Bear Seeking Bride: Drew: (BBW Mail Order Bride Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Bear Canyon Brides Book 5) Read online

  “I don’t hate you, in fact, I—”

  “You know what, forget it,” she said, when he reached the front of her building. “Thank you for the ride.”

  “Wait. I’ll walk you up,” he said, unfastening his seatbelt.

  “No, thanks,” she said, and ejected herself from the vehicle.

  He watched as she ran up the stairs and disappeared behind a stucco wall.

  He parked his car, took several deep breaths and went after her. He took the stairs two at a time, and pounded on her door louder than he’d intended.

  She peeked out the curtain of the tiny window next to the door, and then disappeared for several minutes. He was about to knock again when she pulled open the door as far as the chain would allow. Rage swamped him at the false security the flimsy locks gave to people, especially women, and the fact that she’d used it against him.

  “You know I can break through that chain in about two seconds,” he snapped.

  “Yes, but you won’t,” she replied calmly. “What do you want, Drew?”

  When he heard the sniff she tried to hide, his rage dissolved. He hadn’t come to fight with her, and he suddenly realized why she’d run from the car.

  “I want to take you out on a date. Tomorrow night,” he said.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her with his raised hand.

  “I know this is probably confusing and weird, but I don’t hate you,” he said. “In fact, I like you. A lot. Maybe too much.”

  “You don’t act like you like me,” she said, unconvinced of his sudden change of heart.

  “I know, but if you agree to have dinner with me, I’ll explain everything.”

  She stared at him for a long time, and then she finally smiled. She closed the door slightly, undid the chain, and pulled the wood open wider.

  “You like me?” she asked.

  “Yes, very much,” he responded.

  “Okay,” she said, beaming. “I’ll go out with you.”

  “Great. I’ll pick you up for dinner at six. Is that okay?”

  “That sounds perfect,” she said.

  “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lily.”

  “See you tomorrow,” she replied.

  She closed her door and he waited until he heard the chain reconnect and the deadbolt click, and then he walked back to his car with a smile on his face.

  All he had to do now was talk to Luke.

  He hoped the man had had a change of heart since their last discussion over his sister.

  Chapter Two

  Drew gave the newlyweds until ten o’clock before he impatiently dialed Luke’s cell phone.

  “Hello?” Caroline answered.

  “Hey Caroline, it’s Drew. Is Luke around?”

  “He’s in the shower,” she said. “Want me to have him call you back?”

  “Yeah, that would be great.”

  He hung up the phone and slid it into the back pocket of his jeans. If he didn’t do something, he’d sit on the couch and stare at the device until it rang. Instead, he threw a load of laundry into the machine, unloaded the dishwasher, and then sat down at his desk to reread the few newspaper pages he’d saved.

  One contained the ad Travis had placed to find his wife, and another contained the ad that had brought Olive to Trent. He’d saved a couple other pages for inspiration.

  Ever since he’d learned about the way the Mallory brothers had met their wives, he’d known how he would propose to Lily. Now that the night of their first date loomed, he’d made a list of all the things he loved about her.

  They may not have had a lot of quality, alone-time together, but he’d been watching her for years. She was everything he wanted in a wife, and he knew if they decided to have children, she’d make a wonderful mother.

  He jotted down a few more notes, and jumped when his phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Caroline said you called,” Luke said. “What’s up?”

  “Sorry to interrupt you guys, but I need to talk to you,” Drew explained. “Are you working today?”

  “It’s not a problem, and no, I’m not. Is everything okay?”

  “I hope it will be,” Drew said cryptically. “Can you meet me for lunch at around twelve-thirty?”

  “Sure, I can make it,” Luke said.

  “Great. I’ll see you then.”

  Drew ended the call and took a deep breath. They didn’t have to discuss the place, because if they weren’t eating at the sandwich shop, then they were eating at Bazooka Burger. The place sold bear sized burgers made in a variety of strange, messy combinations, and it was their favorite hangout.

  He finished the last sentence on his notepad and grabbed his wallet and keys. Before he met Luke he needed to wash his car, get a haircut, and pick up some flowers and chocolate for Lily.

  Two hours later, he stood in the small waiting area of the burger place and watched the window for the approach of his friend. His hands curled into fists at the thought of Luke’s disapproval, but he forced himself to relax. In this case, he’d take the girl over his friend any day.

  Luke arrived five minutes late, and the hostess walked them to the semi-private corner table he’d requested.

  “This is different,” Luke said. “I don’t think I’ve ever sat on this side of the room before.”

  “Yeah, it’s weird, but I asked them to put us here,” Drew admitted.

  “Why?”

  “Because I need to talk to you about something personal,” Drew said.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, per se, but it is important. Let’s order, and then I’ll fill you in.”

  “Okay…sure,” Luke said, studying his menu.

  Drew hated the uncertainty in his friend’s voice, but once he started, he didn’t want to be interrupted. Things could go two ways, and if Luke got angry, Drew wanted to accept his anger, not have it forced on the unsuspecting server.

  They ordered their food, and as soon as the waitress was out of earshot, Drew started talking.

