Free Bear Essentials by Mary Wine Page B

The
woman’s face was completely hidden as she brought it into Roslyn’s work studio.
She put it down and beamed at the large display. All white, there were mums,
carnations and baby’s breath.
    “I think maybe you should marry this one. He has taste.”
Marta winked at her as she went back to the warehouse. Roslyn stuck her nose
next to the flowers and inhaled.
    There was nothing like fresh flowers! A little card stuck up
in the center. Breaking the seal, she looked at the message.
    I’ll go grocery shopping, if you’ll cook.
    The invitation lifted her heart as she went back to work.
Five hours later, she had two men bring a table into the office. Flowers
arrived every hour, on the hour. Each arrangement was a different color and
every card said exactly the same thing. A ridiculous smile sat on her face as
she looked at the seventh delivery as it came through the door.
    “You better marry this one for sure. He’s crazy about you.”
    “Maybe he’s just crazy.” The bill from the florist must be
unspeakable.
    “But he is a man, trust me, they never make any sense.” Marta
laughed as she went back to work. Roslyn shook her head. Maybe she was the
insane one. There wasn’t a single bit of regret in her. Instead, all she seemed
to think about was the way Granger had danced around in the bear suit. The way
he growled when he didn’t like her denying him. Heat flooded her face every
time she thought about his promise to eat her out.
    Her eyes flew to the clock on her desk as she suddenly
dropped her pencil. It was six thirty! Granger would arrive at seven, she was
certain.
    Why are you certain?
    It was the logical thing to think. But the tableful of
flowers defied rational thought. The colorful blossoms were the thing of
fairytales and happy endings.
    Actually, she was more sure than she had ever been. It was a
feeling in her gut and in her heart. Questioning it felt wrong. Foolish? Maybe
but only fools fell in love.
    She flew down the hallway and into her apartment at the back
of the warehouse.
    Roslyn let a naughty grin cover her face as she pulled open
the top drawer of her dresser. She looked at the three sets of lingerie and
chose the green set tonight. This set had a split crotch, and for the first
time, she just might put it to use! Excitement rippled through her as she
dressed. There was no matching the feeling that surged through her. It was
hope. Something every girl dreamed of when she got flowers from a man.
    * * * * *
    He brought her more flowers. Roslyn laughed as she took
another bouquet into her arms.
    “Enough flowers! The florist is going to think you are
hitting on her.”
    Granger tossed his head back and laughed. His eyes sparkled
when he opened them again. “Not a chance, she thinks I’m hooked and taken.”
    “Thank you, but you didn’t have to send them.”
    Granger stepped forward and caught her chin with one hand.
All traces of amusement were gone as he looked into her eyes.
    “We skipped a few steps of courting yesterday. I wanted to
make up for them, because I don’t want to wait and I’m not going to slow down.”
His eyes were serious as they held hers. “You didn’t say no this morning.”
    He liked it too. She saw it reflected in his eyes as he held
her chin steady.
    “So I decided to bombard you with flowers.” He released her
jaw and shrugged. “Only because I couldn’t tell the world to piss off while I
dragged you back to bed in order to cloud your judgment with sexual pleasure
designed to bind you to me.”
    “I’m impressed.” She laughed at the scowl on his face. His
finely tailored suit made her snicker again as she noticed how out of place it
was in her warehouse.
    “You’d better be.” He glared at her amusement before picking
up the head of the Wish Bear suit. He tossed it between his hands a few time
before grinning past a fuzzy ear at her.
    “When’s the next appearance?”
    The look of anticipation on his face sobered her. Tears
stung her eyes as she