The Right Bear's Arms BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance(9)

“I’ve seen enough to know I don’t want to be some sort of Stepford brood mare to an alpha! That’s all your kind cares about.”

“No. I’m not an alpha anyway. Katie, I think I lo—”

“Leave me alone!” Katie cried.

Jake did the only thing he could think of. As she turned to go, he caught her by the arm and pulled her close, lowering his mouth to hers. The force of their connection was instant and overwhelming. She whimpered and melted into his arms, her tongue twining with his in a kiss as deep as their destiny. It was true, it was all true. She was meant to be his. Surely she had to see that by now.

He thought that right up until the moment she pulled away and slapped him hard across the face.

“Leave me alone!” she repeated, then ran back to the diner, leaving him in the alley, stunned.





***





Katie fled into the diner’s break room, her lips still burning from Jake’s kiss. Her body was a roiling mess of emotions. She wanted his touch more than ever, but that would lead to nothing but foolishness and heartbreak. She couldn’t believe he was one of them. He seemed so safe, so normal, so... so wonderful. Last night he’d seemed like everything she’d ever dreamed of. How could it all be a lie?

Anna came bursting into the room. “Are you okay? I saw Jake go storming down the street. What happened? Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine,” Katie said—and promptly burst into tears.

“Oh no!” Anna rushed over and put her arms around Katie. “Tell me all about it.”

“Last night was the best night of my life,” Katie managed between sniffles, gratefully taking a tissue from Anna. “And I can never see him again.”

Anna pulled Katie over to a chair and sat her down. “What do you mean? Is he married or something?”

“No, but he’s—he’s—” How could she explain it? “I know his family. They’re... distantly related to mine.”

“Holy shit, so you’re like cousins or something?” Anna’s eyes were wide.

“No.” Anna tried to wipe her eyes and nose without totally ruining her makeup. “I mean, probably, but not close ones. I just know his type. He’s everything I left home to avoid.”

“But you told me about the guys in your hometown, Katie. He doesn’t seem like them at all! He seems really nice.” Out in the diner, Mack yelled for service. “Ugh. You stay here for a bit until you feel better. I’ll cover for you.” She squeezed Katie’s hand and went back to the front.

He seems really nice. He did. More than nice. I think I love you, that’s what he’d been about to say. That was ridiculous. Sure he talked about destiny, a lot of old bears talked about destiny, usually when they’d been trying to get in her pants. “It’s fate, baby, you can’t fight it.”

Well she could. And she would. After the way he’d kissed her, Katie didn’t trust herself around Jake at all. He might have been full of it, talking about destiny, but she couldn’t deny the chemistry. If she was serious about not seeing him again, she’d have to get away for a little while, but where? Somehow she didn’t think anywhere in Chicago was far enough.

She had a sudden vision of mountains, and missed home with a fierceness that made her ache. Going back to Boone was out of the question. She’d have the same problem there as she did here, but worse. At least Jake was attractive. There was only one option she could think of. Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled out her phone and dialed. “Hello, Gran?”





Chapter Five





It didn’t take a lot of talking to convince Mack to give her some time off. He liked her, but more to the point, she suspected he didn’t want any other emotional outbursts in his diner.


Katie didn’t think she’d stay in Colorado long, just long enough to get her thoughts together and try to forget she ever met Jake and his awful “we’re destined!” nonsense. She finished packing and looked around her apartment. Her cell phone was not invited. It was plugged in on her kitchen counter, otherwise she might be tempted to answer if Jake called. There were still payphones in airports if she needed one, right? She looked around with a sigh. The plan was to stay gone for two weeks, and see how she felt. As she closed the door behind her and left for the airport, she wondered if that was long enough.

She’d wanted to just take a bus, but Gran had insisted that she fly, and bought the ticket for her. On the flight, she struggled to keep from bumping into the disdainful business man next to her, apologizing any time his elbow brushed hers. So much for sleep on this flight. The paperback she bought at Midway didn’t keep her distracted, either. Her mind kept going back to the hurt look in Jake’s eyes when she’d told him to go away.

What if he’s right?

She stared at the same page of her book while the thought echoed through her mind. Sure, the men back home tossed the words “destined mate” around like they were some sort of golden ticket to a kinfolk’s bed, but what if there were such a thing? Was this what it felt like? That instant connection that she’d assumed was lust, was it something else? He was going to tell her that he loved her, before she’d slapped him. He didn’t have to say that to get her in bed, that was for sure.