Mountain Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Romance (Bear Haven Book 1) Read Free Page A

setting down her wine. “I’m in. Anything if it will help you get over Bill.”
    “Already over him,” Ruby grumbled.
    “I’m in for sure,” Harmony said, tossing her dark hair flirtatiously. “Hopefully your hot cowboy has a brother.” She grinned and pushed in front of Ruby, pulling up an airline website and buying them tickets before Ruby could protest.
    “Watch out, Montana. Here come three curvy New York girls to shake up your world.”
    Ruby looked between her friends and laughed. They would be together. They would be getting the break they desperately needed and an adventure in the bargain. What was the worst that could happen?

----
    S hane couldn’t get the voice of the woman on the phone out of his mind.
    Even as several days went by, full of paperwork, running the ranch, and long walks on the land, up through the pine-covered hills all around, he couldn’t stop recalling the low, husky tone of her sweet voice.
    He had no idea what to picture when he thought of her. She'd asked if she should follow the profile, and he'd said yes, so hopefully she would be sending him a message soon about an online chat or a phone call. He didn’t have long, but he wasn’t about to make some poor woman fly out here or fly himself around the country before having a good, long conversation.
    He still wasn’t even sure how to explain his own unique situation. He imagined most women wouldn’t take kindly to being married to save a piece of land. Even one as special as the one Bear Haven rested on.
    He shoved a hand through his dark hair and printed off a copy of the weekly financial report and set it on the desk in front of him.
    If the woman didn’t want to call back, so much the better. She'd sounded slightly drunk, and besides, her area code said she was calling from New York. There was no way things would work out between him and a city girl. She’d hate it here for sure.
    So why couldn’t he get her out of his mind?
    The log door to his office swung open, letting in cool mountain air as his brother’s large silhouette filled the doorway. “I’m going to town.”
    “Maverick?” he asked as his brother walked in, in his human form as he rarely was. His dark hair was shaggy and long, and his face was partially hidden by a scruffy, thick, dark beard. Unlike Shane, he had dark-brown eyes, so dark they were almost black, and they were piercing beneath his severe brows.
    “I’ll be quick,” Mav said cryptically, folding his large arms and leaning against the doorframe. “Just gotta pick something up.”
    “Okay…” Shane said, giving his brother a measuring glance. “Be back by nightfall.”
    Maverick gave a quiet nod. Between his rugged look and his piercing eyes, he was the perfect guide for the city yuppies who wanted the experience of being in the Wild West.
    Maverick turned to go, but Shane couldn’t resist calling out to him. “What exactly are you picking up?” he asked, a prickle of unease running through him.
    “It’s a secret,” Mav said, scratching his head. He was wearing a flannel shirt and tight, worn jeans with thick work boots. Shane hoped he wasn’t going anywhere except the general store at the base of the mountain, or he’d probably scare the locals.
    “I’m not sure I like that,” Shane said, standing and walking around the desk. “Why don’t you let Jesse go down for supplies? He goes Tuesday and Thursday. You can just add it to his list.”
    Maverick shook his head. “Jesse doesn’t know about this.”
    Shane lowered his eyebrows and glowered at that comment. It wasn’t like Maverick to be suspicious. Well, suspicious when not in bear form. And right now, despite his serious expression, there was a twinkly satisfaction in his eyes that made him look much like a bear who’d found a beehive.
    And Shane didn’t trust that one bit.
    Why would Maverick suddenly be keeping secrets?
    “Well, I’ll just be going, then,” Maverick said gruffly, disappearing out the front