The Bear Is Back In Town: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Return To Bear Bluff Book 1)

by Harmony Raines

  “Tilly, I don’t know,” Dylan said, and Amanda felt heat creep across her cheeks. There was her answer, no second chances. “It’s not about the lunch money, but we used to clash.”

  “He’s changed, he moved away from the Bluff, went to figure out who he was and where he fit into this world. Not easy when you’re a shif…” She dropped her voice, and Amanda knew she wondered if she had spoken out of turn.

  “It’s OK. Amanda knows all about our kind, even if she isn’t one of us herself. She’s Maria Orson’s granddaughter. You know, from over by Pinehill Ridge.”

  “Really?” Tilly’s voice brightened. “Your grandma used to bake us cookies, and if ever she had food to spare, she would feed us if we were passing.” Then her voice dropped. “Of course, I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” Amanda said, turning around. “She led a good, a full life, and mourned my grandpa terribly when he died. So maybe it’s good they are together now.”

  “True.” Tilly looked at Dylan again. “Will you at least think about it?”

  “I’ll do better than that. I’ll talk to him about it,” Dylan said.

  “Great. Shall I send him in? He’s in the car.” Her face clouded with concern. “Only I didn’t tell him why I was coming here. So…”

  Dylan sighed. “Send him in.”

  Tilly left. Amanda collected the coffee cups and asked, “Want more coffee?”

  “I think I’m going to need it, Amanda. Thanks. And thanks for hanging around. Last thing I need is people talking about me and Tilly talking alone.”

  Amanda raised an eyebrow and then left the office, heading for the coffee pot and wondering if she would get any of her work done today. Looking out of the window, she watched as Tilly spoke to one of the biggest, broadest men she had ever seen. He was a good six foot five, and his shoulders were so well muscled she wondered where he found shirts to fit.

  Trying not to let herself be seen, she watched as Tilly spoke to Jed. At least she presumed this was Jed. They had the same red hair, although Jed’s was darker, a rich auburn that was unfashionably long, nearly down to his shoulders. Right now, he was raking his hand through his hair and shaking his head, looking reluctant to come inside.

  His eyes flicked to the door and then back to Tilly, and Amanda held her breath, wondering if he was going to bolt. Then Tilly placed her hand on Jed’s arm, and whatever she said to him worked. He nodded and then headed for the office, a resigned look on his face.

  Amanda waited for him to come in, aiming to offer him coffee, only he didn’t appear. Intrigued, she wondered if he had changed his mind, maybe shifted into a bear or whatever animal he was, and headed off into the mountains. She wouldn’t blame him if he did; there were many times when she wished she had the ability to run free on four legs.

  However, when she walked to the door and looked out, there he was, resting his hand on the dry stone wall, looking weak and confused. His hand rubbed the back of his neck until he sensed her watching, and his eyes lifted off the floor to lock with hers.

  In that moment she knew. She had heard her grandma talk about this exact moment—when shifters saw their mates for the first time. But she had never expected to experience it.

  Not least with a man who might be more trouble than she was.

  Chapter Two – Jed

  He didn’t want to be here. At least those were his thoughts—until he got that feeling. It started deep down inside him, and then spread out, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. A shiver down his spine made him stop and rest on the wall, to regain his composure. It scared him, because it made him feel weak. This couldn’t be happening now. He needed this job, and the job in question meant he needed to be strong.

  Maybe he should have realized sooner what was wrong with him. But he didn’t. Not until she stood before him, framed by the doorway.

  Confident. That was Jed, in everything he did. Or at least that was the persona he portrayed, through necessity rather than choice. There were times when he was younger, when the only way he could survive was to intimidate others.

  As he looked into her face and saw the connection between them, he wasn’t sure if all the months he had traveled, trying to find out exactly who he was, deep down, had been wasted. The old Jed tried to fight his way to the surface, the Jed who would do anything to keep those he loved safe. The Jed who would steal or fight for whatever his family needed.

  “Dylan’s in his office waiting for you,” she said, backing away.

  He hesitated, knocked off guard. Jed had seen the way her eyes widened, the way she had acknowledged him. She knew he was her mate, and yet here she was trying to gloss over it, pushing it away, just as she was trying to push him away.

  Shoving himself off the wall, he composed himself. His sister, Tilly, had come here to ask Dylan for a job for Jed, a job he desperately needed, even if it meant swallowing his pride to get it. Before he had seen this woman, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to keep himself together if Dylan came over all… boss-like. However, if his mate worked here, he was going to do his damnedest to get this job.

  Whatever it takes, his bear assured him.

  Even if it means groveling on the floor? Jed asked, entering the office where she was talking with Dylan. They stood close together, too close for Jed’s liking, and he had to keep a tight control on his temper.

