Read Online Stranded With Her Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Clan Book 3) by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Harmony Raines
Tags: General Fiction
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sooner the better. I am looking forward to a quiet life.” He opened the passenger door for Willow, and helped her inside his truck. Nerves took hold of her; she was about to go and meet all of Trent’s friends. Would they be disappointed she wasn’t a bear?
As Trent got in and smiled at her, she realised it didn’t matter to him what she was. He loved her all the same and that was all that really mattered. Surely, his friends would be happy for him.
But she had to ask, “What will they think of me? Will they accept me?”
“A panther. You will be the one and only, so expect some questions and challenges.”
“Challenges?” she asked uneasily.
He laughed. “Yes, they will no doubt take bets on who can outrun the panther. But it’s all good natured.”
“I’m still going to be the freak, then?”
“Not at all. Many people like me marry ordinary humans, and Hal over in Bear Creek married a wolf. Now, that has to be worse than a panther.” He wrinkled his nose in mock jest. Then said seriously, “There’s no discrimination; you will fit in just fine.”
“Especially when I get a job and make friends.”
“I thought you were going to work for me?”
“You didn’t seem too happy about the idea.”
“I gave it some thought. Nothing would make me happier than having you at my beck and call 24/7.”
“So I’ll be your PA?”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
“I’m serious, Trent. I don’t want a token job. I’m good at advertising.”
“Really?”
“Yes. What did you think? I was some airhead who just made coffee?”
“No. But it occurs to me I know nothing about you.”
“Tell me about it. In any normal world, when do two people move in with each other within days of meeting? The fact that you are going to take me home and no one is going to ask any questions is kind of bizarre.”
“That’s just how things work here. I look forward to sharing my home with you; goodness knows I’ve waited long enough.”
But what they didn’t know was that there were going to be questions asked, and answers to be given.
Chapter Seventeen – Trent
Trent had built his business with pride. Even outside of bear country, he was recognised as one of the best value and reliable haulers. It had given him all the material things he could need, but it had never provided him with the thing his heart desired. His mate.
Yet now all of his hard work and dedication was about to pay off. The house he had designed and built himself, with the prospect that one day he would bring his woman home, was the perfect place for a family. And when he saw the look on Willow’s face as they made their way up the drive, he knew he had been right.
“Like it?” he asked, opening the car door for her. They had gone back to his yard and dropped the truck off. After half an hour of answering calls and rescheduling work because of the snow, he had allowed himself the rest of the day off. He had been relieved to get back into his car and drive home. Wanting to savour every moment with Willow on her first day in Bear Bluff.
“It’s … awesome. This is all yours?”
“Yes. All of it. I bought the plot of land and built the house some years ago.”
“You started young.”
“Willow, one other thing I should tell you, is that you will start to age slower as the years go by. I can’t see it wouldn’t be the same for panthers as it is for bears. I am a couple of hundred years old.”
She stopped, her mouth open in shock. “What?”
“Yes. My first yard had a horse and cart.”
“How? I mean the town and stuff?”
“We blame it on the water.” He grinned. “Most humans don’t live here their whole lives; those that do, well, they get to the point where they know something is different, but they can’t ever put their finger on it. Those we trust know about us anyway. We muddle through, is what I’m saying. But you should know.”
She touched her face and he knew that this was one of the
As Trent got in and smiled at her, she realised it didn’t matter to him what she was. He loved her all the same and that was all that really mattered. Surely, his friends would be happy for him.
But she had to ask, “What will they think of me? Will they accept me?”
“A panther. You will be the one and only, so expect some questions and challenges.”
“Challenges?” she asked uneasily.
He laughed. “Yes, they will no doubt take bets on who can outrun the panther. But it’s all good natured.”
“I’m still going to be the freak, then?”
“Not at all. Many people like me marry ordinary humans, and Hal over in Bear Creek married a wolf. Now, that has to be worse than a panther.” He wrinkled his nose in mock jest. Then said seriously, “There’s no discrimination; you will fit in just fine.”
“Especially when I get a job and make friends.”
“I thought you were going to work for me?”
“You didn’t seem too happy about the idea.”
“I gave it some thought. Nothing would make me happier than having you at my beck and call 24/7.”
“So I’ll be your PA?”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
“I’m serious, Trent. I don’t want a token job. I’m good at advertising.”
“Really?”
“Yes. What did you think? I was some airhead who just made coffee?”
“No. But it occurs to me I know nothing about you.”
“Tell me about it. In any normal world, when do two people move in with each other within days of meeting? The fact that you are going to take me home and no one is going to ask any questions is kind of bizarre.”
“That’s just how things work here. I look forward to sharing my home with you; goodness knows I’ve waited long enough.”
But what they didn’t know was that there were going to be questions asked, and answers to be given.
Chapter Seventeen – Trent
Trent had built his business with pride. Even outside of bear country, he was recognised as one of the best value and reliable haulers. It had given him all the material things he could need, but it had never provided him with the thing his heart desired. His mate.
Yet now all of his hard work and dedication was about to pay off. The house he had designed and built himself, with the prospect that one day he would bring his woman home, was the perfect place for a family. And when he saw the look on Willow’s face as they made their way up the drive, he knew he had been right.
“Like it?” he asked, opening the car door for her. They had gone back to his yard and dropped the truck off. After half an hour of answering calls and rescheduling work because of the snow, he had allowed himself the rest of the day off. He had been relieved to get back into his car and drive home. Wanting to savour every moment with Willow on her first day in Bear Bluff.
“It’s … awesome. This is all yours?”
“Yes. All of it. I bought the plot of land and built the house some years ago.”
“You started young.”
“Willow, one other thing I should tell you, is that you will start to age slower as the years go by. I can’t see it wouldn’t be the same for panthers as it is for bears. I am a couple of hundred years old.”
She stopped, her mouth open in shock. “What?”
“Yes. My first yard had a horse and cart.”
“How? I mean the town and stuff?”
“We blame it on the water.” He grinned. “Most humans don’t live here their whole lives; those that do, well, they get to the point where they know something is different, but they can’t ever put their finger on it. Those we trust know about us anyway. We muddle through, is what I’m saying. But you should know.”
She touched her face and he knew that this was one of the
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