Bearly Loving
by
Kizzie Waller
Copyright © 2016 by Kizzie Waller.
All rights reserved.
Published by Kizzie Waller
Cover Design: Bookin’ It Designs
No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Alaskan Den Men World
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Bearly Loving: Foxhollow Den #2
Frenemies to lovers…
Carter Wright and Samantha Taylor are on opposite sides of the mediation table thanks to the ongoing land feud between their families. But each has an idea of how to outwit the other, until their immature pranks become a bridge to unrestrained passion.
This is a romance novella and while it is a complete story, it is the second in a connected series about the Alaskan Wright and Taylor families.
Bearly Living: Foxhollow Den #1 Grant and Bobbie’s story available now
Bearly Gone: Foxhollow Den #3 Caroline and Smoke’s story coming soon
Sign up for the Alaskan Den Men’s newsletter here.
Introduction to the Alaskan Den Men World
Four Alaskan Werebear Dens, Twelve Shifter Happily Ever Afters…
The Alaskan Den Men are some of the hottest werebears you’ve ever encountered. These gruff and growling shifters live and hunt in four different dens throughout the backwoods of Alaska.
And the Alaskan outback has never been so wild! Because these rugged alpha males are about to meet their mates—some seriously sexy and sassy heroines who live to bring out the beast in their men.
Get ready for four best selling, award winning, and rising star authors to bring you twelve brand-new, sizzling paranormal romances that are sure to keep you up all night!
Foxhollow Dens: The Wrights and Taylors
The Wrights, three sets of fraternal twins:
Ray Wright — One of the eldest Wright twins and married to the lovely Kristin. Ray already has his own pair of twin girls.
Carter Wright— Ray’s twin, and a nomad at heart. Carter prefers to travel Alaska in search of the next exciting adventure.
Grant Wright—The family fixer, and watchbear for the Wright family. Grant stays close to home to keep an eye on his siblings.
Caroline Wright—Grant’s twin and the cause of the feud between the Wrights and Taylors. Absent from Foxhollow.
Tony and Trevor—The terrible twins of doom. These fourteen year old identical twins love causing trouble in their sleepy little town.
The Taylors:
Bobbie Taylor—Originally from Florida, Bobbie has joined her cousin Samantha in Foxhollow to open Total B.S. Donuts.
Samantha Taylor—As an only child, she’s fiercely loyal to what little family she has in Foxhollow. Co-owner of Total B.S. Donuts.
For my sister and all the other independent ladies; you will always inspire me
Chapter One
Samantha Taylor didn’t know who’d illegally parked the truck-house combo monstrosity in front of Total B.S. Donuts, but the wastrel would know her wrath if he didn’t move it soon. And by wrath, she meant a good talking to or possibly some finger wagging. Whoever occupied the front seat wasn’t there to buy donuts. She’d had the placard open sign turned and the door unlocked for over an hour. A steady stream of familiar customers came through and bought most of the baked donuts her cousin Bobbie had prepared in the early hours of the morning. She’d watched carefully, and the person who sat with a hat covering his face and with his boots perched on the dash board had yet to come in to buy, or move really, during that hour.
Standing at the front window, she glanced up and down the street spanning the length of the small nest of buildings that made up Foxhollow’s main shopping district. There were at least ten open parking spaces where the blue, rusted-edged truck with a camper—big enough for a family of four—could park legally. Instead, it took up three spots in front of her store, effectively blocking her customers from parking at their convenience a few steps from the entrance.
Samantha made it a point to stay as far away from conflict as possible, which was a direct reflection of the last conflict-filled six months. A ruined wedding. Land feud. Poachers. Naked in the woods. The growing list did not need an incident of arguing with an inconsiderate person in front of her business. The town had enough reason to gossip about her, and she refused to give them one more.
Her groan filled the now-empty dining area of the café.
After another twenty minutes of pacing, she told herself it was good business sense that propelled her out the door to give the driver a polite warning. Nothing bad could come from a polite warning. The café was her chance at winning back the trust of her community, and she’d be damned if the smallest little misdeeds by others would get in the way. If he refused to move, she’d call the sheriff and make it his business.
She squinted under the glare of the bright sunlight and approached the truck. The window on the passenger’s side was opened about halfway. Perfect. He’d be able to hear her when she asked him to move his eyesore down the road. She rapped the glass with her knuckles and waited. The man didn’t make any effort to move, so she knocked harder.
Nobody could sleep through that much noise. She leaned her face through the window hole. “Excuse me?”
Nothing but steady breathing from the vagrant. Good thing she didn’t have the same anger control issues her cousin wrestled with, or she’d have gone full bear and shown some serious teeth by now. Of course, Bobbie had found a mate to help her with the whole anger problem. Not that Samantha was jealous. Men complicated things right before they ruined everything. Like a ruined wedding. A land feud. Poachers. Naked in the woods.
