Free ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection) by C.J. Ayers Page A

of mixed flowers, all in bright colors. She smiled and buried her nose into them, and promptly sneezed. Ryder’s laugh had her rolling her eyes at her own silliness, but she welcomed him in.
    “Smells wonderful, Amber. Where’d you learn to cook?”
    Pretending offense, Amber scowled, “Are you saying I didn’t know how to cook before? Are you saying I was a bad cook?”
    “You were nineteen when you left. You’d fixed me maybe a dozen meals. Everyone of them barely edible. Since you’re still alive, I figure you have to have learned a thing or two, and since nothing smells burnt at the moment, I rest my case.” Ryder swiped Amber into his arms and pulled her into his embrace. He leaned down and, when they were nose-to-nose, whispered, “I’ve thought of you all day. I’ve missed you all day.” Gently, he kissed her lips and pulled back.
    Dazed even by the gentleness of the kiss, Amber stood for a second after he let go and then shook out of her trance. She walked back to the kitchen wall and got out a container for the flowers. She checked the clock and the instructions Iris had left for her. The salad she had premade. The potatoes had also been easy to cut and bake along with the roast beef. The green beans were now in a large skillet on top of the stove. Iris had told her to start them after the roast showed as cooked and she and Ryder started to eat the salad. Amber opened the oven and placed the meat thermometer just like Iris had showed her (and how she had practiced several times while the roast was cooking); it showed 145 degrees exactly! With a large grin, Amber got the potholders and pulled out the roast. She moved the potatoes to the top rack of the oven for their last few minutes, and turned on the green beans. She turned to face Ryder.
    “Shall we have salad?” she asked in her most casual voice.
    Ryder was impressed. He knew how difficult it was to get everything done at the same time. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s.” He walked over to the table and held out Amber’s seat.
    Amber made a big production of scooping salad onto Ryder’s bowl. She poured them each a glass of wine, and then settled into her seat.
    Ryder was staring at her.
    “What?” She asked, suddenly panicked that she had spilled on her shirt, or a button was undone.
    “You’re beautiful.”
    Amber shot him a skeptical look. “Quit that.”
    “I can’t quit the truth. You are beautiful.”
    “I’m pudgy. At least three sizes too big for beautiful.” She stabbed at the lettuce and peppers on her plate.
    “You need to quit listening to magazines and movie stars. Listen to the man in front of you. You, Amber Cherie Flynn, are beautiful. I’m looking at you; I know.”
    Amber froze. Her fork was in mid-stab. She turned her head slowly to look directly at Ryder. Sure enough, he hadn’t touched his food. He was just looking at her. She swallowed nervously and set down her fork.
    “Look, Ryder. I just don’t know about this,” she began.
    “Amber, don’t. Don’t make excuses. Why can’t you accept that to me you are perfection? I love your hair, your eyes, your body, your smile, your laugh, and that little crease you get right there between your eyebrows when you’re perplexed.”
    Immediately, Amber’s hand flew to her forehead to rub that crease away. Ryder laughed.
    “And I love your reactions to me. I hate that you left so unexpectedly eight years ago. I hate that I didn’t know where you were. I hate that we lost time together.” Tears welled up in Amber’s eyes. “But I love you. I’ve always loved you. I won’t let you go again. If you leave, I’ll follow. If you go somewhere, I’ll go with you. But what I want is for you to stay. Stay with me. Let me love you.” Ryder reached out and wiped her spilling tears from her cheeks. He tilted her face up and brought his down to meet hers. Sweetly, softly he kissed her. They could both taste the salt of her tears on her lips. Suddenly, he stopped.
    “What’s