Page 9 of Bearly Believable Romance

“A match made in supernatural heaven,” she drawled wryly.

They chattered and bantered as they finished their picnic, swapping stories of Tabitha’s childhood antics and Bram’s shifter shenanigans. Tabitha found herself often lost in his animated expressions, captivated by the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed and how his large hands gestured enthusiastically as he spoke.

Damn it. He was just so... likeable. And funny. And completely off limits.

Friends. They were just friends, no matter how her heart fluttered every time the breeze ruffled his dark hair or his foot bumped hers.

She couldn’t afford to fall for Bram. Not when her inheritance and magic were on the line. Not when this was all just pretend.

“Hey.” His voice snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. “You okay? You got quiet on me.”

Tabitha blinked, shaking her head slightly. “Yeah, sorry. Just got lost in my head a minute there.”

Bram’s brows drew together, concern etching his face. “Anything you want to talk about?”

God, he was so sweet and cute. It made her ache. She forced a smile. “Nah, it’s nothing. Just overwhelmed by the view, I guess.”

Something shifted in his eyes, a flash of hurt that was quickly shuttered. “The view. Right.”

Inwardly wincing, Tabitha scrambled to lighten the mood. “That, and the fact that you’ve somehow managed to smear peanut butter on your chin, you doofus.”

To her relief, Bram played along, widening his eyes comically as he swiped at his face. “What? Where? Did I get it?”

She giggled. “Nope. Other side. Here, let me.” Boldly, she reached out and wiped the smudge away with her thumb, trying to ignore the rasp of his stubble against her skin.

Bram caught her hand as she started to pull back, his fingers curling around hers. “Thanks. Knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

His tone was light, teasing, but something heavy hung in the air between them, a static charge waiting to ignite.

Tabitha swallowed hard. “Just doing my job. Can’t have you wrecking our love story with sloppy eating habits.”

Slowly, not breaking eye contact, Bram brushed a kiss to her knuckles. “My hero,” he murmured, his lips quirking.

Flustered, Tabitha tugged her hand free. “Y-you bet I am. Someone’s got to keep you in line.” She cringed at her breathless stutter. Get a grip, Greer.

An awkward beat passed before Bram cleared his throat and started packing their picnic. “We should probably head back.”

“Right.” Tabitha busied herself shaking out the blanket, willing her burning cheeks to cool.

The hike back was filled with safer small talk, both of them careful to keep things light. But Tabitha couldn’t quite shake the simmering awareness between them, the weight of everything left unspoken.

What was happening to her? She glanced sidelong at Bram, her heart doing a giddy flip at his profile - the sharp cut of his jaw, the fan of long lashes, the soft curve of his mouth...

Oh no. Oh heck no.

She was not falling for Bram Hartley. She refused. They were just friends. This was just an act.

But as he helped her over a fallen log, his hand warm and strong around hers, Tabitha had a sinking feeling she was only fooling herself.

Crumbling leaves and fake smiles. That seemed to be her destiny.

But she could handle this... whatever it was. She had to. Her future depended on it.

Even if Bram’s dimpled grin made her weak in the knees.

She was Tabitha freaking Greer. She could resist one charming, handsome, infuriatingly perfect shifter.

Right?

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