Rancher Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Romance (Bear Haven Book 2) (3 page)

“Did not!” Bonnie piped up, sitting up in his arms. “I was trying to remount her and the thunder made her run. I fell on my ankle.”

Jesse set her gingerly down to test it, and when she winced, he scooped her easily up again. “I’m taking her inside to deal with the injury.”

“I can do it,” Ruby said, coming forward.

Shane put a hand up. “Jesse’s got it. He has some first aid training. Why don’t you let him take a look and you and I can wait downstairs and see if there’s anything they need us to go to town for.”

Bonnie nodded. “I know you can’t stand the sight of injuries, Ruby. I don’t want you fainting on me.”

Ruby let out a sigh. “I wish I was all medical like you, Bon. Do you want me to come with you, though?”

“No, let Jesse get me settled and my foot wrapped, and then he’ll call you up.”

Ruby nodded and stepped aside so Jesse could walk with his small burden to the front door.

He hadn’t known Ruby was so sensitive to blood or bruises, but he guessed it made sense. Shane wouldn’t step between his mate and her friends over nothing.

“I’m sorry you have to keep carrying me,” Bonnie said.

“It’s becoming kind of a habit, isn’t it?” he teased gently as he carried her up the stairs to the second floor of the lodge. He walked down the hall to her bedroom, knocked even though no one was in there, and then pushed open the door with his foot.

He set her on the bed inside.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking up apologetically. Her red hair was waving slightly now that it was damp, and her bright-green eyes were glowing, either from pain or stress. Or maybe something else, but he didn’t dare hope for that.

Instead, he made sure she was situated and walked to the first aid closet and grabbed gauze and tape.

He sat on the bed next to her, pulled up her jeans, and pulled off her sock, ignoring her quiet gasp at his touch, and ran his finger over the grazed skin of her ankle. It would definitely bruise, but it looked to be already healing.

“It’s going to be fine,” he said. “I’m just going to tape it for support in the meantime.”

“Okay,” she said, leaning back to get comfortable while he did it.

Damn, she had a beautiful body. Jesse had to work hard to keep his focus on her delicate little foot as he worked.

He decided to ask her questions to keep his mind focused on anything but the sweet, floral scent in the room that was all her. “Why did you say sorry when I set you down?” he asked.

“Oh, that,” she said. “Because I’m heavy.”

His eyebrows shot up and he couldn’t resist looking at her. She had to be joking. “You? You’re tiny.”

She gaped at him. “I’m not tiny!” She shoved at his shoulder playfully. “You’re the only man who would say that, and that’s because you’re an absolute beast.”

“I am if you want me to be,” he said, giving her a grin that was so infrequent it almost seemed it was stretching his face. But it also felt good, natural, and when she took in the warmth of his smile, her whole face seemed to slacken in shock.

Then she contained herself and fidgeted with her hands in her lap as he finished the wrap and used tape to secure it.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll be fine now if you want to send Ruby up.”

He frowned. He didn’t want to send Ruby up. He wanted to take care of her himself. But she wasn’t his. Not yet.

Too bad looking at her, her gorgeous red hair in soaked disarray, her skin still dewy from rain, and her eyes glistening like the most beautiful foliage on a sunny day, he suddenly felt his stalwart patience abandon him.

He wanted her.

Now.

Here.

He turned away and faced the door, steeling his resolve to leave. He had to be careful. He had to—

He was cut off as he felt her soft hand turning his face as her lips caught his for a gentle kiss. It was soft, delicate, just like the touch of rain on summer grass. He breathed into it and took her mouth deeper, and she sighed slightly against him before pulling back.

Tension hung in the air between them, electric and crackling, like the feeling just before lightning strikes.

He stood abruptly. “Thank you,” he said stiffly.

She giggled. Actually giggled. A magical sound that made him instantly hard and even more tense than he already felt. He had to get out of here, now.

“No, that was to thank
you
, silly,” she said. “For coming to rescue me.”

“Of course,” he said. “I wouldn’t have done anything different.”

She nodded. “Get Ruby.”

He stared at her.

“Please.”

He gritted his teeth. Why did his body seem so insistent on staying? But with a little more effort, he got himself moving, walking toward the door.

