Read Online Colby (BBW Western Bear Shifter Romance) (Rodeo Bears Book 3) by Becca Fanning - Free Book Online

to protect herself. A hot night in the sack wasn’t worth her risking her freedom.

    “So is Dakota your actual name, or is that where you’re from? Cuz I hear it snows a lot up there, and you’re as white as an artic bunny.”

    “Where did you learn my name?” she asked, throwing her guard up as high as it would go with his golden eyes studying her, trying to drag her in. She was a reasonable woman, but reason couldn’t battle temptation, not in this heat.

    “So Dakota is your name. I thought for sure Brianna was pulling my leg. I’m glad you found your way back to the rodeo. Now I can redeem myself.” He held his hand out to her. “Come with me. There’s something I want to show you, to make up for yesterday.”

    It was a sincere request. Dakota like Eddie this way – sober and genuine. She never would have accepted his hand in his drunken arrogance, but she accepted it now, knowing it was a mistake. For so long, she had been scared. In Eddie’s presence, despite him being a stranger, she felt safe. He would protect her, even if he didn’t know what he was protecting her from.

    They circled the stadium, away from the crowd, until they reached a barnyard that, according to the signs posted around the makeshift pens, was closed to the public. The animals belonged to the men and women of the rodeo.

    As Eddie led her past a muddy pen filled with noisy pigs, some the size of a small pony, she asked, “We’re allowed to be here, aren’t we?”

    “I am,” he teased, tightening his grip on her hand. “Don’t run off, darling. We’re almost there.”

    Leaving the pigs behind, they entered a stable filled with rows of horses, the roof sheltering the animals from the blaze of the sun. Eddie stopped in front of an oatmeal Thoroughbred, its coat so light it was almost white.

    “He’s a bronco,” he informed her. “Never been trained. Never been ridden. Never seen a saddle in his life.” He petted the horse along its forehead. “You’re my best friend, aren’t you boy?”

    In reply, the bronco bucked.

    Dakota had not thought such adoration possible from the reckless playboy. Unwillingly, her guard began to drop. “If he’s never been ridden, why is he at the rodeo?” she asked, curious.

    “I entered him in the beauty pageant. He’s a show horse. Wins first prize every time. But even to put him in here kills me. I don’t like him to be cooped up. When we aren’t traveling around from one rodeo to the next, we have a ranch in New Mexico. He runs free there. I understand his need to run. All animals want to roam.”

    “You understand because you’re an animal too. A bear.”

    “We’re all bears in the Tyrell Clan.”

    “Are there many of you in the clan?”

    “Just a pocketful. My brothers, our cousin Colby, and Owen.”

    “Owen Hutch, the rodeo superstar?”

    Eddie laughed. “Don’t tell him that. He hates being a star. He just does his thing, and he’s happy enough with that. I’ve been friends with him for a long time.”

    She leaned against the wooden divide between the stables, not caring how dirty it was. “You always been a bull rider?”

    “Since I was a cub.” Eddie moved in closer to her, taking her easy posture as an invite, and he brushed away a loose strand of her hair. “You always been this haunted?”

    “I’m not haunted,” she claimed, her body pulsing with him so near. She could feel his breath against her neck, tantalizing her like a soft kiss. I’m hunted .

    Eddie put an arm over her head. He could devour her, and she wouldn’t care. “I think you are haunted. Hopefully, this can scare all the ghosts away.”  

    He leaned forward to kiss her, but a young man burst into the stables. Lanky and clumsy, he knocked a bucket over on his way to them.

    “That’s Jacob, my younger brother.” Eddie sighed as he moved away. “He has a knack for good timing.”

    “Hi.” Jacob blushed as he waved his hand. Like Eddie, he had sandy blonde hair,