Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 16943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
I practically sprint back to the counter, my heart pounding, half of me relieved to gather my wits while the other half yearns to stay in the intoxicating orbit surrounding Gabe. As I prep the waffle cone batter, my hands move almost on autopilot while my mind reels. What the heck was that?
In weeks of running around and preparing for this opening, I never anticipated anything like what I felt standing across from Gabe. I know love at first sight exists, but I never expected it to happen to me. Deep in my soul, I already know this isn’t just a simple crush. Oh no, it’s more like a thunderstorm rolling in, quick and intense, taking no prisoners.
I remind myself I didn’t come here looking for romance. My goal was to simply build a successful ice cream shop in the small shifter town. Finding my fated mate hadn’t even crossed my mind until today.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Wendy asks, breaking me out of my thoughts as she watches me separate the batter into the cone-maker. “Did the Bearly twins give you a hard time?”
“No!” I blurt out, my cheeks heating up at the mere thought of others noticing the effect Gabe had on me. “I mean, they were very nice to me.” I give her a fake smile, hoping it’s enough to throw her off the scent.
“Okay,” she says with a knowing grin, lifting an eyebrow. “I know their mama and she won’t tolerate her boys causing trouble. You let me know if they cause any problems.”
A chuckle escapes me, the sudden burst of humor laced with a thread of anxiety at the thought of all the “trouble” I want to get into with Gabe. I wipe my hands on my apron and blow out an exasperated breath. “They were perfect gentlemen.”
As she walks away, I can’t shake the feeling I just might have stumbled onto something big, something life-changing. Meeting Gabe turned my world upside down.
Chapter 3
Gabe
I wake up with the sun creeping through my bedroom window through a little crack in the drapes. A quick glance at the clock tells me it's way too early for any sane bear to be awake, especially a polar bear who tossed and turned all night long dreaming about his mate. Today, my world centers around putting my plan to win Louisa into action. The thought of her delicious curves gets my blood pumping and I don’t want to spend another day without her.
I get out of bed, stretching out my limbs as my bear grumbles that I’m cutting into his beauty sleep. I ignore the fucker and head down to the kitchen for my cup of wake-up elixir.
Just as I get the coffee brewing, my phone rings, cutting through the silent kitchen. The whimpering ringtone tells me it’s my twin. What the hell? It’s way too early to deal with his shit. I pick up the phone, fighting back a yawn. “If this is you trying to wake me up with some dumb shit, Grant, I swear I’m going to drop-kick you into next week.”
“You’re always so pleasant in the mornings.” His voice oozes sarcasm, making me roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “I’m calling so we can get together and make a plan. It’s time to map out your strategy to win Louisa over.”
“Are you serious?” I grumble, pouring coffee into my favorite mug. The Christmas gift from my sister, Gianna, has “Decaf only works if you throw it at people,” written across the front of it in bold black letters. “I don’t need your fucking help.”
“Wrong.” Grant’s voice drops an octave, hitting that brotherly note of authority. “You’re going to need lots of help. That girl is beyond your capabilities, brother dearest.”
“Capabilities?” I scoff, gripping the mug tight enough to nearly break it. His know-it-all attitude is burning my ass up. “I can charm the cold off of an iceberg, dickhead. I don’t need your unsolicited advice.”
“You need as much help as you can get.” He chuckles lightly, and I can practically see the smart-ass grin stretched across his face. “So, stop being difficult and let me help you get your mate.”
“Fucking hell.” He’s like a dog with a bone. I swear, one day I’m going to strangle my brother. “Fine. Whatever it takes to get you to stop calling so goddamn early in the morning. You’re entirely too bright and chirpy for my liking.”
“And that’s the problem.” He sighs. “You’re usually the bright and chirpy one in the family.” I glare out the window, squinting against the rising sun, contemplating what he’s saying. “This sudden change in your attitude has us all worried.” Fuck me. He’s got a point somewhere beneath that thick skull of his.
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle this on my own,” I insist before taking a sip of my steaming hot coffee. “I have a plan.”