An Alpha's Tempest (Water Bear Shifters 4) (6 page)

“One other thing,” Ben said. “Sawyer wanted to let you know that Evan’s family has invited you to his funeral on Wednesday. They would be honored if you would come and say your last goodbyes to him, and give them the chance to thank you in person.”

“Wow,” Rhythm said. “Of course. I would be the one honored to go. But where is it? How do I get there? I don’t have a car anymore.”

“It’s in Frost Peak,” Ben said. “That’s where the Frost Peak Grizzlies live. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s only a one hour flight. I’m part of a coop at a local airport here, which allows me to rent planes by the hour. I have Wednesday off, so I can rent a Cessna and fly you over for the funeral.”

“Really?” Rhythm asked, her face brightening. “That would be awesome. Thank you so much.”

“No problem,” Ben said. “I’d like the chance to talk to Sawyer, anyway, so I have selfish reasons for going.”

Ben stood, and stretched out his arms casually. Rhythm couldn’t help but marvel once more at how tall he stood. She wondered if all bear shifters were tall like that, but Ben seemed ready to go, so she decided to save her questions for later. And she had a
lot
of questions. She was still wrapping her head around the idea that bear shifters actually existed.

“Do you know when you’re getting out of here?” Ben asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“In a few hours. The nurse this morning told me that I should be good to go, but the doctor will have to do a quick examination to confirm before they discharge me.”

“Okay,” Ben said. “I have to run in to work to take care of some paperwork, but give me a call when you’re ready to leave and I’ll come pick you up. I’ll also see if I can snag some clothes from the other girls so you at least have a few things to wear. Then we can go shopping when you’re feeling up to it.”

Ben grabbed a notepad decorated with the hospital letterhead that was sitting on Rhythm’s bedside table. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote his number down, then handed the sheet of paper to Rhythm. “Here you go,” he said. “I’ll be looking forward to your call. In the meantime, get some rest.”

He reached down to gently squeeze Rhythm’s shoulder, and then he was gone. Rhythm felt a warmth radiating through her body, starting with the spot where Ben had touched her, and spreading through every inch of her being.

She looked down at his messy scribbles on the sheet of paper, and couldn’t stop a happy sigh from escaping her lips. Even though everything else in her life was in a total upheaval right now, at least she would get a chance to spend some time with a sexy, strong Coast Guard rescue pilot. Whether or not he was interested in her, she could at least admire him and enjoy his company over the next few weeks. She didn’t have much else to look forward to at the moment, so she was going to enjoy what she could.

Rhythm clutched the sheet of paper tightly and leaned back on the lumpy pillow again, closing her eyes. She would try to sneak in a little nap before the doctor came. She was still recovering from the chaos of the day before, and she had a feeling life was about to become even more chaotic as she helped the bear shifters try to stop their enemies.

The next day, Rhythm stood in front of a full length mirror in Ben’s guest room, frantically trying on clothes. When Ben picked her up from the hospital the day before, he had brought a small suitcase with him, filled with clothes from the other crew members’ mates. He told her that they had filled it with a few necessities to get her started until she had a chance to get to the store, and Rhythm had eagerly opened it, hoping to find something comfortable to wear that actually fit.

She hadn’t been disappointed. The suitcase had been packed with several different pairs of yoga pants in three different sizes, as well as a variety of soft, long-sleeved t-shirts and hoodies. Socks, and shoes—also in three different sizes—had been included as well. The three women had all contributed something, probably in hopes that at least one of them wore the same size as Rhythm. Rhythm had found the garments closest to her size, and had happily slipped into the soft, comfy clothes. The woman had also included toiletries for her in a travel toiletry bag. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, body lotion, toothpaste, and a toothbrush were all in the bag. There were even a few tampons in there, just in case. Her new friends, whom she hadn’t even met yet, had thought of everything.

But tonight, Rhythm was flying to Frost Peak with Ben for Evan’s funeral. She needed to find something to wear that wasn’t yoga pants, and the only option in the suitcase was a simple, black dress that looked about three sizes too small when she tried it on. She dug through the rest of the clothes, trying on black jeans and a red sweater, hoping that it would look dressy enough for a funeral service. But the jeans screamed casual, and the last thing Rhythm wanted to do was offend Evan’s family by looking like she hadn’t put any thought or effort into how she appeared for the funeral. Feeling defeated, she sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands. She should go shopping, but she didn’t have any debit or credit cards right now. Everything was back at her old apartment, and she didn’t dare go there. It’s not like she even had transportation to get anywhere, anyway, since she had left her car parked outside the lab. Rhythm had no money on her, and no means of getting any until her new credit cards arrived, which she had ordered from the bank’s customer service phone line. Luckily, she had her I.D. since she had always kept her driver’s license clipped behind her work badge. Occasionally the guards at the lab would ask for secondary I.D., and Rhythm had decided at one point that it was just easier to be prepared. The guards really should have known who she was by then, but they liked to play up their role and act like big, important assholes. Rhythm was thankful for that now. Getting a new license would have been even more of a hassle than ordering new bank cards.

