Page 27 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

When I yank the door open, a gust of wind blows in.

“Lucy, what the heck are you doing?” Natasha wails. “It’s freaking cold out there!”

Ignoring her, I step out into the darkness.

In a second, all the warmth from the hot tub is gone. But I don’t care. A part of me, that I didn’t even know existed until today, is telling me that Preston is out there. I walk into the night. I can hardly see anything, but I feel confident.

It’s freezing. My feet squelch in the mud. But all I can think is, I need to get to my mate.

I’ve taken a dozen steps, and suddenly, there he is. He’s kinda half dressed, his plaid shirt all torn and barely clinging to his shoulders, and he’s covered in mud.

“Preston!” I scream. My heart gives a massive boom and I run to him.

He lifts me right up off the ground and crushes his lips against mine.

“Lucy, what are you doing out here?”

He looks so worried, I break into a grin. “You called to me, so I came to get you, of course.”

He lets out a gigantic sigh. “You heard.”

I stroke his beard. “Of course, I did.” He touches his forehead to mine and we stay like that, connecting.

At last, I remember. “Are the others okay?”

“Yeah, they’re fine. I built a fire up there and got them dry. Soon as the rain stopped, I brought ’em all down. Hopefully, they’re all taking hot showers now.”

“Thank you so much for doing that.”

He shrugs. “Like I said, all for you, Lucy Cole.”

I frown. “I hope they weren’t assholes?”

“Those guys are full-time assholes. But right now, they’re humbled assholes.”

I giggle. “You’re funny, Preston. You know that?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Well, my brother’s been laughing at my grumpiness all his life.”

“No. I mean, you’re intentionally funny.”

“Guess I never had a whole lot to laugh about until I met you.”

“Why—?” I start to ask, but I then I realize that he’s turning a door handle. Hadn’t even noticed we’d been walking.

He flings the door open, and…

Natasha and Kellie goggle at us.

“Oh. My. God,” Kellie stage whispers.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, ladies, but I’m afraid we’re gonna need this room,” Preston says, his voice like honey over gravel. I think I fall for him even more.

“R-right, of course,” Natasha squeaks, and the girls jump out of the hot tub so fast, a bunch of water sloshes out.

Preston just stands there, holding me in his arms until they’ve stumbled out of the room, clutching armloads of their stuff.

The moment the door bangs shut, he locks it and a growl bursts from his lips, like he’s been keeping it in for a long time.

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