Read Online The Billionbear's Bride: BBW Bear Shifter BWWM Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant - Free Book Online

her hand, and she hadn’t let go either. Violet was still smiling, too. He swept his thumb deliberately across her knuckles.
    But then she slipped her hand out of his and ducked her head. Disappointed, he turned to go.
    "Bruce?" she asked, and he whipped around so quickly he almost fell over. Her voice was hesitant, but it lacked the cool distance she'd had in Vegas. Instead, she was shy but inviting. "Let me know when you start cooking. You can show me around the kitchen."
    It was a small start, but Bruce would take what he could.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Violet
     
    “I still can’t believe it,” Jana declared.
    It wasn't the first time Jana had said so that evening. It wasn't even the second. Jana kept looking back and forth between them with the same slightly amazed, disbelieving expression she'd been wearing all night. As she had every time Jana had questioned her marriage, or glanced at her hand to see the ring Bruce had placed there, Violet stiffened slightly. She felt Bruce's fingers squeeze hers in reassurance, their hands joined over the tabletop, and cast him a small smile.
    "How did you meet?" continued Jana. " When did you meet?"
    "I introduced them," Wanda interjected smoothly. She was much better than Violet at keeping her cool; Violet was thankful for her. "They hit it off right away. I knew they'd be good together." Over the rim of her wine glass she winked at Violet.
    "I didn't want to say anything right away," Violet added. "You know, in case it didn't work out."
    Jana's face took on a knowing look. She was probably thinking about Chad—which was what Violet wanted, even if it wasn't true. Bruce had driven all thoughts of her ex out of her mind.
    Bruce's thumb brushed over her knuckles. "I think it worked out pretty well," he said with a tender look toward Violet.
    He was really good at this faking-a-relationship thing, Violet thought as a flush of heat stole through her body. He should have gone into acting.
    Or maybe it wasn't an act. Maybe he felt the same way she did. They had chemistry; she knew she wasn't imagining that. The memory of his skin touching hers was burned into her memory. His hands had been calloused, rough from working with his hands, but his touch had been gentle as he explored her. Not too gentle, she remembered with a shiver. Underneath the table she pressed her knees together and reminded herself that she had guests.
    "So why Vegas?" Jana sounded a little pouty.
    "It was just . . . a spur-of-the-moment thing. We got married by Elvis," Violet added, hoping to lighten the mood a little.
    "I thought he was dead," said Wanda in a deadpan.
    "The King is never dead," Bruce said reprovingly, and everyone laughed.
    "You better show me the pictures," Jana said, stabbing a warning at Violet with her fork. "You had pictures taken, didn't you?"
    Bit by bit Violet began to relax. Jana began looking less suspicious too, as the dinner went on, or at least she was hiding it better. Violet knew she was going to get an interrogation sooner or later—probably sooner. Jana loved talking about boys and relationships and gossip.
    "What I can't believe," said Wanda, "is this food ."
    Jana agreed enthusiastically. "This is amazing. You cooked it yourself?"
    Bruce tipped his glass toward Violet. "I couldn't have done it without my sous chef."
    For their dinner he had prepared a rustic but sophisticated pot roast, redolent with herbs and spices that filled the dining room with their fragrance. Rosemary, thyme, sage, and others Violet couldn't identify. It smelled homey and satisfying, and it fit perfectly with the fire roaring in the grate and the warm colors in the walls.
    "He says that, but I just chopped whatever he told me to," admitted Violet, slicing and spearing one of her last potatoes.
    "You have to walk before you can run," said her sister archly. Laughing, Violet swatted her on the arm. But if there was someone who was familiar with Violet's mediocre kitchen skills, it was Jana.
    "She graced