Too Much To Bear Read online

  Lifting a hand to salute him, she went to prepare his meal, laughing to herself the whole way.

  As the clock ticked on and the customers finished their meals and headed home into the dark night, Willa busied herself cleaning up and shutting down the equipment. Looking up at the clock, she worried that she’d let herself get excited for nothing.

  The bell above the door jingled and she leaned to the side to look through the pass. The woman standing just inside the doorway made her stare. Elegant. Willa could see enough of the woman’s outfit to know that she had a serious flare for style. She was sharp and put together like no one’s business. From her perfectly coiffed stark-white hair to the precision of her make-up, the woman was like a mature, classy pin-up of power.

  Looking down at her own outfit. From her comfortable blouse, to her comfortable jeans to her slip on easy-rise chef clogs, she looked like a complete drudge compared to the woman in the dining room.

  “Miss Barnes?”

  She gulped, nervous, but she wasn’t going to hide… yet. “Yes?”

  Turning toward the sound of Willa’s voice, the woman ducked down to look through the pass and gave her a little smile. “Miss Barnes, I’m glad you’re still here.”

  “I was still clearing down from tonight. If you’ll take any seat, I’ll clean my hands and be right out.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Leaning over the sink, Willa turned on the sink and squirted some soap in her hands, making quick and thorough work of cleaning her hands before she turned off the water and grabbed a towel from the dispenser.

  Taking a moment to pull herself together, she walked into the dining room. Miss Wilder met her gaze instantly and her smile put Willa at ease.

  “Would you like something to drink? A snack? Dessert?” Willa rambled off the words before she blurted out. “It’s on me.”

  Gerri waved her off. “This isn’t about serving me… I think it’s the other way around.” Gesturing to the seat opposite her at the table, Gerri folded her hands and set her forearms on the table. “I’m a matchmaker.”

  Willa’s eyes stared back with shock.

  “I find the perfect partner for each of my clients.”

  “The perfect partner?” Willa could hear the scratch of nerves in her throat. “When Mr. Poston said you would make my dreams come true, I thought he was joking, but to find my perfect partner… I think you’ve met your match.”

  Gerri shook her head, her expression unchanging. “Perfect match, I have yours. You’re the perfect woman for him. You want a family. You want to find a kind and caring man, and raise a houseful of kids … that’s who I’ve got for you… if you’re serious about this.”

  Willa felt the air rush out of her lungs. She felt a little dizzy. “If you’re seriously telling me that you know a man who wants a woman like me, I’m afraid that I need to take you to get your head examined.

  “I’m a hard worker and I’m a talented cook, but I’m certainly not some pretty little mail-order bride.”

  “I don’t do mail-order brides, Willa. I find matches. I know what makes the heart thunder and the rest of you quiver. I don’t do false fronts. I do soul-deep matches. Isn’t that something you want?”

  “Isn’t that what anyone wants?” Willa struggled to tame her voice, “I just don’t see a prince slipping a glass slipper on my wide feet.”

  Gerri Wilder was a force of nature. And at that moment she filled the room with her sigh. “I never promised a glass slipper. They cut into the heel and the Achilles’ tendons. What I do is match people and I know I don’t make mistakes. Look.”

  Gerri pulled out a folder from her purse and set it before Willa on the table. “His name is Boone Wayland. A total cuddly bear of a man who could melt you like a pat of butter on toast.”

  Willa wanted to open the folder, but she wasn’t sure. “Do you need to take my picture or have me fill something out?”

  “Oh, sure, but that’s just a formality. I know you’ll be perfect.”

  “Because of Mr. Poston?”

  “Of course! The man is a shrewd judge of character and you, he singled out, as a gem among gems. You’re kind, gentle, loving, and can cook like there’s no tomorrow.”

  She smiled. “I take it that Boone has a good appetite?”

  Gerri leaned on the table and gave her a big wink and a soft chuckle. “I think he’d eat you up, Willa.”