  He sighed, willing himself to keep it together. He had worked hard to undo what all the years of fighting and bullying as a kid had made him. Was this new Jed going to disappear overnight? All for a woman, a woman he wanted to protect. A woman he wanted to claim.

  “Jed, sorry, Amanda is just trying to sort out my new computer for me. I can build a house, but I’m no good with Windows.” Dylan smiled, and Jed acknowledged he was trying to put him at ease, to break down the barrier Jed put up between himself and anything that threatened him.

  Amanda is not a threat, his bear told him firmly.

  Only to my heart, Jed answered. His bear guffawed, making Jed sigh inwardly. You are so totally cool. We’d best introduce you after she’s fallen in love with me.

  I have patience, his bear answered. And I’m going to need it if you don’t stop standing here like a fool. Speak.

  Speak. What should he say? His mind was so caught up with thoughts of Amanda, and mates, and bear cubs, he knew if he opened his mouth, nothing sensible would come out. A fear built up inside him: she would see him as a jerk, he had to say something, anything.

  “How are you, Dylan?” Like he cared?

  Dylan frowned a little and looked at Amanda. Which Jed hated. Was Dylan going to poison her against Jed? His fists tightened into balls.

  Calm down. Breathe, his bear said. You are overreacting.

  Jed breathed in, centering his thoughts on Dylan and the job he needed, and then exhaling very slowly through his mouth.

  “Everything OK?” Dylan asked warily.

  “Fine. I’m just not feeling myself right now.” He needed a chair. The scent of Amanda had reached his nostrils, and was threatening to short-circuit his brain even further.

  “Amanda, would you step out for a moment please,” Dylan said.

  “No. I’m fine,” Jed said recovering himself. “I don’t want to interrupt you two.”

  “If you’re sure, you seemed a little…”

  “Surprised,” Jed said. “But I have it under control now.”

  His eyes flicked to Amanda briefly, but she was avoiding looking at him, trying to pretend he wasn’t there. It confirmed his suspicions. Not only did she know he was her mate, but she was desperately trying to pretend it wasn’t true. But why? Did she know about his past? Was that it? She didn’t want anything to do with a man like him. Well, he wasn’t a man like he used to be, and the only way he could see of proving that to her was to get this job. It would give him a chance to be around her without having to stalk her.

  His bear was good at stalking, but his mate was not the same as a nice juicy rabbit. />
  “Great.” Dylan didn’t convey any confidence in his voice.

  “I’m sorry. Just seems a bit weird, being back in Bear Bluff and seeing you.” His eyes flicked nervously to Amanda again.

  “Oh, I understand.” Dylan’s voice changed, and he hid a smile. “I think I understand completely.”

  “Do you?” Jed asked.

  Amanda looked up. “I am in the room.”

  “So you know?” Dylan asked her, surprised. “You know Jed is your mate?”

  “No. I figured I am his mate. It doesn’t work both ways. I’m not the same as you, remember.” She walked around the desk and headed for the door, carefully avoiding getting too close to Jed. “I didn’t come to Bear Bluff to find a husband, I came to start a new life. So if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go and do my job.”

  Jed shook his head. “What did you tell her?”

  “About what? About you?” Dylan asked. “Nothing. Except that you stole my lunch money.”

  “Great,” Jed said.

  Dylan came around his desk and stood next to Jed. “Listen. Don’t take it personally, but this might not be all about you.”

  “What does that mean?” Jed asked. He didn’t need cryptic clues, or to play mind games. All he wanted was his mate, in his bed. And a job. He made himself relax. He could not let himself get distracted, he needed this job, now more than ever.

  “It means, you need to give Amanda some time, and some space. It’s easy for you, you know she’s the one. But she doesn’t have that same connection. You are going to have to let her get to know you, and then ask her on a date. You play the long game.”

  Once Jed had claimed Amanda, they would be together for the rest of their lives. Dylan was right; he didn’t want to frighten her away. “You’re right. I need to find out what she likes, what makes her tick.”

  “And I can help you with that.” Dylan held out his hand. “Congratulations, you are the newest employee of Bear Bluff Construction.”

  “You are sure?” Jed asked, surprised at not having to at least pitch himself as a good employee.

  “I wasn’t. But I am now. You have something big to focus on, something important to succeed for. I know you are going to work your bear butt off for me.”

  Jed groaned inwardly at the bear-butt innuendo, although his inner bear chuckled at the joke. They both knew Dylan was right. He was going to do whatever it took to win Amanda over.

  “So when do I start?” Jed asked, taking Dylan’s hand.