She’d been careful not to let the hospital know she had I.D., though, so that they wouldn’t know her real name. At some point, a bill would be sent out to Rachel Evans, a person who didn’t actually exist. Rhythm felt a little guilty, but she told herself she’d find a way eventually to make it right with the hospital. In the meantime, she was more concerned with keeping herself alive.

And with figuring out what to wear tomorrow. She surveyed the pile of clothes on the bed again and frowned. Maybe she should try to get in touch with one of the other woman. They probably had something she could borrow. They just hadn’t sent many dress options along because they didn’t know Rhythm would be attending a funeral tomorrow.

A knock sounded on the door, and Rhythm glanced up in surprise. She hadn’t heard Ben come in, and she hadn’t expected him to be home from work this early. It wasn’t quite three p.m. yet.

“Come in,” she called out, and the door handle turned. Ben stepped in, wearing his Coast Guard uniform, and, as usual, looking so handsome that he took Rhythm’s breath away. She knew staying at his place was going to be torture. Every time she saw him her heart rate accelerated, and a warm, tingling feeling filled her core. She should have avoided the whole issue by just staying with one of the other crew members who already had a wife or girlfriend. But she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be here with Ben, even if the proximity to him tended to drive her to absolute distraction.

Ben surveyed the piles of clothes all over the bed and raised an eyebrow in Rhythm’s direction.

“I was going to ask if you were ready to go, but from the looks of things you haven’t quite finished packing yet,” he said.

Rhythm sighed. “Yeah, sorry. I thought we weren’t leaving until seven, though? You said you didn’t get off work until five-thirty.”

“I got off a few hours early. Things were slow. Not a lot of storms going on, and all the fisherman seem to be keeping themselves out of trouble. They didn’t need as many rescue crews on duty as they had, so they sent me home.”

“Oh,” Rhythm said, then glanced around at the clothes strewn across her bed. “I’m actually not packed because I can’t find anything to pack for Evan’s funeral. Nothing here seems dressy enough for a funeral. Your friends only sent me one dress, and it’s way too small. I was actually just trying to figure out a way to call them and see if one of them might have something else I could borrow in a different size.”

Ben leaned against the doorframe. “You could do that if you want to,” he said. “But, trust me, I don’t think Evan’s family is going to care how you’re dressed. They’re so grateful for what you did for him.”

“I know,” Rhythm said. “But I still want to feel like I’m properly dressed for the occasion. I want to properly honor Evan’s memory, you know?”

Ben nodded. “I understand. What if we ran into town and went shopping? We have a few extra hours before we were planning to leave, anyway. And I’m sure you’d like to have a few outfits of your own.”

Rhythm picked up a navy t-shirt that was crumpled on the bed next to her and started toying with the tag. “I’d love to have some clothes of my own, but I don’t have any way of paying for them right now. I have to wait until I get my debit and credit cards replaced so I can get access to my funds.”

“Can’t you just go to a bank branch and withdraw some cash?” Ben asked, furrowing his brow.”

Rhythm laughed. “I suppose I could, but the nearest bank branch for my bank is pretty far away. I got the account in California, and they don’t have any locations up here. I’ve been meaning to open an account with a local bank, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“Gotcha,” Ben said. “But it doesn’t matter. Let’s go shopping and I’ll cover the cost of whatever you want to get. It’s the least I can do for you, after you’ve so graciously agreed to help out my crew.”

“No way,” Rhythm said. “I don’t want you to do that. I’d feel bad owing you money.”

“You won’t owe me anything. It’s a gift to you, as a thank you for helping us out. We’re the ones who owe you. I know it’s a big deal for you to stay here instead of hightailing it back to California.”

“I don’t know, Ben. I don’t think I can accept that. You’re already providing me with room and board.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be ridiculous. Grab a coat and let’s get going before we run out of time,” Ben said, and then turned on his heel and walked down the hallway toward the living room. “We’re leaving in five minutes, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Rhythm watched him go, chewing on her lower lip nervously. She did at least need to get something to wear to the funeral tomorrow. And it would be nice to get a few things that were specifically in her size. She could always pay Ben back later, even though he was insisting he didn’t want her to.

Rhythm stood up and sorted through the pile of clothes until she found a jacket, and then slipped on some boots that fit her reasonably well. She would get some stuff today, and just keep track of how much she was spending. Then, once she had access to her money again, she’d insist that Ben take repayment. She knew he’d resist, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Rhythm stuck her chin out defiantly as she walked toward the living room. He had no idea how stubborn she could be.

