"Our first date," I laughed.
"First of many."
We walked into the front door of the restaurant, but it felt like I was flying on a cloud.
And I should know.
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You’ve Got Bear
There’s Something About Shifters
Supernatural beings live among us.
When curvy chocolatier Amy loses her storefront, she knows a fresh start is right around the corner. What she doesn't know is that her elusive landlord-to-be is a billionaire bear shifter—and she is his fated mate. Once vandals target Amy, she must rely on Zach for protection. But will she ever learn to really trust him?
Grizzly bear shifter Zach doesn't have time to court Amy the way she deserves. He's too busy protecting his billionaire family from vicious thugs attacking their properties across the Pacific Northwest. He knows she wants him, and he helped her business, so why won't she trust that he's serious about her? Zach is a shifter who knows how to get what he wants, but convincing Amy of his love might be the biggest challenge he's ever faced.
Chapter One
If at first you don't succeed, kick up your heels and try again. A brand new day is right around the corner. That’s what Amy's mama had always said. Amy still believed it.
Most of the time.
But today was her chocolate store’s last day in business. And unless a miracle happened, Peace, Love, and Chocolate was closing for good. Amy's optimism was on shaky ground.
She'd just finished filling a storage box with jars of chocolate mint sugar scrub when her roommate Steph rapped on the store window.
Amy nearly dropped her tape gun. "You scared me to death!" she laughed. She fluffed her choppy blond hair and smoothed her dress, which draped softly from her waist with waves of pink peonies.
Steph grinned and bounded in between the LOST OUR LEASE! and HUGE SAVINGS! signs at the door. She presented Amy with a steaming to-go cup. "Mocha latte! Just what the doctor ordered!"
Amy's heart swelled. "Aww… Thank you!" She took a sip then set the cup on the counter to cool.
"You're welcome, sweetie!" Steph tucked her car keys into the pocket of her pink nurse’s scrubs and gave Amy a big hug.
Amy was happy to have a visitor. The entire mall was shutting down, and it was nearly deserted. Most of the other stores had already closed. Amy was still packing everything for storage, hoping to sell more of her inventory. "What would I do without my roommates?"
Steph squeezed her hand. "Lucky you won't ever have to find out. At least until I leave for work in five minutes." Her long brown hair was pulled up in a high ponytail.
Amy's roommates were like her family. They'd been living together for eight years, ever since Amy was eighteen. Even back then, Steph had worked at the hospital downtown. Their third roommate, Cleo, had recently scored a new job in the Seattle mayor’s office.
Now it was Amy's turn to figure out her next move. She took a deep breath. "I’ll start looking for a job next week."
Steph tapped the coffee cup lid with her index finger. "In honor of all the deliciousness yet to come in your life, which could be as close as this very cup. We never know what's heading our way."
Amy relaxed as she sipped the sweet, hot drink. "You’re right," she said. "But it’s still hard."
Peace, Love, and Chocolate sold her dearly departed mama's secret recipe chocolate candies and Amy’s chocolate body products, from chocolate caramels to chocolate body lotion. Her motto was: If you can't eat it, you can slather it all over your body. If you're lucky, you'll do both at the same time—or have someone else do it for you!
"It's not your fault the mall is closing," Steph said with a shrug. "It's just bad timing. And bad luck."
Amy had no idea what she was going to do for work. She'd been a coffee barista before opening her shop. "I don't want to go back to Starbucks. Even though I love their coffees." She took another sip. "Maybe I could work at a dress shop?"
Steph frowned and bit her lip. "Any luck finding a new storefront?" she asked.
Amy poured chocolate almonds into a pretty pink bowl. "Nothing I can afford." She'd been searching for a new space, mostly responding to ads on Craig's List.
She set the bowl on the counter next to a sign that read FREE SAMPLES!
Steph took a few and popped them in her mouth. "What are they doing with this mall, anyway? Have you heard?"
