Page 18 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

“Supposed to get a foot or more. Did you all bring enough clothes?” Dante asked, his brows furrowed with concern.

“Yup! Mama got me pink sparkly snow pants! They only had plain in the store, but Mama fixed them cause she’s magic.” Rosie said, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“I used a ton of fabric glue and glitter. It’s no big deal. She, um, likes pink,” I murmured, my cheeks burning for whatever reason.

“I disagree. I think it’s a very big deal, Avery. You’re a real good mom,” he said, and a ripple of pure pleasure rolled through me at the unexpected compliment.

I hummed noncommittally and turned my attention to the scenery speeding by. But Dante didn’t drive recklessly. On the contrary, he had total control of the vehicle. And I felt completely secure in both mine and Rosie’s safety with him at the wheel.

“How about some music?” Dante’s deep voice interrupted my thoughts, and I nodded as he flipped the station on.

“Is this 80s glam rock?” I asked with a giggle catching in my throat.

“Don’t tell me you don’t like Poison?” he asked, the started belting along with Brett Michaels about roses and thorns and turning my insides to goo.

He could sing, too? What the actual fuck?

Dangerous, sexy man.

Rosie knew the song well, since it was one of my favorites, and soon, we were all singing along as we made our way to Penny and Max’s house.

It was beautiful on the Motley Crewd Ranch no matter the season, but something about seeing it draped in white made my insides quiver with expectation.

Or maybe that was just the company.

Down girl. Down.

Three times rejected was not something I wanted to experience. Best to ignore the trembling butterflies in my stomach whenever he was around.

Rushing into things was how I wound up a single parent, and even though I wouldn’t change it for the world, I didn’t need a man who played games. No more emotional rollercoasters for me.

Dante Bianco might be a good man.

Heck, he might be an exceptional man.

But he wasn’t my man.

Just remember that, Avery. And you won’t have any problems.

Chapter Six-Dante

Mine.

My Bear chuffed inside of me, pawing at the ground in the metaphysical realm where he waited until we swapped skins.

My entire being seemed to buzz with awareness, and I knew it was all because of her. Avery Brown was everything I ever wanted in a woman, but I didn’t know how to tell her. It wasn’t even that I couldn’t find the words, and God knew I wasn’t a poet.

It was more that I couldn’t get close enough to even try. She kept throwing up roadblocks every time I drew near. Mixed signals were confusing in the best of times, but I was a Shifter.

With her mouth saying one thing and her scent another, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.

Definitely not coming.

As if I wasn’t keenly aware of the fact my cock ached for her day in and out, it gave a hefty thump beneath my jeans at that precise moment.

Grrr.

“What was that?” she asked.

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