Page 32 of Wooded Bliss

The way she pushes back against my thrusts tells me she’s not done with me either. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

CHAPTER 13

BIRDIE

I’m going through my flower stock and pulling any stems which aren’t up to snuff when I hear noise coming from the empty storefront next door. Thinking I might just be hearing things, I stop what I’m doing and tilt my head to the side. I even move a few steps closer to the wall I share with it.

It used to be a sewing store when I was growing up. I remember walking through the store and touching all the pretty fabrics. There was a lot of dreaming about fancy dresses done in that store. The only problem was I couldn’t sew and neither could my mom.

The shop offered classes, and I even took one, but I was not good. For many, it might have been a skill they could develop, but all my seams were crooked, and I would get frustrated far tooeasily with every project I tried. I realized sewing wasn’t for me and gave up.

But I still liked to wander through all the fabric.

That was years ago, and the storefront has been empty for years.

I haven’t heard anything about someone starting a business there, and when something like that happens the people of Whispering Pines like to talk. The problem might be that I’m not exactly in the loop anymore. Although I guess if I had to choose between being in the know about everything going on in town and living with Thatcher, I’d choose my mate every time.

It’s been a few weeks since Thatcher marked me, and I’m fully moved into our cabin out in the woods. Our house is exactly the kind of place I always dreamed about living in. It’s a little rustic, but everything about it is cozy and makes me feel at home. I love it there.

I love my mate even more.

That man is on a mission to get me pregnant. Considering his level of determination, I have no doubt he’ll be successful in practically no time at all.

Not only have I spent a lot of time with Thatcher and his brothers, who are now all my brothers as well, but I’ve gotten to bond with Thatcher’s bear. I love my furry beast.

He’s a giant, but he’s so gentle with me. When he looks at me, his eyes intense and edged with a feral ferocity I find sexy as fuck, I can feel the love he has for me.

It’s almost comical how I’ve just accepted the life I’ve been offered. I never imagined I would be mated to a bear shifter, but I’ve always felt a connection with Thatcher. Finding out he’s abear and mated to me? Who am I to deny the path the Moon Goddess has laid at my feet.

When more sounds come from next door, my eyebrows pull together and I quickly flip the open sign around and lock Blooms Happen behind me. It’s only a few steps to the front door of the shop and when I tug on the handle, I’m mildly surprised to find it open.

I stick my head inside the door and my mouth falls open. Not only is someone in the long-abandoned store, but all four Bosch brothers are inside. They’re moving things around that were left behind, taking measurements of walls, and looking at the fixtures.

Since I know the men in the room, I step fully into the space, but I’m too surprised to say anything right away. It’s one thing to see Wylie and Grady in town, but seeing Thatcher around is still surprising. Seeing Ripp is shocking as hell.

When I finally find my voice, I blurt, “What are you guys doing here?”

All four brothers turn toward me with sheepish smiles on their faces. As my mate steps toward me, the brothers give little waves. The smile on Thatcher’s face makes me even more curious about what is going on.

“Were we being too loud?”

“I heard something going on over here, it wasn’t overly loud or anything,” I answer honestly. “But that doesn’t tell me what you guys are up to.”

Thatcher spreads his arms out wide to indicate the shop around us. “I’m opening a store.”

Giddiness fills me and my lips curve into a huge smile. I bounce on my toes as I close the distance between us until we’re almost touching. “You’re opening a store? To sell your woodwork?”

“See,” Grady murmurs as he comes up and elbows my mate, “I told you she’d get it.”

Thatcher rolls his eyes and gives his little brother a small shove. “Of course she was going to get it,” pride shines in his eyes as he looks down at me, “my mate is very smart.”

I giggle softly and shake my head at my man. He’s always complimenting me in one way or another. I’m not complaining, far from it, but it’s still a little strange to hear sometimes.

Thatcher cups my face in his hands, his brown eyes staring at me intently. “You know how much I hate to be away from you. Asking you to give up your dream wasn’t an option, but I needed to figure out a way to still be close to you every day.”

Even I can hear the shock in my voice, “So you decided to open a store?”

“Exactly,” he says like his solution is the most obvious thing in the world. “I get plenty of commissions to keep me busy, but I don’t have to work out of my shop at home. I’m going to build a work area here while creating a display space. It’ll help me coordinate with clients and I’ll figure out some things to make that people can buy and walk out with the same day.”

---