asked, cupping her cheek with a hand.

Thankfully she’d accepted their job offer and turned in her notice shortly after. But it would be easy for her with all those at the old company; Barrett in particular, had put her through of late. “Just a little nerves. I know just what kind of assholes they can be. Add to that the fact they really don’t care what they say in public, as long as they drag someone through the mud with them. And there you have it—nerves. But I will be fine with them being there. If they say anything to me then I will ensure they are put in their places. I know a few things I really don't think some of their clients would take to kindly to if they found out. Plus I don't want them taking out me resigning with them to take a job with your firm out on you guys. You have been nothing but gracious and nice to me."

“Don’t go too far, Goldie,” Torben warned, touching her cheek. “We have a solid reputation and no matter what they say, there are hundreds out there willing to back us up without us needing to say a word. But if you go all kamikaze on their asses, I don’t see it ending well for any of us.”

“I won’t,” she said with a smile. “But I also won’t let them be mean, or give you grief about hiring me or having me around. I mean it, Torben. I adore you guys and no one messes with my bears.”

“We know that,” he smiled at her and shook his head. “Just don’t threaten him with all those people there. Try to be subtle and if that fails, get Ark to do it. No one thinks anything when he threatens anyone in public anymore.”

Smiling sweetly Goldie shook her head, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything I haven’t done before.” Which meant she would bring the asshats to their knees if they even dared to think of touching her or verbally attacking those she cared for.

“Kind of what I’m scared of,” Torben admitted, shaking his head. Taking her hand, he led her out of his office muttering the entire way. Down on street level, he guided her out to the stretch limo waiting with Ark and Mahon lounging within. Opening the door, he ushered her in, followed, and then let the driver know to get moving.

Goldie began to grin as she looked at the men, “Goodness gracious you guys certainly clean up nicely,” she murmured happily. "Are you sure you want to waste the evening on a business dinner."

“We have to go to this, but we only have to stay about two hours, tops,” Mahon told her as he passed Torben’s phone to him. “I’ve put in the two you need to locate and chat with or be near,” he explained. “We should meet about an hour after our arrival and figure out who else to hit up. Ark, you stay with me for the first portion. Goldie with Torben, you’ll need to know the people he’ll be talking with so you understand what their needs are as well. Then we’ll switch off partners after a quick confab and shots at the bar.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. That way we can move and mingle through the crowd as we need to and after that, we will ensure we are able to discuss what we have learned during that time as well. I think that will be a very good idea, don’t you?” she asked softly.

“Works for me,” Ark said with a nod. “First stop is the bar though. The God help me if I don’t get at least one drink in before I start getting mauled,” he muttered.

Torben snickered and leaned over. “Apparently women over a certain age have a thing for Ark and like to hunt him. Literally. We have a neighbor, Mrs. Riley, who’s like seventy-five and she creates issues or things for us to fix just to get Arkadios over there.”

“The fucking woman stalks me through her house and gooses my ass anytime I turn my back. No one with arthritis as bad as hers appears to be should be able to move that damn silently,” Ark bitched loudly.

Goldie laughed at his statement and shook her head, “Are you sure I shouldn’t mingle with Ark then? You know, maybe to protect his delicious backside." Goldie's hand quickly came up to cover her mouth while she looked at the men. Not believing she had voiced that out loud.

The only response she received from the men were the huge smiles she watched spread across their faces. They smiled at her for just a moment then Mahon answered.

“Nope, you’re with Torben for this round,” Mahon said shaking his head. “Don’t mess with the plan woman. He’ll introduce you to everyone, let them know who you are and then we will go from there. Now, go mingle and we’ll all meet in one hour at the bar for drinks and to discuss.”

She held up her hands and laughed, “All right. One hour,” she snickered and linked her arm with Torben. Looking up at him happily, she grinned, “So what are you introducing me as? Your new employee or your own BE overnight guest?”