  “I have to tell you something,” he said. “Something that might make you very unhappy.”

  “Okay,” Luke said. “You’re making me really nervous, so you need to get on with it. Just rip that Band-Aid right off and let’s see how we’re doing.”

  “I’m in love with Lily.”

  Luke stared at him, his face expressionless, for what seemed like hours. In reality, only a few seconds had passed before his friend responded.

  “Well, duh. Have you got the balls to do anything about it yet?”

  It was Drew’s turn to stare.

  “I don’t understand. You knew?”

  “Of course I knew,” Luke said, matter-of-factly. “She’s my sister and you’re my best friend. I’d have to be blind or a complete idiot not to realize it. The question remaining is what are you going to do about it?”

  “I…huh?” Drew couldn’t get past Luke’s easy-going demeanor. Is this what happened when a man finally mated his true love? Or was the man seriously wondering when he’d claim Lily.

  “What are your plans? I assume you want to get married, but when? And when are you going to tell her? Or does she already know? She hasn’t told me anything, but she might be giving Caroline and I some alone time before she announces the big news.”

  “Wait…,” Drew said. “You’re not mad?”

  “Mad? Why the hell would I be mad?”

  “Because you told me to stay away from her!”

  “What?” Luke gasped. “No I didn’t.”

  “Yes, you did. When we first met, you told me to stay away from your sister,” Drew said, impatiently. This was not how he’d expected this conversation to go.

  “When we first met, I didn’t know you, and my sister was moving into her own place, in a new town mind you, for the first time in her life,” Luke scolded gently. “A lot has changed since then.”

  “I don’t fucking believe this,” Drew growled. “Four years. I’v
e stayed away from her for four years, and for what? To honor a request by my best friend that didn’t even exist.”

  “Why didn’t you just talk to me about it?” Luke asked.

  “Fuck, I don’t know,” Drew said, exasperated. “I honestly thought you didn’t want me going out with her. God damn! I can’t believe this. I have literally been in hell since I met you, and it was all for nothing.”

  “I really wish you had talked to me,” Luke sympathized. “I was going to talk to you, but every time I offer, Lily begs me not to. I think she thinks she’s not good enough for you.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Drew spat. “Why would she think that?”

  They quieted as the waitress placed their food on the table, and then hurried away. He felt grateful for her keen sense to leave them alone, and made a mental note to pad her gratuity.

  “I have no idea, but I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Luke said, taking a bite of his burger. “So, what changed? If I really had told you to stay away, you must have known that coming clean might end our friendship. What happened to make her more important than me?”

  “She’s always been more important,” Drew sighed, “but, yesterday I had a good glimpse of how miserable we both were and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’ve been walking around with a hard on for four years, and she honestly thought I hated her. I refuse to live like that another day.”

  “Dude, you can’t put hard on and my sister in the same sentence,” Luke frowned.

  “Better get used to it, brother,” Drew teased, “because I asked her out for dinner tonight and she said yes.”

  “See, you say dinner, but all I can think about is you having sex with my sister,” he shuddered. “Definitely not cool man.”

  “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on having sex with her tonight,” Drew reassured him. “I plan on telling her how I feel, and why I’ve stayed away so long, and then wooing her with flowers, chocolate and many dates. We need to spend time alone, without you, before I ask her to marry me.”

  “You’re going to propose? Really?”

  “Really,” Drew said, all joking aside. “She’s my mate, and I love her, Luke. I always have.”

  “Good. I’d be happy to have you as a permanent member of my family. How are you going to do it?”

  “I thought I’d write her an ad, like the ones the Mallorys put in the paper, Bear Seeking Bride. I’m going to list all the things I love about her and put it in a card, just because. Do you think she’ll like it?”

  “I think she’ll love it,” Luke said honestly. “Great idea.”

  The rest of their lunch passed quickly as they ate and talked about normal guy things. When they were finished, Luke hurried back to Caroline, and Drew went home to find something to do until it was time to get ready for his date.

  He couldn’t wait to see Lily again, and finally reveal the truth about his feelings.

  ***

  Lily glanced at the clock again, and finished applying lotion to her legs.

  She’d spent the last thirty minutes showering and removing hair from all the important parts of her body, and the clock betrayed her minute by minute. The hands had moved at a snail’s pace all day, but the moment she’d arrived home from work, they had seemed to switch to double time. Drew was due to arrive in less than thirty minutes and she still hadn’t decided on which top to wear.

  She brushed her hair and teeth, grateful for her easy wash-and-wear style, and slid a flowery pink, cap sleeved, top over her head. The material was light and airy, and the empress cut enhanced her large breasts.

  She stood in front of the mirror and studied her reflection.

  The pink top complimented the short, dark denim skirt she wore, and the brown sandals completed the ensemble. She’d painted her toenails red, and just in case things progressed beyond dinner, she had on a matching pink lace bra and panty set.

  Her clothing decision made, she added a swipe of pink, glittery lip gloss, hoping it would make her lips look more kissable, and headed toward the foyer where she kept her purse.

  Drew rang the doorbell five minutes early.