The North Seattle Mall had been built in the 1960s. It wasn't decrepit, but it wasn't fancy, either. It was just a typical suburban mall. And now it wouldn't even be that.
"The new owners are turning it into a 'virtual mall space.' Whatever that is." Amy couldn't even get a meeting with the new owners, Harris International. They had sent out form letters terminating everyone's rental agreement, and that was that. The jerks. She sipped her coffee.
She’d heard a rumor that Harris International was run by a shifter family, but Amy wasn't sure she even believed in shifters. Wolf and bear shifters were urban legends; that was her opinion, but it wasn't a popular position in the Pacific Northwest, where people took their myths like they gulped down their coffee—every day and with utter conviction bordering on blind faith.
"You'll be back on your feet before you know it," Steph said, nodding. "This is Seattle! The city of rain and opportunity!"
Seattle was a beautiful place, especially now, in early autumn when it was often sunny and the air was crisp. Amy loved living here. She had taken a bus from Missouri the day after she’d graduated high school. Since she’d lost her mama to cancer when Amy was just seventeen, there had never been a reason to go back. Thank goodness for Steph and Cleo.
Amy would be breaking even financially this month, which she knew was better than some of the other stores in the mall. Still, she had barely enough money in her checking account to stay afloat until she got a job, much less put a deposit on a new store.
"Hey, look on the bright side. At least you won't have to see Mr. Jerk-face every day," Steph said with a sweet smile. She pointed outside as Amy's ex, Mitchell, strode past in his security guard uniform.
As usual he walked around as if he owned the place. He didn't even look in at them.
Amy's chest tightened, and she shifted her weight onto her heels. "Good point," she said.
They'd only gone out for a few weeks, but Amy was still annoyed every time she saw Mitchell. He was blond and lean and she'd had a huge crush on him before they’d dated.
Mitchell had broken up with her because she wouldn't jump into bed with him after three dates. And then he'd gotten so nasty.
He'd told her, "You're the kind of girl who should be happy to get me into bed. Look at you. And look at me. You're lucky I'm even giving you a chance to rock my world."
She’d been so hurt and shocked she couldn’t even say anything in response. Sometimes she still cried about it.
"You're too good for him," Steph said.
It was true. But even that didn't soothe the sting. Amy took another sip of her coffee. She just didn't understand men. Maybe it was because she'd been raised by her mother alone. Maybe it was because most men didn't go for women who looked like her: soft and round.
Amy worried that her curviness made men overlook her, but that didn't mean she didn't want and need love. She had a lot to offer someone.
The right someone.
"I just wish I had more time to get on my feet," Amy said. "And save up for a new lease."
"Running a business is hard," Steph said. "Eight out of ten businesses fail, as you know, because I've been telling you all month. You can't take it personally."
Everyone knew business ownership was risky, but Amy had been doing okay. It was hand to mouth, sure, but she'd planned to expand once things had steadied. She made great products—everyone especially loved the sugar scrubs—but there weren't always a lot of customers in the m
all. She didn't know what she was going to do now.
"You'll figure it out. I believe in you," Steph said, giving Amy another hug. "I've got to get to the hospital. See you at six?"
"Definitely." Steph and Amy and Cleo were meeting up for drinks after work.
Amy grabbed an empty box and got back to packing. Whatever chocolate candies she didn’t sell today would go to a homeless shelter tomorrow, and she needed to get everything ready.
As the morning rolled along, Amy got the rest of the body products packed. A few customers trickled in and out, but she was mostly alone. Containers were ready to be filled for the homeless shelter.
Around lunchtime, Mitchell came in to the store and grabbed the five remaining boxes of salted caramels.
"Ames," he called her. "It's the end of the road for us. How about some sweet stuff for my pantry?"
"How about 'no'?" Amy said, reaching to grab the boxes from him. "How about, 'get out of here'?"
Mitchell held out his palm, keeping her at arm's distance while he kept the boxes away with his other hand. "Sure, I'll leave. I'll take these and get out of your hair," he said.
