Bearview Bride (BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (18 page)

“That’s all?” Tess smiled. “Talk to city hall, they can’t be that hard to get.”

“Not hard. Expensive.”

Tess’s brow crinkled. “What?”

“They’re going to cost ten grand, Tess.” Cade rubbed his face. “I don’t have ten grand. I don’t have anything.”

He thought she would comfort him, tell him that everything would be all right. But instead she stiffened, her expression turning from confusion to anger.

“Is that what this is about?”

Cade blinked, confused. “The permits?” Was she mad he’d kept that news from her?

“This is because I told you about my father’s gear, isn’t it?” She was practically bristling with rage.

He tried to take a step back, but was blocked by the sink. “What?”

“I’m not stupid, Cade. I know this isn’t some big coincidence. I told you last night that I could get five grand for my dad’s lens, and you gave me five grand for this gig. So you know I have the money you want.”

Was his nightmare not over? What was even happening? “That’s not—”

“Don’t even bother. I trusted you. I thought you were better, but obviously you’re just like the rest of them.”

Whipping around, she stormed into the hall.

Cade managed to follow her. This really felt like some bizarre dream. This wasn’t the Tess he knew at all.

In her room, Tess was hurling clothes into her bag. Throwing it over her shoulder, she grabbed the case of camera gear.

“Where are you going?” Cade heard himself ask.

“Anywhere but here.” With her hands full, Tess was unable to wipe the tears from her eyes. Cade had the perverse desire to do it for her.

“Can I at least carry something for you?”

Tess swiveled away from him, guarding the case. “Stay away from me.”

Cade held up his hands. “All right, all right. I just don’t understand. What is this all about? I don’t want your money, I swear.”

“It’s too late, Cade. I don’t believe you.” Stalking past him, she ran down the stairs.

Cade watched her go, stunned. He had so many questions to ask her. He felt that he should stop her, try to reason with her, but his feet were rooted to the ground.

The double doors swung shut.

Cade sat heavily at the top of the steps. One minute, things had been fine. The next, his life lay in ruins. It felt like invisible shrapnel had ripped through the lodge, through him. What had gone wrong? Why had she been so angry about the permits? She didn’t really think he had been asking her for money, had she? Had he said something wrong?

He stared at the double doors, willing them to swing back open, for Tess to come flouncing back and announce that everything had been an elaborate practical joke. But she was gone.

The wedding. Fear swept through him. The wedding was tomorrow, and their photographer had just walked out on him. He lowered his head to his hands. How was he supposed to fix that? Everyone would be furious—the bride, the groom, the mother of the bride, and most of all, his own mother. She had trusted him to take care of this, and it had crumbled in his hands.

What was he going to do? He thought he could trust Tess. Cade gritted his teeth. He had hired her, vouched for her. He had even given her the entire stipend upfront, money he could have used to hire another photographer, or at least pay off a chunk of the permits.

But no. He had spent all of the family’s money on a lift system they didn’t have permission to put in, and hired a photographer who bailed on him after one wedding.

This was a nightmare, but a waking one. They were going to lose Bearview. Worst of all, it was all his fault.

The double doors stood firmly in place. She was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.

Feeling hollow inside, Cade forced himself to his feet. He didn’t know if he could forgive her for this.

***

The engine whined as Tess pushed it to its limits. She needed to get to Shady Pines as soon as possible. This was an emergency that only her best friend could help her with.

In the backseat, the camera case thudded against the car door as she took a turn too fast. Tess gripped the wheel, blinking tears from her eyes.

She thought she knew Cade. How could she have been so wrong?

The tears started again. Angrily, she brushed them away. Worst of all, this meant that her mother was right. She was a fool to think that love could have lasted, even for a short time.

Worried that she might wrench the steering wheel clean off, Tess relaxed her grip. This was fine. In fact, she felt better with every mile that she drove away from Mount Bliss. She had been under a spell earlier—that was all. Cade had come so close to fooling her. But now she knew the kind of man he really was, and every moment from here on out would be better than the last.

Tess sniffled. If that were true, then why did her chest ache so much?

