Bearly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) by Juliette Lucas Page B
Authors: Juliette Lucas
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an empty bed. “Damn it!”
She sat up and pushed wild tangled hair out of her eyes. The bedside clock read eleven. What had she been thinking? First, she had blown off the meeting to fuck Patrick all night. Then she had slept away half the morning when she had already told her dad she would return to working in the bookstore that day.
The shop could wait. She knew her dad would understand even if she did feel guilty, but she needed to find out if what Annie told her was true. This wasn’t a game. Patrick might be in danger, and she wasn’t about to shift into a bear at any moment.
Annoyed, she showered, dressed, and headed downstairs as she texted an apology to Annie. Then she erased the apology and the excuse and wrote instead, “I wasn’t able to come. Can we meet during the day?”
Her phone rang immediately. “The fact that you didn’t show up proves you’re not the one for him,” Annie groused.
“Can it. I’m feeling really bitchy this morning. If you want to fight, come on over!”
Annie was silent for a while, and Lizzie first thought she had hung up.
“Hello?”
“I’m here. Okay, I’ll arrange for you to talk to someone who you have to believe. This time don’t blow it off.”
“I can’t imagine who I would believe more than you?” Lizzie said with saccharin sweetness and was surprised at herself. She was feeling bitchy, but this was worse than her normal bad moods. She ran her fingers across the scratches on the table and turned away shaking her head. Her husband-to-be was a real beast. “One o’clock at my dad’s bookstore. He’ll be at lunch, and so will the other girl that works there. Be on time, or don’t call me again.”
Lizzie disconnected the call, grinned, and patted herself on the back. Let Annie stew on that. Lizzie could play the role of alpha bear too. She dismissed Patrick’s ex from her mind and searched the refrigerator for something good to eat before she headed out.
* * * *
Lizzie hefted a stack of books to her cart and straightened. She scrubbed an arm across her forehead and stretched, expecting to feel the terrible twinge that meant she was out of shape and weak. The ache was there but much less than usual. Good, she might be able to make twice as much progress with the book reorganization. At least with work she’d dispelled some of the annoyance she had been feeling since she woke up that morning.
She glanced at the clock and noted it was just ten minutes until Annie and whomever she was bringing with her would arrive. Her dad had already gone to lunch and the assistant he had hired to cover for Lizzie while she was away. The girl would be with them during the day another week and then switch to afternoons and evenings. Lizzie’s dad had insisted she not spend long hours every day buried in the bookstore as she had done most of her life. Rather she should be home with her husband “making babies.” Lizzie had been so embarrassed to even discuss the subject with her dad, she’d been tongue-tied, and he had walked off laughing. Honestly!
The bell over the door jingled, and Lizzie looked up from her task to see Annie, dressed as usual in clothing that showed off her perfect figure. Today, Lizzie didn’t care. Her attention slid the man coming in behind Annie. So like Patrick in appearance, Daniel Scott’s presence was nearly as strong as his brother’s. Lizzie frowned at him as he approached her with a smile.”
“Hello, Lizzie. You’re looking well.”
She dispensed with the pleasantries, knowing why he was there. “So you’re betraying Patrick?”
“Never! I’m loyal to my alpha, more so because he’s my brother.”
“But you’re here to convince me I’m not the one for him?”
He tilted his head to the side, studying her. “Hmm.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m here to judge you.”
“What?” She clenched her hands at her sides. “Where do you get off, Daniel?”
“I think we could be friends, but
She sat up and pushed wild tangled hair out of her eyes. The bedside clock read eleven. What had she been thinking? First, she had blown off the meeting to fuck Patrick all night. Then she had slept away half the morning when she had already told her dad she would return to working in the bookstore that day.
The shop could wait. She knew her dad would understand even if she did feel guilty, but she needed to find out if what Annie told her was true. This wasn’t a game. Patrick might be in danger, and she wasn’t about to shift into a bear at any moment.
Annoyed, she showered, dressed, and headed downstairs as she texted an apology to Annie. Then she erased the apology and the excuse and wrote instead, “I wasn’t able to come. Can we meet during the day?”
Her phone rang immediately. “The fact that you didn’t show up proves you’re not the one for him,” Annie groused.
“Can it. I’m feeling really bitchy this morning. If you want to fight, come on over!”
Annie was silent for a while, and Lizzie first thought she had hung up.
“Hello?”
“I’m here. Okay, I’ll arrange for you to talk to someone who you have to believe. This time don’t blow it off.”
“I can’t imagine who I would believe more than you?” Lizzie said with saccharin sweetness and was surprised at herself. She was feeling bitchy, but this was worse than her normal bad moods. She ran her fingers across the scratches on the table and turned away shaking her head. Her husband-to-be was a real beast. “One o’clock at my dad’s bookstore. He’ll be at lunch, and so will the other girl that works there. Be on time, or don’t call me again.”
Lizzie disconnected the call, grinned, and patted herself on the back. Let Annie stew on that. Lizzie could play the role of alpha bear too. She dismissed Patrick’s ex from her mind and searched the refrigerator for something good to eat before she headed out.
* * * *
Lizzie hefted a stack of books to her cart and straightened. She scrubbed an arm across her forehead and stretched, expecting to feel the terrible twinge that meant she was out of shape and weak. The ache was there but much less than usual. Good, she might be able to make twice as much progress with the book reorganization. At least with work she’d dispelled some of the annoyance she had been feeling since she woke up that morning.
She glanced at the clock and noted it was just ten minutes until Annie and whomever she was bringing with her would arrive. Her dad had already gone to lunch and the assistant he had hired to cover for Lizzie while she was away. The girl would be with them during the day another week and then switch to afternoons and evenings. Lizzie’s dad had insisted she not spend long hours every day buried in the bookstore as she had done most of her life. Rather she should be home with her husband “making babies.” Lizzie had been so embarrassed to even discuss the subject with her dad, she’d been tongue-tied, and he had walked off laughing. Honestly!
The bell over the door jingled, and Lizzie looked up from her task to see Annie, dressed as usual in clothing that showed off her perfect figure. Today, Lizzie didn’t care. Her attention slid the man coming in behind Annie. So like Patrick in appearance, Daniel Scott’s presence was nearly as strong as his brother’s. Lizzie frowned at him as he approached her with a smile.”
“Hello, Lizzie. You’re looking well.”
She dispensed with the pleasantries, knowing why he was there. “So you’re betraying Patrick?”
“Never! I’m loyal to my alpha, more so because he’s my brother.”
“But you’re here to convince me I’m not the one for him?”
He tilted his head to the side, studying her. “Hmm.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m here to judge you.”
“What?” She clenched her hands at her sides. “Where do you get off, Daniel?”
“I think we could be friends, but
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