A Bride for the Bear (Bear Creek Clan 6)
A Bride
for the
Bear
(Bear CreekClan)
(Book Six)
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Note from the author:
My books are written, produced and edited in the UK where spellings and word usage can vary from U.S. English. The use of quotes in dialogue and other punctuation can also differ.
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All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
© 2015 Harmony Raines
Silver Moon Erotica
Kindle Edition
Alli smiled at Drew. “I am so glad you came over from Bear Bluff to shop with me for your wedding dress.”
Drew twirled around, the fabric of her white silk dress swirling around her feet. Sliding her hands down the fitted skirt, she grinned. “So am I. Freyja told Eirik you had the best dresses in the county.” She took one last look at herself in the mirror and then said, “She was right.”
“It fits perfectly. You must be so excited. This Saturday. Wow, only two days to go,” Alli said, putting the pins away. Luckily, the dress needed no last-minute adjustments.
“Don’t remind me,” Drew said, placing her hand on her stomach. “I feel sick every time I think about it.”
“You should be so happy. Eirik is wonderful; you are both so well suited.”
Drew smiled at her knowingly. “It’s just the way it works out sometimes. I’ve known him most of my life, but sometimes the very person you are meant to be with is under your nose, and you just don’t see it.”
“True.” Alli smiled wistfully. She had been running Bear Brides for so long now, having inherited the bridal boutique from a distant aunt. At first, she hadn’t been sure about being involved with so many people’s special day. However, as the brides arrived on her doorstep, she grew to enjoy their sense of excitement and expectation of a happy future with their man.
It was so romantic how the men and women of Bear Creek and Bear Bluff fell in love and then stayed together, forever, it seemed. Since moving to Bear Creek, she had only known of a handful of marriages breaking down. The town must have the lowest divorce rate in the world. And it wasn’t, as far as she could tell, because divorce was frowned upon; it was something deeper than that. As if the couples
belonged
together. She frowned, never having quite been able to pinpoint exactly what it was that gave her that feeling. But she wished she could feel that way with a man. Then she tried to be sensible: all these weddings made her feel like a hopeless romantic. That wasn’t how real life worked; it was a façade she witnessed through the eyes of so many brides.
However, her work had given Alli a sense of how important marriage still was. For a woman who had been born out of wedlock and who never really knew her father, it gave her a different perspective on marriage. As the years had drifted by, she had developed her own need to be a bride, to find her happily ever after. Yet the right man never came along. Until now.
Alli had been dating Graham for three months now. He was a high-powered property developer who had swept her off her feet; she still wasn’t sure why. Alli considered herself to be well groomed and dressed in the most flattering clothes for her curvy figure; she was the face of her boutique after all. Yet it was that same curvy figure that she always considered her downfall. She believed that was what put men off taking her seriously. Or maybe it was the long hours she worked. Alli would be the first to admit that Bear Brides took up most of her time and energy, leaving little room for anything else. It was why she got on so well with Graham; they understood each other.
Or at least she understood him. When he called at the last minute to cancel a date because “something had come up,” she never gave him a hard time. Although Graham was not always good at returning that understanding. Once she had cancelled their date because of an emergency dress repair, the day before the unfortunate bride’s big day. Graham had ranted on about how he was supposed to be the most important thing in her world. Not some stranger who bought a dress from her.
Romance wasn’t exactly Graham’s strong point. However, he had a head for business and loved her. She knew he did. Therefore, she had stuck with him in the hope that he would one day propose. Yet the longer they were together, the more she was wondering if that was ever going to happen. And if it did, was it the right thing for her?
Deep down, what worried her the most was that she gave off a vibe that said,
“I’m not the marrying kind.”
Because, despite all the brides who came to see her for advice on their wedding dresses, she didn’t really understand what went into a good marriage. How did people actually know they had found the right partner in life? Some of her clients seemed to know instantly, like Drew.
“I’ll go and take this off,” Drew said, heading towards the fitting room.
“She looks so beautiful, thank you, Alli,” Marjorie McCormac said. “I can’t wait for her to become my daughter-in-law.”
“She’s very lucky to have you to help with all the arrangements,” Alli said, thinking how sad it was for Drew to be getting married without her mother watching. Alli drifted back into thoughts of what her own wedding would be like. She had no real relatives—her mom had raise her alone, but had died three years ago. She missed her every day and could understand how Drew felt.