  “Right now. In fact, I have a house that needs renovating over on the north side of town. It’s a quiet spot, I haven’t had time to go over there and itemize what I need, so why don’t you do that for me?”

  “Sure.” Jed turned on his heel, heading for the door.

  “And take Amanda with you.”

  Jed nodded, trying not to look too excited about spending time with Amanda. He had to play it cool. He had to get this right.

  Or risk losing his mate forever.

  Read on... His Bear’s Necessity

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  Other Books By Harmony Raines

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

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  ***UK Harmony Raines Author Page On Kindle***

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  Baby Protector Bear

  Fated and Mated

  Love at First Site

  Her Scars To Bear

  Her Choice To Bear

  Her Russian Bear

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  Complete Box Set

  Or available individually

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  (each can be read as a standalone

  but why not start at the beginning and get to know all of the characters?)

  Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book One)

  Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Two)

  Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Three)

  Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Four)

  Biker Bear Billionaire (Bear Creek Clan Book Five)

  Bound To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book One)

  Doctor Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book Two)

  Stranded With Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Three)

  A Bride for the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Six)

  Home Or Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Four)

  Fated To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Five)

  Lonely Bear (Bear Bluff Book Six)

  Wolf Valley Raiders

  Redeem the Wolf

  To Catch A Wolf

  Reclaim the Wolf

  Awakening the Alpha

  Christmas Bear Brothers

  Santa Paws

  Christmas Catastrophe

  Bear Humbug

  Biker Bears

  Forbidden Bear

  Secret Bear

  Shifters Prime

  Sleeping Lions

  Living a Lion

  Freeing a Lion

  Fighting a Lion

  Chosen by the Karal

  Complete Box Set

  Or available individually

  Deceit

  Love

  Power

  Hunger

  Devotion

  Warriors of Karal

  Stranded

  Found

  Taken

  Hunted

  Allies

  Her Dragon's Bane Serial

  Soul Of The Dragon

  Blood Of The Dragon

  Heart Of The Dragon

  Love Of The Dragon

  Fate Of The Minotaur

  Mate Of The Dragon

  Bound To The Flame - A Virgin For The Dragon

  When the dragon egg hatches for Trinity she becomes the Dragon Princess and must remain pure until the dragon comes back to claim her as his mate on her twenty first birthday.

  An Heir For The Flame (Dragon Fantasy Romance)

  The elder dragons have predicted that Trinity will conceive the new dragon child tonight. So she mates with ShanRohit under the full moon.

  Waiting For Curves (Curves For Her Wolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Curves For Her Wolf Doctor (The Greystone Wolves - BBW Paranormal Erotic Romance)

  Mistaken Curves (Her First Time With A Wolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Sold To The Wolf (Auctioned Curves For The Werewolf) (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Curves For The Lone Wolf (BBW Erotic Romance)

  An Auction Of Curves (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Anna (Curves in the Family (BBW Erotic Romance))

  Heated Curves (Curves For Her Firefighter) (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Words Unwritten (Curves For Her Soldier) (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Christmas Curves (BBW Erotic Romance)

  Winning Her Curves (previously titled Virgin Curves)

  Returning For His First Love

  For The Love Of The Wolf (Erotic Romance Fairy Tales)

  Marianne : Unmarked (His) (Paranormal Shifter Romance)

  Bred By The Unicorn (Virgin Paranormal Erotic Romance)

  The Escort Box Set

  ***

  The Escort Series

  The Escort (The Escort Series Part One)(Free in some regions)

 
The Escort (The Escort Series Part Two)

  The Escort (The Escort Series Part Three)

  A Curvy Christmas: Robin's Romance (BBW Romance)

  Helen’s story:

  His Secretary (Her Second Chance Book One)

  His Secretary (Her Second Chance Book Two)

  His Secretary (Her Second Chance Book Three)

  Captured By The

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  Captured By The Barbarian: Cilla Part One

  Claimed By The Barbarians: Cilla Part Two

  Taken By The Barbarians: Dinah

  Tilda - Captured By The Hannoth Barbarians

  Thandor - Captured By The Hannoth Barbarians

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  Bound By The Barbarian: Tirim

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  Captured By The Barbarians: Scarla

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  Hunted By The Barbarian: Shona Part 2

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  ***

  Saved By The Pack

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  Found (Book One)

  Lost (Book Two)

  Return (Book Three)

  Shifters Of Spellholm - The Bears

  Her First Time With A Bear (Book 1)

  Too Much To Bear (Book 2)

  Bear With Me (Book 3)

  ***

  Curves

  ***

  Curves For Her Bears (BBW Shifter Erotic Romance)

  Saving You, Saving Me (Bad Boys Love Big Girls (BBW Erotic Romance))