Bear Seeking Bride: Trent (Bear Canyon Brides #3) Read Online Free PDF

reached for her water again, but her hand shook too much to grab it. Before she could hide it under the table, Trent reached across the table and covered it with his own. His warmth grounded her, and some of her anticipation fizzled.
    “Talking helps. Trust me, I should know,” Trent laughed.
    “I know,” she whispered, “but—”
    “None of it will change the way I feel about you, Olive, I promise.”
    She nodded and told him everything about her father, his businesses and how he’d kicked her out when she wouldn’t marry his golden boy.
    “Your father is Dick Campbell?” he’d asked in the beginning. “No offense, but he really lives up to his name. He tried to hire us once, but Tyler refused to work with him. His lack of manners for people in general wasn’t worth the headache.”
    Once he’d expressed his feelings toward the man, it was easier to detail what her life had been like before she’d left, including the verbal abuse she’d endured on a daily basis. She’d also told him about her mother, and how she’d felt losing her unexpectedly at the young age of ten.
    Trent listened raptly, and he seemed to know instinctively when she needed soft words or a gentle squeeze of her hand. He’d even complimented her name, another sore spot from her past.
    “At least your father’s love of food resulted in a great name for you. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Is there a Pepper Campbell or an Onion Campbell?”
    She laughed so hard she snorted, but Trent ignored the embarrassing sound and laughed with her, not at her.
    “No brothers or sisters,” she said, when she could speak again. “And my name is compliments of my mother. My father hates it.”
    “Really? Well, he’s crazy. You like it don’t you?” he asked.
    “I do now,” she said honestly.
    Growing up, she’d endured years of teasing about her name. Besides the many jokes about food, and eating, several involved an unfavorable comparison to the tall, skinny cartoon character with the same name. Even as a child, she’d had more curves than the other girls. As she got older, more and more curves presented themselves, causing no end to the jokes. Eventually, they focused less on her name and more on her size.
    The evening wore on, and she continued to talk as their dinner transitioned into dessert and coffee.
    When her Tiramisu arrived, she felt strong enough to let go of his hand and enjoy the rich, decadent dessert. Trent had ordered cheesecake, but he watched her with rapt attention.
    “You can stop staring,” she said, smiling at her plate. “I’m not sharing a single bite with you.”
    “I don’t want a bite of your dessert, but watching you eat it makes me want to take a bite out of you. They way you’re savoring each and every bite, sucking that fork clean, has me rock hard and jealous as hell.”
    “Trent!” she scolded in a loud whisper.
    She took a glance around the room, and relaxed a bit when she was certain the few couples left in the eatery hadn’t heard his outburst.
    “What?” he asked innocently, shoving a bite of cheesecake into his mouth.
    “You can’t say things like that!” she scolded again, even as she desperately wanted to be his fork. Her cheeks heated and she felt as if someone had raised the thermostat one hundred degrees.
    “Why not? I was just being honest.”
    “Because…,” she trailed off.
    Because I’m embarrassed. Because I don’t believe you. Because everyone will know you’re lying. Because…I want you to mean it, not joke around with me.
    “Hmm…,” he said, when she didn’t finish her sentence. “Now seems like a great time for you to tell me about your ex, and what you meant in your letter when you said your experience with men had been unpleasant.”
    She put her fork down and frowned at him.
    “The place is almost empty, there’s no one around us, and you’ll have to tell me sooner or later. I’d rather you tell me know.”
    God! Why couldn’t he have forgotten that