Bearly a Memory: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance) (10 page)

P
ulling back on the chains
, he used his strength to pull her back and let her go. As she came back toward him, he kept firmly pushing against her lower back, occasionally letting his fingers graze the top of her ass.

“Watch those hands, Sheriff,” she said teasingly, looking over her shoulder at him to give him a grin.

“I have no idea what you are talking about, Ms. Nishi. I’m simply supplying a public service,” Tanner said formally.

He heard an elegant snort come from Brooke that made him smile.

Tanner was enjoying being able to touch Brooke so freely. He liked that she looked relaxed and happy. Not afraid of the big bad that was looming in the future for her.

“Can we stay here all day?” Brooke asked. She didn’t want to go back into the hospital. She also didn’t like the idea of when Tanner would have to leave for the day. It made her chest hurt, and it made her sad.

“I’d like to say yes, but I’d be lying. I’d like to figure out somewhere else for you to be other than the hospital. I can see it’s not your favorite place.”

“Can’t I go back to the motel? I mean, maybe it will help trigger something for me. Clearly the hospital isn’t familiar to me. If no one knows I’m here, then what is the harm?” She glanced over her shoulder at him, her sweet brown eyes pleading.

Tanner hated the idea of her being in the motel. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a home. He wanted her in his house. Secure and comfortable. But there was no reason to have her come home with him. Nothing he could say that wouldn’t make him sound a little crazy.

“I hate the idea of you being alone. I won’t deny that. Without your memories, you are vulnerable. If you’ll allow me to keep someone near you to watch over you, I’m sure Eddie will release you.”

He hated to make the offer. Nothing he wanted less than to have her unprotected.

“Are you going to be taking any of those bodyguard shifts, Sheriff?”

“I’ll be taking most of them, if you don’t mind,” he said.

Dragging her feet on the ground, she pulled herself to a halt. “No, Tanner, I don’t mind if you are around.”

Brooke wasn’t stupid. She was as exposed as a newborn fawn, and she was asking a lot from a man she’d just met. Not only for him to protect her, but to stay close to her for more than just protection. She was starting to feel that she needed him for more than just keeping her out of danger. She needed him to survive. She had a hole in her chest that only seemed to fill when he was around. Brooke wasn’t about to give it up. She knew it was greedy, and she just didn’t care.

“That’s good,” he offered. “Want to walk for a bit?”

“Yeah, that sounds nice,” she said, standing and holding out her hand. Tanner took it and started walking the perimeter of the park.

They were quiet for a while as they both enjoyed the birds chirping, the distant noise of cars in town. Brooke was thinking that she always liked hearing the city sounds when she rode through the park.

“Tanner! I ride my bike in the park,” she said with a gasp.

“You do? Where?”

“I can’t remember, but I know I’ve been on a bike in the park. I thought about how I actually liked the sounds of the cars going by, kids playing and dogs barking. It makes me feel like part of the community while I ride.”

“Another piece of Brooke,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to give her a squeeze.

Brooke turned into his arm and wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew it was a bold move, but she was so happy she remembered something else that she wanted to hug someone.

Tanner wasn’t going to refuse her. He put his arms around her body and pulled her into his chest. He took the opportunity to lean his head down to hers and breathe in the fresh scent of her hair.

“Lemons,” he murmured. She was soft and fit perfectly in his arms. There was a moment of him thinking that it wasn’t proper for the local sheriff to be hugging a victim. But this town wouldn’t be shocked by a Rochon staking a claim on someone. The humans all thought they just moved fast. They didn’t know the driving force behind their choosing someone was a much stronger desire.

“Sorry,” Brooke said, attempting to pull away from him.

“No, not yet,” he said into her hair.

Brooke didn’t want to leave his arms; she just felt like it was the proper thing to do, letting go. Not necessarily the right thing.

“This seems strange,” she murmured into his chest. She breathed in the masculine scent of the cologne that he was wearing. It was spicy and musky, perfect for him.

“What does?”

