The Polar Bear's Baby (Honeypot Babies Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Mia leaves, it’s one customer after another until 5:00. Finally, I flip the sign on my door to “closed” and lock up for the night. On most nights, I’ll stay open until 7:00 or later. I like my customers to be able to stop by after work and pick things up on their way home, but tonight I’m exhausted.
    By the time I finish cleaning up my equipment and mopping the kitchen floor, it’s past six. I leave through the back door and head to my little house, which is conveniently located right behind my bakery. I could use a shower and a quick dinner before I go looking for Mia. She’s definitely still in town: that much I know for certain. It won’t take much asking around to figure out exactly where she is. If Selena at the diner doesn’t know, her brother-in-law, Carter, definitely will. Nothing gets past that bear.
    I take the few steps up my porch and push open the door to my house. When I built on this land, I did so with a family in mind. I’m that guy. I’m the guy who pictured the wife and kids hanging out in my shop. I’m the guy who dared to dream. Maybe it’s because I’m a shifter or maybe it’s because my brother and I were so close growing up, but I’ve always wanted a woman to share my life and my home with. I’ve always wanted kids, wanted a family.
    Tonight my place feels extra lonely when I push open the door and walk inside. Maybe it’s because Mia visited. Well, she sort-of visited. I don’t know why she came into the shop. It wasn’t to see me. There was some other reason.
    Oh yeah: pie. She said something about pie.
    Only it stings that she just wanted pie and I treated her like garbage because I felt hurt. I owe her an apology. I definitely, absolutely, completely owe her an apology.
    Tonight I’m beyond tired, but I still plan to go find out if she’s still in town and what she’s up to. It’s not like her to just stop by Honeypot for a random visit. Richard comes occasionally to offer counseling services, but Mia doesn’t work in therapy. She doesn’t come to Honeypot for her job. She came here for a reason and I’m more than a little curious about that.
    Kicking off my shoes, I head upstairs to take a shower. Washing the sweat, the pain, the frustration of the day off myself will help. It always does. As soon as the water is pouring over me, I start thinking of Mia.
    She’s so fucking perfect.
    I’m tired of thinking that, but I just can’t stop.
    The thing that just gets me about her is that she has no idea what a peach she really is. She doesn’t know how cute or sweet or lovely she is. I know, though. I try to push the regret I feel out of my head. I should have called her, pursued her. I should have told her how much I wanted her. I should have asked her to be with me, to give me a chance. I should have told her how much I care.
    In today’s modern world, though, it’s a fine line between showing your interest and coming across as creepy, and I wanted to make sure she was interested before I made a move. I tried to be a gentleman.
    That really worked out well for me. I resist punching the wall in the shower, but I’m so damn frustrated I can taste my anxiety. Apparently, I waited too fucking long to go after Mia. I should have just been blunt. I should have been straightforward.
    What did I really have to lose?
    She’s probably dating someone else by now, probably warming his bed at night. The thought kills me. It shouldn’t. I should want her to be happy, no matter who she’s with. I should want Mia to be happy, even if it isn’t with me.
    But maybe I’m selfish.
    Maybe when a shifter finds his mate, he can never move on.
    Maybe it really is it like being struck by lightning.
    Maybe you can never quite get over it.
    The water rushes over my chest and down my body. I think of the night we spent together, and my dick hardens at the memory. Mia crawled all over me like I was the only thing she needed, like I was the only one she’d ever wanted.
    She was so