by Zoe Chant
Ryan started walked, and then slowly eased into a trot. It wasn't anything like riding a horse. The bear's loping gait was smooth and comfortable once she got used to it, and she could tell Ryan was taking care not to shake her around too much. "Can you go faster?"
He could. Ryan sped up, going faster and faster, turning onto a dirt track through the woods and then speeding up even more. Isabella bent low over his neck against the wind, clenching her hands in his thick fur and whooping with delight. She could feel the bear's powerful muscles flexing beneath her. The trees rushed by.
Ryan took them on a loop around the house, and finally slowed down when they hit the front garden again. Isabella slid down from his back, still breathing hard.
"That was amazing! I had no ideas bears were so fast!"
Ryan seemed to shake himself all over, and suddenly the man was standing where the bear had been. He was smiling. "Did you have fun?" he asked.
"So much! That was great!"
"I'm glad," he said. He caught her up in his arms and gave her a hungry kiss. "I never thought I'd find a woman who'd accept what I am. I didn't think I was ever going to find love, after what happened with Bethany. I swore to myself I’d never lose my heart to anyone ever again.”
"I know exactly how you feel,” Isabella said. "After Greg, I thought I’d never be able to trust a man again.” She gave him a shy smile. "We can take this slowly if you want to,” she said. "I understand if you don’t want to rush into anything.”
"Maybe that’s sensible,” Ryan said. He hesitated. "I should probably leave now," he said. "I could take you out for dinner tomorrow night—"
"I'd love that," Isabella said immediately.
"All right. I'll see you then," Ryan said. He was still holding her hand. Finally, he let go with obvious reluctance. "Tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow," she confirmed. God, it sounded like an eternity. She kept watching him as he walked away until the trees hid him from view.
***
Ryan had to fight the urge to turn around and run back to Isabella with every step he took. They'd agreed to take it slow. He tried to ignore the way his bear was grumbling unhappily about the idea. His bear didn’t want slow. He wanted all of her, everything, all at once. He wanted to never be parted from her ever again. And if Ryan was honest with himself, he wanted the same thing. But that wasn’t sensible, was it? He was a businessman. He was firmly in control of his instincts and his emotions, and he was going to do the sensible thing. Even if turning away from Isabella had felt like wrenching off a limb.
Inside him, the bear was roaring in anger. Fool! She’s the one! What are you waiting for? She’s perfect. She’s our mate!
Ryan walked back to the mansion in a daze, fighting his instincts every step of the way. All he wanted was to turn around and run back to the house and hold Isabella in his arms again.
He got into his car, but didn’t put his foot to the gas. He sat staring out into the slowly darkening evening. He’d never let the bear's instincts run wild inside him. The control he’d always had over the edge of wildness inside him had been what made him such a successful entrepreneur. The one time in his life he’d thrown logic out of the window and gone with his feelings, he’d gotten burned. But that time his bear had been warning him away. Even at the time he should have known better. When had the bear’s instincts ever been wrong?
This time, his bear was urging him on. There wasn’t any part of him that didn’t love Isabella, the civilized businessman just as much as the wild animal inside. And now he was going to walk away from her? Even if just for a day?
No, Ryan thought, finally realizing what a terrible mistake he’d almost just made. His bear was right. Isabella was the one.
The horrible tension seemed to rush off him like water as he made the decision, and he knew it was the right one.
He picked up his cell phone, dialing his secretary.
"John? It’s Ryan. I need you to cancel all of my conference calls and meetings for the next three days. No,” he interrupted, when John made a horrified noise and started to protest, "I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. I’ve got something much more important to do right now.”
He hung up, smiling. He'd probably landed poor John in one hell of a scheduling mess, but he couldn't even bring himself to feel bad right now. He'd give him a raise when he came back to work. Right now, nothing mattered but Isabella.
He picked up his phone again. It was a quarter past eight already, and the shops in their small town closed early. But there were advantages to being a billionaire.
"Mr. Stevens? It’s Ryan Steele. I need to ask a favor.”
***
The lights were still on when he returned to Isabella’s cottage, the windows shining like beacons in the darkness; warmth and brightness calling him home. Ryan felt like he was walking on air as he walked towards her front door. He couldn’t stop smiling.
Isabella opened the door, looking at once startled to see him and brightly, shiningly happy.
"Ryan! Did you forget something?”
"Yes,” Ryan said. "I forgot to ask you something.”
He went down onto one knee right there in the doorway. Isabella’s eyes widened, her mouth opening in a shocked ‘O.’
"I love you,” Ryan said, holding out the little box in his hand. "Isabella Starling, will you be my wife?”
He flipped the box open to reveal the ring inside. Isabella let out a startled squeak, pressing both hands in front of her mouth.
"Oh my God,” she said. "Ryan, oh my God! Yes, of course! Yes, I will, I do!”
She threw herself into his arms. He caught her, picking her up and whirling her around with joy.
"I love you, Isabella, I'm so glad,” he said, hardly knowing what he was saying. He’d never been so happy in his life.
