Happy Howlidays: Shifters in Love Romance Collection (Shifter in Love Book 1)

by V. Vaughn

  “She may have charged you a hundred bucks, but this gem is an authentic ruby and worth way more.”

  Andru held the ring up so that he could study it closer. He had never thought to check the gem.

  “Why would she have done that for me?” he asked.

  “Because your actions spoke louder than your words. Angela can read people easily, and she also thinks you’re the hottest insurance agent alive,” Jill laughed.

  “You’ll have to break the news to her that I’m taken.”

  “I think she knows.”

  “So what else do you do on Christmas?”

  “My parents and I usually drive around and see people’s Christmas lights, and then we go caroling with the church. We can do whatever you want to do, though.”

  “That sounds perfect. Besides, your parents will be glad to know you accepted my ring.”

  “So, that’s what you were talking to them about last night?” Jill gasped.

  “Yep. I had to make sure your parents approved.”

  “What did they say?”

  “They told me that they’d be honored to have me as a son-in-law. Which reminds me, your mom seemed pretty set on a big wedding so I’m going to let you break the news to her that you don’t want one. I don’t want to lose my brownie points.”

  “Anything for you,” Jill chuckled as she wrapped her arms around Andru’s waist.

  He had waited his entire life to feel as full as he felt in that moment. The snow was pouring down outside, glistening against the Christmas tree lights in the living room. Jill was his, forever.

  “Christmas is my new favorite holiday,” he said.

  “I told you I’d convert you. Christmas is truly a magical time of the year.”

  FIN

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  Seducing her Christmas Cowbear - Liv Brywood

  All Jessica wants for Christmas is sexy cowboy bear shifter Toby Wade. Unfortunately, he’s her new boss, so he’s totally off-limits. When his “bah, humbug” attitude threatens to ruin Christmas, she decides it’s time to play dirty. She knows exactly how to get him into the holiday spirit, but she’s about to get more than she bargained for under the mistletoe.

  Seducing Her Christmas Cowbear

  Copyright© 2018 Liv Brywood

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  1

  Jessica couldn’t resist catching a glimpse of her boss’ tight butt. She leaned a curvy hip against a snow-dusted bale of hay. Partially hidden, she used the side of the barn as cover. She really shouldn’t be ogling her boss, but she couldn’t help it. Toby Wade’s yummy ass stretched out a pair of Levi’s better than any cowboy she’d ever met. And she’d met them all.

  Hopping from ranch to ranch in Montana, she’d taken any job she could get. After a series of temporary positions, she’d finally landed a permanent position at Bear River Ranch. She couldn’t mess this up. Trying to ride Toby reverse-cowgirl style was totally out of the question, but it didn’t stop her from fantasizing about it.

  As Toby bent to close the bottom latch on the gate to the horse’s pasture, he turned and winked. She gasped and jerked back. Her face flamed.

  Busted! How on earth was she going to face him now?

  She scurried into the barn and grabbed a pitchfork. She should have been tossing straw down for the pigs, but instead, he’d caught her breaking her self-imposed rules.

  Rule #1: Work hard.

  Rule #2: Don’t drool all over the boss.

  She’d broken both. Again. Hadn’t she learned her lesson the last time she’d fallen for her boss? Apparently not, because she had it bad for Toby. She’d only been on the ranch for a few weeks and he already played a starring role in her dirties fantasies. This Christmas, she’d be on the naughty list for sure.

  Boot steps crunched through snow. She froze mid-toss. A clump of straw fell to the dirt-covered floor. Her bear woke in her chest. The beast sniffed the air and purred. Her bear couldn’t get enough of Toby’s scent. He smelled like rugged pine and a whiskey-stained oak barrel. Her bear threatened to claw her way out of her chest every time Toby came within five feet of her.

  He strolled into the barn. At 6’2”, he towered over her by a good ten inches. Based on the outline of his jeans, that wasn’t the only ten-inch difference between them. She swallowed as she tried to ignore the bulge. If he caught her staring, he’d fire her for sure.

  “Do you need a hand?” Toby asked.

  “I’m almost done.”

  “I thought you’d be gone by now.” The low rumble of his voice sent tendrils of desire straight to her sex. That voice could talk a woman right out of her clothes. Or a bear right out of her chest. Her bear’s excited claws scratched across her belly.

  “A storm’s coming,” he said.

  Oh, he has no idea what’s about to blow his way, her bear said silently.

  Be quiet, Jessica silently communicated to her bear. The little brat had the worst timing.

  “Didn’t Justin tell you that I’m staying over the holiday?” she asked. “He told me it would be okay.” She bit the edge of her lip. Had the ranch manager been wrong? If she couldn’t stay, where would she go?

  “You’re staying over Christmas?” His eyebrows shot up. “He didn’t mention it.”

  “He must have forgotten He had to rush to catch his flight. The airport was cancelling departures left and right, so he jumped on an earlier flight.”

  “He didn’t say a word.” He grabbed the rim of his Stetson and gave it a tug. “Why aren’t you heading back to see your family?”