Keeping her eyes on the road, she tried to focus on nothing but the white and yellow lines. All she had to do was get to Aubrey’s place. Her friend would help in a way that no one else could.

Somehow, Tess made it to Shady Pines in one piece. She screeched to a halt in the parking lot, not caring that she wasn’t parked between the lines. Throwing open the door, she raced up the steps.

Tess knocked on Aubrey’s door. “Come on,” she muttered. “Open up.”

There was no answer. Tess was about to knock again when she realized that it was a Thursday afternoon, and Aubrey would still be at work.

Tess cursed. Digging her cell phone out of her bag, she called Aubrey with shaking fingers.

It rang three times. Four. Five. Tess dabbed her eyes on her sleeve. She didn’t think she was capable of leaving a voicemail.

“Hello?”

“Aubrey!” It took all of Tess’s strength to keep from instantly collapsing into tears. “I left Bearview. I really need a place to stay. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Tess, slow down! I can barely understand you. Let me go out back.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Tess put a hand to her mouth to try and keep the sobs at bay. She was only partially successful.

“All right,” Aubrey said at last. “What happened?”

Tess took a deep breath. “I left my job. I couldn’t stay there, but I don’t know where to go. I don’t want to be alone right now.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I wish I could be there. Where are you?”

Tess let out a hiccupping sob. “I’m outside your door. I’m sorry, I forgot you were at work.”

“Well, there’s a key under the mat. Let yourself in. Make yourself a drink, lie down, watch a movie. I think there are some lemon bars in the pantry. I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll be there soon. Just a few hours. Hang in there.”

“Thanks, Aubrey. I’ll try.” She hung up before she could distract her friend any more. The last thing she needed was to get Aubrey fired.

Tess lifted the corner of the mat to get the key. Trudging down the stairs, she retrieved her belongings, or at least the ones she’d been able to grab. Tess sighed. She might have left some things at Bearview, but she wasn’t going back for them. Cade could keep them, or burn them for all she cared.

Once her things were inside, Tess shut the door behind her. Though the apartment wasn’t hers, the place still felt like a sanctuary. She would be safe here.

Rummaging through the cabinets, Tess did as Aubrey suggested. First, she made a drink. Even for an emergency of this magnitude, it was still too early for wine. Besides, Tess didn’t trust that she wouldn’t drink Aubrey’s entire supply.

Taking a glass of ice water and a pan of lemon bars to the couch, Tess settled in. She turned on the television, though her eyes glazed over and she didn’t really hear anything the talk show host said.

She was pretty sure multiple hosts had come and gone as the shows blended together. Time seemed to have lost all meaning. Tess curled up, pulling Aubrey’s afghan over her legs. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this miserable. Losing her father, of course, but that was like a black hole that nothing could compare to. This was almost worse, because although Cade hadn’t died, her opinion of him had.

No one could be as perfect as he had seemed to be.

Tess closed her eyes, trying not to think about how terrible she felt. Where was Aubrey? She needed her.

Tess awoke to the sound of a key in the latch.

“Here I am,” Aubrey said. “Had to stay late, sorry. A customer came in at the last minute wanting three birthday cakes.”

“Three?”

“She has triplets. Three adorable little boys, so I didn’t mind.”

Tess sat up, retrieving the empty pan she’d shoved under the couch. “I’m glad you’re here. And don’t hate me, but I ate all your lemon bars. I meant to save you half, then three, then one, but… it didn’t go according to plan.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Aubrey took the pan from her, depositing it in the sink. “I can always make more lemon bars. Or huckleberry popsicles. Or plum tarts. Or mint white chocolate mousse cake.”

“Stop it. You’re making me hungry.”

“Well?” Aubrey grinned. “Just tell me what you want. I’d have to run out and get some huckleberries, though.”

“Could you possibly make some of your triple chocolate cupcakes?”

“For you?” Aubrey threw on her apron like it was a superhero cape. “Anything.”

By the time the cupcakes were in the oven, Aubrey had coaxed all the details out of Tess.

“You think I did the right thing, don’t you?” Tess asked. “I couldn’t have stayed there, right?”

Aubrey seemed much more intent on her task of drying the mixing bowl than she needed to be.