They’d almost dropped the ring in their wild rush to embrace. Now he held it out to her again. Isabella took it out of the box with shaking hands.
The band was made from gold the color of warm honey, holding a diamond that sparkled even in the dim light of the hallway.
"It's beautiful," Isabella said.
She slipped it on her finger and held her hand up into the light, turning it back and forth, smiling.
"Do you like it?” Ryan asked.
"I love it!” Isabella replied, beaming. "I’m never taking it off ever again. How on earth did you even manage to get a ring this time of day? Isn’t everything closed already in town?”
"I called in a few favors,” Ryan said. "And actually there’s another store open just for us tonight. But in that one you’re going to have to make the choice yourself.”
"Another surprise? Oh, tell me!"
"Come with me and see," Ryan said, smiling.
Isabella almost bounced with excitement in the car on the way back to Mountainville.
"Come on, at least give me a hint,” she said. "What is it? Is it a gift? You don’t have to give me things, you know.”
"I know,” Ryan said. He knew she wasn't a materialistic woman, and he loved that about her; but it only made him want to spoil her all the more.
***
Isabella kept looking down at her ring and smiling. It was gorgeous, much more beautiful than anything she ever could have imagined on her own hand. But more importantly than that, she couldn’t stop thinking about what it meant. Ryan wanted to marry her. She could hardly even believe it yet. How could that even be? He was perfect. Handsome, and smart, and kind, and a billionaire, for God’s sake. She felt like Cinderella five minutes before midnight. As if any moment now, the bell would ring and reality would crush down on her like Cinderella’s coach turning into a pumpkin.
Ryan parked the car in front of the only shop on the street that wasn’t dark and locked up for the night. It was Valentine's Bridal Store, she realized with a sense of disbelief. She looked at Ryan, who suddenly looked very serious, a little pale around the edges, almost as if he was scared. But she couldn’t imagine him being scared of anyth
ing.
"I’ve got a private jet at the airport half an hour out of town,” Ryan said. "If you wanted to pick a dress now, we could be in Vegas by midnight.”
He took her hand, the one that held his ring. "You’re the one for me, Isabella. I’m sorry if I’m moving too fast for you, and I’m happy to wait for as long as you want, for as long as you need me to, but I know what I want. I want you to be my wife. And I don’t want to wait.”
"Yes,” Isabella said breathlessly. She didn’t want to wait either. She looked at the brightly lit window of the bridal store, the gorgeous snowy white dresses in the display.
As a kid, she'd loved to linger in front of the store and stare at the dresses, imagining herself in fairy tale dresses that deep down she’d never believed she could really have. After all, nothing in the store was in a price range she ever could have imagined she could afford for herself. But now, Ryan was offering her everything she ever wanted. And all she had to do was reach out her hand and take it.
"Yes,” she said. "I love you, Ryan. Let’s get married tonight.”
***
Isabella’s heart fluttered in her chest like a swarm of butterflies as they descended towards the glittering lights of Vegas. This was it. They were doing this. In an hour, she would be Mrs. Isabella Steele.
Isabella lifted her hand to look at her ring again. Ryan reached over to catch her hand in his, giving her a gentle squeeze. The moment his fingers touched hers, she felt something jump over like a spark between them, a circuit closing. She was suddenly filled with complete and utter certainty. This was it. They were doing the right thing.
"Second thoughts? If you’re not sure…” Ryan asked quietly.
Isabella smiled at him, let him see all the wonder that filled her heart.
"No,” she said. "I am sure.”
She'd never been more sure of anything in her life.
Gracy, the officiant’s assistant, helped her change into her dress in the small office attached to the chapel. There wasn’t even a mirror in here. It wasn’t meant to be a dressing room. Isabella tugged nervously at her bodice, looking down at the heart-shaped neckline framing the curves of her breasts.
"Does it look okay?” she asked anxiously. The dress was pure white, tailored in a beautiful, traditional cut. The bodice emphasized the hourglass shape of her generous curves without constricting her, and the dress flared out into a graceful arch behind her. In the bridal store, Isabella had looked at herself in the mirror and fallen instantly in love with the dress. Now she suddenly found herself unsure again. This was for Ryan. It needed to be perfect.
"Girl, don't you worry,” Gracy said in her firm, no-nonsense tone. "Your husband is one very lucky guy, and the way he was looking at you earlier, I’m pretty sure he knows it. He sees you in that dress, you’re going to blow him away.”
Ryan was waiting at the front of the chapel with the officiant. His back was to her, but from the way his posture snapped to attention when he heard the sound of the door swinging open, she could almost feel the effort of will it took him not to turn around and sneak a look at her.
The first notes of the wedding march rang out when Isabella started walking down the aisle, and suddenly it was as if everything around her disappeared. The chapel, the altar, even the officiant, none of it mattered. There was only Isabella walking towards the man of her dreams.
She reached the altar, and finally Ryan was allowed to turn and look at her. His entire face lit up when he saw her, his eyes wide with awe. He caught her hands in his.
"My God, Isabella, you’re stunning,” he said quietly, reverently. Their eyes caught, and held. For a moment neither of them could bring themselves to look away.
