She watched as the double doors opened and all the kids started to file out and head toward the gates where all the parents were waiting.
Chloe had sent Harper to school in a red beret that morning, so she wasn’t hard to spot. She saw her little head bouncing through the crowd and making its way toward her, and she bent down so Harper could run and jump into her arms.
“Mom.” Harper grinned. “I had the best day. Jamie and I were partners for English, and we got to act out a play!”
“Oh, wow.” Chloe smiled widely. “That sounds amazing! What was the play about?”
“It was about an old king who lost his kingdom because he was greedy, and the princess and the queen took over.”
“That sounds pretty exciting,” she said.
“It was,” Harper beamed. “I was the queen and Jamie was the princess.”
“And who played the king?” Chloe giggled.
“No one, he wasn’t really in it…”
She laughed and rubbed her daughter on the head. This was the best part of her day, picking her little girl up from Lone Reach Elementary and hearing her being so happy and enthusiastic about what she had done all day. It was a dramatic difference from her old life when Harper would barely utter a word at pick-up and didn’t seem happy at all.
“Well, do you remember what today is?” Chloe asked as she gripped her hand and they walked to her car.
It had been fixed in the past few weeks, and Chloe had been glad to have it back, although she knew it wouldn’t be making any long journeys. Lone Reach was her life now, and neither of them had any intention of leaving.
“Today?” Harper asked with a quizzical look on her face.
Chloe watched as she racked her brain and then clapped her hands together and squealed.
“It’s opening day!” she said. “Are we going?”
“We sure are.” Chloe grinned as she opened the passenger-side door and helped Harper in. She buckled her up and wandered around to the driver’s side, climbing in behind the wheel and starting the engine.
She drove away from the school and out the other side of town, following the mountain roads out to what had been the construction site but was now cleared and bright and fresh, with newly laid tarmac and stunning trees that had been planted only the week before.
The Brewery stood tall and proud in the middle of the forest, surrounded by lush evergreens and beautiful scenes. The view of the mountains and the snow that was still capping the tops made the whole place look incredibly idyllic, even considering the fact that the place was crawling with people for the big press conference and opening ceremony.
Chloe drove through the crowd and headed toward a small selection of parking spaces at the front of the lot. Behind her, there must have been hundreds of people waiting, all looking up at the main doors of the Scandinavian-inspired building and warehouse that had been lovingly created by the bear pack of Lone Reach.
She waited for Harper to climb out of the car, and then she locked the doors and took hold of her hand. They walked slowly toward the foot of the main stairs leading up to the entrance, and she looked out and saw all the eyes looking back at them. There were even photographers and film crews, and she and Harper managed to duck out of sight of them while also keeping a good view of the main doors and the big, red ribbon that was spread across them, tied in a bow in the middle.
“Woah,” Harper said. “Have you seen the size of those scissors?”
Chloe laughed and nodded. A huge, novelty pair she had ordered online for the ceremony was sitting on a pedestal in the center of a man-made stage.
There wasn’t long to go now.
She held Harper’s hand and they both watched with excitement as Mason, Hudson, two of the other bears, and a biker came to the front of the steps and went on stage. The mayor came with them, waving to the crowd and lapping up all the praise, even though it was clearly not for him but rather the men who had taken the time and effort to invest in their town and put it on the map while creating hundreds of jobs.
Mason scanned the area where Chloe and Harper were hiding to watch, and he waved and blew Chloe a kiss.
She felt it deep in her heart, as if he had kissed her right on her breastbone, and his heat filled her momentarily.
God, she was a lucky woman.
She had hit the jackpot with him. He was so caring, sexy, driven, and determined. And not only that but powerful and strong.
She watched as he approached the microphone and began to speak, and her heart swelled with pride.
“Thank you all for coming today,” Mason began, and Harper gave a little squeak of excitement. “It means a lot to us that you could be here to celebrate and commemorate the opening of our new brewery.”
The crowd whooped and cheered, and Mason waited for a moment while they clapped.
“When we first had this idea, we didn’t know how we were going to accomplish it. All we knew was, we had to make it happen. And after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, here we finally are, ready to take Lone Reach to the next stage of its evolution. It is an exciting time, and I’m so glad to share it with you all.”
The crowd went wild again, cheering and hollering, and Chloe found herself clapping, so immensely proud of her man.
“So, without further ado…,” he joked, and the crowd laughed.
He picked up the big pair of golden scissors and stepped to the double doors. He opened them wide and brought them down on the oversized red ribbon, and when it cut and fell away, the crowd cheered and clapped, marking the momentous occasion in the town’s history.
Cameras flashed and people called out questions, but Mason put the scissors down and let Hudson and the others take over as he went to Chloe and Harper.
He high-fived Harper and gave her a hug, and then swept Chloe up in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips.
