Page 3 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

But did she bring me peace?

Did she offer me a taste of that softness I alluded to earlier?

Fuck no.

Avery was a different breed of woman altogether, and ours was definitely not going to be just another love story.

The woman had outright rejected me.

Several times.

And every fucking day that passed was like a trial on my beast and my frayed nerves. Every day she denied me was just one more test of my strength.

I had to prove my worth, I understood that. But goddammit, it was hard to hold on to hope.

My Bear grumbled as the barn came into view. He didn’t want to go to work. He wanted to hunt our mate.

The beast was mad as fuck at my incompetence. He blamed me for not claiming what was ours.

But he was also my fiercest cheerleader. My ornery Bruin was determined to see this deal done. And I had to admit, he had it right.

This was no time to start doubting myself.

I was going to claim the sexy little mama, and her sweet little cub, Rosalie, as my own.

Make no mistake.

Whether or not Avery wanted to face facts, that curvy female was all mine. She filled the hole inside my heart accurately and definitively.

She might not be all sweetness, but I liked her sour just fine. She was fucking brilliant.

A honey scented goddess of a woman who had to be tough to survive what she’d been through.

I admired her greatly, and more than anything, I wanted to show her I was worthy of a chance. I didn’t need to cow a woman to prove my strength. I wanted to lift her up. To shower her with affection and keep her and Little Rosie safe.

Speaking of Rosie, the clock was ticking on that little time bomb.

I was pretty sure the child had a secret. But I also knew she wasn’t aware of it. Neither was her mama.

The time for that conversation was drawing nearer and nearer, I just needed to find my tongue.

I didn’t expect that to be an easy discussion with Avery. But nothing ever was, and maybe then she’d accept the fact that she belonged with me.

I grinned, looking forward to that day more and more. My inner monster was counting the seconds till she wore my claiming bite.

It wouldn’t be too long now.

Especially with what happened after Emmet and Jez got hitched. I just had to wait her out, and I knew how to be a patient hunter.

Mine.

Chapter One-Avery

“Nurse Brown!”

I cringed inwardly—and probably outwardly, too, if the way Casey, the newest addition to the school nursing staff, arched an eyebrow was any indication.

She looked at me with a mix of amusement and pity. I just couldn’t help it.

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