When he stopped just before exiting, he turned back for one more look at her, curvy and beautiful and needing someone to help her change out of her wet clothes.

That had to be Ruby. It couldn’t be him. If he did it, he’d help himself to his sweet mate’s curves and ruin everything by going too fast.

No, if she was going to realize Seth wasn’t the man for her and Jesse was, then she had to do it on her own. And not feel like Jesse had pushed her.

So with a silent nod to the woman he was already coming to love more than his own life, he left.

B
onnie was
quiet as her friend helped her change and get dried off. She was still overwhelmed from her time alone in the rain and her realizations about Seth and what that meant for the future.

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Ruby said, gently pulling warm sweats over Bonnie’s now dry legs. “And that Jesse was able to find you.”

“Me too,” Bonnie said.

Ruby pulled back and studied her friend. Her cornflower-blue eyes were so obviously concerned that Bonnie fidgeted, not knowing what to say.

“You seem sad,” Ruby said. “And that’s not like you. I’ve seen you deal with the worst family in the world for years and not look this sad. What’s getting to you?”

Bonnie sighed and adjusted her pillow so she could rest against the headboard. She looked up at the ceiling and fought back the tears that threatened to come again. “What am I doing with my life, Ruby?” she croaked out against a tight throat. “I’m waiting here on a ranch for a man that’ll never come. That never cared enough. When I was out there in the rain alone, I realized it. Seth and I have broken up before, but I’ve never left him. I guess a part of me thought he’d break everyone’s expectations and come running after me.”

Ruby nodded somberly, not a trace of judgment on her pale, beautiful face.

“But he won’t. He’ll wait for me to come crawling back. Because we were meant for each other. Because our families wanted it. Because he’s all I’ve ever had.” She swiped at her eyes angrily. “You know, he can be a good friend at times. He’s just… such a terrible lover.”

Ruby nodded again, tucking blond hair behind her ear. Bonnie had always envied Ruby’s pale hair, compared to her own carrot-y red. Seth had called it
blinding
. But with Jesse, Bonnie felt beautiful. With Jesse, she felt all the things she’d long given up on feeling.

“Do you know we haven’t even made love?” Bonnie asked, looking timidly up at her friend through lowered lashes. “I’ve tried to initiate a few times, but—”

“Bonnie, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to say,” Ruby said hesitantly, but Bonnie held up a hand.

“And I’m sick of it. I’m sick of being a grown woman who can’t enjoy everything life has to offer.” She twisted her hands in her lap and looked out the small, rain-soaked window to her left. She could see the ranch and the mountains in the distance. “Maybe I’m done with Seth.”

Rain pattered against the glass, puncturing the silence as Ruby considered her words. “I wouldn’t blame you.”

Bonnie’s head snapped up. “But then again, my family—”

“For goodness sakes, Bon, stop living for your family. They won’t give a rat’s ass if you’re unhappy, so live the way you want,” Ruby spat. “Ever since I’ve known you, I’ve seen you cow to them. But now that you’re coming to see how unhappy you are, I can’t just keep my mouth shut. Leave his ass.”

“I did,” Bonnie said softly. Truthfully, she still felt like a bad person, like she was breaking all the rules. And she was.

But things were more complicated than Ruby or anyone else, even Jesse, realized. For shifters of her species, going outside the breed was unthinkable. And there were very few of her kind left to procreate with.

And she was supposed to keep the line going, not step out of line with a hot bear shifter when there was every possibility they would never reproduce.

Even if something inside her said he belonged to her and things would be okay. But she had to think about more than herself and her wants. At least for now.

But truthfully, if Seth came for her, she’d have to go with him. It was just how things were. It had been promised a long time ago. But she wouldn’t run back to him.

“I’ve seen the way you look at Jesse,” Ruby said softly, a small smile playing at the corners of her red lips. “Maybe you could explore something there. Since you’re here anyway.”

Bonnie grinned, feeling guilty at how happy the thought of that made her. “I don’t know.”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” Ruby continued, looking hopeful that Bonnie wouldn’t bolt or stop listening.

Bonnie knew she’d frustrated her friends by being stubborn over the years, by not listening to them about what they wanted to say about Seth.