“Aubrey?”

Her friend sighed. “I don’t know, Tess. You might have jumped the gun a bit.”

Tess felt like she might be sick. “What? Why?”

“From what you told me, Cade sounds like a really nice guy. Maybe even a perfect guy.” Aubrey looked up at her. “Did he actually ask you for money?”

“But he—”

“Tess, did he ask you or not?”

Her heart beat uncomfortably against her ribs. “He just told me that he didn’t have ten grand to pay for the permits. But he knows that I have a lens worth five grand, and the five grand he gave me. Just because he didn’t ask right then doesn’t mean he wasn’t going to.” Tess slumped onto the counter. “My mom was right.”

“Was she really? Your mom has a cynical streak a mile wide when it comes to men. All men. And how has that worked out for her?” Aubrey set the mixing bowl on the counter. “Do you really think he wanted ten grand more than he wanted you?” she asked gently.

Tess’s stomach dropped. She had accused him of wanting her money, then walked out on him. Cade was a good man, the best kind of man. But she had taken the happiness they’d shared and smashed it, and now it was broken beyond repair. He deserved someone far better than her.

“Oh, Aubrey.” Tess buried her face in her hands. “What have I done?”

Crossing the kitchen, Aubrey stroked her back. “It’ll be okay. Why don’t you talk to him after you photograph the wedding tomorrow?”

“What? Aubrey, I can’t go back there. He’ll hate me.”

“He’ll only hate you if you don’t go. Tess, if you care for him at all, you have to photograph that wedding.”

“I guess.” Tess gazed at the cupcakes baking in the oven. She wasn’t feeling so hungry anymore.

Aubrey put her hands on her hips. “Tess Holt. Look me in the eye and promise me you’ll photograph that wedding.”

“Why?” Tess asked dully.

“Because if you don’t, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. And I’m the one who’ll have to hear you complain about it.”

“All right, all right. I’ll go. But I’m not going to talk to him.”

Aubrey stowed the mixing bowl and other dishes in the cupboard. “Suit yourself. As long as you take those photos.”

Tess resisted the urge to slide off her stool and onto the linoleum floor. Going back to Bearview would be awful. Even if she didn’t have to speak to Cade, how could she possibly face him?

There was only one way she could bear it—if it was the last time she’d ever have to see him.

Taking a breath, Tess made up her mind. After the wedding, she would sell her father’s telephoto lens. But instead of using the money to fly to Africa, she’d use it to get a fresh start. Somewhere on the East Coast might be nice, where she could gaze at waves instead of mountains.

Getting away from Yonder was paramount. Everything else could wait, even her photo trip. She would miss Aubrey terribly, but they could stay in touch. Tess just couldn’t live here anymore.

There were too many memories.

Chapter Sixteen

C
ADE STOOD IN
the lobby, trying to pretend that he didn’t want to die.

“This is so lovely,” the mother of the bride said. “Kristen is so happy she chose Bearview. Just one thing, where is the photographer? Kristen’s about to get ready, and I thought those photos were part of the package.”

He had to tell her. This had gone on long enough. There was nothing to be gained by waiting any longer—the only question was just how bad the fallout would be.

“I have some bad news about the photographer,” Cade said, bracing himself for what could be a meltdown of nuclear proportions. “She’s—”

The double doors swung open. To his infinite relief, Tess strode in, camera bag over one shoulder. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “There was a traffic jam on the road up.”

“I didn’t know there was much traffic around these parts,” the mother of the bride said, clearly miffed.

“Unfortunately, it was an elk traffic jam. They’re known to be incredibly inconsiderate of people’s schedules.” Tess held out her hand. “I’m Tess Holt, and I’m honored to photograph the wedding today.” She smiled. “You must be the mother of the bride.”

The woman’s reserve seemed to be melting. “How could you tell?”

“You have a glow about you. It’s contagious. Could I get a picture?”

The woman blinked. “Just of me? Right now?”

“Yes, please. You look gorgeous.”

“All right, if you insist.” The mother of the bride beamed as Tess snapped a photo.

Cade marveled at how she’d mended everything with a few words.