Shifter Wonderland: Twelve BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romances

by Christin Lovell

  Mr. Gorgeous placed it on the tip of his pinky. “It’s certainly sparkly.”

  “Yes, diamonds have beautiful light reflecting qualities. When they are cut, the light gathers inside the stone and it is reflected back.”

  Zane tilted the ring to the side. “I see what you mean.”

  “This one really sparkles. It’s an asscher cut. So it’s similar to a square emerald cut, but it has larger step facets so it allows for a lot more light and shimmer.”

  “Hmm, pretty,” Zane nodded his head as he moved his pinky back and forth, allowing the ring to catch the light.

  “It was popular years ago, then sort of went out of style, but recent modifications in the cut have given the shape even more brilliance so it’s gained popularity again.”

  “You know your stuff,” Zane grinned. “The ring is very nice.”

  “It’s more than nice! It’s gorgeous. It’s beautiful…modern, yet classic. The color on this one is a G. So it’s less expensive than a D-F grade but the warm tone is beautiful. Many women love this style and your fiancée probably will too…but if she doesn’t, we will exchange it for something else.”

  Zane wrinkled his brows.

  “We have a 30 day return and a 90 day exchange policy and we offer lifetime trade up privileges. But I’ll doubt your fiancée ever wants to trade this beauty in. It comes in a special, red velvet box.” I tapped my fingertips on the glass case directly above where the red velvet box was nestled in the silk display material.

  “Fiancée? Engagement ring? You’re right. It’s really beautiful.” He handed the ring back to me. “But I’m not looking for an engagement ring right now.”

  “You’re not?” I said, surprised. I’d just assumed.

  “No, I’m looking for a ring for my mother.”

  “Oh, sorry…” I put the ring away. “I thought you were looking for an engagement ring. Let me take you over to another section. We have a large selection of jewelry for mothers, including bracelets and rings.”

  “I’d like a ring that will go with the bracelet I bought her last year when we lived in Indiana.”

  As we walked over to the showcase that held the mother’s jewelry pieces, I could smell his scent. It was warm and earthy…so delicious. I wondered what type of shifter he was. From his size, I guessed he was a bear.

  “Indiana, that’s a ways off from Nashville. So, what brings you to Music City?”

  “I play guitar with the Indie band the Hogwashers. We got our start in Indiana but moved here for more opportunities.”

  “Well, hopefully you’ll find plenty of opportunities here. Nashville is the music capitol of the world.” Of course there were tons of people trying to make it big and competing for those same opportunities, but he’d find that out soon enough.

  “Yeah, and I hear the town is pretty open to bear shifters. I hope that’s true,” he gave me a quizzical glance.

  Damn, his dark eyes pulled me in. So, he was a bear shifter…I knew it! I had to admit that was a huge turn on. I’d never been with a shifter, but I’d heard they had plenty of sexual prowess—yum! Shake off those thoughts Anne, I told myself. You’ve sworn off men, remember?

  I met his gaze head on. “Nashville is pretty diverse and we welcome all kinds of shifters...so long as they stay out of trouble and behave themselves,” I added, smiling.

  “Oh, I behave…”

  I raised my brows. It was hard to believe this sexy shifter behaved. “That’s a good thing.”

  “Yeah, I behave most of the time…” he chuckled. “But what happens if I don’t?” he growled, winking at me.

  “Well…I…” There was no mistaking it, this big hunky bear man was flirting with me. So, maybe he was shopping for a ring for his mom and that was very sweet...but I could tell from his sexy, bad boy appearance he was nothing but trouble. It was best to stay away.

  “You know, being new to town and all, I was wondering where the hot spots are?” he looked me over slowly. “I bet a pretty girl like you knows where all the action is.”

  “Ha! My action is all in my bed.”

  Zane gave me a double take, a big grin widening across his face. “Well that sounds good.”

  “Wha…no, I mean sleeping, not doing anything else!” I could feel my face flushing.

  As I stumbled over my words, Susie came walking over to us. Susie and I had been working together at Courtland’s Gems for several years, and we’d become more than just co-workers. We were good friends.

