by Liv Brywood
“You are.”
“Are you sure about this? About staying together? I thought you didn’t want a relationship. I thought you swore off marriage.”
“I’ll admit I’m still afraid of what commitment might do to us,” he said. “But I’m willing to take the chance. I can’t let you walk away from me. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you want to stay.”
“We don’t have to get married right away,” she said. “We could wait.”
“We could… but if we love each other, why wait?”
“I bet it would make your father very happy to see us married before he dies.”
“He’d be so happy and so proud.” A rush of sadness choked his voice. He swiped a tear from his eye.
“You really love him, don’t you?” she asked softly.
“Yes.”
“But you were too afraid to show it?”
“He never made time for me. I guess I hated him for it,” he said.
“His priorities weren’t straight. Family should always come first.”
“And it will,” he said. “I swear to you I’ll never let anyone or anything come between us. If I do decide to take over as head of the bear clan after my father’s gone, I won’t let politics get in the way of our love for each other. I promise I’ll be devoted to you first, and the bear clan second.”
“I can’t believe you’re considering taking on the leadership role,” she said. “You were so against it.”
“The last few weeks have changed my mind. I’ve watched my father settle disputes between shifters. I’ve seen him plan important shifter gatherings and he never misses an important celebration. He’s dying and he’s still ready to help a shifter in need. I never realized how much he does for this clan. He lives to make their lives better, and he’s inspired me to do the same.”
“You should tell him,” she said. “Tell him how much you love him.”
“I will. But before we go, you never answered my question.”
“What question?”
He dropped down to one knee and clasped her hand in his.
“I don’t have a ring right now, but my mother’s ring is back at the house. I want to give it to you. I want it to be a symbol of our commitment to each other. A way of righting our fathers’ wrongs. We’re not like them. And our marriage doesn’t have to fail the way theirs did.”
She sniffed and wiped a tear from each eye.
“Sweetie,” he said. “I’ve loved you almost from the moment I met you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!”
She launched herself into his arms. He caught her and swung her around in a circle. As he set her down, he kissed her with all of the passion he’d held back his entire life. When he finally pulled away, breathless and filled with love, he knew his life would never be the same.
Ten
Six months later…
Arizona fluffed the pillows on the new floral sofa in the living room. She checked the vases filled with wildflowers and rearranged the magazines on the coffee table for the third time. Over the last six months, she’d managed to slowly incorporate feminine touches into each room, transforming the house from a stark, masculine abode to a home filled with warmth and love.
“Gerri called,” Garrett called as he strode into the mud room. “She’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”
“She’s early. I haven’t even dressed yet,” she said.
“You look great, honey.”
“I already feel fatter.”
“You’re the most beautiful mother-to-be I’ve ever seen.” He crossed the room and drew her into his arms. After giving her a searing kiss, he released her. “Jeans and a T-shirt are fine. She specifically said we shouldn’t get gussied up.”
“She’ll say that and then show up in a Chanel suit.”
“I swear, if you women spent less time thinking about what you were going to wear each day, you’d have more time to be in the kitchen making my lunch.”
She roared with laughter. He tried to keep a straight face but it didn’t last. The corners of his eyes crinkled as a smile spread across his face.
“I love you so much, honey,” he said.
“You’re lucky I have a sense of humor.”
“I’m a very lucky man.” He swooped down to kiss her again. “If you want to change, go ahead. I’ll make lunch.”
“Are you sure it won’t hurt your masculine sensibilities?” she joked, knowing full well he loved to cook for her.
“I’ll survive,” he said in a dramatic tone.
“Okay.”
She hurried into their bedroom and tore through the closet. So far everything still fit, but in a few more months, she’d have to get maternity clothes. She smiled at the prospect. She’d never imagined how amazing married life could be. She hadn’t seen Gerri since the wedding and couldn’t wait to thank her again for matching her up with Garrett.
As she slipped into a sunny yellow wrap dress, the doorbell rang. She hurried into the bathroom and swiped on blush and lip gloss. Gerri wouldn’t care what she looked like, but Arizona didn’t want to look like a hot mess.
Laughter echoed down the hall. She stood for a moment and listened to her husband’s voice. The low, growly sound sent shivers of desire down her spine. They’d made love every day since the wedding, sometimes two or three times. She couldn’t get enough of him. Even now she half-wished they were alone so she could drag him to bed.
When she entered the kitchen, Gerri’s face lit up.