“I know,” Bonnie said. “How do I know he doesn’t just want to save the land?” Ruby looked at her guiltily, and Bonnie nodded. “Yes, I know about that. And I appreciate that you haven’t tried to pull me and Harmony into it.”

Ruby shrugged. “Not that I’d mind if my friends came out to Montana to live on the most beautiful piece of land on earth with me. But I just want you to be happy.”

Bonnie nodded. “I know.” The rain was starting to lighten up, and she could see rays of sunlight starting to penetrate the cloudy darkness. “Being happy is complicated sometimes.”

“Or sometimes it’s as simple as taking what’s right in front of you. Just under your nose.”

Bonnie laughed. “You just want me to fall in love with him after rescuing me, like you did with Shane.”

“It’s a little bit hot, right?” she asked. “Being rescued by a big, beautiful Montana cowboy.”

Bonnie grinned. “A little bit, yeah.” She flopped on the bed, feeling heat rush to her face. “Fine, a lot, if I take Seth out of the picture.”

“Then take him out,” Ruby said. “He’s gone.”

“It’s not that simple,” Bonnie said. “There are rules—”

“What do you mean?” Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow. “Rules?”

Bonnie’s lips tightened. “Nothing.” How could she explain to her friend that matches were set up from birth for her species? A species that even most shifters weren’t aware of.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Seth. I’ve never understood it. Never pretended to. But I do think you’d regret not taking a chance to explore things between you and Jesse.”

“Probably,” Bonnie agreed.

“And sex!” Ruby exclaimed, putting a hand on her chest. “Girl, you don’t know what you’re missing. It can be so hot, so amazing.”

Bonnie let her mind flood with the inappropriate thoughts she’d been having of Jesse. Jesse naked, Jesse arching, throwing his head back, eyes alight with pleasure. Jesse over her…

Damn, she could scent her own arousal. She was lucky Ruby wasn’t a shifter.

“Maybe…” Bonnie trailed off, thinking about it.

Ruby grinned. “Maybe you should let yourself live a little. Don’t think too hard about it. Just let yourself feel.”

Bonnie nodded. “I just don’t want to lose control.”

Ruby leaned in, a stern look on her otherwise soft face. “No offense, Bon, but it’s about time you did.” Then she stood. “I’m going to go get dinner and bring it up here to eat with you.”

Bonnie sat up, pushing all thoughts of Jesse out of her mind as she looked forward to spending time with her friend. “Won’t Shane mind?”

“Nah,” Ruby said. “Maybe because he met you and Harmony early, but he's always understood how important my girlfriends are to me, and I like that a lot.” She went to the door. “Fanny outdid herself with the sloppy joes tonight. I’ll be right back so you can taste them. You have no idea what you’ve been missing out on.”

Bonnie frowned as she tilted her head and considered her friend’s words. Ruby was right. She didn’t even know what she was missing out on, not having sex or romantic love in her life.

Maybe it was time to find out.

J
esse was putting
things away in his cabin and getting ready to turn in for the night when he heard a knock on the door that made him stand ramrod straight with awareness.

He’d never heard a knock like that before. Quiet. Feminine.

And the haunting scent that wafted through the wood to him, bitter wildflowers and rain.

Bonnie.

But what was she doing out there this late at night? He hadn’t seen her at dinner when he’d eaten with his brothers, and he’d missed her presence even more than he expected. Maverick had noted his restlessness, which was impressive because the black eye he had from Jesse’s fist after leaving Bonnie out there alone made it hard to see anything.

But Jesse had remained quiet, not knowing what he’d say to his brothers, if anything, and simply come back here after dinner to sit alone in his living room and listen to the rain that was hitting off and on and had been all day.

He loved the sound of it on his roof, on his windowpanes. All around, rhythmic and soothing.

When he’d seen Bonnie lying in the field, looking tired but so peaceful, he’d wondered if they really were kindred spirits in more ways than just being mates.

He took a deep breath, steeled himself to have control, and then walked to the door and opened it. The sight in front of him took his breath away.

Bonnie in a nightgown with a robe over it, her red hair drenched in rain from running out from the main lodge. And she was holding an overnight bag. Like she was planning on staying…

He took her by the arms and yanked her inside, slamming the door behind her as possessiveness rammed through him, thinking anyone could have seen her like this.

