Seducing Their Wayfaring Souls [3xtasy Lake 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “You’re looking rather depressed, all things considered.” Catherine slipped into the chair across from him, a sly grin on her face. No doubt most of the town had heard of his and Cris’s interest in Tara. The rumour mill might be fast in some towns, but in Ecstasy it worked at warp speed.

  “Not depressed, more contemplative.” He glanced back up at the station window and wondered what would happen if he went up there. He knew Cris wouldn’t mind if he joined them, but would Tara?

  Catherine leaned forward, and followed his gaze. “I wondered what you were looking at. I thought Cris’s voice sounded a bit strained.” She chuckled. “Albert said Tara’s a very nice girl and her son’s adorable and you know how hard he is to please. The two of them belong here. ”

  Tara had my heart the moment she looked up at me. Lars was tempted to tell Catherine everything he knew but decided to keep that to himself. Truth was, he didn’t want to share much about Tara and Zack. He was already feeling possessive and it concerned him.

  “Lars, you and I have been friends for a very long time.” Catherine wrapped her hands over his. He realized then, she’d gotten older. Her hands weren’t as smooth as he remembered. When she was younger her skin was like ivory and now a couple of pale-brown freckles dotted the backs of her hands. Fear crept into his heart, wrapping it in icy shards. He couldn’t watch her die.

  “Lars, talk to me.”

  “About what?” He tried to keep his tone light, but his thoughts drifted back to Beatrice and the way she’d slowly gotten older. It’d snuck up on him until one day her hair was gray, her hands wrinkled, and she’d told him she was moving away to live with her son, Jamie. Her son, always her son. They’d never been their children, no matter how much he’d wanted them to be.

  “I’m thinking of moving.” He twisted his cup around in his fingers. “It’s time.”

  Silence fell between them for a pregnant moment. “When did you start running away from your fears?”

  “What are you talking about?” Lars took a sip and avoided eye contact with her. It’s not fear, it’s self-preservation.

  “You know exactly who I’m talking about, Lars Vandargard.”

  “Tara will be very happy with Cris, and Zack will adore his father. I don’t want to cause her any more conflict than she’s already had to deal with.”

  “I was talking about Beatrice.”

  Lars couldn’t have been more surprised if Catherine had announced she was turning The Shack into a strip club. He tried to think of something…anything to say, but his vocal cords refused to form the words.

  Catherine grinned at him. “I’ve never seen you speechless. Stay here for a moment. I’ve got to get something.”

  Lars collected his thoughts. It wasn’t such a farfetched idea that Catherine would know about Beatrice. He knew Albert kept records of who lived here and when that stretched back decades. No doubt his investigation had dug up some of Lars’s past. Catherine checked on the few people who were in the shop before coming back to his table. She pushed an old book across the tabletop to him. “I know you’ve held yourself separate from almost everyone in town. I wasn’t certain why until I read this.”

  “What’s that?”

  “This is Beatrice’s journal. I’ve wanted to give it to you for so long, but it never seemed like the right time.”

  Lars stared at the old binding. Reading that was the last thing he wanted to do. There was a healthy amount of curiosity pulling at him to peek, but did he really want to know about how much Beatrice detested him? “There are things in life I don’t need to know, Catherine.”

  “You do when you’re making a life decision based on a lie.” She reached out and covered his hands with her own.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this, years ago? How did you know about me and Beatrice?”

  “Lars, you and I are friends, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then read the damn journal. I’ve had it for most of my life. Beatrice was my great-great-grandmother.”

  “Your what?” Lars still felt like he was three sentences behind in this conversation. He couldn’t decide between reading the book and burning it.

  “Grandmother times two. Her daughter Melissa had a son, Jacob, who was my grandfather. That makes us almost related, broke my poor heart when I found out.”

  “There’s something to be said for finding out things all at once.”

  Catherine tapped the book cover. “She wrote about you and how much she loved you.”

  Lars felt a cold jab to his inner walls. “That isn’t Beatrice’s book then.”

  “Yes it is. Lars, she knew about you. Both sides of you and understood way more than you realized at the time. She cared about you and loved you, but the idea of forcing you to watch her grow old and die broke her heart. I can relate. I’m not getting any younger and Catherine was right. Watching life go on was slowly numbing him to any kinds of feelings.

  “And I’m getting older, too. I’m not the young woman I was when I arrived here searching for the mystery man in this journal. Then I found you. I wanted to tell you so many times that you had a family who would’ve loved to get to know you.”

  “Why did you stay?”

  “Because I wanted to. I love this town, Lars, and I still hold out hope one day my perfect man will come waltzing through the door. Although, the first thing I’ll do is throw something at him for taking so long. But we became friends and I didn’t want to leave you alone.”

  Lars gripped Catherine’s hands and pressed his lips to them. “I wish I knew that man. I’d bring him here gift wrapped for you.”

  “I appreciate it, but don’t go playing matchmaker. I’ve noticed over the years that people who need to be here find their way. Not many places stranger than Ecstasy Lake. But you’re going to lose out on an incredible chance if you continue to stand in the shadows and watch the world pass.” She nodded out the window and Lars turned and saw Cris coming out of the yarn shop with Tara and Zack. The little guy was holding a ball of yarn and had it wrapped around the fingers on one hand. “Take a chance, Lars, and see what happens.”