  “I don’t—” She stopped short before confessing anything about her past. “It’s a long story, but I can’t go back. Not this year.” Not ever, considering she’d lost both of her parents several years earlier. And as an only child, she didn’t have any siblings to spend the holidays with. Ultimately, she was completely alone in the world.

  What am I, chopped liver? her bear asked.

  You don’t count, she responded.

  Why not?

  You’re part of me. You’re not a separate person.

  Whatever.

  She returned her attention to Toby who had been silent for several seconds.

  “I turned off the heat to the carriage house this morning,” he said. “I assumed everyone would be gone by this afternoon.”

  “I guess I could try to find a place in town…”

  “No.” He waved a hand to dismiss the idea. “But I don’t want to keep the heat on and waste electricity. The hay crop was light this year because of the drought, so the winter funds are a bit low.”

  “I could burn extra firewood.” She wrapped her arms around her torso, already wondering how she’d ward off the chilly December nights.

  “You could stay in the main house with me,” he said. “I have a guest room.”

  “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “I don’t have much of a choice right now, do I?” His tone held an edge. “Pack your stuff and bring it to the main house. I’ve got to get the rest of the horses inside.”

  As he walked away, her gaze reflexively dropped to his butt.

  “And stop staring at my ass.”

  Her jaw dropped. If she could have melted into the floor, she would have. She couldn’t help but have naughty thoughts about him. He was so tempting. So deliciously sexy. Why did he have to be her boss? It was just her luck. And now she was snowed in with him. Alone. This was going to be all kinds
of trouble.

  Toby trekked through a muddy puddle on the way to the second horse pasture. Several pregnant mares stood together behind a windbreak. Due to the coming storm, he wanted them inside for the night. They would be fine during the day, but the temperature threatened to drop well below freezing tonight, so he didn’t want to take any chances. They weren’t due until late next summer, but he wanted to keep them as healthy as possible. Besides, the longer he stayed out in the cold, the less time he’d have to spend with Jessica.

  She’d strolled onto the ranch a few months earlier, all sass and little experience. But he’d taken a chance on her because she seemed hungry for work. In his experience, those made the best hires. Okay, if he was being really honest, her long, sun-kissed chestnut hair and dangerously sexy curves had played a small part in his decision. He was definitely thinking with his cock that day, something that had gotten him into all kinds of trouble in the past.

  Against his better judgement, he’d hired her, and he’d spent the next six months with a hard-on. He couldn’t get within ten paces of her without becoming light-headed from the sudden rush of blood to his cock. He’d spent more than one night wondering if she was as beautiful naked as she was with clothes on. It was all he could do not to cross the line.

  But make no mistake, there was a line. She was his employee, and he was her boss. That was enough to throw a bucket of ice water on any thoughts of steaming up the sheets with her.

  Still, in the middle of the night, in the midst of another one of his fantasies, he couldn’t help but slowly peel off her clothes. More than once, he’d dreamed of licking her plump nipples and tasting the delicate flesh between her thighs. What he wouldn’t give for one little taste.

  Do it! his bear snarled.

  You know I can’t.

  Why not?

  She works for me.

  Isn’t it vacation time now?

  That’s a dangerous thought, he grumbled.

  His bear chuckled before stabbing a claw against his ribcage.

  If you’re not going to claim her, then at least let me out so I can run free.

  Later, he promised.

  Keeping his bear happy made life so much easier. If he bear was happy, then it freed up all kinds of time to indulge in secret fantasies about the new cowgirl on the ranch.

  “Jessica.” Her name whispered across his lips. He ignored the subtle longing in his tone. It didn’t do much good to want something he could never had, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Naked.

  Lately, it had been getting out of control. She’d already ridden him in every possible way, at least in his dreams. And that was the only way she’d ever ride him. Getting involved was out of the question, no matter how many times he’d caught her staring at his ass.

  He smiled as he herded the last horse into the barn. He only had to endure a week and a half with her. Everyone would be back from the holiday break by New Year’s Day. He silently counted. Ten days. He could be good for ten days.

  His fingers flexed. A rumble rose from his chest. His bear’s restlessness was getting to him. He hadn’t let the beast out to run for two full days. He’d been too caught up in trying to get everything situated before the ranch hands left. At least he’d have help now that Jessica was staying. Hopefully she’d keep her distance. It would be so much easier to keep his hands to himself if she wasn’t around all the time.

  An hour later, the sun hung low on the horizon. Fading orange light peeked out from beneath a sky pregnant with heavy gray clouds. According to the latest weather report, the storm was set to break an hour after sunset. He’d done everything he could to ensure the animals would be safe during the storm. Now he had to figure out a way to keep himself safe.

  He eyed the carriage house. If she wasn’t packed by now, he’d eat his boot. He probably shouldn’t have stalled as long as he had, but he hadn’t been ready to face the fact that he was all alone with the stunning beauty… for ten days. Ten long days. And nights.

  “God help me,” he muttered.