Amy didn't know what she had been thinking, falling for a guy like him. She pulled her phone out of her dress pocket. "If you take anything from my store, I'm calling the police."
"Babe, I am the police," Mitchell said with a chuckle.
Amy couldn't believe him. She reached again for the boxes. "You're delusional. You're the mall cop at a mall that is going out of business."
"Mitchell," a voice boomed. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" They both turned toward the door to see a huge man looming over them. He was seriously tall—at least 6' 4"—gorgeous and muscular, with gentle brown eyes, wavy brown hair, and biceps that wouldn't quit. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans.
Amy had never seen him before. He made Mitchell look like a preteen boy.
"Amy and I are old friends," Mitchell said. He slid his hand around her waist.
"Get off me!" She elbowed Mitchell, shoving him away. "He's not my friend," she said to the huge man. She felt like she wanted to make that very clear.
"Mitchell. I’m waiting," the man insisted.
"Amy, Zach." Mitchell pouted as he introduced them. "Zach, Amy."
"Something smells heavenly," Zach said, offering Amy his hand.
"Are you a chocolate lover?" She reached out and took his hand and gave it a steady shake, marveling that he could be so huge but also so sweet. His touch was warm and electric.
"I love sweet things," he said, staring deeply into her eyes. He leaned toward her.
Amy felt heat rise. She gulped. "Me too."
They took a moment and really looked at each other, still holding on as if they had forgotten everything else. He was gorgeous, way out of her league, but wow! He felt so good and she did not want to let go.
"No wonder you have men trying to claim you," Zach said. "You're a stunning woman."
"What? No, I'm not," Amy laughed, dropping his hand. Her pulse shot up and she could feel her heart banging in her chest. No one had ever said that to her before and there was no way she would believe it from this incredible man. She'd never even seen a man this insanely handsome in real life. His arm muscles were so distinct they looked like they'd been carved in marble. Amy could see chest hair peeking over the top of his T-shirt.
Mitchell cleared his throat, but they both ignored him.
"Don't you know how beautiful you are?" Zach said. He seemed genuinely confused, tilting his head and frowning.
"Want to try some chocolate?" Amy asked, changing the subject. She held up the sample bowl for him. "Everything is half off. My business is closing."
"You're closing?" He selected a candy and put it in his mouth.
"Yes, an evil corporation bought the mall and kicked out all the stores. Today is my last day open."
His eyes widened as he chewed and swallowed. "That's delicious," he finally said. "Can't you find another space? I must have passed a dozen vacancy signs on the way over here."
"I can't afford it," she said, putting the bowl back down on the counter. "Not right now."
"With candy this amazing, you're bound to bounce back in no time."
"These are my last few boxes."
"I'll take them all." He pulled a clip of folded hundred-dollar bills out of his front pocket. "But full price. I insist."
"I won't argue!" she said.
Amy placed the candy into a big bag. As she was tying a bow on it, her trembling fingers barely cooperated. She felt so self-conscious it took her three tries, and she was blushing ferociously before she was done. Whenever she gazed up at him, Zach was watching with a tender look on his face.
"I really don't need the ribbon," he said in his deep voice. "I just like watching you tie it. These will be inhaled twenty minutes after I get home."
Where had this man come from? He was handsome and sweet! Amy slipped in a free bottle of chocolate body lotion and presented the bag to him. "Thank you again, Zach. I hope you enjoy them."
"I intend to enjoy every single bite," he said, brushing her fingers as he took the bag.
Amy pushed her hands across her hot cheeks, praying she didn't have chocolate on her face. "I hope you do," she said, smiling.
"We should finish the tour," Mitchell said to Zach, hitching up his belt. "We still have the rest of the mall to inspect."
What could Mitchell possibly have in common with Zach? Amy put away her scissors and ribbons. "You're on a tour?"
"Zach! Mitchell! There you are," a woman said from the doorway. She was elegant and tall, with angular cheekbones and sleek dark brown hair, the exact opposite of pink and blond Amy.
