Free Bear-ever Yours by Terry Bolryder Page A

way.”
    “But, I mean, I didn’t win this contest by chance. I don’t even remember entering. And didn’t you say your dad had something to do with it?”
    He scratched his chin. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure that out. The giveaway is cagey, and then of course, there’s the fact that all three of you ladies are bears, presumably from the same family, based on your scents.”
    She sat bolt upright, as much as was possible in the hammock, and he set a soothing hand on her shoulder but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her. “What?”
    “You didn’t see the resemblance?” he asked. “Only distant cousins maybe. My guess is my dad knew your family or something and pulled some strings.”
    “So, tricked us,” she said.
    He cocked his head and she traced the line of his firm, masculine jaw with her eyes. “Do you regret it?”
    “No,” she said. “Not exactly. It just threw me off guard. But I don’t know why he would trick me.”
    Guilt flashed in Sky’s blue eyes, making Leah uneasy. “I don’t either.”
    “Then why did you look guilty just now?”
    “I just, I want to be honest with you. I don’t want you to feel tricked.”
    She swallowed as a knot of fear formed in her stomach. She’d walked into this so easily, she didn’t know what she’d do if he gave her a reason to walk away. “Tell me then.”
    “Well,” he said, putting an arm around her again and pulling her against him. His body felt stupidly good and warm and made it hard to think, so it was a good move. But still, her senses were on red alert. “My dad has always been a romantic. And an obsessive matchmaker. It’s part of why we’ve all been focused on other things instead. In rebellion.” He stroked her hair. “Though if I’d known this was the result, I think I’d have searched sooner.”
    “But I mean, how would you have found me?”
    “Like my dad did, looking through bear bloodlines, making a good guess at a match based on people we’ve known. You have to understand, the bear world is very small. It’s hard for us to reproduce, and it’s hard to find mates with strong blood. Some bears have even mated with humans.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”
    “Well, it’s just that, the less pure the blood, the more unlikely the offspring can shift.”
    Her heart sank. “I don’t know if mine is pure enough.”
    “You can shift, can’t you?”
    “Oh, so I’m good then?” But then she had to wonder if that was the reason he wanted her.
    “That’s not the only reason I want you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said. “You’re my mate. You’re made for me, and me for you.”
    “How do you know?” she asked.
    He looked out at the ocean and then pointed above it. “How do you know that’s the sky? You just know. And so do I know you’re my mate.”
    That was oddly deep, but she found herself still a little caught off guard by the whole set-up. It seemed everyone knew more than she did.
    She heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see the captain of the yacht striding toward them. He wore a navy boating blazer and white pants and his blond hair was tied in a neat queue that nonetheless had several strands of bright blond streaming free. He walked over to them, noted them together, and hesitated.
    “What is it?” Sky asked, holding her tight and moving slightly in front of her. “What’s wrong?”
    “I need to talk to you,” he said, folding his impressive arms. Leah bit her lip nervously. “Family business.”
    Sky groaned. “Can it wait?”
    The other man narrowed his icy blue gaze. He was tall and just as intimidating as Sky. More so even, because there was a hard set to his features that said he was a man who’d been through something and come out the other side a little sharper. But he was gorgeous, much like his brother.
    She bit her lip. She should let him go to his brother, and maybe she could use some time alone too.
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