  Willa licked her lips at the image that sprung up into her head. And by the throaty laughter across the table she knew that Gerri had understood exactly where her mind had gone.

  “I’m not just looking for a guy for… you know-”

  “Sex?”

  Even though the diner was closed, Willa still looked around. “Yes, although I wouldn’t turn down the right guy.”

  “Trust me, Willa. Boone Wayland is the right guy.” Gerri opened the folder and pointed to the picture.

  “Oh wow.”

  Gerri’s laughter took on an almost wistful quality. “I had a feeling you’d say something like that,” she giggled, almost like a young girl, “or nothing at all. Just try not to drool on the picture.”

  “He’s really… real?”

  Willa looked at the tall man standing on the porch of what looked to be some kind of wilderness lodge. The porch railings and posts were made from branches and tree trunks, the furniture covered in dark patterned material with a forest color scheme. And if everything behind him was a normal size, he appeared to be a giant of sorts. His features were strong, almost brooding, but there wasn’t any darkness in his eyes. Maybe she was romanticizing him a little too much, but she could swear his eyes were almost pleading with her.

  His shoulders were broad, barely contained by the long sleeve cambric shirt that molded to his arms and did nothing to hide the thick corded muscle under it.

  Gerri leaned closer. “Have you gotten to the jeans, yet?”

  She must have been reading her mind because what Boone Wayland did for worn denim jeans was sinfully delicious. The fabric looked like it had been spread over his skin like fresh butter and yet she was the one who was melting.

  Swallowing hard, Willa managed to get a breath into her lungs. “He needs help finding a woman?”

  “I know, right?” Gerri laughed again and sat back in her chair. “He’s sex on a very woodsy stick, but it’s not just the man that you get with the deal.”

  A cold rush of feeling rolled over her. “I don’t share.” Unbidden, the image of Charlie skipping out the front door with Marie came into her head.

  “Really?” Gerri sounded disappointed. “I thought Bob said you wanted children.”

  The clenched muscles of her heart started to beat again and she felt her skin warm all over. “He has children?”

  Gerri reached over and pulled out the photo tucked in behind Boone’s. “He’s got five boys that I know of, but knowing Boone he’s probably added another one to the collection.” Gerri pointed down at the photo and Willa looked down to see the photo of Boone’s boys and she felt her heart skip a few beats. The boys were all in their teens. Different heights and sizes, all healthy and fit, all smiling in varying degrees. They were a ragtag group, but they all looked like they belonged, a family.

  “Boone was on his own during his teen years. It took him awhile to find out where he belonged, how to make his life a good one. Now that he owns his own business and can offer a good solid home to others, he’s doing it.”

  “That’s such a wonderful thing to do for the boys.”

  Willa wanted to know the story behind the photo. The boys may be smiling and well groomed, but she had a feeling that all of the hands that were out of sight in the photo were up to mischief and it made her like them all the more because of it. Someone was likely one moment away from rabbit ears and there was probably one boy on the verge of a wedgie.

  “The last woman that Boone was involved with tried to get him to give up the boys, put them in a boarding school nearly three states away from him.�
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  “I would have gotten rid of her too,” Willa agreed. “She didn’t deserve them if that’s how she felt.” Closing the folder, she handed it back to Gerri. “I’d like to fill in my part of the form, please.”

  Gerri handed her the form and a pen. “I knew it.”

  As Willa filled in the answers she couldn’t help the anticipation she felt in her chest, pounding along with her heart.

  “Tell me, Willa dear, what your schedule is like this week?”

  “This week?” Willa looked up and saw that Gerri Wilder was absolutely serious. “So fast? Doesn’t he live in,” she tried to remember the name, “Sylvan City. That’s a few hours at least by car.”

  “Are you saying that you’re busy?”

  “No!” Willa laughed at how quickly she’d answered. “I’m not. Whenever he can get here,” she grinned, “I want to meet him.”