“You’re amazing,” she told him, with love and adoration in her eyes.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said. “I nearly walked away from it all, but you brought me back to the here and now. You made me see what life is all about and gave me purpose. I love you, Chloe.”
She smiled and kissed him again, as his arms cradled the base of her back and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
Harper wrapped her arms around both of their legs, and they all cuddled together.
Chloe and Harper had their fresh start, and buckets of happiness, and Mason had fulfilled his dream, claimed his mate, and now, had a family all his own.
Together really was better. True love had found them all.
THE END
Looking for more romance…check out this complete Box Set from Cynthia Wilde, also on Amazon…
Preview of Burning Falls Shifters
Her Keeper Bear
Book 1
Cynthia Wilde
Copyright ©2019 by Cynthia Wilde. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Chapter One
The image in her rear-view mirror reflected the jagged New York skyline fading into the distance. The dim, gray color of the sky mirrored Cindy’s mood, drizzling large spattering rain drops onto her windshield.
“Good riddance, New York,” she muttered as she sped down the two-lane highway. Her time in the city had done her no favors outside of her professional life. More specifically, Reginald Anderson, though he preferred Reggie.
Cindy had fallen for his smooth demeanor, and the fact that he was a co-worker did not deter her from a series of toe-curling dalliances after hours. The affair ended badly. As it turned out, smooth-talking Reggie was having a clandestine romance with another colleague as well.
She found out about his “dalliance” one night when she had to return to work une
xpectedly to retrieve a file she needed to go over before a morning meeting. When she got to the office, she spotted his light on down the hall and opted for a surprise pop-in.
“Hi, Reggie,” Cindy had purred as she opened his door. She found him between the thighs of his personal assistant, her bare backside perched on the shelf of his bookcase which was rattling against the wall as his hips thrust into her with great gusto.
He had not even tried to pretend an apology. “We never said we were exclusive,” he called out between gritted teeth, not even pausing his machinations. Cindy absorbed the scene in silence, watching them for a few seconds before she spoke.
“That’s okay,” she demurred. “I wanted to let you know I’d like to submit my resignation, effective at once. Goodbye Reg.”
In three days’ time, she managed to pare down her belongings enough to fit the remainder into the back of her Prius. What she could not cram into her car, she had dropped, without ceremony, to the nearest thrift store. She could not stop herself from chuckling as she drove past the sign indicating the edge of the small town she had once called home.
‘The City of Burning Falls Welcomes You!’ followed by a small clip art picture of a flame beneath a waterfall. The waterfall itself was far more poetic than the sign would show and the only thing which held any sentimental memories for her from her hometown.
“You are always welcome,” her grandmother said. “For as long as you like.”
“You might be right, Nan,” she had replied. “New York is wonderful, but the city is so fast paced. I think I need a break.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Nan replied with a wry tone.
“Why do you ask?” Cindy said, trying to evade the second sense her grandmother always had about her.
“It’s that boy, isn’t it?”
“Well, Reggie’s thirty-five, so I wouldn’t call him a boy.”
“I knew he was trouble, being so much older than you. It was not a good match.”
“Only ten years, Nan. That’s not that much older than me. And besides, I wasn’t looking for a match. Maybe just a flame.”
“I’d like you to come,” her grandmother said. “I’m not as young as I used to be, you know.”
“Oh, Nan. You’re only as young as you feel, as you always point out.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t feel as young as I once did. I’m getting tired more often, these days. It might be nice to have someone else here for a little while. Just in case.”
“Okay, fine. If only for a little while.”
Cindy and Nan had always had a unique relationship, much to the chagrin of Cindy’s parents. Nan had encouraged Cindy’s creative endeavors, always asking to see her latest designs, even when she was a child. After high school, she had skipped town as quick as she could blink, taking a job as an intern in New York, which led to a full-time position in the fashion industry. Cindy felt that much of her success came because of Nan’s encouragement.
A few minutes after passing the welcome sign, houses began to appear at the edge of the two-lane road. Farm houses placed back from the road with large, sweeping yards, gravel drives, and cute little flower gardens adorning the porches.
“Ah, home,” Cindy said, not without some irony in her tone. “New York, this is not,” she murmured. Soon, she arrived at Nan’s house. The nearest neighbor being about a quarter of a mile away, still visible, but from a distance. Cindy smiled as she pulled into the driveway.
Her grandmother’s house had always had a certain element of character, compared to the other homes. Besides the lavender hydrangeas planted around the base of the raised porch, she also kept a collection of wind chimes, birdhouses, and painted gourds all over the porch. The house reflected her grandmother’s eclectic personality.
Cindy exited the car, hearing the light tinkling sounds as the breeze drifted through the décor, the sounds of childhood. She had not even made it to the front step before the door flung open.
“There you are!” Nan stepped out with arms wide, rushed into the yard and scooped her up into a huge bear hug. “I thought you’d never get here!”
“Hi, Nan,” Cindy said.