“I feel like I know you or have known you. I’m so comfortable in your arms. I know I shouldn’t be, but you feel like home. Strange, right?” She didn’t move her head from his broad chest. Even knowing this was too much too soon wasn’t enough of a deterrent to make her move.

“You were meant to be in my life, Brooke. Just like I was meant to be in yours. Sometimes, good things happen to good people.”

Brooke wasn’t sure if that was true. Since she was on the run from some bad men, she was thinking the adage of bad things happen to good people made more sense. She wanted to believe what he said. To have that much conviction in your beliefs that the universe was guiding you would be comforting. She just wasn’t so sure.

“What if I have a boyfriend back home?” she said quietly, not wanting to say it but having to.

“I’ll politely explain to him that you are sadly going to have to cease and desist all further contact with him,” Tanner said formally.

“Oh yeah, that would probably go over great,” she said, giggling into him.

“I think if you had anyone serious your mom would have mentioned it. So I’m going to use my police skills and deduce that you are a free agent.”

“Hmm, very technical,” Brooke said.

“Maybe not technical so much as emotional. I like you, Brooke, and don’t think it’s lost on me that I only know the person you are right now. But no one with a heart as sweet as yours could be a bad person. I’m not expecting any surprises when you get your memory back. I’m expecting you to be the same as you are now, just a little more…you.”

Brooke thought about that. A little more her. What if this was it, this person she was when he was near? What if there was no huge dramatic personality change when she got her memory back? And what if she needed to keep running? She wasn’t about to tell Tanner that she already had feelings for him. Her problems in California were hers, and she wasn’t going to let anyone else get involved, not when it sounded like people wanted her dead. Innocent people could get hurt trying to protect her. That was not something she was going to allow to happen to Tanner.

W
alking back to the hospital
, Brooke felt a spring in her step. She was ready to leave the hospital and work on jogging her memory.

“So, you gonna give me a ride to the motel, Sheriff?”

“I think I can squeeze you in,” Tanner said with a smirk. “I’d like to take you to dinner first. There is an Italian place in town. What do you say?”

“Sounds good. I think I like Italian,” she said like she was thinking hard about it.

“Who doesn’t like Italian? I mean, it’s like people saying they don’t like chocolate. Something is mis-wired in their brains,” Tanner said.

“Firm words there, Sheriff,” Brooke said, walking through the door he held open.

“Well, it’s just not natural. I’m not a bad cook, maybe I can cook for you some time,” he offered. He wanted to cook for her every night, he thought.

“Hmm, maybe, if I’m still around,” Brooke said, not making eye contact with him.

Tanner held back an angry growl.
She wasn’t going anywhere
. He wasn’t sure if that was his thought or his bear’s, but they were feeling about the same at that moment.

“I’m sorry, Tanner. I just don’t know what my future holds. I may not be able to stay here too much longer. If those men find me, well…”

“No one is going to get to you. Once we have this figured out, then we’ll talk,” he said. He didn’t want to discuss what-ifs with her. What he wanted was to start living his life with his mate. He wanted to bond with her, love her, and start a family.

He wouldn’t have been able to explain it before it happened, the instantaneous love you could feel for someone. Another person became the center you happily revolved around. It wasn’t scary or bad; it was the way it was supposed to be.

He loved Brooke Nishi, and he wanted to tell her. Show her. He couldn’t right now. Tanner didn’t know when he could tell her. It was driving him and his bear crazy waiting. He’d gotten one small kiss from her, and it wasn’t even close to being enough.

“Why don’t I get you settled back into your room? I’ll let Eddie know that you want to be released. I know the paperwork can take some time. I’ll come back and pick you up later tonight. We’ll go have some pasta, and I’ll take you back to the hotel.”

Brooke knew what she said hurt him. She could see it; it was written all over his face. But she also knew that she already liked him enough that she didn’t want to hurt him.

“Okay, Tanner,” she said quietly.

Tanner walked her back to her room and gave her hand a squeeze. He went to find Eddie, who assured him he’d drag the paperwork until Tanner could come back.

Tanner had been holding off letting his parents know about his mate, but it was time. They would be expecting him for dinner soon.

