Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“It’s not what I want anymore. I want you and this family we’re building. Fate landed me here for a reason. I’m your songbird, and I love being caged here with you. I don’t need any of it. The only thing I need is you.”
That was the realization I’ve come to during the time here. That I am no longer happy living that life. Diego has shown me that there is so much more than that. I bet he doesn’t even realize that he did that for me.
“You mean that?” I take his hand that is cupping my cheek and bring it to my stomach.
“Our family could already be growing for all we know.”
His nose flares. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I smile up at him. I’d been running to escape, and I’d run right into my future. My Diego and I are going to build the kind of family we always wanted. He drops his mouth onto mine. He lifts me off my feet. This man is my forever.
“Aurora!” Bells shouts from the other side of my door. “If you don’t get out here, I might kill Barrow!” I put my hand over my mouth so she doesn't hear me laughing. “You open this door.” She bangs on it again. “He’s coming. Open the door!”
I shake my head no to Diego. We’re not opening the door. Bells might not realize it, but I am being a good friend by not opening the door. She’ll see that soon enough. She’ll thank me for it one day.
STEALING HIS BRIDE
STEALING HIS BRIDE
MINK
I can take care of myself. I always have. For that matter, I’ve also taken care of my best friends Aurora and Clover. Keeping them safe has landed me with a concussion after our car accident thanks to a wayward lynx.
On top of that, I seem to have landed in a handsome man’s bed. Not just any man, Barrow attends to all my needs and never wants to leave my side. He’s big, brawny, and possessive, and I find myself falling for him more by the minute. The lodge is a safe haven that I’m quickly wanting to call home. But my self doubt creeps in ,and I start to think maybe I’m imagining Barrow’s attraction to me. After all, Aurora’s the star of our group, not me.
But the more he dotes on me, compliments me, and gives me those heated looks I feel down to my toes, the more I realize he’s genuine and that we could have a real future together.
When I get a job offer that’s hard to turn down, will I choose love or life outside the lodge?
1
BARROW
“I really think you should stay in bed. The swelling has gone down, but you—”
“I’m fine.” Bells shoots me a glare as she swings her legs over the side of the bed and stares at the window. “I need a better view.”
“I’ll get you whatever view you want.” I gesture toward her bed. “You can face the window. I have a big screen I can carry in here. If you want—”
“I said I’m fine.” Her glare grows darker.
I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest. After all, we’ve been doing this same dance for a few days: I try to take care of her. She snaps at me. Over and over.
“That knock on your head is better, but you aren’t out of the woods. Head injuries are strange. And you took all the impact of the wreck.” I sigh as she stands and walks to the window.
She does her best to seem like her balance is on point. But it’s not. It hasn’t been since I’ve been treating her. Inner ear issues aren’t common with concussions, but nothing about this woman is common.
Dark hair, wide hips, luscious curves, and a quick—if salty—mind. She’s had me captivated from the moment Charles brought her to the lodge.
“I want to find the culprit.” She presses her forehead to the window, her breath fogging up the cold glass just a little.
“Culprit?”
“Yeah, that furry jerk who caused the crash.”
“Oh, Leonard.” I shake my head. Leonard the lynx does what he wants when he wants. He’s somewhat of a lodge legend, but he’s very real.
“He owes me. He thinks I don’t see him looking in this window at me, but I do. He was here last night.”
I scratch my stubbled chin. “I think that knock on the head is playing tricks on you.”
“No. I saw him. He was looking in.”
“All right.” I ease over to her. One of the things I’ve learned about Bells is that she spooks easy. So easy that I wonder if she’s had a bad experience with men in the past. Just the thought of it makes my blood start to heat and angry thoughts percolate through my mind. If someone hurt her … I force myself to calm down. But I keep noticing it. When I’m near, she tenses up. But when her girlfriends are around, she’s fine—joking, laughing, eating cake.