Bearback Bride (Paranormal Dating Agency)

by Liv Brywood

“Of course. And honestly, the timing is perfect.”

  “Gerri said your dad is…dying.”

  “Yes.” As he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “He’s been sick for a very long time. Honestly, I didn’t think he’d last this long, but he seems determined to live long enough to see me married.”

  “Why’s he so obsessed with seeing you get married?” she asked.

  “He’s the head of the Black Rock Clan shifters. Our family has led the clan for five generations, and he wants me to carry on the family legacy.”

  “But you don’t want to?”

  “No.” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “But I want his last days to be peaceful, so I told him I was engaged.”

  “Did he question it?”

  “He sure did. He was furious that I’d kept you hidden for so long.” He flashed a disarming smile. “When he sees how beautiful you are, he’ll think I kept you hidden away so no other man could have you.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. Beautiful?

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  “Gerri told me you were stunning. She was right.”

  “You don’t have to butter me up,” she said.

  “I’m not.” When he stopped at a red light, he draped his arm across the back of the seat and turned toward her. “How are you still single?”

  “Wow, do you always say exactly what’s on your mind?”

  “Yep. Don’t you?”

  “Most of the time.”

  “But not always?”

  “No. Sometimes it’s better to bite you lip than to tell someone the truth,” she said.

  “Normally I’d say you should always be truthful, but right now telling the truth will hurt my father. I don’t want to do that.”

  “You’d rather lie to him?”

  “If it makes him feel better about passing on, then yes. I’d rather lie and make his last days on earth the happiest ones of his life.”

  “You love your dad, don’t you?” she asked softly.

  “I love him enough to compromise my integrity. What about your dad? Gerri said the Mafia’s going to break his legs if you don’t marry their boss.”

  “They’ll probably kill him.”

  “And you don’t care about him enough to save his life?”

  She fisted her hands in her lap and glared at him.

  “Why should I? Ever since my mom died, he’s done nothing but use me. He uses me to bail him out of jail. He uses me for my money. He uses me when he needs an alibi. And he’s trying to sell me off like cattle to the Mafia. So no, I don’t care enough to save his life by ruining mine.”

  “Okay,” he said slowly. “I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”

  “Look, we don’t need to get to know each other any more than necessary. I only need to be ‘married’”—she finger quoted—“until the Tony finds someone else to drag into marital slavery. This isn’t real.”

  “I know. I’m sorry about your family. It sounds like you’ve had a hard time. How long has it been since your mom passed on?”

  “Three years.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

  “I’m sorry. Look, let’s just take this for what it is—a very weird, very unconventional fake engagement. We’re not going to actually get married. We just have to convince everyone that we’re happily engaged and desperately in love with each other.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” she said sarcastically.

  “It will be.” He reached over to take her hand again. This time he ran the pad of his thumb back and forth across her fingers. “You’ll be safe with me, and in return, I’ll make sure my family doesn’t interrogate you more than necessary.”

  “Interrogate me?”

  “My sister missed her calling. She should have been a CIA interrogator instead of a clothing designer.” He turned to her and grinned. “But don’t worry, she’s more bark than bite.”

  “Oh boy.”

  As he drove toward the mountains, she sat back against the seat. If she wasn’t able to convince his sister that they were in love, would he send her away? Maybe this farce would be over before it started and she’d be packed up and shipped off on the next flight home.

  Two

  Garrett sneaked glances at Arizona as he pulled off the highway onto the dirt road that led to his ranch. She had the most erotic sex hair he’d ever seen. Wild tendrils of chestnut hair tumbled halfway down her back. His fingers itches to claim the tousled mass and pull her in for a pussy-drenching kiss. Her enticing rosebud lips probably tasted like ripe cherries. If given the chance, he’d taste her lips before moving to nibble the edge of her delicate chin. He’d trace a path of seduction down her neck across ivory skin before dipping lower to lick her voluptuous breasts.

  He’d only known her for a few minutes and he already wanted to bury himself in her heat. He returned his attention to the road. Ogling her like a sex-starved man wouldn’t endear her to him, so he needed to keep his dick in his pants and focus on their charade.

  As he turned onto the road that led to his ranch, he stole another look at her profile. Stunning.

  “This is your ranch?” Arizona asked, her eyes wide.

  “Three thousand acres.”

  His chest swelled with pride. Tucked back in the foothills of the Gallatin Mountain Range, the sprawling ranch had been in his family for five generations. The rolling hills and green pastures were flanked by a spring-fed river which glistened in the sunlight.

  “It’s beautiful. Are those your horses?” She pointed toward the front pasture which currently housed thirty of his best horses.

  “Yep. I have horses, cattle, and chickens. I hope you like omelets. There’s nothing better than perfectly cooked farm-fresh eggs in the morning.”

  “No wonder your family’s intent on marrying you off. I’d want to make sure this ranch stayed in the family for five more generations,” she said.

  “You sound like my father.”

  “Can you really blame him?”

  “Yes. My father takes every opportunity to remind me that he fate of our family name rested squarely on my shoulders.”

  “That’s a lot of pressure,” she said.

