Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,156

chewed and swallowed and nodded at Connor. “You seem to like it, anyway. The kind of guy who wants to stay busy.”

“Alright, maybe,” Connor said. He pretended to bristle at that, jokingly scowling at Alanna over the rim of his glass as he took another sip of brandy. Emily pointed at him and laughed, and he stuck his tongue out at her. “What about you guys? If there’s anything you need-”

“Connor,” Nathan said, chuckling, “we’re more than fine.”

“I’m eager for this little one to start walking and talking,” Alanna said, reaching over to boop Emily’s tiny nose. “Other than that, I’m good.”

“Good,” Connor said softly, but abruptly he felt a keen sense of melancholy. More and more lately, Connor had felt a hole where there had never been one before. He wanted what all three of his brothers now had. They had found their mates. It had not been easy, but they had fought for love and been rewarded with their soulmates. They were all starting their own families now. Nathan and Alanna had their little cub, Emily. Cody and his mate, Jess, had an entire brood of adopted cubs. Even Eric and his mate, Lydia, were already talking about having cubs someday, although they seemed quite happy since Lydia had just started art school. But they all had a keen eye on their futures together.

When Connor thought of his future...it looked lonely. He was in his thirties and he was naturally given to want a family of his own. Each day without one seemed a little colder, and if he was honest, he was more than a little jealous of his brothers.

“I’m glad you guys are happy,” he said, and he meant it. He just wanted some of that happiness for himself. He tried to sound genuine and cheerful on top of that, but he saw the quirk of Nathan’s eyebrow. Nathan knew.

After lunch, Connor felt a bit better, full of Cody’s prime rib and cheese and just enough brandy to smooth out the rough edges of his nerves. But Nathan didn’t leave with Alanna, who took Emily with her and left a kiss on her mate’s cheek. Instead, Nathan stayed behind to talk to Connor.

“You alright, man?” Nathan said. “You seem…? Something? I dunno. Just, off.”

Connor had already spoken to his brothers before about how much he wanted to find a mate and start a family. At a point, it just felt pathetic to keep going on about it.

“I’m good,” Connor said simply. His tone brooked no argument; Nathan knew better than to push.

“Oh! There is one more thing,” Nathan said. “I’ve heard a few mentions about a new wolf pack in town. Nothing serious yet, but they’re new and uh, sounds like they’re skirting the edges of our territory. Puts the other bears on edge, you know?”

“Oh great, something else to worry about,” Connor muttered. But he waved a hand at Nathan’s worried look, nodding. “It’s fine. I’ll keep an eye out.”

With that, Nathan left, and Connor remained for a couple minutes, sipping his brandy and brooding until he forced himself out of his chair and back to work.

But instead, he found himself heading to the promenade to look for Brooke.

58

Brooke

Brooke left for work at Cole Couture at seven in the morning every day. The shop didn’t open until nine, but there were new racks and displays to set up as the winter season at the Black Bear Lake Lodge kicked in. Brooke was almost late, parking crookedly in the employee lot and scurrying through the back entrance to the promenade with her thermos of coffee, juggling her bag with her heels and work clothes inside. She was required to wear heels and a simple black pencil skirt and white blouse for her Cole Couture job - not things that could be worn easily to and from the snow filled parking lot.

Despite the awkward hours and uncomfortable dress code, Brooke was grateful for the job at the promenade’s biggest boutique. When she’d rolled into town with the rest of her wolf pack, jobs had not exactly been assured. They had all just been scraping by since getting driven out of their own land back in Nebraska, and Brooke had been sure she’d end up working fast food for minimum wage.

When she’d stumbled onto the shop at the very swanky Black Bear Lake Lodge that paid double minimum wage plus commissions, she’d been overjoyed. She’d also been extremely mindful that Black Bear Lake was a bear shifter town.