Ben smiled when he saw her walk out with her coat and shoes on. No doubt, he thought he’d won this battle. Let him think that, though. He didn’t realize who he was dealing with.

“Ready?” Ben asked, already reaching for his keys from the key ring near the door.

“Yup,” Rhythm said. “All ready. I hope you know some clothing stores, because I’m not sure where anything around here is.”

“Don’t worry,” Ben said. “There’s a shopping center in town that has several clothing stores. I’m sure we can find something to suit your taste.”

Rhythm followed Ben out to his car and hopped into the passenger seat. She suddenly felt shy during the fifteen minute drive to the shopping center, as though Ben could somehow read her thoughts and knew that she was secretly swooning over the way he looked. Rhythm chanced a glance over at him, but he seemed oblivious to her quiet demeanor. He was humming along with the song on the radio while tapping his fingers to the beat of the music, and his gaze was fixed on the road ahead.

Rhythm studied his profile for a moment, admiring the strong edge of his jaw line. Even though his looks were what had initially attracted her to him, she was beginning to realize that it was more than just his physical features that were causing the swooning. He had a sense of duty and loyalty that she admired. He wanted his crew taken care of, and when she had offered her help with locating the scientists, he had taken it upon himself to make sure that she was taken care of as well. She had a feeling that she could make any request within reason, and he would make sure that her wish was fulfilled. He wanted her to feel as comfortable and at home as possible in her new situation.

Ben seemed to feel Rhythm’s eyes on her, because he suddenly glanced over. When he caught her eye, her cheeks turned red and she quickly looked away.

“What?” he asked, brushing at his cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”

“No, I was just staring off into space,” Rhythm replied, hoping that he wouldn’t press further.

He didn’t. He went back to humming, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Rhythm had actually been ogling him moments before. A few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of Kodiak’s main shopping center, and Rhythm immediately spotted one of her favorite department stores.

“Let’s try in there,” she said. “They should hopefully have something that will work for the funeral.”

Ben nodded, and fell into step beside her, pushing the button to lock his car with a beep as they walked away. Inside the store, Rhythm felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Something about the familiarity of the place made her feel better. Maybe it sounded silly, but the familiar brand logos on display all around her made her feel like she hadn’t completely lost track of everything in her life.

She stepped into the section where women’s dresses hung, and began quickly browsing through the racks. She chose a few options in shades of black and muted gray, and then grabbed a deep purple dress almost as an afterthought.

“I’m just going to try these on really quickly,” she said to Ben, who nodded and took a seat on one of the plush armchairs right outside the fitting room.

“Let me know if you want an opinion on anything,” he said. “I’m no fashion expert, but I like to think I know what looks good on a woman. Especially a woman as beautiful as you.”

He winked at Rhythm and she felt her cheeks heating up as her heart started racing again. With a nervous giggle, she disappeared into the dressing room. She wasn’t sure if that had been a real attempt at flirtation, or just a friendly tease, but the way her stomach had flip-flopped at his words had been no joke. She needed a moment away from him to catch her breath.

As she quickly slipped out of her borrowed clothes and into the first black dress, she asked herself for the hundredth time what was wrong with her. She wasn’t normally the type to go boy-crazy over a guy, even one as undeniably handsome as Ben. But something about him was drawing her to him. She felt like there was an almost magnetic pull between them, and the more she tried to ignore it, the stronger it became.

Rhythm sighed as she viewed herself in the mirror. The first dress was okay, but kind of boring. She supposed that boring was okay for a funeral. The point was to be respectful, not to be a fashion icon. Still, if she was going to spend some of her limited funds on clothing, she wanted the dress to be something that she would enjoy wearing again on other occasions.

She stripped out of the first dress, and tried on the next three, feeling similarly uninspired by each subsequent outfit. She had just about resigned herself to a boring dress when she saw the purple dress hanging on the wall hook. She eyed it carefully for a moment, and then pulled it off the hanger with a shrug. She might as well try it on, since nothing else had sparked her interest. She pulled it on over her head and struggled with the back zipper for a moment. After finally getting the zipper pulled all the way up, Rhythm eyed herself in the mirror, and her eyes widened.

The dress was perfect on her. It was an elegant, long-sleeved sheath dress, with a hem that hit just above her knees. The neckline was delicately scalloped, adding just a touch of interest to the otherwise conservative design. And the fabric hugged her curves perfectly, putting the emphasis on all the right places. Rhythm turned to the right and then to the left, looking over her shoulder and viewing the outfit from every angle. It was perfect for her, but was it okay for a funeral?

She frowned. She hadn’t been to a funeral in a long time, and she had never been to one in Alaska, let alone one in Alaska for a bear shifter. What were the rules on what you could wear? She didn’t want to offend anyone by not knowing the rules. Would everyone else be wearing strictly black, or something like that? If purple was okay, she definitely wanted this dress.