Calling his mom’s cell, he waited for her to pick up. It clicked over, and there was a pause before his mom said anything. She was usually making sure it connected; technology still baffled her sometimes.

“Mom? You there?” he asked.

“Of course I am, where else would I be?” Claire had been a stay-at-home mom while he was in school, but when Trinity hit elementary age, his mom went back to teaching. She taught at the high school for years. She took her retirement early and now was happily spending her days canning and attempting crafts that usually failed miserably. Tanner had a number of handmade snowmen created from old socks that he had to put out at Christmas. Not to mention his mother’s attempt to make everyone in the family pinecone wreaths for the holidays, but she didn’t know she had to bake them to get rid of the bugs in the cones. It wasn’t a very Merry Christmas last year.

“I have some news,” Tanner started. He wanted to share his joy with his family, but his joy was still muted.

“Sure, honey, what’s going on?” his mother asked. She sounded distracted.

“I need you to promise to just keep this between you and dad for right now. Someone’s life depends on it.”

“Whose life? Is it with your work?” his mother asked, finally sounding interested.

“No. Well yes, it’s work – and it’s about me. It’s my mate’s life that is in jeopardy.” He realized this was a bomb to drop on her, but he didn’t have the time to be subtle.

“Oh my,” his mother gasped.

“Yes, oh my,” Tanner agreed.

“Who is she? When do we get to meet her?” his mother asked, sounding excited now.

“She’s actually in trouble, Mom. She’s been at the hospital for a couple of days; she’s not from around here.”

“Hospital, is she sick?” she asked, concerned.

“No, she was injured. She doesn’t remember who she is, mom. As you can imagine finding my mate and not being able to tell her who I am is frustrating to say the least. I’m taking it slower than my bear or I would like, but there is no helping it. She’s in danger. There are very bad people after her. The fewer people that know she is here, the better off she’ll be. I’ve talked to Cage, and he’s set up a watch for me.”

“Well, honey, you know we will do whatever it takes. Tell me about her. What is she like? Who is she?”

“Her name is Brooke Nishi,” Tanner started. “She works at a hospital in San Francisco. She fell out in the woods. Gabe scared her, and she hit her head.”

“That boy is gonna be the death of his momma” She sounded exasperated.

“Yeah, it caused a series of events that have made my life nothing but trouble. But I found my mate, mom. She’s beautiful, sweet, and funny. At least, the person she is right now. She’s worried she’s someone different, but she’s exactly perfect for me. The fates found someone who is sweet and kind, and I can’t wait to be able to have a life with her.”

“Sweetheart, you will have that time. You’ve waited this long. What’s a little bit longer in the grand scheme of things?” His mother was always wise, and she had kept him focused throughout his life. She also always had his back.

“I know, Mom. I’m just anxious. She’s so amazing. I can’t wait until you can meet her. But if you can do me a favor and try to keep the aunts and the uncles from gossiping, that would be great. And I know you have to tell dad, but threaten him with death and/or dismemberment if he interferes,” Tanner warned.

“I’ll handle your father. Don’t you worry,” his mother assured him.

“Thanks. As soon as the dust settles, and I convince her I’m not a freak, I’ll bring her to meet you,” Tanner promised.

“Tanner, just be your charming self, and she will fall in love with you, just as you are already in love with her,” his mother said knowingly.

“I’ll try, Mom, thanks for understanding,” he said.

“Call when you can,” she said.

Giving his mother a warm goodbye, Tanner hung up and checked another item off his to-do list. He wanted to get back to the hospital. Dialing his deputies, he checked with both of them and found that all was quiet outside of the normal traffic tickets and whatnot. He let them know he was on a special case and to refer any out of state questions to him.

Driving back to the hospital, Tanner saw that twilight was setting. The clear sky would make for a beautiful sunset. Tanner thought about his mate. He had all the time in the world if he wasn’t worried about someone else finding her first.

Tanner parked in front and strode inside. He found Brooke sitting cross-legged on the bed looking incredibly sad. Her hands were twisted into the sheets, her eyes wide and scared. Her body was shaking, and tears were running down her cheeks.