The officiant gently cleared his throat. Isabella tore her eyes away with an effort and turned to him. The officiant gave them a smile.
"Ryan Eugene Steele and Isabella Mary Starling you have come here today to be joined in marriage, the holiest of bonds; to promise to love each other and cherish each other until death do you part. Isabella, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?”
"I do,” Isabella said, feeling the words echo all through her heart.
"Ryan, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do," Ryan said.
"You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant said. Ryan hadn’t even waited for permission. He bent her over in a deep, passionate, heartfelt kiss that lit up her entire body with an inner glow.
"I love you,” Isabella said when he released her, and when he answered with "I love you, too. My wife," her heart soared with joy.
***
The first rays of the sun lit up the Grand Canyon with a reddish golden shine. Light flowed down the canyon's walls like molten gold. All around them the sky was glowing in reds and purples.
They were sitting at the edge of the viewing platform, Ryan’s arms around her. The skirt of her wedding dress billowed gently in the breeze. This early there was almost no one else around. A lone family was struggling up the path towards them, two children with their parents.
"Mommy, look at the beautiful bride!” the little girl said, pointing at Isabella. "She looks so happy!”
Isabella couldn’t help but smile. She was the happiest she’d ever been in her life. And with Ryan by her side, she knew she’d be happy forever.
***
The airport was a crowded mess. Isabella, coming out of the area only the passengers of private jets could access, hand in hand with Ryan, was terribly glad they'd been able to skip most of it.
They'd driven straight back to the airport from the canyon. Ryan had a company to get back to, and Isabella needed to look after her bees. Isabella was still wearing her wedding dress, slightly crumpled at the bottom now and stained faintly red with dust from the canyon. She ran a finger over the fine embroidery around the bodice and smiled to herself. This was the last time she'd ever get to wear this dress, but she'd remember it for the rest of her life.
"Let me carry your bag for you," Ryan said, tapping her lightly on the shoulder to get her attention.
Isabella giggled. Neither of them had slept at all last night, and she'd passed right through tired and into giddy exhaustion. Somehow, in that state of mind, it seemed impossible funny that Ryan was being chivalrous even when her only baggage was a small purse. They'd left in a hurry, after all; she'd hardly packed anything more than her toothbrush and a change of underwear.
"It's fine, I can handle it. Barely," she said, laughing.
"But you shouldn't have to! Come on, let me," Ryan said. He was smiling, too, caught up in her giddy mood.
"Nope," Isabella said, playfully holding her purse out of his reach.
"Oh, fine, Miss Independent. You can carry the bags—" he shoved his bag into her arms, grinning, "—and I'm going to carry you!"
He swept her up in his arms, bags and all. Isabella let out a startled squeak that turned into a laugh of delight when Ryan whirled her around in his arms.
"That's Mrs. Independent to you," Isabella said. "I'll have you know I'm a married woman now!"
"Yes," Ryan said. His warm brown eyes were so full of love and affection she felt she could drown in them. "My wife."
They looked at each other, caught up in each other's eyes, both of them smiling
"Ryan?" someone said behind them. Isabella recognized the voice before Ryan even turned around.
"Beth," he said. He held Isabella tighter against his chest, protective. "Going back to New York?"
"Monaco," Bethany said. She was wearing a perfectly tailored pantsuit and carrying a designer handbag that Isabella guessed probably cost as much as she'd make selling honey for a year. She was eyeing Isabella's crumpled dress with disdain.
Isabella met her eyes fearlessly. Every one of those stains and wrinkles on her dress represented a kiss her husband had given her while they'd sprawled out under the sunrise in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
The first time she'd seen her, Bethany had
intimidated her; now she couldn't bring herself to feel anything but pity. Bethany had had Ryan's love, and she'd thrown it away. She'd never know what it was like to be loved the way Ryan loved Isabella—just the way she was, with all her flaws and imperfections.
Bethany wrinkled her nose. "I see he got you to stick around after all. What kind of lies did you end up telling her to make her stay, Ryan?"
Isabella laughed. Today, there was no room in her heart for anything but joy, and she didn't mind letting Bethany see that.
"No lies," she said. "Turns out, reality's a lot more wonderful than any lie could ever be."
When she looked up, Ryan was smiling down at her, his eyes shining with love and happiness. When he bent down to kiss her, nothing else mattered in the world.
***
A note from Zoe Chant
Thank you for buying my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list.
The next part of the Honey for the Billionbear series is now out! Page down to read a sneak preview of Guarding his Honey.
Please click on the title to write a review of Honey for the Billionbear. I love hearing what my readers think! It helps me decide what to write next.
The cover of Honey for the Billionbear was designed by Augusta Scarlett.
Bear: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / BigKnell
Background: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Lurin
Model: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / simfalex
Honey: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / valzan
More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant
Guarding his Honey. The next part of the Honey for Billionbear series! A BBW in danger + the hot bear shifter who'll do anything to protect her + a dangerous fight with the mafia = one thrilling romance!