Double Bear Chase: Werebear BBW Menage Romance (Hockey Bear Season Book 3) Read online

  “Okay, so you know why you’re angry. Does your anger help solve the problem? Or is it a hindrance?” Hanna asked, still as impassive as ever.

  That took the steam out of Jake’s sails, if for a moment.

  “They need to know what they’re doing isn’t right,” he argued after a few seconds.

  “But is trashing the new guy’s desk really the right approach for achieving your goals?” Hanna queried, arching a brow at him. “Or are you letting your feelings control your actions?”

  Jake paced around the room. With some food for thought, he seemed to be edging back from his rage, into the territory of strong annoyance. Finally, he sank back into his chair with a long sigh.

  “What was it that I was supposed to do again? That ‘count to ten and breathe deeply’ bullshit?” he asked, sounding somewhat defeated, if still resentful and bitter.

  “It’s not bullshit if it works,” Hanna reminded him.

  She was just about to turn to Claire, one of the women in the counseling group, when her boss poked his head in between the door.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Matt said. “But you’re ten minutes over and we need the room,” he added, pointing to the watch on his wrist.

  “Right, sorry,” she quickly apologized, turning to her patients. “I’ll see you next week. Remember what I said. There’s a difference between venting and whipping yourself into a frenzy.”

  None of her patients seemed particularly impressed by that tidbit of wisdom as they all filed out into the hallway, probably off to the jobs that mandated this course for them in the first place.

  It’s just the third session. Everyone’s reluctant at first, she reminded herself. Change is hard.

  That was definitely true, as she had experienced herself lately. Leaving behind a whole life wasn’t easy, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was a far cry from her home in Orlando, Florida. But there was a certain excitement in turning a new leaf, and she embraced it fully. Besides, it’s not like she’d had much of a choice, anyway.

  “Sorry, Matt,” she smiled, apologizing again. “Jake got on a bit of a rant.”

  “It’s alright,” the man waved dismissively.

  Matt was a little older than her, with more pronounced laugh-lines and an overall kind face. He looked exactly like you’d think a stereotypical therapist would look like, down to the tweed jacket and carefully polished, orthopedic shoes.

  She appreciated her new boss’ friendly nature, especially since she was pretty much all alone in this new city. Getting hired hadn’t been difficult, not with her track record and qualifications. But finding the time to make new friends was harder.

  Which was why she appreciated Matt being so nice and helpful right off the bat. He even helped her find the apartment she was now renting. It seemed things were coming together in her new home of South Dakota. Hanna still wasn’t thrilled about leaving her own practice behind in favor of working in a counseling center, but it was part of her fresh start and she was learning to accept it.

  Besides, she liked a challenge. And handling the anger management cases was certainly no walk in the park. But what mattered was she was still using her skill set to help people, and that was most important, after all. The people she counseled had their anger take over their lives, and she was glad to give them back any shred of control she could.

  I can certainly relate to having your whole life derailed, she thought with an edge of bitterness.

  But she brushed those feelings aside. She did what she had to do, and no good could come from dwelling in the past. Looking forward was what was going to get her through this transition, that much she was sure of.

  At least I’m safe now, she told herself, taking a deep breath as she smiled at Matt.

  “I’ve been contacted by someone… A friend. He’s concerned about his employees and has asked me for help. I know you’re busy with group sessions, but you’re the best we have. Would you consider taking on new patients?

  “You said you wanted to start slow, but this might be a case that needs your expertise,” he said, carefully choosing his words. “It’s not an official request by any means, just a question,” he quickly added, noticing her hesitance.

  It was true, Hanna had made her schedule sparse for a reason. With her own issues to deal with, she had thought it would be a good idea to not rush back into things. But with Matt looking at her the way he was, she couldn’t really say ‘no’. Not after all he’d done to help her. The least she could do was return the favor.

  “Of course, I’ll help,” she smiled, even though her gut twisted up with anxiety.

  If Matt was asking her, specifically, she knew it wouldn’t be an easy case. But she already agreed, and there was no turning back now. All she could do was hope she hadn’t been too hasty in jumping back into the deep end.

  “Great,” Matt beamed, before handing her a piece of paper. “I’m guessing you know the Sioux Falls Savages?” he asked.

  “I’ve heard the name, but I’m not really a hockey fan,” Hanna shrugged, wondering what South Dakota’s prominent sports team had to do with anything.

  “Two of their players have been acting out of sorts lately, and the coach is an old friend of mine. Here’s his card, with the names of the players on the back. I really do appreciate this,” he said, before turning to leave.

  “No problem,” Hanna replied evenly, turning over the piece of paper in her hands.

  Finn and Foster Caldwell, it read.

  Huh, she thought briefly, recalling the man who had introduced himself to her just a couple of nights ago. Must be a popular name in South Dakota.

  Sitting down at her laptop, she decided to look these guys up. They were bound to have a public profile, and whatever information she could dig up could really help her prepare for the session.

  Typing the names in, she gasped aloud when a picture of the two men popped up, shoulder to shoulder, smiling in their Savages jerseys.

