Page 2 of The Bear's Forever Mat
She’s not family,Cooper said smoothly.Holiday gatherings are for family.
She’s almost family,the beast returned.She knows everyone, knows everything, and she’s around all the time.
Trust me, this is a human thing. I know she’s around a lot, but that doesn’t make her family. Holidays are for immediate family only, unless wealldecide otherwise.No matter that someday Cooper fully intended for Amber to be included in the family, the time had not yet arrived.
Human rules make no sense,his bear commented dryly.
You don’t understand logic.
Logic makes no sense if it means no Amber.
Okay, Cooper couldn’t argue with that.
While he’d been chatting with his inner bear, Alex and James had continued to discuss holiday plans. James nodded then filled Cooper in. “If Grandma and Grandpa agree, we’ll all head over to their place for Christmas day. It’s not as if we don’t get together on a regular basis for meals, but since this is a bigger deal, Alex is in charge of the gift exchange, and Kaylee said she’d coordinate the food. We’ll all chip in so Grandma isn’t stuck with all the work.”
“Time’s running short on another matter.” Alex was the one who said it, but both his brothers wore serious expressions as they turned to examine Cooper.
“Grandpa’s letter said we had to have things settled before the end of the year. The mating fever and all.” James considered then his face brightened. “Hey, I just thought of something. Didn’t the fever last hit you in early January? Maybe you won’t get it until then, which means Grandpa won’t be able to hold you to your promise since he didn’t issue the challenge until March. He’s supposed to finalize the ownership papers by the end ofthisyear, yes?”
Cooper had already considered that. “It might be a valid escape clause, but I’ll be ready, no matter what. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to jeopardize what you’ve both accomplished.”
Although he had plenty of his own plans and hopes, their grandfather’s demand the three of them give in to the mating fever this year or lose control of the family business had forced Cooper’s hand. His list of How To Settle Down In The Most Advantageous And Pleasurable Manner had been kicked into overdrive before he wanted.
Alex had attempted to control fate by picking the worst possible match when the fever hit him. James had picked the best—his best friend. Cooper was more like his youngest brother, and also had someone in mind. She would be perfect…
…in about five years. They had way too much to work through before Cooper could slide into action mode and sweep Amber off her feet.
Want her? Definitely, but the fact he was her boss was the simplest of their complications.
He hadallthe obstacles cataloged, of course. Defined and delineated in the Barriers To Potential Mating Bliss list.
Fortunately, having dealt with the mating fever on a regular basis over the past ten years, Cooper had a little more ammunition when it came to facing the feverandkeeping his promise to his brothers regarding the ultimatum Grandfather had issued.
The page in his notebook dedicated to that topic was titled “Surviving The Fever Without Fucking Up.”
Titling his lists wasn’t always easy, and the simple truth usually worked best.
No, as much as he enjoyed the time with his siblings, Cooper knew there were a million ways this could go wrong, but if he was very, very careful, and very determined, he’d be able to get himself and Amber through the next month or so without the world imploding.
Once ownership of Borealis Gems was safely settled, and once he’d kept his word to his brothers… Once the fever was done and gone, and theotherbarriers between him and Amber were taken care of…
Thenhe would go after her with a dogged determination. Apolar bear-ed determination.
Something poked him in the hand. He blinked to attention to discover Alex standing over him, smacking a sheaf of papers against his palm.
Cooper opened it to find a list of security protocols Alex had organized for upcoming holiday events. An identical list already sat on his main office desk where the very efficient Amber had placed it earlier that afternoon. “What’s this?”
“You called and asked for an update.” Alex frowned as he sat back down. “You headed into hibernation mode, bro? You’re not the brightest bulb right now.”
James’s eyes opened wide, and he leaned in, a thrill in his tone. “Is it the fever?”
“No, it’s not the damn fever, and we don’t hibernate. Jerks.” Cooper wadded the papers into a ball and tossed it at the garbage, shaking his head when the paper ricocheted off the rim to land in a crumpled heap on the floor.
“You need to work on your game, Coop,” James teased.
“My game is just fine.” Or it would be. Cooper would be sure of that. In all its variations.
Now was the time for patience and logic and, above all else, to avoid being caught alone with the delectable Amber Myawayan.
