Page 1 of Frostbite & Mistletoe
Chapter One
Bearpaw Ridge, Idaho
Friday, November 26
Kymberlie Tringstad pulled a tray holding another round of beers across the granite bar top, her movements deft and easy.
The Hair of the Dog was crowded tonight, shoulder to shoulder with locals and out-of-towners alike. Black Friday drew them in, thirsty and ready for a break from a couple of busy days of entertaining and shopping.
This was her territory, humming and alive. Tonight’s live band, Cowboy Crush, made her toes tap and her hips sway as she worked. On a night like this, she could almost forget about the silent house waiting for her after work.
“Two more IPAs for table seven,” she called to her bartender Micah, a whip-thin wolf shifter who handled the rush with a grin and fast hands.
Her enhanced senses sliced through the sweat and perfume, the fried food, and the tang of beer, picking up on everything that mattered—the bikers at the bar about to order another round, the beer spill near the restrooms, a cluster by the dance floor getting rowdy.
She didn’t even have to look; her staff was already moving. Her server, Karl, mop in his hand, passed her on his way to the spill, and her assistant manager (and cousin) Zoey was moving in to handle the rowdies.
“Kymber, we’re running low on the seasonal ale,” Micah called.
“I’ll get another keg after I check the kitchen.” She went around to the back of the bar and squeezed past him, tossing a grin at a group of regulars at the corner table.
From the highway, The Hair of the Dog looked like a movie set from an old Western, all weathered wood false front and neon beer advertisements hanging in the windows, but inside, she’d made sure her place looked welcoming and worked like a machine to never miss a beat.
She was halfway to the kitchen when the scent hit her—a sudden, unmistakable note of bear shifter. Not just any bear, either. She turned, scanning over the crowd, and there they were: Maggie and Cade Swanson, picking their way through the packed tables.
Maggie’s auburn hair gleamed under the lights, her laughter bright, while Cade loomed at her side, shouldering through the crowd like a scarred but good-natured grizzly.
Kymberlie changed direction on the fly, weaving through the tangle of bodies without losing speed. It had been a while since her friends had shown up here for a date night, what with Maggie running Cinnamon + Sugar these days, Cade managing the Grizzly Creek Ranch, and the two of them parenting an adorable but active little boy.
“Well, look what the bear dragged in,” Kymberlie called, striding over to catch Maggie in a quick hug.“Don’t tell me you two are actually taking a night off?”
Maggie’s hazel eyes sparkled.“Mom swore she could handle morning prep. She threatened to hide my aprons if I didn’t take time out for something other than a fire call.”
“Well, you guys are a sight for sore eyes.” Kymberlie turned to Cade. The big, scarred bear shifter gave her his usual shy smile.“Let me get you some drinks and an order of our new seasoned curly fries on the house. Your usual booth’s taken, but I’ve got one in the back for my VIPs.”
She led them through the crowd, all of them fielding greetings from customers as they passed.
“Busy night,” Cade said, settling into the booth.
“Black Friday,” Kymberlie replied, rolling her eyes.“People need a break after cooking all that food yesterday and then fighting the crowds downtown today. What’ll you have? First round’s on me.”
“You don’t have to do that, Kymber,” Maggie protested.
“Family discount.” Kymberlie winked.
The Swansons might be bear shifters, but they were also kin, thanks to several marriages between the Jacobsen wolf pack and the Swanson clan. Even before that, the wolf shifters and bear shifters of Bearpaw Ridge had stood together for more years than anyone cared to count.
She took their orders and returned in no time, Cade’s beer and Maggie’s hard cider in hand. She slid into the booth across from them, letting herself relax for just a breath.
“So,” Maggie said, her voice sly,“Cousin Ellie told me you had another ShiftMatch date last weekend. How’d it go?”
Kymberlie groaned, flopping her head back.“Don’t even start. I should’ve known better than to try dating a coyote shifter. He spent all night pitching his latest crypto scheme.”
Cade snorted into his beer. Maggie laughed, covering her mouth.
“That’s what, four ShiftMatch bombs since Halloween?” Smiling, Maggie started counting on her fingers.“The eagle shifter who hated heights, that wolf shifter who kept comparing you to his ex…”
“And the guy who turned out to be married-but-not-mated to an Ordinary,” Kymberlie added, dry as dust.“I swear, ShiftMatch needs to hire a private investigator.”