“BE guest? Please, if you are the type of guest we get with leaving the doors unlocked, then breaking and entering guest we shall gladly call you,” he chuckled leading her away from the others. Torben dropped his voice, “Goldie, I want you to know that no matter what happens, whether you accept us or not—you are and always will be so much more to us. But we do need to be careful tonight, some of these people are very, very old school,” he warned under his breath. “For now you are our new executive assistant and in time, if you do choose us, we’ll let it out of the bag that you were meant to be ours as we were meant to be yours. But little steps for now.”

Goldie thought for a moment then she nodded, “This is true. I think it’s a very good idea that you introduce me first as your executive assistant, then maybe more."

“We only hope, much, much more,” he agreed with a grin. Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm he let out a breath. “Prepare to endure entirely new levels of boredom,” he murmured, leading her toward the first group.

“I’m as ready as I will ever be,” Goldie shot back to him, but moved right along with him as they spoke. Reaching out to the tray passing by, she grabbed a flute of champagne for her and one for him as well. “So.” She took a sip. “What are you thinking, my dear? Who do we hit up first?”

“The Millers first,” he said, leading her toward the couple holding court as it were. “They have a not-for-profit group that builds homes for battered women. They usually do about forty or so at a time, and women that qualify get a home, a job, and a new start. We’ve built a couple of homes for the project, our good deed of the year. We like to do it and really it costs us nothing but time.”

“That’s actually an amazing and worthy cause. I’m proud of you guys.” She hadn’t ever worked for someone before who thought of others before their bottom line. It was refreshing and very nice indeed.

“We’re able to do it and given Mahon’s childhood, we feel it’s our duty to do what little we can.” Stopping at the group, he smiled at the Millers, “Sorry to interrupt. Frank, Georgina, this is Goldie—our newest executive assistant. Goldie—Mr. Frank Miller and Mrs. Georgina Miller, the founders of the Miller Foundation for Women.”

Goldie shook their hands and smiled, “It’s very nice to meet you both.” She first shook his hand and then hers, “Torben told me of the work you do. It’s a marvelous cause. I’m impressed with what you have been able to do and would be very interested to perhaps discuss with you some of your upcoming plans?”

“I like her, Torben, my boy,” Frank said with a slow nod. “We have a meeting coming up, don’t we?” he looked to him.

“Yes, sir, we do. Next Tuesday I believe,” Torben said with a chuckle.

“Good, make sure you block off a full two hours,” Georgina said with a smile. “We have a new build that we think you and the lads would be perfect for. Speaking of, where is Arkadios?” she asked with a sly look in her eyes.

Torben sipped the champagne, “I believe he’s over near the bar.”

“Excellent, I will have to go and say hello to him,” she smiled oh so sweetly.

After the Millers left, Goldie turned to Torben and grinned, “Does Ark know you are the one that sends all the women his way for their chance to feel him up? You are truly a very bad man, but you know what?” She looked over the rim of her champagne glass and said, “I like it.”

Chuckling under his breath, he shrugged, “I’m not about to tell him I’m roughly half the reason he gets his ass pinched. The other half is all Mahon,” he told her as they moved to the next group. “Uh-oh,” he said, stopping their progress, “Looks like your former bosses are here.”

Goldie’s smile fell from her face and a deep sigh went through her small body. “Wonderful,” she muttered. “Where’s the champagne, wine, anything?” she asked and tapped her empty glass with a short but well-manicured nail.

He passed over his still mostly full glass and took her empty one. “Just remember, we’re here for business and not to beat the shit out of them. No matter what, we do not sink to their level. And we don’t go to them, they can come to us if they so have the need.”

“Yeah, well just don’t be surprised if I don’t shove my thousand dollar shoe up his fucking ass,” she muttered and took a sip of her drink to tell him, “That is Barrett, the douche who brought along his buddies to play ‘fuck me’ the night I took off from them in the woods. I don’t know if I can be kind.”