  “He wants me to take over as leader of the clan, but I don’t want the position. I’ve seen what it can do to a relationship. The stress of running a clan of half-wild bears is enough to ruin any relationship.”

  “Have you ever been in a long-term relationship?” she asked.

  “Once. It didn’t work out.” He gripped the steering wheel. “I’m not interested in anything more than just a fling with anyone. I don’t want to be roped into marriage. It’s not in my future, so don’t go getting any ideas.”

  “Wow, you’re presumptuous.”

  “I want our arrangement to have very clear boundaries. No one will get hurt if there aren’t any expectations,” he said.

  “I’m not a lovesick teenager, so no worries there. I’m also not interested in being tied down and forced to pop out two-point-five children while I slave away behind my white picket fence.”

  He grinned at the sarcasm in her tone. He’d never met a woman who wasn’t desperate to get married and have children. It was refreshing.

  “Do you have any siblings?” she asked. “Someone else who could take over as chief breeder for the clan?”

  “Chief breeder?” He chuckled. “I have a sister, but the rules of succession say it needs to be a male child.”

  “That’s sexist.”

  “Tell me about it. I don’t see why my sister can’t take over. She’s a strong woman who could easily put most bears in their place. I spent most of my life hoping and praying my parents would have another boy so I wouldn’t have to shoulder all of the responsibility. But my mom died a few years ago, so I’m my father’s only hope,” he said.

  “I’m sorry. What happened to your mom?”

  “Cancer.”

  “My mom passed away a few years ago too,” she said. “They said heart disease got
her, I think it was a broken heart.”

  “Because of your dad?”

  “Yes,” she hissed. “He’s done nothing but ruin our lives. I could strangle him for offering to marry me to the Mob. I’m not a cow.”

  “Definitely not.” His gaze raked across her curves.

  “Are you mocking me?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Good, because I’ll kick your ass if you are.”

  “You’re spunky.”

  “Damn right.” She grinned. “So you’d better keep that in mind, cowboy.”

  He laughed. Considering the gravity of her situation, he admired her sense of humor. Most women would fall to pieces, but she’d faced it head-on. Sure, she’d run away, but she’d made a smart choice when she’d asked for his protection. As long as she keep up her half of the bargain, he’d do his damnedest to keep her safe. And he’d keep his hands to himself. No matter how much he wanted to caress every inch of her succulent curves, he’d be a gentleman.

  “So, can I expect to run into any of your ‘flings’?” she asked.

  “No.” He flashed a wicked grin. “I’m a love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy. I don’t let anyone keep their boots under my bed. But don’t worry, I promise I won’t try to seduce you more than once or twice. You’re safe with me.”

  When she tossed her head back and laughed, a spark of pure lust shot straight to his groin. So much for being a gentleman. He was playing with fire by flirting with her before they’d even reached the house, but he couldn’t help it. Although he talked a big game, he hadn’t been with a woman in months. Far too long for his taste. Hell, he may as well have a sign over his bed that read Sex Free for 180 Days. Maybe it was time to reset it to zero.

  ***

  Arizona squeezed her thighs together to stymie a flood of wet heat. Dirty hot. That’s what he was. A cowboy who’d probably left a heap of broken hearts at the foot of his bed. She’d have to be careful with this one. Harmless flirtation could be fun, but if it got out of hand… She shivered. Better to extinguish those naughty thoughts before they took hold.

  As he turned a bend in the road, a huge white farmhouse came into view. Bright red shutters hung alongside sparkling windows. Planter boxes overflowed with spring stalks of wildflowers dancing in the wind. A tire swing hung from a huge oak tree which shaded the house. A line of Quaking Aspens flanked the road, their leaves fluttering in the breeze.

  As they pulled to a stop, a Border Collie came barreling off the front porch steps. The dog’s tongue hung out to one side as he ran. His black-and-white fur bounced with each step.

  Garrett hopped out of the truck. He squatted down to catch the incoming ball of fur.

  “Did you miss me? I bet you did. Yes you did,” he cooed. “Who wants a cookie?”

  The dog cocked his head to one side and yipped.

  “Okay, I’ll get you one when we get inside.” He rubbed the dog’s flanks and scratched behind his ears.

  “What’s his name?” she asked.

  “Smokey.”

  “It suits him. How old is he?”

  “Only a year. He’s still a puppy, but he does a good job helping me herd the cattle. I found him on my front porch last summer. Not sure who left him there, but I’m glad to have him. He’s my buddy.”

  “I feel like I should be writing all of this down.” She climbed down from the truck and stood beside it.

  “Why?”

  “When I meet your family, I’m sure they’re going to ask us a million questions. If I don’t know anything about the ranch or your past they’re going to be suspicious.”

  “Let’s head inside and I’ll give you the G-rated version of my life.”

  “I’d rather hear the X-rated one.”

  “Really?” His sinfully seductive smile nearly melted her panties. Good thing she’d brought every pair she owned.

  He stalked toward her with grace of a predator. Her breath hitched when he backed her up against the truck. As he caged her between his hands, his woodsy, masculine scent invaded her senses. A low throb pulsed between her thighs.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” he murmured.

