Bear West: BBW Bear Shifter Mail Order Bride Romance by Zoe Chant Read Free Book Online Page A

slept together – ”
    “Hey,” Diego interrupted. “Whatever you want isn’t dumb. I believe that you and I could really have something together. That means it’s important that we do this right.”
    “Thank you.” Carla took a breath. It was going well so far, but the next part would be the hardest. “I think while we work things out, until we make a final decision... I probably shouldn’t live here.”
    She glanced up. She’d been right; Diego looked like he’d been slapped. “I don’t mean I’m going to go all the way back to the East Coast. But there’s got to be a hotel somewhere nearby, right?”
    Diego took a slow breath as he considered. “Yeah. The nearest town, Pioche, has a place you can stay. It’s probably not what you city folks are you used to – ”
    Carla cut him off. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m not a spoiled princess, or whatever it is that you’re imagining.” She sighed. “I know this is kind of awkward, but do you think you could give me a ride there?”
    Diego nodded, but his lips pressed together into a flat line, and she thought he was probably wishing he could say no. Carla couldn’t help but notice how considerate he was being, how he was such a gentleman even when they’d had their first fight. It made her want to forget the whole thing and stay here after all.
    But she reminded herself that this was the same man who’d left her alone for hours; staying wouldn’t fix that. She had to be sure that she and Diego could trust one another, that they could count on one another. She’d been with too many men who took her for granted to be willing to get into that sort of relationship again.
    With a sigh, Carla supposed it was a good thing she hadn’t even had time to unpack her luggage.

6. Diego
    Diego rode along the western border of his ranch on his favorite horse, Cricket. It was a beautiful day: the sun was bright and warm on his shoulders, but there was just enough of a breeze spilling down from the heights to keep it from being too hot. The sky was blue and endless, with only a few fluffy white clouds and, far off in the distance, a single circling hawk. Diego should have been content. He wasn’t.
    It had been three days since Carla had moved out of his house to the hotel in Pioche. How could he miss someone this much when he barely knew her? He should have been grateful to have his space back to himself, to be able to focus on his work without being distracted by minor human problems – but no matter how much he repeated such sturdy, logical reasons to himself, none of them reached his heart.
    Carla was his mate. He’d suspected it before, but he was sure of it now. Despite the miles between them, he could almost feel her warmth and smell her sweet, lush scent.
    Though maybe he was imagining that. His longing was so strong it was like a physical presence. After all, he and Carla hadn’t formed the true mate bond yet. That took more than just sex; Carla would have to know what he was, and willingly agree to entwine her soul with his. Now she probably never would. He’d lost his mate, his one chance at true happiness –
    No! Diego’s bear roared, the fierce bone-rattling bellow of a grizzly bear, apex predator of the West. Nothing dared to challenge that roar. His bear wouldn’t let Diego give up. A bear would fight for his mate, fight to win her and to keep her and to love her. But for once, it wasn’t Diego’s bear that would win this fight; it was his human side. He had to court Carla in the way she deserved. He didn’t think she would appreciate gifts of raw salmon or chunks of wild honeycomb.
    He should have been working, but he couldn’t focus. Even Andy had noticed how distracted Diego had been these last few days, but despite Andy’s questions, Diego had refused to talk about it. He wasn’t willing to share his mate, not even with his best friend.
    He preferred to go off by himself, where he could think about Carla, and picture what it would