  This cannot be happening, she groaned, recognizing them immediately.

  Five

  Hanna

  Hanna hadn’t been as nervous before a session since she first got her degree. Tucking a strand of short, blonde hair behind her ear, she paced around her office before sitting back down at her computer.

  She wasn’t used to famous patients, and it turned out the brothers she had foolishly agreed to take on were pretty much local legends.

  I knew they looked too similar to be just friends, she thought, remembering what she’d found out scrolling through their biographies last night.

  Coming up through the shifter leagues together, Finn and Foster certainly had a reputation for being somewhat ruthless. But lately, they seemed to be crossing a line. Or so the news stories said.

  Clicking on a video clip of Foster Caldwell nearly getting into a fight with a ref, she tended to agree. Something was obviously going on with the men, and those closest to them were clearly concerned. They definitely hadn’t struck her as violent when she’d run into them at Rico’s, but the evidence spoke for itself.

  They need my help, she told herself, taking a deep breath. Arrogant womanizers or not, it’s clear something is going on with them.

  Truth was, the fact that the men she was supposed to counsel turned out to be shifters took her aback a little. With her own tangled past with one particular werebear, it was safe to say her attitude toward them was somewhat prejudiced.

  She knew it was wrong, and that she shouldn’t make judgments like that based on the few people she got to know back in Florida, but it was also human nature to try and connect things and find patterns, even when there were none to be found.

  I’m better than this. These men deserve a therapist that is unbiased and fair, she resolved.

  Her own baggage was exactly why she had been averse to taking on too much work too quickly. But she was also determined to not let her past shape her life going forward. And maybe working with these two shifters would even help her in that regard.

  If
she were being completely honest, the thought of seeing the men again was somewhat exciting. But she chose to ignore that part of her.

  Opening up her planner, she checked once again which brother she would be seeing today. It was Foster, the one he’d bumped into, not Finn, whom she had reluctantly danced with. The coach had already warned her that neither of the men were particularly keen on seeing her, and were only coming to her so they wouldn’t be kicked off the team.

  Big surprise there.

  Fortunately, she was used to reluctant patients by now. She could handle a couple of rowdy athletes. Right?

  Since she hadn’t given either of the brothers her name that night, she was sure seeing her again would be a surprise to Foster. How that was going to go over, she didn’t know. She could only hope being in a therapist’s office and everything, maybe he would keep his comments about his hands on her body to himself.

  For the sake of my self-control, at least, she thought, the way his voice had sounded when he spoke to her in the dimly lit bar still way too fresh in her mind.

  Smoothing her hands down the front of her knee-length skirt, Hanna took another deep breath when she heard a knock on her door. The sound almost seemed to transform her. Uncertain, worrying, nervous Hanna was left behind. She was Ms. Radley, Certified Therapist, now.

  Walking over, she opened the door with a neutral smile, and was almost knocked off her feet as soon as she laid eyes on the man looking back at her. He looked even better than she remembered, and that was saying something. Foster Holy…

  Tall and wide enough that she doubted for a moment if he’d even fit through her door, Foster was definitely a sight to see. The t-shirt he was wearing clung to his chiseled chest before falling down his narrow waist, with the leather jacket he had thrown over it looking tight around his thick arms.

  “I’m here,” he huffed, looking right past her and into her office, not even bothering with eye contact.

  You sure are, Hanna thought, catching herself admiring his square, stubbled jaw and high cheekbones.

  “Please, step inside,” she said, regaining her composure and stepping aside.

  “Thank you.”

  Foster marched right past her to sit down on the small, blue couch pushed up against the wall. She closed the door behind him and took her place at the armchair facing him, with her pen and notepad on the small table beside it.

  Her office felt even smaller with Foster in it, and she couldn’t quite tear her eyes away from him. There was an air of masculinity about him that for some reason made Foster magnetic instead of threatening, even though he’d rolled in like a cloud of thunder. And when his blue eyes finally snapped to her, she had to fight herself to not squirm under the weight of his gaze.

  Recognition flashed across his face the moment he looked at her, and a slow grin spread over his face.

  “It’s you,” he said, putting to rest Hanna’s doubts about if he’d even remember her at all.

  She found herself glad that he did, for some stupid reason.

  “I’m Hanna Radley, your counselor, and I’ll be doing my best to help you during the coming weeks,” she forced the words out.

  “Hello, Hanna,” Foster drew out, suddenly a lot more interested in her than he had been when he first walked inside. “Very nice to properly meet you. You ran off before I could even introduce myself.”

  The way he rolled the words off his lips made something insider her react in a primal way. It wasn’t something she would have ever expected. She prided herself on her professionalism, and there was nothing professional about the way she was looking at the man opposite her right now.

  Drawing on her years of training and practice of putting on a neutral expression, no matter what the situation or what had been said, she somehow managed to get herself together. Ignoring the way he was looking at her, and how he traced the inside of his bottom lip with his tongue, she carried on.