  “Your mom’s on the line. She said it’s important,” Susie laughed. “Do you think she ran out of milk?”

  I rolled my eyes. Susie knew my mom all too well. “Maybe that, or she can’t find her eyeglasses, her pen ran out of ink, or a light bulb burned out.”

  My mother was constantly calling me at work, and according to her it was always important. Her emergencies ranged from needing me to buy something at the grocery store, like chocolate doughnuts, to asking me if I wanted to go shopping.

  “She sounds like my mom,” Zane said, grinning. “She likes to know what I’m doing all the time. When she found out I was moving to Nashville, she had to move here too, not in with me of course, but nearby. I love her, but…”

  Susie shook her head. “Moms are awesome but they sure can be a pain in the butt. Should I tell her you’ll call her back later, Anne?”

  Normally I would wait and call her at the end of the day, but this man was making me squirm. I could feel my resolve to swear off men weakening. I needed to stay strong, so I welcomed the chance to get away.

  “Thanks, Susie. I’ll go talk to her. Will you help Mr. Harlan?”

  “Just call me Zane. No need to be formal,” Zane said, eyeing me hungrily.

  Damn, the way he looked at me. It sent a little shiver down my spine.

  “Susie, Zane is looking for a special ring for his mother. He wants one to match a bracelet he purchased for her in Indiana last year.”

  “Sure,” Susie said perkily as she eyeballed the man in front of us like he was a piece of yummy candy. “I’m happy to help.”

  “Thanks, Susie.” I smiled my best professional smile. “Zane, Susie will take good care of you. I’m sure you’ll find something lovely,” I added.

  “I already did,” Zane grinned as his eyes roamed my curves.

  Wow, what a flirt, and so obvious about it. Well, his charisma was wasted on me. I knew all about his type—a love ‘em and leave ‘em playboy. And he could think again if he thought I was falling for his good looks and charm—totally not happening.

  He could flirt with Susie instead. She was the opposite of me. We both had a lot of curves, but where I was a tall brunette with dark eyes, she was a short, voluptuous, blue-eyed blonde who could play men like a fiddle. I wished I had her self-assurance, but unless I was at work, I was shy, especially around men, and getting dumped and cheated on several times had done nothing to help bolster my confidence.

  I glanced at Zane again before walking to the office to get the phone. Damn, he was just too sexy. Good thing Susie was taking care of him and I would probably never see him again. I could tell just by looking at him that he was trouble—with a capital T!

  Chapter Two

  “Whoohoo! This is ugly as sin. I think I’ll take it!” Susie pressed the sweater against her chest. It was long sleeved with a hodgepodge of elves, mittens, and Christmas trees emblazoned across the front. We were on our lunch break from the jewelry store and had less than an hour to find something to wear to our friend Janet’s annual ugly Christmas sweater party. Janet held the party every year the last week of November to kick off the Christmas season. People canceled Thanksgiving weekend plans just to attend—it was that much fun. Everyone got into the spirit, wearing the ugly sweaters.

  Fortunately we’d lucked out, and the local thrift store had a fairly decent selection of sweaters that qualified for Janet’s party, including the one Susie had pressed against her chest.

  “Gawd, that is hella ugly. But I thin
k this is uglier!” I held up a red sweater that was adorned with a pink pelican wearing a Santa cap.

  “Ooh,” Susie said, “pelicans are my favorite. It will be perfect for the party.”

  I looked at it again with a critical eye. “Actually, I don’t know whether it’s really ugly or really cute!”

  “Rest assured,” Susie said firmly, “it’s pretty ugly. But are you sure you don’t want this one?”

  Susie whipped a sweater out from the racks and I started cracking up. It was a long green men’s sweater that would hit past the thighs and featured an upside down snowman. A 3D carrot made from material stuffed with something like polyester fiberfill formed a nose, and it was right in the spot where a man’s penis would be.

  “Oh my God, that’s hilarious,” I couldn’t stop laughing. “I think we’ll win the ugly sweater contest with that one for sure.”