  She took a deep breath and opened the door. He stood on the other side holding a dozen red roses and a box of chocolate wrapped in red paper with pink hearts. She recognized the familiar logo on the paper, and she smiled. Though it wasn’t the most expensive brand, it was the best tasting, and her favorite.

  “These are for you,” he said, handing her the flowers.

  “Oh, Drew, these are beautiful,” she said, smelling the open buds. “Come in and let me put these in water before we go.”

  He stepped into her small apartment and closed the door behind him. She wondered what he saw when he looked around the tiny place, but she didn’t ask. Though the space wasn’t big enough for two, it was perfect for her until she got married, or bought a larger house on her own.

  “Cute apartment,” he said, joining her in the kitchen. “It reminds me of the furnished studio I had in college, sans the owner’s awful seventies furniture.”

  The both laughed and she set the roses on the tiny table next to the window, and then stood beside him. He still held the box in his hands, but she was focused on the way his clothes clung to his body. He wore a dark green polo shirt, khaki slacks, and his brown causal lace-up shoes matched his belt. The outfit wouldn’t be considered sexy on most men, but on him it was.

  Strength and power radiated off him in waves, and he mesmerized her. She’d always understood, without asking, why he’d chosen to protect others, but the man in her kitchen wasn’t a public servant. For tonight, he was hers alone.

  “You have much better taste than the woman I rented from. I swear it was the ugliest stuff I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  “I bet,” she said, smiling up at him.

  “These are also for you,” he said, handing her the box.

  “I’m impressed,” she said, taking off the paper. “These are my favorites.”

  “I know,” he said, watching her.

  She looked at the side of the box and her smile grew when she didn’t find a label. It meant he’d gone through the trouble of hand picking the contents and she couldn’t wait to see what was inside.

  When she lifted the lid and saw rows and rows of chocolate covered caramels, she stared into the box until the candy became blurry.

  “Hey, what’s the matter?” he asked, raising her chin up with his finger. “I thought they were your favorites.”

  “They are,” she cleared her throat, and blinked the tears away. “They are. It’s just that, besides Luke and my dad, you’re the only one who’s ever noticed.”

  “I’ve noticed a lot about you over the years,” he said, cupping her face with the palm of his hand. She instinctively closed her eyes and leaned into his warmth, and he brought his other hand up to frame her other cheek.

  She looked into his eyes as he slowly lowered his lips to hers.

  The space between them had been reduced to the width of the box of chocolate, but he was still too far away. She wanted to touch him the way she’d always dreamed of, but the candy kept her hands manacled between them.

  He brushed his lips across hers gently, and then repeated the soft touch two more times. A tiny electrical current seemed to spread over her entire body until every nerve ending hummed with the desire to be touched by him. Her pussy tingled and she pressed her thighs together in an effort to stop the slow pulses between her legs.

  She wanted him like she’d never wanted any other man, and he’d only given her three chaste kisses. Some of her ardor died when she realized the touch of his lips probably meant more to her than it did to him. For all she knew, he kissed his mother with the same soft, feather light touch.

  Lily managed to place the lid on the box of candy moments before Drew grabbed the box and slid it across the counter. It stopped with one inch of the cardboard hanging over the other side of the island, and she playfully chastised him.

  “Hey, those are my choco
lates.”

  “If they fall, I’ll buy you some more,” he said.

  He slid one hand around to the nape of her neck, and one around her waist and pulled her close. Her soft body slammed into his hard one and her panties dampened with need. His mouth descended on hers again, and after one soft kiss he forced his tongue between her lips.

  Definitely not the way he kisses his mother.

  The tiny electrical current turned into a lightning bolt, and it raced straight to her core. Liquid heat soaked her panties, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was playful, possessive and aggressive, and she loved every minute of it.

  Suddenly, he pulled away and walked to the other side of the island to save her chocolate. His movements were smooth and controlled, and he seemed unaffected by their kiss. In fact, he seemed to purposefully put distance between them.

  Her heart sank as she tried to control her ragged breathing before he turned back toward her. Her knees felt as if they would buckle at any moment, and she was grateful he’d saved the candy. She’d want it later after he explained how they weren’t physically compatible and let her down easy.

  “I’m sorry, Lily,” he said, fiddling with a tiny piece of paper still stuck to the corner of the box. He wouldn’t meet her gaze, but she didn’t mind. She didn’t want to see the apology in his sexy, light brown eyes.

  “It’s okay,” she responded. “It happens. I guess we’d better call it a night.”

  She turned and walked back toward the foyer, blinking rapidly to stave off the tears. For a girl who never cried, she’d been an emotional wreck the past couple of days. She couldn’t wait until the phase was over, and she could get on with her life. If Drew saw her tear up again, he’d likely insist on dinner and she couldn’t sit through a meal with him knowing he was nothing more to her than her brother’s best friend.

  She opened the door and waited for him to throw an apology her way on his way out. Instead he pulled the door out of her hand and swung it closed.

  “Okay, I’m confused,” he said, standing in front of her. “What just happened?”

  She took a chance and met his gaze. The confused look on his face had her second guessing herself. Had she misread the situation and judged him too quickly?