"Diana!" Zach exclaimed.
Girlfriend? Amy wondered. Or worse, his wife? Amy felt her heart ache a little and her face flush.
Men like Zach didn't love women like Amy.
Even men like Mitchell didn't love her.
She couldn't let herself be attracted to a huge, gorgeous man like Zach! That would be such a mistake. She might as well ask for a broken heart. She felt on the verge of tears.
Amy was so emotional today. This wasn't like her at all.
She pulled in a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. She just had to make it through the weekend. "What kind of tour?" she asked.
"Are we inspecting? Or are we eating chocolate?" Diana asked, holding her hand out to Amy with a friendly smile. "Hello, I'm Diana Harris from Harris Enterprises. I see you've met my nephew Zach Harris."
Her nephew? Diana looked at most five years older than Zach. Amy shook Diana's hand.
Wait. Zach Harris?
Amy's heart dropped as the awful news sunk in.
"Zach Harris?" And she had given him chocolate body lotion? She felt her anger rise.
Zach turned to Amy. "I can explain," he said.
She grabbed back the bag of chocolates and pulled out the bottle of body lotion she'd given him. "You don't deserve this!" she said, shaking the bottle. She shoved the bag back at him.
"Amy," he said. "Please…"
Her temper flared hotter and hotter. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're the person who kicked me out of my lease!"
They hadn't just screwed her, but also all the other merchants. The yogurt hut. The sporting goods outlet. The dollar store.
"It was a month-to-month rental agreement. We were completely within our rights to end it," he said, looking miserable.
Now that the responsible person was standing right in front of her she realized how furious she actually was. "You destroyed the business I'd spent years building! Who cares if you were within your rights?"
Amy couldn't believe she'd been hot for him!
She finally had someone to receive the rage that had been building ever since she'd gotten the letter announcing the sale of the mall.
Zach Harris.
He was the person responsible for everything that was wrong in her life. Or, almost everything.
&nb
sp; Diana looked from Amy to Zach. "What's the problem here?" she said.
"I've been trying to talk with you people all month! Losing my lease with no notice has destroyed my business. You are business destroyers!"
"Just lease another store," Diana said, shrugging. "Have a grand opening at the new space so everyone knows you moved. Easy peasy."
Easy? Diana's calm demeanor infuriated Amy. "Not for me, it's not. I don't have the cash to rent another space. It took almost my whole life to save the deposit on this store. Now I'm starting all over again."
"If you were that close to bankruptcy, then losing your lease was not your biggest problem," Diana said, pointing a finger at Amy.
"It's not personal," Zach said, shaking his head. "It's just business."
Maybe Amy wasn't being exactly reasonable, but she didn't care. She loved her store. She wiped away a tear before it could fall. "My mama gave me the recipes for this chocolate. There's nothing more personal. Not to me."
Zach looked genuinely sorry.
But, so what?
"Sell your products online, that's my advice," Diana said.
"I'll never sell online. I believe in looking my customers in the eye and knowing them!"
Diana grimaced. "If you don't want to sell online in this day and age, then I'm not surprised you're going out of business. I'm sorry, but that's the reality." She turned away and looked at her wristwatch. "Mitchell, you guaranteed we could inspect the entire property in one hour. You’re behind schedule."
"Let's go then," Mitchell said. He rocked his hips at Amy and mouthed, I'll be back.
She sneered at Mitchell and then turned to see Zach staring at her.
"There's nothing we can do," Zach said. "It's just business. I'm sorry."
Maybe it was just business to him, but Amy’s store was her life, and her memory of her mama, and—just everything! She gulped back tears. She would not let these people see her cry. She stormed to the back room of the store for a fresh box of tissues.
Once she was alone, she gave in and let the tears flow, hoping they would wash away all the sadness, as her mama used to tell her.
Vamping and Glamping (Enchanted Shores Book 2) Page 8