Bears & Beauties - Complete by Terra Wolf, Mercy May Read Free Book Online

search. That is, until the night of his parent's anniversary party where he encounters a curvy and quick-witted beauty who steals his heart the instant he meets her. Before he can get to know her, however, Grayson is pulled away to offer a toast to his loving parents. By the time the toast is over, the woman fated to be Grayson's mate has slipped out of the party and into the storm-ridden city. Giving chase, Grayson tracks the woman down, only to find that something terrible has happened to her, and that time is of the essence if he wants any chance of rescuing her from certain peril.

Kidnapped and taken hostage, Amber does her best to fight back and escape her captors. But will it be enough? Will Grayson, in desperate search of his new found love, track her down in time to rescue her? And in the midst of unfolding chaos, will Fate itself be enough to bind together the bear and the beautiful?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    1
     
    Amber Kelli stood with her back to the wall, her emerald eyes gazing out at the gathering crowd. Tuxedos and gowns swirled about and mingled, each one occupied by an individual with the GDP of a small country. Gorgeous women held by chiseled men, each one poised as though Michelangelo himself had carved their features. It was, to be honest, a little more than disheartening.
    As a curvy girl from the wrong side of Brooklyn, Amber would never be a part of the swirling and mingling crowd. She’d never fit into one of those size zero gowns, nor would she ever have the money to purchase one to begin with. No, Amber was stuck with her back against the wall, and her front facing one of the many delicacy-filled tables in the large ballroom.
    Amber had only been with the catering company for a few months, but already it had become tiring. Every other night, she found herself working some insanely wealthy individual’s party or celebration in Manhattan. The job paid enough to keep her afloat, but she’d never realize her dreams of becoming a world traveler. She’d never backpack through Europe, much less afford the plane ticket necessary to get there. No, if anything, the job only served as a reminder of how little Amber had, and how much harder she’d have to work to get where she wanted.
    Breathe , Amber told herself, straightening her bleached-white uniform as she did. But the breathing came harshly as the room seemed to close in around her. The more she worked these events the more claustrophobic she felt in them. Even amid the towering ceilings and the spacious room, she still felt sandwiched between a rock and a hard place.
    It’s temporary , she reminded herself.
    Shaking off the anxiety, Amber went back to work, forcing smiles and exchanging pleasantries with one well-dressed patron after another. They’d comment on how wonderful the parfait tasted, or how undercooked they thought their shrimp must have been. She’d simply reassure them that she’d pass on their concerns to the chef, then move on to the next guest.
    That is, until he approached her.
    He must have been part of one of the other catering companies present at the party because he was dressed down compared to the obviously wealthy folks in attendance. He wore an untucked charcoal colored dress shirt over a broad torso, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal massive forearms, darkened by a natural looking tan, and a gold colored watch. His shirt fell over a pair of black slacks that hugged his body ever-so-perfectly.
    “Having a good time?” the man asked, and Amber caught his eyes for the first time. Large and brown, his eyes caught her immediately, drawing her in and leaving her momentarily speechless as she studied his handsome face.
    “Oh, you know it,” she said offhandedly, in a tone that surprised her.
    The man offered a deep chuckle then flashed her a pair of pearly whites that all but sent her inner goddess into a flurry.
    Get it together , she chided herself. It’s just a man .
    “Tell me,” the man said,