  “So, which one of us gets the good fortune to wear it?” Susie asked, grinning.

  “You found it…you wear it,” I could barely get the words out. I thought I would burst I was laughing so hard.

  “No, no, no, I insist you wear it,” Susie said, chortling as she tried to hand me the sweater. “Green is your color.”

  I swiped the sweater away, grinning. “I think it’s more your color. It goes perfect with your blonde hair. Anyway, these are all pretty cheap. Let’s get the snowman one and the pelican one. We can decide later who wears what.”

  “That works for me,” Susie said. “Do you want me to drive to the party?”

  “I’ll drive. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

  “Well, the party starts at 8pm, so how about 7:30ish? Does that sound good to you?”

  “Yep, that’s perfect.”

  “Great!” Susie said. She took the pelican sweater from me and put it over her arm, along with the snowman penis one. “I’ll buy these, and how about you buy the hostess gift.”

  “That works,” I replied as we made our way to the checkout line.

  At the cash register, Susie pulled out the few dollars needed to pay for the sweaters and I glanced around the thrift store again.

  “What should I get Janet for a hostess gift? I’d love to give her something different for a change.” Janet was well off and she was always stocked with the usual gifts you give a hostess: wine, chocolates, and fresh flowers. It would be fun to find something fun and different for her instead of the same old—same old stuff.

  Susie waved at one of the racks near us laden with cutlery, bowls and other kitchen items. “What about a kitchen gadget…”

  “Hmm, this looks cute,” I said as I noticed a porcelain perfume atomizer that was sitting on the counter.

  “That is a really pretty pattern,” Susie agreed.

  “It is!” Small gray flowers decorated the bone china in a swirl formation. I picked it up and read the manufacturer’s imprint on the bottom. It was a quality brand and the price sticker had it at just a few dollars—a good fit with my budget. “This will make a great hostess gift for Janet.” But as I turned it over, I noticed a hairline crack on the side of the porcelain. “Never mind.”

  “You know, there’s a new metaphysical store that opened up down the street from here. They may have something. Want to try it?” Sherry asked.

  I shook my head. “I don’t think Janet is going to want incense or any other kind of mumbo jumbo.”

  “I’m sure they have a lot more than that. They may have special tea or candles or…” Susie said.

  “Alright, alright, let’s check it out.” I glanced at my watch. “We have about twenty minutes before we need to be back to work.” If I can’t find anything, I can always stop at the liquor store and pick up a bottle of something or other.”

  “Boring,” Susie droned, taking the bag with the sweaters from the clerk.

  “But always appreciated,” I wagged my finger at her.

  As we left the thrift store and walked towards the new metaphysical shop, we continued to joke about who would wear the sweater. Every year Janet hosted the ugly sweater holiday party and every year the sweaters got more outrageous. Last year’s winner had been a red quarter-length shirt vest in wool with smirking elves mooning Santa Claus. It was pretty awful. I didn’t think anyone could top this penis snowman sweater though. But was it worth wearing a hideous sweater like the penis snowman just to win the grand prize, which was usually something like a Santa mug and cocoa? I would have to have a fabric stuffed carrot dangling from my thighs all night. Nah! I generously decided I’d let Susie have the privilege.

  Chapter Three

  “Serena’s Gifts and Treasures,” I said, reading the sign on the store door. I peered in the window. “It doesn’t look like there’s a hell of a lot in there.”

  “Oh come on, give it a chance,” Susie said, practically pulling me in the door.

  Walking in I could see it was even worse than I had thought. The shelves were mostly bare and the smell of patchouli incense was clouding the air.

  “See,” I whispered under my breath as a very tall, older lady with wiry reddish brown hair came towards us. “Just like I said, there is nothing much here and it stinks.”

  “Sssh,” Susie whispered poking me. “Don’t be disrespectful.”

  I sighed. I just wasn’t into this new age stuff like she was. Crystal balls, healing stones, tarot cards…it was all hogwash in my mind.

  “Welcome to Serena’s Gifts and Treasures. I’m Serena. May I help you?” the woman asked.

