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)
“How are the renovations coming?” She seems interested, but my Spidey sense kicks in, telling me something else is going on here.
“Slowly. We couldn’t find any available contractors, so we’re trying to do the work ourselves.” I can’t believe I’m standing in Growler’s Market’s freezer section discussing my problems with a stranger.
“That’s too bad.” Momma Bear taps her chin a few times. “You know what? My oldest son owns a construction company, Bearly Construction. I think he might have an opening on his schedule.” Her oldest son? This woman is beautiful and young. I can’t believe she’s a day over thirty. There isn’t a strand of gray in her caramel-colored hair or a line marring her peaches and cream complexion. I hope I look this good in five years when I turn thirty.
“Really?” I’m barely able to contain my excitement. Bethany and Cora will be so happy if we can hire some help.
“Hold on one second and let me look at his schedule.” She pulls out her cellphone and begins to type. “I’m his secretary,” Momma Bear explains as she stares at the screen. “He sure does.”
“When can he come by and give me an estimate?” Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I jump in to arrange for her son to give us an estimate. If it’s even slightly reasonable, we’re going to take it.
“Does tomorrow work for you?”
It works for me, but a little voice in the back of my mind tells me something is too good to be true about this. Ignoring the naysayer, I arrange for her son to come by first thing in the morning and finish my shopping before my good luck runs out.
Chapter 2
Thorne
“Mother.” I take a deep breath, attempting to bring my anger under control before I let expletives fly that will upset my mother and piss off my overprotective father. No one upsets Momma Bear without dealing with Papa Bear’s wrath. “I don’t have time to take on another job.”
When I woke up with the sunrise, an out-of-the-blue feeling of happiness and excitement cut through my soul. Like the universe was telling me how great today would be. Then an hour later, my mother’s call puts an end to my sunny outlook as my mood takes a nosedive.
Staring out my back patio window, I watch a fucking squirrel trying to find a way to steal my bird seed while I listen to my mother get her way.
“Thorne.” The steel reinforcing my mother’s words tells me I won’t be getting out of this. “The adorable owner is going to hurt herself trying to do all those dangerous tasks.” My soft-hearted, strong-willed mother volunteered my services to the human bakery owner without even checking with me first.
“We just discussed my overbooked calendar last night.” I remind my mother of her promise not to add anything to the calendar until I catch up.
“I’ll move a few things around.” The steel in her voice tells me this is one argument I have no hope of winning. “Mr. Brown can wait a few weeks for his new deck.” I’m betting Ernest Brown isn’t going to agree, but I’ll let my mother deal with him.
“Okay.” I sigh, close my eyes, and hope to find my inner peace before my head explodes. “I’ll try to stop by the bakery and check things out after my breakfast with Clay and Wilder.” The old bakery has been closed for years, and I’m betting it’s in horrible shape.
“I told Mabel you’d be there at nine am.” My mother blows my plans right out of the water. “Don’t worry, I’ll come by and pick up Angel Baby, so you don’t have to take the time to drop him off at my house. And I’ll let your brothers know you can’t make your breakfast at Pooh’s Diner.”
My inner bear shakes his head at me in disappointment as I fold like a cheap suit. “Thank you,” I grit out through my clenched teeth. At thirty-two years old, my mother is still running my goddamn life. “I’ll head straight to the bakery.”
“Thank you. The town will be so happy to have the old bakery up and running again.” I can picture my mother clasping her hands together happily at getting her way. Momma Bear wouldn’t just add a massive job to my already bulging-at-the-seams schedule unless she’s got something up her sleeve, and it isn’t making the town residents happy.
When the old Honey Time bakery closed, all the bears in town threw fits at the thought of losing our favorite treats. Most of us started ordering our honey buns from an online source, but they aren’t as good as homemade. We’ve been making do while the town searched for someone to buy the bakery.
To everyone’s shock, the town council decided to sell the building to humans, which caused quite an uproar with the town’s mainly shifter residents. My mother’s offer is putting me right where I don’t want to be—in the middle of the bear shifter versus human debate.