  “Looks like the sisters have been teaching Zack finger knitting. That should keep his attention for a while.”

  “Think about it, Lars, and please read what Beatrice wrote. She didn’t leave you behind because she didn’t consider you as part of her family. I’ve thought of you as family long before I ever met you and this entire town would be upset if you left.”

  “Thank you, Catherine. I’m lucky you found me.”

  “You’re right, you are.” She stood up and smacked him on the arm. “I have to get some baking done.”

  Lars grinned and swirled his teacup three times in a circle before turning it over on his saucer and pushing it toward his great-great-granddaughter.

  “Finally, after all this time you’re going to let me have a look?” The delight sparkled in Catherine’s eyes and she all but danced in her seat. That is what he loved doing. Making those he cared about smile, and to be honest, if Catherine could give him a bit of insight into his future, he’d take it.

  She sat down and carefully turned the teacup over and wrapped her hands around it. Her brow furrowed as she looked at the small remaining leaves. Tilting the cup left and right, she bit her lower lip and frowned harder.

  “Well?” Lars prompted her. It never took her long to come up with something and she appeared agitated. That couldn’t bode well for his future.

  “Dammit. All this time I’ve waited for this chance and I’ve got nothing except you’re at an impasse. A crossroads in life. I already knew that! Please promise me you’ll let me try again.”

  Lars smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t surprised by her response given what was going on in his life. His future didn’t depend solely on his own decisions. Catherine pressed her lips together and frowned at him as he knew she would. He took a great deal of pleasure in bugging her and he couldn’t pass it up now.

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nbsp; “Years, I’ve waited years and what do I get. What I already know….” She picked up his cup, turned on her heel, and headed to the back of the tea shop and to her baking. “I’ll make you up a nice lunch for you to take.”

  “Where am I going?” He wondered if this was all an act and Catherine really did see more than she let on sometimes.

  “For a picnic.” She turned and gave him a mischievous grin that made him laugh. That look hadn’t changed in all the years he’d known her.

  The small bell over the shop door chimed and Cris walked in with Tara and Zack. Zack ran for the counter with Tara following, but Cris looked around, searching for him. Lars stood up from his place and headed over toward them.

  Cris grinned when he saw Lars stepping down from the tables by the window. “If I’d known you had such a great view I would’ve made it more interesting.” He shook Lars’s hand, returning the big man’s grin.

  “I’m sure my imagination wasn’t even close.”

  “I can tell you that’s the truth. She’s perfect in every way, but we have our work cut out for us convincing her to stay.”

  “What’s the news on her car?”

  “Ready to go, but I convinced the Benoit brothers to go on a spontaneous fishing trip. That should buy us a couple days.”

  “They really went?”

  “No, but that’s the message they put on the shop machine.”

  Lars didn’t like the idea of lying to Tara. That was going to blow up in their faces. It was only a matter of time.

  “I brought up your name while I was buried inside her.” Cris smiled like a cat who’d eaten a canary. Or the dog who’s eaten a pussy. “Trust me when I say she’s interested in both of us.”

  “Thought crossed my mind, joining you.”

  “Next time, don’t think so much, my friend. Actions speak louder than words.” Cris slapped him on the back. “I’d like to spend some time with Zack. Would you be willing to show Tara some sights?”

  A delighted laugh attracted his attention and Lars looked over at the woman they were speaking about. She was laughing at something Zack had said or done and the cheerful sound caught him in the chest. She sounded like goodness and light and made him feel, really feel, more than he had in decades. To hell with the truth. He’d lie as much as needed to keep her close.

  “Hey, Larth!” Zack lifted his fist and Lars bumped knuckles with the little guy.

  “Good morning, Zack.” He squatted down next to the boy, which also put him closer to Tara. “What are you making?”

  “A thcarf. Poppy, Lily, and Lavender taught me.” He held up his right hand and there was yarn woven around four of his fingers. “All I hath to do ith moved the yarn over the end of my finger and then wrap it again.”

  “Zack said he’s going to make one long scarf for the sisters to share when they sit outside.” She ruffled Zack’s hair and brushed it off his forehead.

  “Tara.” Cris caught her hand and tugged her to her feet. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

  Lars watched Tara move away from Zack with Cris. She looked concerned as she moved, but Cris pulled her close and spoke low against her ear. Lars hoped she would allow Cris some time with Zack because he wanted time alone with her.

  “I’ve known the McGuigan sisters for a very long time,” Lars said as Zack carefully moved the yarn over the tip of his fingers one by one. “If you make them a scarf, they’d wear it with honor.”

  Zack looked up at him with a wide smile flashing the big gap in his teeth. “Really! I’m gonna do it.”

  Lars sat down on the chair next to Zack and watched him work the yarn between his fingers. He could already see improvements in the boy’s dexterity. It was a small change, but it was there. There were so many reasons why Tara should stay in Ecstasy, but Lars wanted her to stay for him. For the first time in a long time he wanted a family again. He wanted to see Zack grow into a strong man.

