Page 30 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)

Dustin tapped away at his computer, now ensconced on the desk that had been delivered earlier in the week.

As suspected, Baxter immediately attempted to claim the new furniture as his own personal observation post, and Dustin was determined to disabuse him of the notion one way or another.

The new filing cabinet was now home to the printer, and Baxter wisely left it alone.

The back of the desk, however, contained a narrow shelf which covered the roll top when not in use, and this was where the war for control got started.

Dustin first tried to fill it with stacks of papers and books, only to find that the determined cat enjoyed sprawling on them even better.

Next, he scattered random bric-a-brac over the entire shelf without leaving room between for the heavy kitty.

Baxter simply swatted the offending items to the floor (at two a.m.) and spread out like melted butter.

Dustin’s new plan had yet to be tested, though he spotted the sneaky feline making his way to the corner of the living room with his tail held aloft.

Unbeknownst to him, Dustin had sprayed the shelf with furniture polish and buffed it to a mirror finish.

The only way to get up there was to jump from floor level, and given the cat’s weight and momentum, it was no surprise what happened.

Baxter leaped up, skidded off the shelf with a blood-curdling yowl, rolled over Dustin’s keyboard, and landed with a thump on the floor.

The humiliated puss rocketed out of the room, screeching imprecations at anyone who might be listening.

The aforementioned ruckus, plus Dustin’s unapologetic guffaws, brought Guff running in from the kitchen to see what had happened. The shiny shelf and smell of furniture polish told the tale well enough, and Gruff ruffled his mate’s hair with a chuckle of his own.

“Good idea. He won’t try that again. If you want to do something this afternoon, I’m almost finished in the kitchen.”

Gruff kissed Dustin’s ear and went back the way he came. A minute later, his phone rang with a call from DeeDee.

“Hi. What can I do for you?”

“Would you mind if I stop by for a few minutes? There’s something important we need to discuss.”

Gruff immediately wondered what could be important enough to interrupt her family time on a Sunday, but he had no reason to deny her request.

“Sure. When should we expect you?

“I’ll be bringing Ryder Sinclair along, and we’ll be there in about ten minutes. See you soon.”

DeeDee ended the call so abruptly that Gruff didn’t have time to comment, argue, or even say goodbye.

The sneaky woman was up to something, but why in the world bring Sinclair?

He’d met the man several times, but they hadn’t exchanged more than pleasantries in those few encounters.

Gruff didn’t like the way this was shaping up, and he went to warn Dustin about the impending visit.

############

Dustin barely had enough time to tidy up the downstairs bathroom and plate up some brownies before their guests arrived.

They met in the dining room, with he and Gruff facing DeeDee and Ryder across the table.

Dustin wasn’t prepared for the tall, handsome, ebony-skinned shifter with an air of authority about him.

He already knew that Sinclair was an attorney who had represented Dash many years ago and now worked for Hawthorn as his Executive Assistant—often representing Bear Paw Holdings at official functions.

Neither of them could fathom why he might need to see Gruff, and it worried them.

DeeDee helped herself to a brownie and got the conversation started.

“I apologize for springing this on you without warning, but something has come up which needs to be handled carefully. Several weeks ago, I got a call from Jay and Esther Cunningham. They’d received a letter from an attorney in Pittsburg, and it concerns you, Gruff.

Why don’t you and Dustin read it, and then we’ll answer your questions. ”

She slid the fancy-looking letter across the table and waited while the men read it over. Gruff began huffing in distress as old wounds were ripped open once again. Dustin scooched closer and slipped an arm around his mate’s waist, hoping the contact and his scent would comfort him.

“So Hugo Kennedy was your father?”

Gruff’s strangled growl tugged at Dustin’s heart.

“Yes. That’s what they told me when I got older, anyway. Why are you here? What do they want?”

Gruff motioned towards Ryder, but DeeDee cut in before Sinclair could answer.

“One thing at a time, Gruff. The Cunninghams called me, wondering what to do and asked for my help. I paid them a visit and brought the letter back home to see what I could find out. We didn’t want to upset you unless this was legitimate, and don’t worry—we haven’t spoken to these people and they don’t know your name or where you are. ”

Gruff relaxed a bit when he heard that, and Dustin leaned in to kiss his cheek. DeeDee continued.

“Ryder is here because I asked him to do some digging. As a skilled attorney, and a shifter, he understands the issues involved. I’ll let him explain where things stand at the moment.”

Ryder’s compassion for Gruff only heightened his determination to help the man, if he would let him. He chose his words carefully.

“Pittsburg Wealth Management and Richardson, Hopper, and Smyth are established, professional firms, so we know this isn’t a scam or someone’s idea of a joke.

What I don’t know is why it took someone over twenty years to look into this situation.

Evidently, your father’s estate included either property or investments that were left to his offspring.

If so, they are merely trying to pass along your rightful inheritance, and they can’t until they prove you really exist and that you truly are Kennedy’s heir.

“If I become your legal representative in this matter, they can speak freely about their search, and I can keep your true identity a secret while you decide what to do. All it takes is signing a form I’ve brought along with me.

You won’t have any financial obligation whatsoever. Dash and I simply want to help.”

Gruff remained quiet, utterly lost and unable to think. Dustin could tell he needed help, but wouldn’t ask for it. He turned to their guests.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but would you wait in the living room for a minute while I talk to Gruff?”

