Page 20 of Snowed In With the Grizzly

“You found me.” I stare at him in shock.

His face is drawn with worry. “What on earth were you doing out there?”

“I was coming to tell you I’m sorry.”

His dark eyes widen. “You’resorry? What for?”

“F-for asking you to kiss me when I wasn’t available.”

He shakes his head. “That kiss was… well, the best darn thing that’s ever happened to me. You don’t need to apologize for it. Ever.” His voice is fierce, and it floods my body with heat.

“But I should’ve been honest with you.”

He frowns. “Why weren’t you?”

I bite my lip. “Because I’m so ashamed, I can hardly stand it—”

“No.” His big head swings back and forth. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your father is the one who should be ashamed, for giving you away like you’re his property, and the creditor for thinking it’s okay to take you—but let’s get you inside. You’re freezing.”

I nod wordlessly. My head is spinning.

He doesn’t hate me? I didn’t hurt him?

The truck slides and slides in the soft, deep snow, and it takes a hell of a long time to cover the tiny distance, but at last, we’re there, right in front of Grandma Jo’s front door. Jaxton darts around to the passenger side and helps me out. The wind is brutal, and the short walk to the front door makes me cold all over again.

I throw the door open wide, but Jaxton hesitates on the doorstep. “You want me to come in?”

“Of course!”

“But… what you saw back there…”

“I know about shifters,” I say. It’s what he needs to hear right now. I sense it in my soul.

His forehead furrows. “You do?”

“Yup. My grandma told me all about them when I was here last.”

“Did you know about… me?”

I shrug. “When I saw you shifting, it all made sense.”

His frown deepens. “Are you weirded out to know that you kissed a shifter?”

My heart melts to see this big, fierce man so vulnerable.

“Not at all.” I shake my head, and tears prickle at the back of my eyes. “You’re the best man I’ve met. Hands down.”

He lets out a deep growly sound of relief. He takes a step into the house, and another one, and closes the door behind him. Then he takes both my hands in his. “You’re not going back home, you hear me? You’re staying right here with me.”

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

He lets off a snarl. “The hell you can’t. I’ll protect you, from anyone and everyone.”

“I have a little sister,” I tell him. “My father’s creditor has promised to spare her.” I hang my head. “There’s a lot of money at stake. He said dad’s lucky he’s not taking both of us. But if I go willingly, he’ll leave Charlie alone. He’ll even fund her place at a private school, so my dad can’t use her as collateral in future.”

“So, you came here for a vacation before you go to live with this… thisperson?” he spits the word out.

“Yup. I did a deal with my father. Four days of peace. And of course, this is where I wanted to spend it. I felt like Grandma Jo’s place was calling to me.”

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