  Tara and Cris walked back over and she squatted down wrapping her arm around her son’s shoulders. “Zack, how would you like to spend some time with Cris? He has to get back up to the radio station and wondered if you would help him.”

  “Cool!” Zack hopped off the stool and picked his ball of yarn up. “Can I bring thith?”

  “Of course you can,” Cris replied. “I usually read to everyone in the afternoon. How would you like to pick the story?”

  “Do you have Zoom?”

  “By Robert Munsch? I sure do. It’s one of my favorites.”

  “Awethome!” Zack raced for the front door only to stop and then run back. He launched himself against Tara’s legs and gave her a hug. “Bye, Mom! Love you!”

  “Love you, too, sweetie.”

  “Bye, Larth!” Zack bumped knuckles with him and raced for the door.

  Cris bent down and, with a hand around the back of her neck, captured Tara’s lips. “Thank you for this.”

  Lars felt his cock twitch watching Cris and Tara, making him impatient to press his suit with her as well. Tara nodded her head and watched as Cris and Zack left.

  She glanced over at him and he saw a flush of colour cross over the top of her cheekbones. He hoped she was thinking about the three of them naked together because that was the image in his mind. Reaching out, he traced a finger along the flushed skin.

  “You’re blushing. Tell me why.”

  Her blush darkened and Lars fought the urge to grab her and pull her into his lap. He wanted to cradle her in his arms and whisper things in her ear and see what made her blush more.

  “I meant to thank you for showing Zack how to play cat’s cradle the other day. It’s done wonders for him already. I wish I had thought about it a long time ago.”

  “I noticed he was having trouble holding on to the fork.”

  “He has a developmental delay with his fine motor skills.” Tara offered, “There’s no real reason why and I haven’t found a doctor who can give me a solid reason behind it.”

  Lars knew it was because the boy was a shifter and had spent every waking moment surrounded by humans. As he got older and the primal side of him started to develop, it couldn’t mesh with his human side properly. This often happened with shifter children in the foster care system. The closer they got to puberty and the inherent ability to change shape, the more physical and emotional delays they had. Most couldn’t control the animalistic urge to lash out and ended up as violent offenders and psychologically damaged. Others retreated into themselves and became depressed and self-destructive, which usually led to drug abuse and suicide. It was a terrifying truth men like Gordon Roberts were trying to prevent.

  Gordon and his wives often watched the foster care system and had friends who, when they suspected a child might be a shifter, did their best to ensure the child found his way into a home with other changelings or was adopted into a family. Catherine had fostered many children over the years, and even though she herself was human, having these children in Ecstasy Lake made all the difference.

  Zack was going to need to be around others like him, and while Lars was sure they could arrange something with a pack in Manitoba, he wanted them here. The idea of Tara leaving him was tearing him up inside. He’d loved Beatrice but never with the soul-searing intensity he was beginning to feel for Tara.

  “Come on, let’s go for a ride.”

  “What kind of ride?”

  “Oh, Tara, you’re too tempting. I was talking about one on my bike, but if you would rather find a comfortable bed, then I’m open to suggestions.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her out into the street.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.” She answered so quickly Lars doubted the truth behind her words.

  “That’s a shame.” He’d parked his bike at the side of The Shack. “This might be the last day I can take her out and enjoy it.”

  “I don’t have a helmet.” Tara’s eyes sparked with equal parts of concern and excitement.

  Lars opened one of his saddlebags and pulled out an extra he
lmet. He had a child’s one in there, too, in case he had the chance to take Zack out. “Here, put this on. Lean into the curves when we turn a corner and relax.”

  “Are you sure it’s safe?”

  “If it had been raining in the past few days I’d say no. Wet leaves are slippery and dangerous, but the roads are completely dry. I’d never put you in any danger.”

  He took her purse and secured it in the bag with Beatrice’s journal. He pulled his helmet out of the other bag as Tara did up the chin strap on her helmet. Catherine had given him an insulated picnic tote before they left the restaurant. He secured that in the empty saddlebag before helping Tara get on the bike. He pointed out the places for her to put her feet and where to avoid. Then he put on his helmet and straddled the bike.

  He started the bike and revved the engine for a second. Tara scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and it felt like a live electrical current lit his nerve endings up. She gripped him tighter as he slowly pulled away from the curb but relaxed after a couple of minutes. He liked the feel of her hands on his stomach and moved one hand to rest on her thigh. The sun was shining and he had a beautiful woman on the back of his bike heading out for a picnic. Life didn’t get much better than this. He had to wonder if Catherine saw more in his teacup than she let on and why she hadn’t told him.

  Chapter Eight

  Lars and Tara had hiked a ways into the forest but not too far from the road. This is what he loved about this area. They were only about twenty minutes outside of town and a ten-minute walk from the road, but it felt like they were in the middle of nowhere.

  Tara glanced back over her shoulder at him. The sun made her hair look like a golden halo around her face. He briefly wondered what her hair would look like long and twisted around his fingers. She stood close to the cliff edge but not so close that he worried she might fall.