Startled from her musings, she looked up as a gorgeous, dark-haired, dark-eyed man came into the shop. He was huge, all bulging biceps and broad chest; his skin was golden, tanned by working outdoors. Swallowing, she thought how Graham would pale in comparison to such a man. If Graham needed a tan, it came out of a spray bottle. He had no time for the outdoor life. Then she chastised herself for even thinking of comparing them. Graham loved her; he was loyal to her. This man was a stranger who would walk into her life and then right back out of it.
“Hello, I’m Alli. How can I help you?” She put on her most helpful smile, but, seeing the look of confusion on his face, she began to feel uncomfortable. “Do you have the right place? We’re a bridal store.”
He continued to stare at her, his mouth opening and closing. Slowly he began to stammer. “I … I … have … c … come to pick up a silver comb,” he managed to finish.
She stood looking into his brooding, dark eyes, wondering if the passion they contained was for a woman she knew. Damn, how she longed to look into a man’s eyes and know such passion was for her. Graham never showed passion, unless it was for a business deal.
Alli realised she was standing with her mouth open but no words coming out.
Was this contagious?
Clearing her throat and gathering her thoughts, she answered, “Yes. It’s for Melanie, isn’t it? It was ordered in specially.” It had been on her day off, when old Mrs. Bury looked after the shop. Although “day off” was a term she used loosely. She usually went into the nearest city to stock up on ribbons and fabrics. “Wait there and I’ll go and get it.”
She walked to the shelves tucked away to one side of the shop where she kept the orders, and he did as she asked. He waited
exactly
where she had left him, as if turned to stone. His eyes looked a little glazed, as though he was daydreaming, or on drugs. Around him, Drew and Marjorie began to collect their belongings. He took no notice; it was as if there was no one else in the shop. Alli couldn’t help but let her gaze slip his way, her eyes skimming over his fabulous body and then flicking up to his hauntingly soft eyes. Her heart actually skipped a beat.
No doubt about it, she had never had feelings like this for Graham. There had never been this instant recognition of another human being. Was this love at first sight? No, she was in a relationship, a strong relationship. But Alli acknowledged that, along with marriage, she needed passion in her life, and not the kind Graham expected. Material things were his passion; along with business he liked big houses and fast cars, things he could control.
Graham liked being in control.
“Here,” she said, bringing the silver comb out to him.
“Thank you,” he replied, his composure returning, yet his eyes were still slightly out of focus.
“I’ll just wrap it.” She reached for a sheet of gift-wrap and began to fold it neatly around the box, then stopped. “Sorry, I forgot myself. Do you want to see it first?”
“Uh. Yes, please.”
She opened the box, placing it on the counter in front of him. It was very pretty, the kind a woman wore in her hair. Alli figured it was for his fiancé, or wife maybe. Her eyes slipped down to his hands, a quick glance to see if he wore a ring on his finger. No ring. Why did that make her feel happy?
Then something strange happened. They both reached to take it out of the box at the same time. Their fingers brushed against each other, and electric sparks seemed to be generated from the slight friction between them. Her eyes flew to his, her hands instantly letting go of the silver comb, sending it clattering to the floor.
“Sorry,” she said, hoping the comb was still intact as she bent to pick it up. Straightening, she said, “Nothing broken.”
He was staring at her, in a way that made her hot. Her cheeks flushed and heat built in the rest of her body, to pool between her thighs. Damn, he made her want to squirm, her sex ached and her clit throbbed. Why had Graham never made her feel this way?
The passion in his eyes had deepened; the look made her want to peel off her clothes and let him make love to her on this counter. She swallowed, and then out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Drew and Marjorie watching the exchange. It broke the spell, which was good. Wasn’t it?
“Sorry about that. It’s been a long day.” She fumbled with the comb, putting it back into the box and wrapping it neatly.
“No problem, sorry if I startled you.” His voice was deep and sexy. Oh, so very sexy.
“You didn’t,” she said, putting on her professional, bright smile, which she saved for those brides who were adamant a dress suited them when it didn’t. “Like I said, it’s been a long day.”
“And what are you doing after work?” he asked.
Her heartbeat quickened, her pulse thumping hard as she tried to regain control. “I have a boyfriend.”
“Oh!”
And that boyfriend chose that very moment, to come flying into the shop, destroying the normally serene atmosphere with his big smile and loud mouth. For Graham had something on his mind. A burning question that obviously could not wait.