  Gerri Wilder sat back in her chair, folded her arms over her chest and gave Willa a look like she was a cat with a full contented belly and a mouse’s tail trapped under her foot. “You’re going to love him, Willa. I just know it.”

  When the phone rang at the lodge it only took a moment for the boys to settle. They’d all been more than enthused by Boone’s search for a mate, after all, they wanted him happy even though some of them gave him crap about his need for some sexy times…

  Boone crossed the room in seconds and picked up the phone. He knew full well that the boys were listening in to his part of the conversation and held the phone tightly to his ear so that the boys couldn’t hear the other side.

  Nodding, he murmured a couple of answers and then he hung up the phone and gave the boys a look. The whole bunch of them were camped out on the sectional sofa for movie night. They had just popped in the DVD and were waiting for the machine to load the menu screen. “Think you guys can handle a few days on your own?”

  “No worries, Boone. We can handle things around here while you’re gettin’ it on,” laughing at his own joke, Cobb almost fell off the back of the end of the couch.

  Boone’s smile disappeared from his face. “This isn’t about sex, Cobb. I want a mate. Sex is easy, commitment and family are hard work.”

  “You don’t have to tell us about family, you know.”

  Boone let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “I know, Bolt. Just like I know you boys know better. If,” he shook his head, “if I’m lucky enough that this woman is interested in me, willing to come here and see what life would be like with this whole motley crew, I don’t want any ‘funny’ comments… what happens between me and a woman isn’t to give you guys something to laugh about.”

  Chad flopped down on the sofa and threw his leg over the arm. “Don’t worry, Boone. We got it.” He nodded his head at the others. “We can be civilized when we want to.”

  Boone couldn’t help the half smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Civilization is part of the problem, boys. But I do expect you to be kind and respectful if we’re lucky enough to have someone take a chance on us.”

  “Chance?” Pino looked up from his worktable at the back of the room. “Any woman willing to put up with us would be a saint.”

  “Still,” Boone took in the motley crew lounging around the living room, “I’m going to ask Dev and Paige to stop by and check in a couple of times, so clothes on.”

  Chad stretched and managed to avoid a poke in the ribs from another boy. “Dev’s a shifter like us, so it shouldn’t matter.”

  Boone’s arched brow was telling, but it was Bolt that shot back an answer. “Paige is carrying his cub. If you think he’d let you flash your naked anything in front of his mate, you better think again.”

  That took the wind out of Chad’s sails. “Why don’t you have Cage check in with us. The Colonel lets us work out at the gym when we want to.”

  Shaking his head, Boone gave Chad a warning look. “Cage has some things he’s taking care of at the moment. Last I heard he was in England on a family matter.”

  That got the attention of the other boys. Pino set his pencil down. “He doesn’t have family.”

  Boone gave them all a smile. “Now he does. So, if you boys don’t mind, I’m going to pack a bag. I have a plane to catch tomorrow.”

  Alone in his bedroom, Boone managed to pick out a few shirt and pants combinations, adding in the usual socks, undershirts, underwear, and his travel bag of grooming supplies. It didn’t help that he’d changed his mind a few times, swapping out shirts, thinking about what colors he thought a woman might like.

  Not just a woman.

  The woman.

  His mate.

  The sound of it, even as a thought, elicited a growl from his bear. Lumbering up onto his feet, the bear bellowed at him.

  No, he told his bear, we’re not leaving tonight. Tomorrow.

  The bear thought that was a stupid idea.

  Boone looked at the other side of his bed, the side that he never used, the side that he wouldn’t even set his suitcase on, and imagined his mate sitting on that side looking up at him, smiling… her hand over her rounded belly.

  Ours.

  The bear was happy to share the image with him, but the warm rumble of satisfaction Boone felt through his link couldn’t compare with the rolling heat that spread through his body. He couldn’t wait to see who Gerri had paired him with. She had offered him a photo of the woman, but Boone had refused. He would be with her soon enough and if he knew what she looked like, he doubted that he’d be able to get any sleep. Just thinking of the possibility of meeting his mate had him hard and aching. If he was able to add an image in his head, he’d likely spend all night dreaming about her, and dreams like that left him restless.