  “I think I got a pretty good introduction into who you are, Foster Caldwell. But we’re not here to talk about your attempts at hitting on me, so how about we start this session by you telling me why you think you’re here,” she said, sounding a lot more cool and collected than she felt.

  “Attempts?” Foster chuckled, the deep sound seeming to reverberate through her. “I wasn’t the one blushing,” he teased. “And who cares why I’m here? I’d rather talk about why you’re here. I’m betting on fate,” he grinned, smoothly circumventing her question altogether.

  Suddenly, this was a whole new guy, smooth and comfortable. He leaned into his seat, looking her over without bothering to hide it.

  Hanna wasn’t about to let that comment slide, though. Bringing one knee over the other, she settled into the armchair, measuring Foster with her eyes. She had to clear her throat when she noticed him tracking her every move, his eyes roaming over her like a caress.

  “Why don’t you answer my question first, and then I’ll answer yours,” she softly prodded, picking up the notepad at her side as a way of distracting herself from Foster.

  “I’m here because I have to be,” he shrugged. “But I’m feeling better about that by the second,” he added, flashing her a brilliant smile. “Your turn.”

  “I’m here, like I said, to help you. Whether fate has anything to do with that isn’t really relevant. Now, you said you have to be here. But why do you think things have come to the point where you no longer had a choice?” she asked, falling into the old, familiar patterns of a first visit with a new patient.

  Foster rested his back against the couch, looking somewhat uncomfortable with the question. The leather of his jacket crinkled softly as he moved, and he seemed tense despite his relaxed pose.

  “There’s always a choice,” he replied after a couple of seconds. “I chose not to throw my career away. Doesn’t mean I think I need to be here.”

  Something about the words didn’t ring quite true for Hanna. She knew well enough what patients who had convinced themselves of something looked and sounded like, and she suspected deep down, Foster took more responsibility for how things had gotten to this point than he let on.

  “But you’re here anyway. So why not make the best of the time we have here?” she countered.

  Everyone who was forced to come and see her was reluctant at first. It wasn’t easy, swallowing one’s pride and admitting you had shortcomings. Especially when you didn’t have the time to come to that conclusion yourself.

  Foster’s glib attitude returned as soon as the words left her mouth. It seemed he was determined to use their time for anything and everything except for actual discussion about his reported temper problems.

  “I have some ideas. They don’t involve a lot of talking, though,” he winked.

  Hanna couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that. It was typical deflection. Foster was putting up a wall and trying to distract her from why they were really here. And it wasn’t to flirt.

  The soft approach obviously wasn’t working with someone as headstrong and shameless as Foster, so she switched gears, while also trying to ignore the fact that usually, a patient’s brazen flirting didn’t make her even arch a brow. This guy though? He had her on edge in a second.

  “Is that how you’re thinking of solving the problems with your team? By avoiding them?” she asked, her tone still gentle despite the harsh questions.

  Foster’s eyes widened at that, but there was still a smile hovering over his lips. The lips she had to tell herself not to stare at.

  “Ouch, Doc,” he replied, his right hand flying to his heart. “But don’t worry, you can get rough with me. I’m hard to hurt.”

  Geez, can this man turn everything into an innuendo? she wondered.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall behind Foster, they still had most of the hour left.

  This is going to be one long session, she sighed to herself. And I have a feeling I’m going to have an even harder time with Finn.

  Six

  Finn

  Finn was sitting ou
tside the counseling center, gripping his phone tightly as he pressed it against his ear.

  “You have to go, Finn,” his brother’s voice came from the other side of the line. “Unless you want to be suspended forever.”

  Grinding his teeth, Finn had to admit Foster had a point. Besides, he had promised Coach Dunn he’d at least show up, and he was nothing but a man of his word. But actually stepping through the doors had turned out to be more difficult than he’d anticipated.

  “It’s so stupid,” he grumbled, more to himself than to Foster.

  “The therapist is actually really nice,” Foster said, catching him somewhat off guard, if not with his words then at least the tone of his voice. “I think you’re going to be surprised,” he chuckled to himself.

  “Nice? What, do you have a crush on her or something?” Finn asked.

  “You’ll see,” Foster replied, a lot more mysterious than usual. “Now get in there, you’re already fifteen minutes late.”

  “Fine,” Finn sighed before hanging up.

  His steps were even heavier than usual as he shuffled inside, wandering around the brightly lit halls until he spotted the name ‘Radley’ next to one of the doors. He barely got close enough to knock on it before a woman swung it open, rushing out with an annoyed expression on her face.

  Something about her smells familiar…

  Glaring at her feet and mumbling something under her breath, she was preoccupied enough that she ran right into him, the cup of coffee she was holding spilling all over his shirt and splashing on the tiled floor.

  “Oh, shit,” she exclaimed, before quickly clapping a hand over her mouth. “I mean, I’m very sorry,” she amended, looking up at him with an embarrassed smile.

  When their eyes met, it was immediately clear to Finn the woman from Rico’s he had a hard time getting out of his mind was standing right in front of him, looking just as delicious as he remembered.