She was his.
His.

But her face, hesitant, pale, but with a flush on her high cheekbones, stopped his angry thoughts in their tracks. His eyes trailed down to her parted, plump lips, down to her pointed, feminine chin, down her beautiful column of a neck, and to the swells of her breasts rising up from her buttoned nightgown, squeezed together by the tightly tied robe.

His mouth went dry, making any attempt to swallow pointless.

There was only one reason he could think of that she’d be here at this time of night, dressed like this, but he was afraid to hope for it.

“I…” she said, looking around her. She bit her lip and let out a little breath of relief. “You have a lovely cabin.”

“Thank you,” he said, sinking onto a couch in disbelief that she was here. Then he realized it was rude and stood again, guided her to a soft chair across from him and then sinking onto the couch again with a groan. This little female was killing him.

“I didn’t mean to bother you,” she said, twisting her pale hands in her lap as she spoke. Damn, that lap looked soft and inviting. She had the kind of killer curves that started fights in this territory. Wide, generous hips, a cute, curved stomach, and gorgeous breasts that would fill his hands and then some.

And he had
big
hands.

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything stupid and told his body to wait and see what the little female wanted.

No rush, boy.

“Like I said, I didn’t mean to bother you. It’s just… I was wondering if you’d have sex with me.”

His jaw fell open. Of all the things he expected to come out of that sinfully beautiful mouth, that was the last one. His heart thudded in his chest as he shifted position to hide the hardness rising between his legs at the thoughts that arose from her request.

He was torn at this moment, between his want for her, the hot fantasies he’d been having ever since she came back, and the knowledge that she was still hell bent on going back to another man.

“What about Seth?” he asked tightly. He couldn’t give his everything to her if she was going to leave. He just couldn’t.

She shook her head, looking sad, and he hated himself for asking. But he felt honesty was always the best policy, and if they were going to do something so personal, so connected, he wanted to know everything was open between them.

“He isn’t coming,” she said. “I guess I wanted him to. I wanted the whirlwind romance. But I’m accepting that’ll never happen.”

“So you’re done with him?” he asked tightly, trying to keep his body reined in. The bear in him was roaring.

Claim the mate. Claim her.

“I want to be honest with you,” she said. “Things are complicated for my species. We… get matched at birth. There are rules.”

“I’ll break all of them for you,” he said. “You’re meant for me. Can’t you feel it?”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t know how it works for bears, but we aren’t taught to listen to feelings like that.”

“I don’t know,” he said, kneeling in front of her chair and tilting her chin. “There’s so much we don’t know about the wild nature that makes us who we are. But I know I want you. I know you should be mine, and I know I’d fight an army if they came for you.”

She nodded. “But I want you to respect that I have to make my own choices.” She sighed. “But in all likelihood, Seth won’t come. He's always gone along with our pairing because it was convenient. Because his family liked it. But he hasn’t ever really wanted me. We haven’t even had sex.” She looked up at him, and the shame shining in her eyes distracted him from the shock of what she’d just said.

“Wait, what?” he asked. “You’re a virgin?”

She nodded shyly. “In my species it’s not necessary until we want to breed.”

“If the rules are so stringent, then why doesn’t your ex-fiancé seem to care about them?”

“He hasn’t had to,” she said, hanging her head. “He gets to live how he wants and get admiration at the same time. He probably assumes I’ll crawl back, afraid of my family.” She met his eyes with fire in their green depths. “But not this time. I’m not going back to him this time. Even if I go back to New York, it won’t be to him.”

“That’s all I need to know,” Jesse said, picking her up and making her squeak in alarm before throwing her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you to my bed to do what Seth should have done long ago. And what I would have killed him for doing.”

Her eyes widened, auburn lashes fluttering in shock just before his lips lowered over hers in a promise. That he would take care of her, please her more than she knew what to do with, make her happy.

He wouldn’t claim her, but he’d make sure she knew just what it meant to take a bear as a mate. And if Seth ever did come, he’d be happy to kick his kitty ass.

“I love you,” he said as he kicked open the door to his bedroom. “And now I’m going to show you just how much.”