DeeDee nodded as they both rose and left the room. Gruff heaved a great sigh and let his mate’s scent ground him. He didn’t want to deal with any of this, but Dustin’s quiet confidence was like a soothing balm. The man looked him in the eye and began speaking softly.

“I know you’re upset, and I understand why, but maybe this is the best way to face your past and put it behind you.

Despite what he did, your father wasn’t a bad person.

He made a poor decision, but he didn’t ask to be rejected or to lose his mind with grief.

He must have cared very much for your mother and her cubs, or he wouldn’t have arranged to provide for all of you.

And don’t forget that Ryder won Dash’s lawsuit after Harv was killed.

He’s already promised to protect your identity, and if there is an inheritance, why not accept what belongs to you like your father intended?

A lot of good can come from this, and whatever happens, I’ll be right here beside you. ”

Gruff pulled Dustin into his arms while he thought, needing the physical connection more than ever.

It was true that the Cunninghams, Tillmans, Dash, and Ryder only wanted to help him.

So while he’d never truly been alone, it was Dustin who gave him the courage he’d been lacking.

Together, Gruff felt as if they could face anything life threw at them.

He nuzzled his mate’s neck and gave him an answer.

“All right, Dusty. Let’s see what Ryder finds out and go from there.”

Dustin pulled away with a smile, cradled Gruff’s face with both hands, and kissed him firmly on the mouth.

“That’s the spirit! You’re stronger than you think, love.”

Ryder and DeeDee had feared that Gruff would refuse to pursue the matter, but they’d underestimated the power of Dustin’s influence.

After Gruff signed the simple legal form, Ryder explained that if everything checked out to his satisfaction, the law firm would likely require him to take a genetic test.

“If it’s a match, the inheritance will be yours, and no one will be able to contest it. I can also help you decide what to do with it, if you need financial advice. You’ve made the right decision, Gruff, and I’ll call you as soon as I have news.”

############

Mid-October

Dustin finished checking in another shipment of Christmas merchandise.

While it might seem a bit early to be dealing with holiday items, he actually should have begun the ordering process a month sooner.

The biggest problem now was where to put it all, and he asked two of his younger employees to bring it to the second floor storage room.

Not only would he need more shelving and display space, all of the new merch had to be added to the website.

Busy as they were, Dustin reminded himself that it was a good problem to have.

Opening the Red Barn had been an enormous undertaking for a small operation, and a huge financial risk.

They’d been fortunate to exceed sales goals right from the start, easing some of the angst of starting a new business.

Gruff was more than pleased, crediting Dustin for their success.

In truth, the two of them made a terrific management team and their employees were top-notch.

With a lot of community support, hard work, and a little luck added to the mix, failure wasn’t in the cards.

Aside from the business, Gruff and Dustin were enjoying their new domestic life.

Neither of them had lived with a roommate or partner before, and Dustin expected some of the classic difficulties involved with sharing space.

Surprisingly, no serious issues arose, as they were both easy-going and understood the value of compromise.

Gruff and his bear were delighted to have the quiet old house filled with the sounds and scents of their mate, while Dustin felt right at home with his sweet, sexy man.

The one thing that remained unchanged was where they slept and made love—in Dustin’s second-floor bedroom.

Gruff had brought up some underwear for convenience, but only used his old room to change clothes.

Unless they were bathing together, Dustin mostly performed his ablutions upstairs and Gruff downstairs.

The system worked for them, and the need for this separation was never discussed.

Dustin believed they would be truly mated one day, and refusing to pressure his man allowed Gruff to relax and enjoy their time together.

What did change after Dustin moved in was Gruff’s consent to be more social.

Aside from grocery shopping and the like, the pair went out to eat, paid the McCoys a visit, and visited nearby parks to enjoy nature.

Each time, it became easier for the scarred shifter to let down his defenses—freeing him from his self-imposed confinement.

On one occasion, Gruff caught someone staring at him, and Dustin merely packed on the PDA.

Later, he shared something Gruff had never considered.

“I think some people stare because your scars make you even more handsome. They give you an air of mystery that some people find irresistible. I mean, you’re gorgeous anyway, but it should be illegal how hot you are!”

Gruff’s initial response was to reject Dustin’s praise, but the comments planted a seed which slowly grew in the back of his mind.

He’d always considered the scars as disfigurement, and the primary reason no one would ever be interested in mating with him.

Dustin’s presence in his life had already demolished that assumption, and Gruff began to look at himself differently.

The boost to his self-esteem, even if it was nonsense, gave him increased confidence, and Dustin’s honest praise meant more than any stranger’s opinion.

All of that had softened him up for Dustin’s request to attend the fall concert at the high school tonight.

Like the amphitheater visit, Gruff typically avoided being out in the public eye for any length of time.

The school concert would be even worse though, with all the townspeople concentrated in one place and nowhere to hide once they arrived.

Rarely seen in public, Gruff would stick out like a sore thumb, and having Dustin on his arm would call attention to their relationship.

On the other hand, attending with Dustin by his side was the only way to survive the outing.

Refusing to go would have disappointed his mate and hurt his feelings, which he refused to do.

Besides, as Gruff’s bear pointed out, being seen together proved that Dustin was taken.

That alone was worth almost any amount of discomfort, and if he ended up enjoying himself anyway, all the better.