  After taking one last look around the barn, he closed the door. Outside, wind whipped across the gristle of his five o’clock shadow. He held his Stetson against his head as he jogged toward the main house. The front door opened. Jessica stepped out. She’d changed from worn work jeans and a flannel shirt into an emerald green sweater dress.

  When he climbed the porch steps, she handed him a steaming mug of cocoa. Peppermint wafted up to tickle his nose.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “The door was unlocked, so I came inside to get out of the cold.”

  “Thank you.” He took the mug and sipped the chocolaty perfection. “I need to get cleaned up, then I’ll work on dinner.”

  “Already on it.” She stepped back and held the door open for him. “I found a roast in the fridge. I hope you weren’t saving it for something special.”

  “Christmas dinner, but that’s okay.”

  “Oh no! I’m sorry. I should have asked.”

  “No worries.” He stomped the mud off his boots before stepping inside. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll help fix dinner.”

  “It’s almost done. I’m just working on the baguette.”

  “Baguette? I didn’t buy any bread.”

  “You don’t eat bread?”

  “I do, but I forgot to grab a loaf. Where did you get it?”

  “I made it.”

  “Huh.” He cocked his head to one side. This woman was full of surprises.

  “Anyway, you get cleaned up and I’ll have dinner ready in twenty minutes. It’s the least I could do considering I’m imposing.”

  That she was, however, at this point he’d resigned himself to the fact that he was stuck with her for the next ten days. At least he wouldn’t have to spend Christmas alone. Maybe having her around wasn’t as bad as it seemed.

  As she turned to walk toward the kitchen, the sway of her hips against the dress changed his mind. The fabric hugged every inch of her curvaceous body, leaving little to the imagination. This was bad. Real bad. How in the hell was he going to keep his hands off of her?

  “Stop staring at my ass.” She tossed a sultry smile over her shoulder.

  He laughed. At least she had a sense of humor.

  “If it wasn’t worth looking at, I wouldn’t be looking, darlin’.”

  As he headed down the hall to his bedroom, he adjusted the fabric around his zipper. Damn woman had him hard as a rock already. It was going to be a long night.

  Twenty minutes later, he’d made quick work of his erection thanks to a longer than normal session in the shower. Temporarily satiated, he walked into the kitchen to find her tossing a huge green salad.

  “I think I made too much,” she said.

  “I’m hungry as hell.” And not just for food. His gaze raked across the curves of her breasts. She looked good enough to eat.

  “Go sit down and I’ll bring the rest of it.”

  Two candles flickered to provide the only light in the formal dining room. He glided his tongue across his bottom lip. What was she up to?

  As he slid into the chair at the head of the table, she placed the salad next to the steaming roast. Plump purple carrots and rosemary-flaked potatoes flanked the meat. A sliced baguette sat in a poinsettia decorated bread basket he hadn’t seen in ages. She must have searched high and low for it. A holly-themed Christmas boat held brown gravy. She’d pulled matching holly-covered placemats from the dining room hutch.

  His heart fell. He hated Christmas decorations. Christmas was for families and love, two things he hadn’t had in his life for many years. He let out a long sigh. When he looked up, she was watching him. She didn’t look away.

  “Are you okay?” she asked softly.

  “Fine.”

  “I hope I didn’t overstep. I just wanted to make it festive. Why aren’t there any Christmas decorations in the house? Don’t you celebrate it?”

  “I do, in my own way. I don’t decorate.”

&n
bsp; “That’s sad.”

  His head snapped up.

  “I mean, it’s Christmas,” she said softly. “It’s the best time of the year.”

  “Not when you’re alone it’s not.”

  He immediately regretted saying anything. He didn’t usually share his feelings with anyone, so why her? Was it the gentle look in her eyes, or the fact that his discomfort with the holidays had been building for weeks?

  “It’s hard being alone at the holidays.” She picked up a slice of baguette and slathered it with butter. “I’m surprised you didn’t leave to go see your family.”

  “I don’t have much family left. The family I do have all resent the fact that my father left the ranch to me. They don’t talk to me anymore.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does.” He relaxed slightly. Even though he probably shouldn’t be sharing information about his personal life with an employee, she was so easy to talk to that he couldn’t resist. “What about you? Why aren’t you with your family?”

  “It’s kind of a long story. Pass your plate and I’ll load you up.”

  “I thought you’d have a boyfriend or two back in town.”

  “Nope. It’s hard to date when you’re working all the time.”

  “You have weekends off.” He took the loaded plate back and set it in front of him.

  “I guess I’m waiting for the right guy.”

  Their gazes locked and held for far too long. He quickly looked away. He shoved a piece of roast into his mouth. The meat melted against his tongue. He bit back a moan of culinary pleasure.

  “This is amazing. Where did you learn to cook?” he asked.

  “I grew up on a ranch. We didn’t have much money, so we needed to find ways to use every last bit of beef. Now I’m the queen of sauces.”

  “I’d lick this gravy off anything.”

  When she flushed, he grinned. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one hot and bothered tonight.

  “Anything,” he repeated, loving the way a fresh flush of color stained her cheeks.