Torben’s entire body went still and a low growl emanated from his chest. “They’re the ones who planned to rape you?” he asked. Had his voice been any colder she’d likely have gotten frostbite from his words.

“Which is why I said don’t be surprised if my fucking shoe doesn’t wind up somewhere it shouldn’t fit.” She laid a hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. “Calm, Torben,” she whispered. “Please, calm for me.” She moved so she stood before him and reached up to cup his face, “Hey, look at me, not him.”

His gaze dropped to her but the feral look in them wasn’t what she’d ever seen before. “Tell me the truth, Goldie, did they touch you in any way that justifies me ripping their entrails out and dancing on them?”

Oh shit, he had to be all nice and direct didn’t he? “No skin to skin contact.” Which was the truth. Well, except for her hand grazing across someone’s face as she punched him, but she didn’t think that should count. “Just think of it like this, if not for him, I never would have met the three of you.”

“I don’t plan on thanking them for fucking anything about that. You could have been hurt, you’re bloody lucky you weren’t,” he told her. His stance relaxed though and his eyes slowly returned to normal, “We’d have eventually found you, Goldie. While I’m grateful it was sooner rather than later, I don’t ever plan to be gracious to those assholes. In fact,” he stopped and his lips curled ever so slightly and not into a nice smile, it was edged with feral energy and something even more deadly.

“Shit,” Goldie muttered and took her drink and gulped it back. Turning because she knew just who was at her back, she pasted a smile. “Barrett and his goon squad. I guess they really can dress an asshole up in a monkey suit. Amazing. Simply amazing.”

“Jacilda,” Barrett sneered at her. “I see you’ve managed to wiggle your way into a new job. But given how you throw yourself around but never put out, I’m not surprised. I’m sure they will figure it out soon enough and you’ll slither onto the next sucker.”

"Listen asshole, she works for us. We know you had plan for her, so I advise you to step softly around her," Torben spoke in an almost whisper so the other around wouldn't hear. He could feel his bear pushing to the surface.

Before Barrett could come back at Torben, Goldie smiled sweetly, “Oh, that’s clever coming from you. Say, does your wife know you have herpes, and got it from Tina in accounting? No? Let’s go tell her shall we? No, you don’t want to tell her? Well poo. Damn and here I had thought getting that call from your doctor and then Tina’s doctor would be something I would be sure your wife should know about. But know this,” she said angrily, “say one more thing against me, or fuck against anyone I know, and I will ensure that every single fucking thing you did in that company comes to light. Not even your damn daddy who allows you to run it, will be able to save you then.”

Torben put a hand on her back, his fingers a warm weight at her spine. Barrett sputtered and then turned quickly to walk away. “Sorry, Goldie. I couldn't let him talk to you like that. Are you alright?” he asked softly, passing her another glass of champagne he had snagged from a passing waiter.

“Perfectly.” Goldie smiled up at him and sighed. “Damn that felt good,” she admitted. “Yes I know it was crass and low, but I wasn’t about to sit by and let him spew his lies on me then cause your company any trouble, and trust me, he would have.”

“He may still, but that’s alright. I have plans for him and his buds for trying to hurt what is mine,” he murmured. Leading her away from the groups, he took her to a spot near a wall that was partially shielded from the room by a large sculpture, giving her time to gather her composure.

“Oh, I don't think he will because there is nothing he can do to hurt me. Career wise, I’m one of the most sought after PAs there are. I know my stuff inside and out. If he comes at me, I will simply have to ensure his nasty collection of DVDs become known. He is just a hot winded perverted fucker.”

“Oh darling, that is just so crass,” he shook his head at her. “There are much more subtle ways to put them in their places. There are much more interesting ways to keep them where we want them and ensure they pay for everything for the rest of their miserable days.”

“Oh?” she asked with a new glass of bubbly in her hands. “And please tell me, darling, how you intend to make that happen? I would very much like to know just how you intend on ensuring the douchenozzle leaves us all alone. He isn't even worth the bag.”