Nan shuffled her inside before grabbing her suitcase, carrying it as if it were light as a feather, her long flowered skirt swishing around her sandals. Cindy could not keep from smiling as the woman dragged them both into the house.
“Come in, come in! I’ve got soup in the crock pot waiting for you. It won’t be ready for another hour though. I’ve got tea. Would you like tea? I can put on the kettle in no time at all.” She fluttered around the house, picking and adjusting the already pristine home.
“Tea would be nice.” Cindy took a seat at the kitchen table, a relic from a bygone era, made of lime green Formica. The room filled with cheery welcoming scents of the rich chicken broth bubbling in the corner. Within moments, the tea kettle hummed on the stove. Nan poured two cups of hot water over the spiced tea satchels.
“Cream, sugar?” she asked, peering over her shoulder.
“Oh, both please,” Cindy replied.
“Ah, it is a ‘both’ sort of day. Isn’t it?” Nan turned and sat down across from her, placing the steaming mug before the young woman. “So, tell me about New York. Is it as glamorous as everyone says?”
Cindy sipped her tea, relishing in the cinnamon and comforting sweetness of the flavors. “Ugh, I’ve had enough of glamour,” she said. “Though I think you should visit the city sometime. You would love it there. It’s a wonderful place to visit.”
“’But you wouldn’t want to live there?” Nan laughed.
“Goes without saying,” Cindy replied.
“Maybe so,” Nan said. “Besides, I think I have enough to contend with here in the ‘City of Burning Falls’.”
The crinkles around her grandmother’s eyes somehow made them appear greener than usual. The only other indicator of her grandmother’s age was the silvery streaks through her long hair. Otherwise, Cindy thought she exuded a vibrant and youthful energy. “And a thriving city it is,” Cindy said with a smirk.
“Perhaps, one day, I’ll visit New York,” Nan mused, peering out the window. “After an inevitable windfall.”
“I could show you around,” Cindy mused. “You know what, Nan? I wonder if I could get settled in and unpack? I’d like to get the road dust off me, if that’s okay? Which is my room?”
“Yes, of course! Let me show you where I’ve got you staying.”
As they made their way through the living room, Cindy heard the clump sound of the mail being dropped into the box outside the door. Nan pulled open the door, waving and greeting the mailman already halfway down the path. His postal truck idled on the side of the road.
Nan filtered through the small stack of envelopes. “Bill, bill, junk mail… Oh, what’s this?” She placed the rest on the side table and tore open the small white envelope. Her face went pale. “Oh, those rat bastards!”
“What is it, Nan?” Cindy said with alarm at her grandmother’s rare outburst. “Is everything okay?”
Nan collapsed into the chair closest to her, handing the pages over to Cindy, who read the words with a sense of dread.
Dear Mrs. Sadie Carson,
This has been our third attempt at contacting you on behalf of Stapleton, Stapleton and Howe Real Estate Company. The land parcel upon which you currently reside had been earmarked as a portion of property containing a good percentage of Berinium, a highly sought-after metal which contains a number of beneficial properties. As such, our client has been trying to reach out to you regarding acquisition of your property.
My client is prepared to offer you a sizeable sum in exchange for this parcel. Please contact our offices at the number below to set up a scheduled time to meet at your earliest convenience, so we may move forward with our communications. My office will await your response.
Sincerely,
Bertram Howe, Esq.
Stapleton, Stapleton, and Howe
Con
tinue this story and get the BOX SET HERE on Amazon…
About the Author
When I am not writing hot tales of alpha males and the ladies they love - or at least that they lust after - I am just your ordinary stay at home mum. I live in the countryside in a little town in a faraway magical place. I hope you love my shifter tales...and/or some of my biker tales too! Lately shifters have taken my fancy though...! I hope you enjoy my tales!
https://www.totallyromancebooks.com/samantha-leal
Depending on where you like to hang out, please
And/or
Also from Samantha…
The Lost Creek Shifters
The Lost Creek Shifters series is a collection of novelette length standalone Bad boy romances that fit together to tell the longer story of the ancient tale of the bear and wolf shifters in a small mountain town. Enjoy!
Lost Creek Shifters Complete Collection
The Forsaken Riders
The Forsaken Riders series is a collection of novelette and novella length standalone Bad boy romances that fit together to tell the longer tale of the Forsaken Riders – and the woman they love - as they fight to dominate the town of Slate Springs.
Forsaken Riders Box Set 1
Forsaken Riders Box Set 2
Forsaken Riders Box Set 3
Forsaken Riders Box Set 4
Forsaken Riders Box Set 5
Other Series from Totally Romance
Please check out these other Paranormal Shifter stories from Totally Romance Publishing!
Cynthia Wilde
Burning Falls Shifters Complete Collection
Leela Ash
Bear For Her (Lone Reach Shifters Book 1) Page 11