Read Online The Cowbear's Curvy Valentine (Curvy Bear Ranch 5) by Liv Brywood - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Liv Brywood
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, Romance, Contemporary, Action & Adventure, Paranormal, Adult, series, supernatural, Short-Story, holiday, Erotic, Bachelor, Hearts, valentines, Dallas, bear shifter, affair, Human, Mate, Single Woman, no strings attached, flowers, Claimed, Curvy Bear Ranch, Shifter Secret, Montana Ranch, Cupid Bows, Disgraced Lawyer, Craves, Broken Woman
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As his face elongated into a snout, his teeth lengthened. He dropped to all fours as his hands and feet morphed into paws.
After the transformation was complete, he roared. Nearby trees shook snow from their frozen branches. He cocked his head to one side and sniffed the air. The scent of pine filled his lungs. He hadn’t shifted in several days, so he wanted to run full speed through the forest. But he’d have to wait until after he posed for Abby.
He lumbered to the tree line and sat back on his haunches. When two hours had passed with no sign of her, he stood and paced. Eventually, he’d stomped the snow into an icy crust. As he turned to make another pass, he slipped on the well-worn path.
Dammit. He couldn’t wait anymore.
Rather than risk getting caught, he shifted back to his human form before exiting the woods. He’d wasted half the day already. Where the heck was she?
As he stalked back toward the B & B, he noticed a small form crouched down near the edge of the lake. His bear went on alert. As he moved closer, he recognized Abby’s hair. Hunched over, her shoulders quaked. Was she crying?
He picked up the pace and hurried toward her with renewed determination. No matter what, he was going to find a way to cheer her up.
Chapter 6
Abby squatted at the edge of the lake and stared into its icy depths. Even though chilly air pierced the thick insulation in her snow pants, she couldn’t bring herself to move. Phone calls with her mother usually ended with Abby agreeing to her demands. This one didn’t. She still couldn’t believe she’d had the courage to stand up to her mother and tell her that she wasn’t coming home until she was ready.
But instead of feeling elated, a heavy burden gripped her heart. Guilt ate at her soul. Was she being selfish? Her mother had yelled at her for not considering how her behavior would reflect on her father. Abby was sick of worrying about every decision she made. Even the most mundane choice required getting their opinion.
Until now, she’d never stopped to think about why she kept caving in to their demands. The conversations she’d been having with Cody and Vicki were giving her a new perspective. She’d never defied her parents before—not when she’d wanted to pull her paint set from the trash, not when she’d secretly dreaded her first day of law school, not when she felt like throwing up before her first court case. Never.
But now… now she wasn’t sure what to do. Paralyzed by the stress of the situation, she couldn’t even decide whether or not she wanted to stand up and walk back to the B & B. She needed a break from the warring thoughts in her head. If she could just get a few minutes of peace, she could figure everything out.
A sound startled her. She turned to find Cody walking toward her.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked. “I thought you’d be painting.”
“That was the plan until my mom called.” She didn’t even try to keep the annoyance from her tone.
“Rough conversation?”
“The worst. She acts like I need to jump every time she tells me to do something. Well maybe I don’t want to jump anymore.” She put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I don’t want to be a marionette.”
“People will treat you the way that you let them. If you don’t want her to treat you like a child anymore, then you need to start standing up for yourself. You need to take control of your life instead of letting her control you,” he said.
Late afternoon sunlight glowed like flames across his wavy brown hair. His skin radiated vitality and warmth. She wanted that feeling. She wanted to project the same self-assuredness that Cody possessed. Every time she talked to him, shivers of awareness raced down her spine. She was attracted to his confidence. He knew exactly what he wanted and took action to get it. If she could even have half of his confidence, she’d be able to stand up to her parents.
She flashed back to the sultry
After the transformation was complete, he roared. Nearby trees shook snow from their frozen branches. He cocked his head to one side and sniffed the air. The scent of pine filled his lungs. He hadn’t shifted in several days, so he wanted to run full speed through the forest. But he’d have to wait until after he posed for Abby.
He lumbered to the tree line and sat back on his haunches. When two hours had passed with no sign of her, he stood and paced. Eventually, he’d stomped the snow into an icy crust. As he turned to make another pass, he slipped on the well-worn path.
Dammit. He couldn’t wait anymore.
Rather than risk getting caught, he shifted back to his human form before exiting the woods. He’d wasted half the day already. Where the heck was she?
As he stalked back toward the B & B, he noticed a small form crouched down near the edge of the lake. His bear went on alert. As he moved closer, he recognized Abby’s hair. Hunched over, her shoulders quaked. Was she crying?
He picked up the pace and hurried toward her with renewed determination. No matter what, he was going to find a way to cheer her up.
Chapter 6
Abby squatted at the edge of the lake and stared into its icy depths. Even though chilly air pierced the thick insulation in her snow pants, she couldn’t bring herself to move. Phone calls with her mother usually ended with Abby agreeing to her demands. This one didn’t. She still couldn’t believe she’d had the courage to stand up to her mother and tell her that she wasn’t coming home until she was ready.
But instead of feeling elated, a heavy burden gripped her heart. Guilt ate at her soul. Was she being selfish? Her mother had yelled at her for not considering how her behavior would reflect on her father. Abby was sick of worrying about every decision she made. Even the most mundane choice required getting their opinion.
Until now, she’d never stopped to think about why she kept caving in to their demands. The conversations she’d been having with Cody and Vicki were giving her a new perspective. She’d never defied her parents before—not when she’d wanted to pull her paint set from the trash, not when she’d secretly dreaded her first day of law school, not when she felt like throwing up before her first court case. Never.
But now… now she wasn’t sure what to do. Paralyzed by the stress of the situation, she couldn’t even decide whether or not she wanted to stand up and walk back to the B & B. She needed a break from the warring thoughts in her head. If she could just get a few minutes of peace, she could figure everything out.
A sound startled her. She turned to find Cody walking toward her.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked. “I thought you’d be painting.”
“That was the plan until my mom called.” She didn’t even try to keep the annoyance from her tone.
“Rough conversation?”
“The worst. She acts like I need to jump every time she tells me to do something. Well maybe I don’t want to jump anymore.” She put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I don’t want to be a marionette.”
“People will treat you the way that you let them. If you don’t want her to treat you like a child anymore, then you need to start standing up for yourself. You need to take control of your life instead of letting her control you,” he said.
Late afternoon sunlight glowed like flames across his wavy brown hair. His skin radiated vitality and warmth. She wanted that feeling. She wanted to project the same self-assuredness that Cody possessed. Every time she talked to him, shivers of awareness raced down her spine. She was attracted to his confidence. He knew exactly what he wanted and took action to get it. If she could even have half of his confidence, she’d be able to stand up to her parents.
She flashed back to the sultry
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