  “I was just kidding,” she whispered.

  “Were you?”

  “Yes.” No. Not one damn bit. But she didn’t need this complication in her life right now. She slipped under his arm and moved toward the back of the truck. “Where should I put my luggage?”

  He smirked as he pushed off the truck. “I’ll get it for you. I have a couple of spare bedrooms. I’ll let you pick which one you want.”

  At least they didn’t have to sleep in the same room. Although a part of her would have been more than happy to share a one-room shack with him, she knew better than to hop into bed with a man she hardly knew.

  The inside of his house was spotless. The living room consisted of an overstuffed black leather sofa and matching recliner. A glass coffee table covered in fishing magazines sat in the center of the room. Exposed beams crisscrossed the ceiling, giving it a rustic, masculine vibe. She searched for any hint of a woman’s touch but found none.

  She almost tripped over the dog’s dishes as they entered the surprisingly modern kitchen. Sleek stainless steel appliances flanked the walls. A bowl overflowing with apples and ripe bananas sat next to a banged-up wooden block of knives.

  “Family heirloom?” she asked as she trailed her fingers across the block.

  “Yes. They were my mother’s.”

  “Do you like to cook?”

  “Love it. My favorite food is pan-fried trout with smashed red potatoes and creamed spinach.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind in case they ask me about it,” she said. “What else should I know about you to make this more convincing?”

  “I rode bulls until I was twenty-eight.”

  “Why’d you stop?” she asked.

  “I took a bad fall. Broke my collarbone, my elbow, and cracked a few ribs.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “Eh, I lived.” He shrugged. “Spent a couple of nights in the hospital and decided I never wanted to be laid up like that again, so I left the circuit and came back home.”

  “Have you lived here your whole life?”

  “Yep. I was born here and I’ll die here.”

  “That’s morbid.”

  “It’s the truth though. I’ve been all over the US. Nashville, Dallas, Vegas, LA, and every one of those towns were crowded and smelled worse than a chicken farm. No thanks. I belong on this land. My bear would rip my guts out if I tried to take him to the city.”

  “I haven’t been around many shifters,” she said. “Just Gerri and some of her friends.”

  “We’re no different from regular people. We may transform into thousand-pound beasts, but other than that, we’ve got the same hopes, dreams, and fears.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Spiders. Commitment.” The corners of his lips hinted at a smile. “How about you? Where’d you grow up? What do you do for work? Tell me all of your deep, dark secrets.”

  She laughed.

  “I don’t have any secrets… Well, I did cheat on a math test in college.”

  “Scandalous,” he joked.

  “I know, but it was statistics and I needed it to graduate. I suck at math. I can balance a checkbook but that’s about it.”

  “You still balance a checkbook? Don’t you have online banking?” he asked.

  “I do, but I like to keep my eye on my expenses. Unlike you, I have to pay rent, so I need to make sure I don’t buy too many things.”

  “Shopaholic?”

  “Bookaholic.”

  “What do you like to read?” he asked.

  “Mysteries, suspense, anything that opens with a dead body is a one-click for me.”

  “I prefer the classics. Muir, Thoreau, Mowat.”

  “Nature writers.”

  “More than just nature writers; their love of the natural world inspired generations of people to look at the lan
d as more than just a commodity to be exploited.” His cheeks flushed. “But enough about that, let’s go check out your room options.”

  She followed him down the long hallway into the first bedroom on the right.

  “This one used to be my sister’s room. She crashes here sometimes, but I can keep her away. I’ll tell her we’re having crazy monkey sex every night and she won’t step foot in the door.”

  “Crazy monkey sex?”

  “What, you’ve never had it?”

  “No. At least I don’t think I have,” she said.

  “Too bad.” He winked. “Want to see the other option?”

  She nodded but made a note to circle back on the crazy sex later. Much later.

  “The other bedroom shares a wall with my bedroom,” he said.

  She stepped into the room. Pale blue walls, cream-colored curtains, and a large white duvet-covered bed gave her an instant sense of tranquility.

  “This one,” she said.

  After he’d retrieved her luggage, she began unpacking. He lounged on the bed, watching her.

  “So you went to college,” he said. “What degree did you get?”

  “A business degree with an emphases in advertising. I work at a multinational advertising agency. We handle everything from household brands to celebrity promotions.”

  “Sounds glamourous.”

  “I write ad copy for cereal boxes. It’s not as interesting as it might sound,” she said dryly.

  “Any siblings?” he asked.

  “No. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I was an only child.”

  “Favorite food?”

  “Macaroni and cheese.”

  “With or without bacon?” he asked. He leaned forward as it were the most important question of the day.

  “With bacon.”

  “A woman after my own heart.”

  “What else should I know about you?” she asked.

  “I’m good with my hands.”

  “Oh really? Tell me more.”

  “I’d rather show you,” he murmured.

  “Okay. I see we need to set some ground rules,” she said.

  “I hate rules.”

  “I’m sure you do. But no flirting, no touching, no funny business. Got it?”