“I’m calling the sheriff’s office.”
The man in the truck finally lifted the hat off his face.
Samantha instantly recognized Carter Wright, twin to Ray Wright and older brother of Bobbie’s kinda-sorta fiancé, Grant. Also one of the family members involved in the Wright-Taylor land feud. Samantha’d had the biggest “dear diary” crush on his younger self in high school. He and his brothers had spent most of high school teasing her and their younger sister, Caroline. Prank after stupid prank.
Carter’s senior year, he’d finally asked her out, and they’d shared some fun times that started to lean toward serious. Not sexy-good-times serious, but she wouldn’t have said no. And then immediately after graduation he’d left to roam the state without even a “see ya later.” From time to time he’d materialize in Foxhollow to toss a smartass remark in her direction, acting as if they’d never shared a single romantic moment. Not that she cared. She’d been over his sexy ass for years. It’s not like she’d given him her heart or anything.
She gritted her teeth and watched his face settle into a grin more wolf-like than bear-like.
He ran his fingers through his dark, unkempt hair and tucked his hands behind his head. “Just the girl I’m looking for.”
I’ve been in the same place for th
e past ten years. She clamped her lips together until a more reasonable response came to mind. “You’ve been sitting out here for an hour and a half. If you’re looking for me, why didn’t you just come inside?”
He winked, and she felt one of her molars crack.
“I knew you’d come out here eventually, and just because Grant got hooked into tasting the Taylor donuts doesn’t mean I will.”
“Good, because you can’t have my donuts anyway.” Nice juvenile comeback, and totally off topic. “If you have no intention of buying donuts, why are you parked in front of my shop? What do you want, Carter?”
“I’m here to pick you up.”
“For what?”
“You haven’t heard? Pops and your dad got into a brawl at mediation. Broke the poor mediator’s nose when he tried to pull the two apart, and now the mediator wants different reps from the family to come in for the rest of negotiations.”
“They picked you?” She grasped the edge of the partially-opened window with both hands, dreading the question she had to ask next. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“The mediator asked for two mellow family members.” With an index finger he pointed at himself and then at her. “Jump in, and let’s get it done. Two days of mediation meetings. A weekend to remember. Me and you, sweets.”
“Ick. Don’t call me ‘sweets’. Or anything else. I’m not going to sit in mediation over this silly land dispute. Just sign the deed to us, and it’ll all be over.”
“Not how it works. And since you started this whole mess with the wedding fiasco, seems only fitting that you help resolve it.”
Samantha growled and smacked her palm against the window. Too hard. The glass shattered into the passenger seat.
Carter pulled his feet down from the dashboard, his mouth draped open in a perfect O.
She backed away from the truck, startled at the mess she’d made. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hit it that hard.”
“What did you do to my truck?” With jerky movements, he exited the driver’s side and joined her on the sidewalk. “Your hand is bleeding.”
He reached for it, but she pulled away, remembering all too well the happy tingles his touch once caused. The piece of glass stuck in her palm glittered in the sunlight. She removed it, and a stream of blood ran down to her elbow. “It’s just a small cut.”
“Let’s get it cleaned up.” He passed by her and opened the door to the café.
The cut didn’t hurt half as bad as the embarrassment of losing control. So much for avoiding conflict. “I can handle it.” She ducked through the door and didn’t give his trouble-causing face another glance. “Just move your truck. Please.”
Samantha headed for the kitchen and stopped short when she caught her cousin, Bobbie, and Carter’s brother, Grant, lip-locked and bodies entangled against the counter near the sink. Bears weren’t known for their modesty. Newly mated bears were even worse.
The tart scent of shifter wafted up from behind her. Her shoulders sank further. Carter had followed her in.
He leaned in close, and his warm breath grazed her ear. “Do they always do that in here?” The low rumble of his voice produced those tingles she’d been trying to avoid.
She cleared her throat and stepped away from him. “Usually they keep it out in the alley.”
Bobbie and Grant pulled apart and turned happy, satisfied faces toward them. Samantha lifted her hand in the air, and Bobbie grabbed a dish towel and rushed forward, her expression quickly morphed to one of concern. “Samantha, what happened?”
Carter moved around them and sat on top of the stainless steel cooking island. He picked through a tray of freshly baked donuts. “She had a bear moment.”
Bobbie pulled her to the sink and rinsed off some of the blood. The sting of the cut set in, and she sucked in a sharp breath between her teeth. “What can I say? The Wright boys have a way of driving people to violence.”
Grant pulled the tray away from Carter’s prying hands and gave him an affectionate smack on the back of the head. “We’re trying to get past all this family feud crap. Don’t make it worse.”
“Sammie and I are going to get all those issues worked out in the next two days at mediation.” Carter smiled and winked in Bobbie and Samantha’s direction. “I for one am looking forward to a little R&R and sleeping in a real bed tonight.”