  He wanted their first meeting to be easy and fun and showing up with a hard-on to pick her up for their date… that didn’t seem like a good first step toward the rest of their lives together.

  When he’d finally zippered up his suitcase and fallen into bed, he fell asleep with images of hair the color of corn silk and the temptation of butter-soft skin. This mystery woman filled his dreams and kept him tossing all night long. He tried to ignore the thoughts, the images, he wanted to focus. He couldn’t wait to meet his mate.

  Chapter Three

  When Willa walked into the restaurant, she was barely holding it together. She wasn’t going to run scared. She’d spent the last two years waiting for Charlie to decide she had paid her dues, supporting him while he’d done everything to forward his career. Willa had fought with herself that afternoon, having closed the diner after lunch to get ready, she’d gone through a good half-dozen outfits as she reminded herself that this was her time to take a chance and not just wait for happy, but to go after it.

  And still, even when the hostess assured her that her ‘party’ was waiting, Willa had to hold herself together.

  But rather than placate herself with silly pep-talks, she relied on something as familiar to herself as breathing… baking.

  Her mind clicked into the calming rhythm of reciting a recipe. ‘The key to a good soufflé is the proper method of folding the egg whites into the batter and… and-’

  And then she saw Boone Wayland. He stood up from his chair when he saw her walking in with the hostess. Wow. The photo that Gerri had shown her hadn’t done him real justice.

  He was big and broad like the Matterhorn mountain she’d seen in Disneyland, but while she knew climbing a mountain would never be something she’d enjoy, as they walked up to the table, Willa decided she wouldn’t mind climbing his muscle-bound frame.

  Down, girl.

  The hostess stepped back with a smile as Boone walked around the table to hold out Willa’s chair.

  Trying desperately to ignore the appreciative looks that the hostess was giving her date, Willa had to concentrate to sit down carefully and not end up tripping herself up on her heels.

  Once she was scooted close enough to take hold of her napkin, she expected to see Boone take his chair again. Instead, she saw hi
s heavy shadow slowly envelop her place setting on the table.

  A tickle of sensation against her ear made her wonder if it was his carefully trimmed beard brushing against her skin, or his breath. Either way, she sighed and felt heat spark at the apex of her thighs.

  “You look absolutely beautiful, Willa.”

  She opened her mouth to respond in kind, but nothing came out besides a silent exhale. Even when he settled back into his chair on the opposite side of the table she couldn’t do much more than swallow and blush.

  The waiter walked up with a smile and a quirky little grin, he set a plate down on the table between them. “The appetizer you ordered, sir.” He passed an appreciative look over Willa before he turned back to Boone. “Enjoy.”

  Willa’s blush faded from her cheeks as she heard a low growl from across the table. The delicate champagne flute before her trembled.

  The waiter rushed off with a mumbled apology leaving Willa wide-eyed and Boone apologetic.

  “I am sorry for that.”

  “That was you?” She pressed a hand to her chest and felt her heart thundering in her chest.

  She saw him nod.

  “I didn’t like the way he looked at you,” his voice still had a little bit of a growl in it, “or what I heard in his voice.”

  Her cheeks flushed with color again. “I wonder if we’ll get any service after that.”

  Boone looked down at the plate between them and gave a little grimace at the dish. “I’m not a food service professional like you, but…”

  Willa looked down at the plate sitting epicenter on the table between them, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “It looks like they gave us the garnish and left the actual dish in the kitchen.” There were perhaps half-dozen little bits of frizzy greens and a dollop of something that looked like a gel of some sort.

  “And that bubbly stuff,” he wondered, “is there a name for that?”

  Willa leaned closer to the table and poked one of the tines of her fork at it, popping the bubble and dissolving more of it. “Oh,” she laughed, “I’ve seen that before. It’s a foam.”