Bear in Love: BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romance (Shadow Bears Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

fell asleep watching TV.
    She woke early Sunday morning, and took a deep breath before she got out of bed. She felt different, less sorrowful, and she wondered if the Matchmaker had done something to her. It was Valentine’s Day, but instead of being disappointed over not having a date, she felt a strong sense of peace…as if everything in the world had been set right.
    She went to the lobby, and grabbed a Danish and coffee, and then went to her room and prepared for her massage. She’d scheduled the extravagance as a Valentine’s Day gift to herself and she’d had no idea what to expect.
    I should have done this years ago…multiple times.
    An hour later, five minutes into her session, she realized she’d been missing out all these years. The masseuse she’d been assigned was also a bear shifter, and he worked her muscles in a way no human ever could.
    When her session ended, she felt relaxed, carefree and confident. She took her time styling her hair, and then dressed in a frilly black skirt and her new light pink sweater.
    She vowed to look beautiful, even if she was only meeting her brother.
     
    ***
     
    Owen walked into the hotel lobby, angry about the snag in his plan.
    The following day, he’d woken before the alarm and quickly showered and prepared for his trip to Shadow Creek. He packed a bag, gave Dan the keys to the store, and after a quick stop to see his parents, he set out to claim his mate.
    He didn’t plan on coming home empty handed, but so far, the world seemed to be against him.
    His first stop after the long, four-hour drive had been the hotel Chelle had written down for him. The person behind the desk refused to give him any information about Fiona, which he understood, but then she informed him they were completely booked.
    By the time he’d found another hotel, it had been an hour before midnight, and he was tired, sore and grouchy. He’d decided wait another day, and fell asleep on the hard sofa in front of the TV.
    The next morning, he dragged his stiff body into the shower, and then called the Matchmaker. The woman refused to speak to him on the phone, and instead, gave him detailed instructions to her home. He’d arrived a little bit after noon, only to discover a note taped to her door.
     
    Rosewood Suites
    Hotel Restaurant
    1:30 PM
     
    Even though he hadn’t paid the fee, she’d set him up with someone for lunch. He didn’t have time to meet with anyone, let alone in the hotel where Fiona was staying, but he couldn’t stand someone up on Valentine’s Day.
    He planned on telling the woman about the mix up, and then resuming the search for his mate.
    As he scanned the restaurant, a shiny pink sweater caught his eye. Black curls bounced around the woman’s shoulders, and jealousy swamped him. She sat with her back to him, across from another shifter with short, black hair, but he’d recognize her anywhere.
    Mate! Mine!
    Suddenly, all rational thought disappeared and he stormed across the room.
    “I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake,” he said to the man. “Fiona is with me.”
    “Owen,” she whispered his name, but he didn’t look at her. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to think, and he wanted her date gone. The man acted as if he didn’t have a care in the world, and Owen fumed.
    “It doesn’t look like she’s with you,” her date said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re having a nice lunch.”
    Her date went back to his meal, effectively dismissing him. When he looked at Fiona, she’d followed his lead and focused on stabbing the lettuce in her salad. Her nonchalant attitude toward his appearance hurt, but he deserved it. He’d never told her the depth of his feelings, or his plans, and he planned to rectify that as soon as he got rid of her lunch partner.
    “Look,” he spoke again. “I don’t think you understand. I’ll reimburse your fee, but this woman is my mate, and you need to leave.”
    The man stood abruptly, causing the legs of his chair to