Bobbie and Grant exchanged looks that told Samantha they already knew about the mediation problems with her father and Mr. Wright.
“Grant, why don’t you find the first aid kit in the office? Carter, go watch the front, and let us know if a customer comes in.” Bobbie’s firm tone left zero room for argument from the two men.
Once they’d left the room, Samantha narrowed her eyes at her cousin. “Why didn’t you tell me first thing this morning I’d be spending the next two days locked in a room with a Wright brother? Especially that one.”
“I’d hoped your dad would stop by before he headed out fishing and explain himself.” She leaned against the sink. “This either gets solved with a mediator, or they’re going to fight it out in full-bear form like the old days.”
“Why can’t it be Grant or Ray? I can tolerate them. Why him? He’s as immature as the teenage twins of doom.” She pointed out the kitchen to where Carter milled around sampling more of their inventory than he’d ever pay for. He dropped a piece of donut on the floor and after checking to see if anyone was watching, toed it under the counter. Ten years ago, she’d have giggled and found his antics endearing. Stupid high school crushes. Not anymore.
“Listen to me.” Bobbie grabbed Samantha’s non-injured hand. “You have a chance to get this land thing settled in the next two days. Finished for good. Imagine if we get this done and Caroline back home all in the same month. Then a droopy cloud won’t be hanging over a fall wedding if I decide to have one.”
Samantha’s gaze cut back to Carter. Caroline was his younger sister and Samantha’s former best friend. Samantha had been blamed for Caroline’s failed trip to the wedding alter, and when Caroline took off to parts unknown, the spiteful land dispute followed. The five acres in question meant more to her family than it did to the Wrights, but that didn’t stop them from putting up a fight. Bears didn’t like giving up their territory, but it was more than that to her and Dad. Frustration scrunched her nose and lips together. “Dad will never forgive me if we don’t get that scrap of land back.”
“Remember how we took care of those poachers?” Bobbie asked.
Her cousin referred to her naked run through the woods as a distraction when the other Wright brothers had needed their help. An involuntary shiver whipped up her spine. Not a stunt she wanted to repeat. “You want me to go to mediation topless?”
“No. But the same principle applies. Guys are easily distracted from their main goals when a perky blonde is nearby. Use that, and you’ll have him eating out of your hand in no time.” Grant came back into the room with the first aid kit, and Bobbie leaned in close to keep their conversation private. “Embrace the conflict for a change. Use that creative mind of yours for something other than donuts.”
Samantha rolled her eyes to the ceiling and tightened her mouth. She could make it two days. At least there would be the mediator to keep Carter and his smart-ass comments in check. And she did want Bobbie to have a phenomenal wedding day. Someone in Foxhollow deserved a little happiness. But Carter had caused her a lot of angst in her teens, first with the teasing and then the love-her-and-ditch-her bit. He deserved a little angst of his own. With the forced proximity, it was time to show him she was anything but his sweets. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not doing the perky blonde thing. It’s time to give the pranking Wrights a taste of their own medicine.”
Chapter Two
Carter guided his truck into the gravel parking lot in front of the lodge that housed Holland’s Mediation Services, thirty minutes’ north of Foxhollow. There were about seven other cars parked nearby, and he quickly picked out the small
grey sedan owned by Samantha. The only reason she’d beat him was because he’d had to stop by the hardware store to get plastic and duct tape to cover the gaping hole she’d created. He’d never seen her so fired up, and after all Carter’d seen in his twenty-nine years while roaming, being surprised by anyone didn’t happen often. He expected her to be predictably constant like everything else in Foxhollow. He teased. She rolled her eyes. Rinse. Repeat.
She’d been super sweet back in high school, and he’d enjoyed their few dates. Even if now she pretended they’d never happened. He knew he’d hurt her feelings when he’d left after high school, but Samantha was the type of girl who settled down and raised a family of cubs. His life plan didn’t include settling down.
He grabbed a toothpick from his stash in the glove compartment and dropped it between his teeth.
At the hardware store his twin brother Ray reiterated the need for getting the land feud resolved in a quick manner. With a town as small as Foxhollow, some of the residents had begun taking sides, and it was affecting business. The Wright and Taylor patriarchs were stubborn and continued to make a mess of things. Carter didn’t have an investment in the hardware store or the land since he preferred the nomadic lifestyle, but he couldn’t stand by and watch his family suffer over a problem that should’ve never existed. Eventually, he’d catch up with his sister and blast her for causing the feud. Caroline never should’ve gotten involved with a man who couldn’t keep it in his pants to begin with.
The thought of Caroline’s fiancé sleeping with Samantha riled his territorial inner bear, but he quickly shut down that line of thought. It simply wasn’t his business, and Samantha didn’t belong to him. Back in high school he’d known better than to let it get that far.
Bearly Loving: Foxhollow Den #2 (Alaskan Den Men Book 10) Page 1
