Free Edward (BBW Western Bear Shifter Romance) (Rodeo Bears Book 1) by Becca Fanning Page B

problem,” she said. Turning towards Talia, she gaped. “Where are you going?”  

    “I’m taking her out for some fun,” Alec said with a grin. He looped his arm around Talia and pulled her close. “She deserves another dinner out.”  

    --

    “I can’t believe this,” Talia gushed. “This place is incredible.” They were seated on the terrace of a Spanish restaurant, eating lobster paella. “And the food, oh my god, Alec.”  

    Alec grinned. “I had a feeling you’d like it,” he said. “So, how are you?”  
    Talia shrugged. “I’m fine,” she said. “It was nice to see you today.”  

    “Good,” Alec said. “Anything on your mind?” He raised an eyebrow and stared at her with his honey-brown eyes. Talia felt herself melt a little and she shifted around in her seat. Whenever Alec looked at her like that, she felt like they were the only two people alive in the world.  

    Talia shifted again, uncomfortably this time. She felt a sudden urge to tell Alec about the note from last night. “So remember I mentioned my ex?”  

    Alec nodded.  

    “Well, he’s kind of being more than just a jerk…” Talia trailed off, dragging her fork around in her bowl of paella. “I mean, he’s blackmailing me.”  
    Alec gaped. “What?” His voice was sharp, like a dagger. “What the hell, Talia? Why didn’t you tell me that yesterday?”  

    Talia looked away. “Because it’s not really your problem,” she said softly. She looked back into Alec’s honeyed eyes. “He’s blackmailing me for sex, and now he’s threatening to evict me within the month unless I sleep with him.”

Talia watched as a storm of emotions played across Alec’s face. He went from angry to infuriated, until his cheeks were bright red and his eyes were blazing gold fire. Before she could tell him to calm down, he leapt to his feet and rushed out of the restaurant.  

    “Oh my god, what the hell?” Talia said. She glanced around, noting that the other patrons were all staring at her. “What the fuck, Alec?” She got up from her chair and backed away, then broke out into a run and darted into the parking lot.  

    It was a relief to see Alec standing on the other side of his car. “Alec!” Talia called. “Come back? What is it?” Alec looked at her and Talia shivered: there was something different about him. He seemed to be moving around a lot and twitching, almost like he was being shocked. Before her eyes, he transformed into a giant, brown bear.  

    Talia’s mouth went dry and her heart stopped in her chest. “Oh my god,” Talia said again. She clapped a hand to her chest and tried to take a deep breath. “Oh my god,” she repeated. She felt a surge of terror and panic rip through her and she tried to step away, to walk backwards, anything to get away from the giant bear.  

    Alec made a sound, like a roar, and looked at Talia. In that moment she saw that his eyes, those beautiful golden brown eyes, were still the same. It was still Alec. It was her Alec, and he wouldn’t hurt her. Talia blinked. Her breath was coming hard and she felt faint, but the fear was beginning to leave her body.  

    Alec got on his hind legs and sniffed the air before loping off into the woods.  

    Chapter Four

    Talia found Alec’s car keys in a small pile of belongings in the parking lot, including his clothes. Gasping, she collected everything in her arms and unlocked his car, climbing behind the driver’s seat. As she adjusted the mirror, thoughts of panic were going through her head. Alec is a bear, Alec is a bear and something pissed him off, Alec is a bear… But try as she could to convince herself, she knew that nothing had really changed. Her feelings for Alec remained the same – improbable and sudden as ever. She still felt the same warmth in her chest, still felt fluttery when she thought of him and his kisses from the night before.  

    Talia drove Alec’s car back to her house. She had no idea what she