Page 7 of Bigfoot's Wife

Because despite my better judgment, I do like him. He's sweet, in an overgrown teddy bear kind of way.

I offer a tight smile and a non-committal, "I'll think about it."

“Awesome!” His enormous grin is megawatt. "I'll take that as a maybe." Olwydd winks, backing towards the door. "Have a great first day, Miss Bambi. Kids, be good for your new teacher.”

When he turns, I catch myself eyeing his sculpted ass.Ugh! Get a grip, Bambi. You're here to teach, not ogle Sasquatch beefcake.

I clap my hands, drawing the class's attention. "Alright, children! Who's ready to learn about the human world topside?”

The next few hours fly by in a whirlwind of lessons, laughter, and more than a few furry hugs. It's utterly wonderful and before I know it, midday arrives.

As the last student scampers out for lunch, I slump into my chair, a goofy grin plastered on my face. This is something I've been missing, something I thought I'd lost forever.

And therein lies a huge problem.

The smile slips from my face as reality comes crashing back. This position isn't permanent.

When we five human women arrived here, we were given thirty days to choose—either mate one of the Sasquatches and remain here in Grotto, or leave and go back to the human world. If we leave, we’ll have to undergo some kind of hypnotic mind-erase so we won’t even remember our time here.

In less than a month, I'll have to leave everything, leave this classroom, leave...Grotto.

Unless I choose to stay. To become a Sasquatch's mate.

The thought sparks a flutter in my belly that's equal parts excitement and terror.

I swore to myself I’d never trust another man, never again enter a romantic relationship.

But…

What's waiting for me back in the human world? Loneliness? Judgment? Isolation? A life spent hiding from my past?

At least here, I have a chance at a fresh start. Here, I'm just Miss Bambi, the new Human Studies teacher. Not Boom Boom Bambi, the harlot home wrecker.

Maybe I should talk to Kiki. She's made the leap, chosen to stay with Gruffydd. How did she know it was the right choice?

I know one thing for certain. There’s only one Sasquatch I’d even consider breaking my “no dating, no involvement and definitely no relationships” rule for.

I wonder if he drops his nephews off everyday.

CHAPTER 4

OLWYDD

I stroll into the control center, my mind still buzzing from my encounter with Bambi.

"Yo, Dafydd," I call out to my fellow guardsman seated in front of a bank of monitors. “How’d it go last night?”

Dafydd's bloodshot eyes meet mine. “Quiet and uneventful.”

“Welp, hopefully that trend continues on into today.” He rises and I settle myself into the chair he vacates.

The control center is our monitoring room—a techno-cave straight out of a human spy movie. Walls of screens flicker with live feeds from cameras hidden throughout the Kentucky woods above Grotto. As Squatch security, it's our job to keep an eye out for any nosy humans who might stumble too close to our secret sanctuary. That includes the Squatch-hunting groups, especially a group of nut jobs known as the Bigfoot Spotters Society.

As Dafydd shuffles out, I scan the monitors. Nothing but trees, rocks, squirrel, deer, and the occasional bobcat.

My mind wanders back to Bambi. That smile, those eyes, the way she handled my nephews... I've got it bad, folks.

Speaking of nephews, an idea strikes me. I whip out my phone and dial Braith.

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