  Despite my size, the woman loomed over me. She was slender, but so tall I knew she had to be a shifter of some sort.

  “I was looking for a hostess gift for someone but I don’t see what I’m looking for,” I responded, glancing around at the nearly bare shelves. I could see some herbs, incense sticks, a few pieces of pottery, dusty books, and a few old looking dolls, but other than that—not much.

  “I have a little bit of everything, but I only recently opened in this location so I am just now getting the shelves stocked. I specialize in metaphysical items and unique gifts.” She waved her hand around the store. “I have books, jewelry, incense, oils and more. And I search all over the world to find unique gifts like special paperweights and one of a kind pottery and other pieces.”

  “Ok, well good luck with the store,” I said, motioning to Susie to go. There was nothing in here for me or for Janet.

  “Let’s look a little,” Susie said. I could see she was eyeing the almost bare shelves. Susie would shop anywhere!

  But what could she possibly find here? I glanced at my watch. “Ok, but just for a few. We have to get back.”

  As Susie started to explore the meager offerings in the store, I leaned against one of the tables.

  “Back hurting?” Susie asked as she picked up a packet of incense and studied the text on the box.

  I nodded. Lately my back had been a bitch and long hours hunched over the computer working on customer accounts at Courtland’s Gems didn’t help.

  “Did I hear you say your back hurts?” Serena asked. She brushed a few wisps of her brown hair away from her forehead and peered at me intently.

  I nodded as I reached my hand around and pressed the small of my back to try and relieve the pressure.

  “Let’s see.” The woman made her way over to a nearby table that boasted a few bottles of oil. “This is what you need.” She picked up one of the bottles of oil and handed it to me. “This is lavender oil. You rub it into your back for pain relief.”

  “That’s perfect for you,” Susie said.

  I frowned as I looked at the purple bottle. “Does this stuff really work?”

  “I sold a lot of it in my other location with no complaints. People seem to really like it,” Serena pursed her lips.

  “Well, I don’t know.” I wasn’t so sure about the healing powers of oil and I hated the idea of wasting money on something that didn’t work. As I sniffed it, the scent of lavender wafted up my nostrils. “I’m not that fond of lavender, either, and i
f I bought it, I’d have to find someone to rub it in!”

  “That’s true,” Susie grinned. “You’d definitely want a hot guy to massage it in. But you know the right man will come along soon, and it will be good to be prepared! Buy it so you have it on hand for him to rub in when your back aches…mmmm,” Susie closed her eyes. “I would love to have a hunky guy rub some lotion into my back.”

  I shook my head. Susie was single, and like me she’d been put through the wringer by the men in her life. But whereas I’d decided to get real about it and recognize men were not worth wasting my time on, she was still looking for that special man. What a dreamer.

  I put the oil down firmly on the table. “Don’t kid yourself. Men are jerks. Trust me. They’re a total waste of time. They’re only good for making babies,” I sniffed. “Otherwise, we’re much better off without them.”

  Serena raised her brows, frowning. “Ohhhkay, I guess you don’t want the oil then.”

  “Hey, look at that!” Susie squealed.

  I followed her gaze to a table near the cash register.

  “That looks like the atomizer we saw at the thrift store.”

  “It sure does,” I said, walking over and picking up the trinket box. It had the same gray flowered pattern. I flipped it over. It was by the same manufacturer as the perfume atomizer. My eyes widened as I saw the price tag, nearly ten times as much the atomizer at the thrift store had been priced at.

  This shop owner had claimed to find fine gifts all over the world—all over the world my ass! This was most likely part of a vanity set along with the perfume atomizer. She appeared to be buying her stuff next door at the thrift shop and reselling it with a significant mark up.

  “You want that?” the older woman asked.

  “Yeah, well it’s nice,” I replied, “a little pricey.” I wasn’t even going to go into the fact that I knew she’d most likely picked it up for pennies next door. I hesitated as I looked at it again. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend on a hostess gift, but after all, it was for Janet, and I didn’t have much time. “I’ll take it.”