“Are you pregnant already?” she exclaimed.
Arizona blushed.
“Oh, sweetie! I’m so happy for you.” Gerri gave her a huge hug and a kiss before settling back into a chair at the kitchen table. “I’m not going to lie, you two had me worried at first, but everything worked out in the end.”
“Did you know we’d end up together?” Arizona asked, genuinely curious.
“I was fairly sure, but sometimes shifters can be stubborn.”
“Garrett, stubborn? Never,” Arizona said with a chuckle.
“Hey now, I was being cautious. You had the Mafia after you,” he said.
“Not the whole Mafia, just one man.”
“Has anyone come looking for him?” Gerri asked.
“No,” he said. “The other shifters buried him later the same day. We haven’t had anyone nosing around. No sign of trouble.”
“I’m glad,” Gerri said. “I always suspected he was alone in his obsession.”
“I’m sure he was,” he said. “But if anyone ever tries to hurt my family again, they’ll end up over a cliff too.”
“You didn’t even push him,” Arizona said. “He fell.”
“I would have pushed him. I would have torn him apart to protect you,” he said.
“I know.”
After a heavy pause, Gerri sniffed the air.
“Do I smell cake?”
“Yes.” Arizona laughed. “I should know better than to try to keep a surprise from a shifter.”
“I can smell cake a mile away,” Gerri said.
“It’s lemon with chocolate frosting.”
“Sounds divine.”
“We’re having roasted turkey, sage stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole,” Arizona said.
“Sounds like Thanksgiving,” Gerri said.
“We have a lot to be thankful for.” She put an arm around her husband. “I don’t even know how to thank you for bringing us together.”
“It’s what I do. Matchmaking is my life and I’m always happy when it works out.”
“Have you ever miss-matched anyone?” he asked.
“Every once in a while a shifter will try to deny his true feelings, but I set him straight.”
“I know what that’s like,” he said. “If I hadn’t met Arizona, I never would have forgiven my father for the way he treated me and my mom. Until I took over as leader of the bear clan, I never understood the pressure he was under to make sure everything went right.”
&
nbsp; “You’re doing a fine job,” Gerri said. “I never told you this, but right before your father passed away he called me.”
His arm tightened around Arizona’s waist.
“Your father told me you’d made peace with the past. He hadn’t been willing to leave this world until you’d forgiven him,” Gerri said.
“He passed away the day after I forgave him,” he said softly.
“He loved you,” Gerri said.
“I know that now. I’ll be forever grateful to you both. If you hadn’t come into my life during that time, he and I would have ended up with unfinished business. Now he can rest in peace.”
Arizona wrapped him in a hug. He pressed his face into her shoulder.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
“Me too.”
A timer sounded on the stove.
“There goes the turkey,” Arizona said.
“I can’t wait. I’m starving,” Gerri said.
The doorbell rang.
“My sister said she might come over,” Garrett said as he went to answer the door.
“I could smell the turkey halfway down the forest trail. I couldn’t run here fast enough,” Connie said as she strolled into the house. She joined them in the kitchen.
“This is my sister Connie,” he said. “This is Gerri, the matchmaker I told you about.”
“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Connie said.
“The pleasure’s all mine,” Gerri said. “Garrett tells me you’re newly single?”
“Did he?” Connie arched a brow and turned to glare at her brother.
“I was just trying to help,” he said sheepishly.
“I can find my own dates,” she snapped before turning back to Gerri. “He thinks I’m incapable of finding a mate. Sure, I’ve dated a few total losers…”
“A few?” Garrett coughed.
“It’s hard to find good men these days,” she huffed.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from your brother,” Gerri said. “If you’re interested in a good match—”
“Oh, no.” Connie held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I do not need someone to help me find a mate.”
“Okay,” Gerri said. “But if you ever change your mind, here’s my card.”
Connie stuffed the card into her back pocket. She pulled a seat out and sat across from Gerri. Arizona helped Garrett bring food to the table. After everything was set, she took a seat next to him. Her heart swelled with happiness. She’d never imagined she’d be a part of a wonderful family, especially not a shifter family. But she was exactly where she was meant to be. She placed a hand over her belly and smiled. Life couldn’t be any better.
*~*~*~*
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Liv Brywood writes paranormal romance. Her scorching hot cowboy bear shifters love curvy women and aren’t afraid to show it. They’re loyal, brave, honorable, and above all — sexy. Liv’s stories are filled with passion, hope, and everlasting love.
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