Tempted by the Bear - Complete Read Online Free PDF Page A

I sink in.
    I lean back against the edge and stretch out my limbs. I gaze down at my shapely legs, and the hair I notice makes me sit up to grab a razor. Excitement courses through me as I think about my date. Dare I hope Tristan will be charming the whole time instead of displaying his annoying side?
    Water trickles as I raise my leg to scrape over it and remove stubble. Tonight is going to mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I’d gotten quite comfortable being Brady’s sidekick, the alpha’s sister. And when Carly came along, I settled into taking care of them, along with the children who were born a few months ago. While they hired a nanny to help with the triplets, and we have a cleaning lady, Brady and Carly are going to have to start cooking for themselves when I leave. I should look into a chef for them.
    I snort at myself. Carly is more than capable of figuring out what to do for meals, and I ought to be planning for my new home instead of worrying about my brother’s family. The triplets’ squirming bodies and sweet faces flash in my mind, and my heart gets heavy as I realize I won’t be seeing them as much as I do now. While I look forward to setting up my new home as the prima of the De Rozier clan, I can’t help but wish that included children of my own.
    Plastic clatters as I set my razor down on the edge of the tub. I’m being foolish, longing for something I’ll never have. I need to be happy with what I’ve been given, because it’s amazing, considering I’d resigned myself to life as a widow and doting aunt. I grab a washcloth and finish my bath.
    As I’m toweling off, a knock sounds on my bedroom door. Carly speaks to me in my head. “It’s me.”
    “Come on in.”
    Soft carpet cushions my feet as I make my way to my dresser, and my sister-in-law enters. My bed whooshes as she sits herself on the end of it. She asks, “Are you excited for tonight?”
    My drawer thuds open, and silky fabric is smooth in my hands as I search for a bra and panty set for Tristan’s eyes. “Yes, because it’s about time. But no, because I’m afraid he’ll let the jerk side show.”
    “My suggestion is to try to control your anger and be honest. Tell him how it makes you feel and be rational. I bet he’ll respond better to logic.”
    I bend down to place my breasts in the cups of my bra before I stand and hook it. “I’ll try.” I glance at Carly and add, “But being rational with that man is hard to do.”
    Carly smiles at me, but it fades quickly into a frown. She says, “There’s something I need to tell you. I only remembered it today, and it’s important you know.”
    “Okay.”
    “Isabelle mentioned this in passing, and I had forgotten until tonight. Tristan has children.”
    “What?” My stomach clenches. Has my true mate been mated before? Who is she? Where is she? And more importantly, where are the children? I walk over and sink down on the bed next to Carly as she twists to face me.
    She says, “I don’t know much more than that. It was Christmas Day, and Isabelle mentioned that she thought you were a good match for Tristan. She said it wouldn’t be a problem because the next alpha of the De Roziers was already secured and something about the mother being gone.”
    “Great. That’ll be a handy conversation starter.” It figures there would have to be one more thing to make mating with Tristan difficult.
    “I know, right? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner. I’m not sure why I’d forgotten it.”
    I reach out and take Carly’s hand. “Maybe because we had a rather big crisis at that time where we lost Taylor.” When Victor Veilleux kidnapped Sierra’s babies, a group of us went to rescue them. The fight that occurred killed our enemy as well as our fiercest female warrior. She was one of the women we called here to be turned into a werebear and provide children. “I know you felt incredible guilt for bringing her here, and I bet that took precedence in