Page 16 of Snowed In With the Grizzly

Crap.I was a beat away from telling this tiny human that I’m a big ol’ grizzly bear. She’s definitely not ready to hearthatyet.

“How about I come do some work on your place now?” I say instead. “It’s gonna be five degrees colder tonight, and you’ll need the extra warmth.”

She’ll be in your bed tonight,my bear reminds me.

There’s a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Does she have other plans? Does she have a boyfriend coming to stay with her today? Is that what she’s been hiding? My bear starts up a roar. I barely have time to cage it behind my teeth.

“I don’t want to take up your time,” she says.

My chest warms. She’s not hiding a boyfriend. She’s being her usual selfless self.

I pause, thinking. I need to make it sound like there’s something in it for me. Well, apart from the pure paradise of being in her presence. “You’ll be doing me a favor, actually. I get real antsy when I’m snowed in.”

“Oh—” Her cheeks turn that adorable shade of pink again. “Well, in that case. Yes, please. That would be amazing.”

“Great,” I say and I can’t restrain the grin from spreading across my face.

When I get up to take our bowls to the kitchen, her phone rings. She picks it up, swipes, and horror crosses her face.

Ice shoots down my spine. It’s the person who hurt her. I know it is. My beast swells beneath my skin.

I cross to the kitchen and watch as she reads the message. Her shoulders tense and her thumb works fast as she types something back.

Snatch the phone!my beast growls.

What?! No. You can’t act like that.I shove it back down inside me.

“Everything okay?” I spit the words out fast, before I say something way worse.

“Yeah… sorry,” she says, but her voice sounds different now. More distant. I clench my jaw. I’m burning to ask her now. Demand to know who’s hurting her, and put it right. Some asshole ex-boyfriend? An intense wave of jealousy wells up inside me. I clench the edge of the sink so hard I feel it crack.

I’ll tear him apart, limb by limb. Pulverize him.

She stands up and shoves the phone in her back pocket. Her jaw is set bravely, but there’s a slight tremble to her hands.

I hate so much that she feels like this. But I need to bide my time, get her to trust me.

And when she’s mine, she’ll never suffer a moment of distress again.

“Ready when you are!” Her tone is artificially bright. But if that’s what she needs, I’ll go along with it. I’d go along with anything to make her happy.

As we’re leaving, I remember there’s a box of donuts in the fridge. “Reinforcements,” I tell her, and her eyes light up.

“Wanna share one now?” I ask.

She wrinkles her nose adorably. “Think it’ll keep the cold out?”

“Definitely.” I grin. I love that she has this silly side to her. I hand one to her, and while she keeps hold of it, I tear the other half off.

“Two perfect halves,” she exclaims, and my heart warms.

It’s as corny as hell, but I can’t help thinking it’s a symbol of the two of us.

5

Rowan

Ishouldn’t have kissed Jaxton.

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