Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’ll drop Angel Baby off Saturday around four,” I confirm my plans.
“I’ll be here,” my brother grumbles before hanging up.
My second call is to Wilder. “Hey, asshole, ready to wash my cars?”
“Arrange it and I’ll be there,” I tell him. “But first, I need your help.” I plan on wooing my girl, but I don’t want to leave my younger brother high and dry. “I need you to check on Clay for me.”
“Does Clay need a babysitter?” Wilder grumbles. “Last I heard, he’s a grown-ass man. And why don’t you just do it?”
“Look here, asshole, Clay got quite a shock today. I’m pretty sure Mabel’s sister, Bethany, is his mate.” My brother’s indrawn breath tells me he understands the enormity of the situation. “He didn’t take it too well. I just talked to him and he sounded rough. Since you’re closer to him, I thought you might see what you can do.” Clay and Wilder were born eleven months apart and have always behaved like twins.
“Fuck me,” Wilder grumbles. “I’ll check on him tonight when I go check on our parents.”
“Thank you.”
“Both of you assholes owe me.” Wilder blows out his breath. “I’m keeping track of all this shit, and I’m going to call in my favors one day.”
“Fine.” I’d agree to anything right now.
“And I’m not forgetting about your date with a pink polka dot bikini, either.” That doesn’t surprise me in the least.
After I hang up, I pull out my Gramma Bear’s cookbook and get to work planning a dinner worthy of my mate.
The rest of the week moves by at a snail’s pace. Papa Bear is well enough for Momma Bear to return to work on Wednesday, and her first assignment is canceling everything on my schedule for the next two weeks. Optimistically, I’m hoping that’s long enough to woo and mate my sweet girl.
I spend each day from open to close at the bakery, helping Mabel and her sisters. By the end of the week, they’ve built up a steady stream of regulars and see quite a few new customers each day.
My mate begins calling me Bossy Bear when I order the male shifters to hurry along.
Chapter 7
Mabel
I put on one outfit then change my mind and try another outfit three times before I tell myself to stop making such a fuss. After hanging my fancy dress back in the closet, I pull on my favorite jeans and concert t-shirt. If Thorne is serious about us having a relationship, he’ll have to take me as I am.
There’s a loud knock on the front door a few seconds before I hear Cora telling Thorne she’ll get me. I take a second to gather my thoughts before I head out to the living room.
Thorne turns when I walk into the room, and his eyes follow my every movement as I step close to him. “Hi.” I’m suddenly very shy.
“Hi, sweet girl.” His kiss drives all the shyness from my mind. “Are you ready?”
His question ping-pongs around my mind as I try to pull myself together. “Ready for what, Bossy Bear?” I can’t believe I just asked that.
“We can discuss all the options later.” He takes my hand and turns to address my sisters. “Have a good evening.”
“You too.” Bethany follows us to the door while Cora rolls her eyes in the background.
After what seems like forever, we finally turn onto a long tree-lined driveway. Thorne has driven down so many long and windy roads that I have no idea where we are anymore.
When Thorne stops in the circular drive in front of a massive log cabin, I gasp in shock. “It’s beautiful.” The word beautiful doesn’t even start to describe the two-story structure.
“I’m glad you think so.” Thorne helps me from his black SUV and takes my hand. “I spent five years designing it to make sure I got the perfect home.”
Wow. He did a great job. As he leads me in the front door, I look around in awe at the rustic yet homey interior. “This looks like the home a bear shifter would have.”
“Have you known many bear shifters?” He wraps his arm around my waist and leads me to the right.
“A few back home.” Then I explain how we ended up in the mostly shifter community. “On a family vacation years ago, we drove through Honey Pot Hollow, and something about the town called to me and my sisters. We swore we’d move here one day.”
“I’m grateful to whatever force brought you here to me.”
We walk into a stunning living room, and I turn to take it all in. The entire room is widows, even the ceiling. “Holy moly.”
“It’s my sanctuary. My bear feels like he’s in the woods. I had that sofa made so I could sleep here when my bear has the urge to hibernate.” I continue looking around the massive room. Stained wood beams run in a lattice formation over the windows, I’m guessing for strength.