Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,12

living as a bear most of the time. But sometimes I wanted… I wanted to feel human. And sometimes we’d walk by these big hotels or restaurants and I’d stare at the people in the windows.” She spoke softly staring across the bar into the dark, mirrored glass that reflected them. “They looked so happy. And there were always couples. They seemed so in love. Once at Christmas, I saw people dancing in a hotel ballroom through the windows. All the lights dancing over their happy faces… I wanted that. I don’t know. It made me feel like I was more of an animal when I was human than when I was a bear. Funny, huh?”

Nathan was frowning, his eyes glassy, and ever so slowly his hand crept across the bar towards her. She watched it happen. His hand was faintly scarred. She didn’t doubt he’d been in a scrap or two. His fingers were thick and rough-looking. He looked like somebody who fixed things.

When his hand covered hers, she sighed.

“Doesn’t sound funny,” he murmured. She couldn’t think of any response to that and only sipped her drink with her free hand. It felt too good to let his hand hold hers, even if there was nothing there behind it. It was the kindest touch she’d felt in too long as his thumb gently caressed her knuckles.

“Let me fix something for you,” he whispered. “I’m good at fixing things.”

She pulled her hand away finally and sat up straight. “I don’t think your handyman skills extend that far, but thanks for the offer.”

“Dang,” he said, looking disappointed. Then he shrugged and let out a deep sigh. “Well, my brother would kill me anyway.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, he’s always saying we’re not allowed to get involved with lodge guests.” He cracked a smile at that.

“How often do you and your brothers follow that rule?”

He raised his hands in surrender. “I’m just saying a lot of beautiful women stay here and some of them are single.” He gestured towards her and said, “Case in point.”

“Ah…” She ducked her head. “Please. It’s just the cashmere.”

“Are you kidding?” Nathan said. “You’re gorgeous.”

“So are you,” she said. She was feeling buzzed and pleasant in his company, or she might not have said it. But she watched a slow smile spread across his face and she risked a small smile back.

“It’s the sweater,” he said, whispering as if it was a secret.

No, it’s not, she thought.

“Let me help you.” He was serious again suddenly, leaning toward her and gazing at her with his warm blue eyes.

“No,” she murmured. “I can’t.”

“Then...let me show you something?”

“Show me what?” she said warily.

“Something you always wanted,” he said, picking up his glass. “Get your drink and follow me. C’mon. Don’t worry.”

I have to be getting back, Alanna thought but it seemed impossible not to let Nathan take her hand and lead her back through the dining table and around a corner and down a long hallway that led off to meeting rooms and banquet halls for guest events.

It was getting late and there weren’t many guests walking around. Everything was quiet and it made the lodge feel mysterious.

There was a ticking clock in Alanna’s head as she followed Nathan. Eventually, John would come looking for her. But Nathan’s hand was warm in hers and she didn’t want to let go.

He led her to a hall that was locked until he slipped in his universal key card and led them inside. She hadn’t expected anything really and the room was dark but for the moonlight shining through the curtained windows, but when Nathan flipped on some lights from a small cabinet near the door, she gasped.

“It’s a ballroom,” she whispered. “Cinderella should be so lucky.”

The room was like a cathedral, with a high vaulted ceiling from which chandeliers hung, now sending little white lights dancing across the expanse of checkered hardwood floor. Glass icicles dangled from them like teardrops as they rotated slowly.

“This ballroom was here before,” Nathan said, sighing. He took her hand and led her across the floor. There were white marble statues of dancing figures in the corner. It looked like a ballroom from a king’s castle in a fairy tale. “But it was pretty run down when we brought it. Conner restored it to its former glory. Now everybody wants to get married here.”

“I would,” Alanna whispered.

Nathan crossed the floor and disappeared through a door behind the stage and a minute later music began to play through unseen speakers. It was