Bearly Spicy Paperback

Clay Bearly

When Bethany Sweet walks into my life, I lose my heart followed closely by my mind.

To my inner bear’s horror, my mouth runs away without consulting my brain and I end up insulting my mate. It’s going to take a lot of begging for me to make this up to my curvy little mate but I’ll do whatever it takes to win her forgiveness and her heart.

For starters, I’m going to take my inner bear’s advice and play on my strengths. As the shy, nerdy Bearly brother, I’ve always been much more comfortable with technology than people, so I’m going to use an unconventional method of wooing my mate. Text messages.

Bethany Sweet

I’m so shocked when Clay Bearly refuses to shake my hand that my mind goes blank and I totally miss the opportunity to nail the middle Bearly brother to the wall for daring to insult me in my brand new bakery.

The shocks don’t stop there. Within a few days, I’m getting sweet messages from the grouchy bear shifter that are impossible to ignore. Before I’m able to stop myself, I start to fall head over heels for Clay but I’m not going to roll over and let him walk all over me. Oh no. Clay Bearly has his work cut out for him if he wants to win my forgiveness.

If you like over-the-top, growly bear shifter, curvy girl instalove with a ton of humor, and tiny amount of drama this short story is perfect for you.

The grumpy, lonely bear shifters of Honey Pot Hollow are in for a surprise when a new human-owned bakery opens in the shifter-only town.

The feisty human baker and her sisters aren't going to let the surly brothers ruin their sunny attitudes. The Sweet Sisters are going to use their considerable charms to bring Bearly Boys to their knees.

After I spend most of the day spoiling Angel Baby rotten, I decide to drive into Honey Pot Hollow and check out the new bakery for myself. “Come on, Angel Baby.” I pick up the tiny Chihuahua and put on his harness with the bright orange bow tie just to piss off Thorne. “It’s time to go torture your daddy. If we play our cards right, he’ll lose his temper and we’ll get to see him in a bright pink and white polka dot bikini top.”
The tiny tan animal glances up at me with a look of adoration, and I can’t resist petting his head as I place him in the dog car seat. Okay. My entire family is a little fucked in the head. We all have a dog car seat for the little Chihuahua.
After parking in the lot behind Honey Buns, I grab Angel Baby and walk around the side of the brick building. My brother did an outstanding job turning the dilapidated storefront into an adorable business. I’m proud of the asshole, but it would take an act of God to get me to actually admit it to him.
The old-fashioned bell rings as I push the heavy glass door open. I glance behind the counter and see an adorable blonde look up and smile at me. “Hi. I’ll be right with you.” I can see why my older brother fell hard for Mabel Sweet. Her wide-set cornflower blue eyes sparkle as she glances down at the tiny dog in my arms.
“Clay can wait,” Thorne, the jealous dipshit, growls as the kitchen door swings open.
My bear sits up and growls, “Mine,” as I stare at the stunning redhead walking toward us. I feel sweat breaking out on my brow and swallow as my bear wakes up. “I’m so fucked.” Angel Baby jumps at the sound of my voice, but I can’t soothe the little shit when my world is imploding all around me. She’s goddamn perfect.
“We’re out of honey buns,” my stunning mate mutters, unaware of the tension swirling around us. “We ran through these things like crazy. I think we should close up since we’ve sold out. Cora already headed upstairs to get the first shower, which is a good thing since she’s acting like a crabapple.” Her emerald-green eyes widen when she notices me for the first time. My eyes slowly travel over her luscious curves, causing my hands to tighten around the tiny dog I’m holding. Angel Baby grumbles, but I ignore him and attempt to get my fried brain circuits to fire.
Don’t be a fucking moron. Play it cool. My bear roars in my ear.
My teeth burst through my gums as her delicate floral scent wraps around me. Her curly, dark red hair falls around her shoulders in ringlets, and I barely resist the urge to run my fingers through it to see if it feels as soft as it looks.
Shock holds me frozen as she smiles and holds out her hand. “Uh, hello. I’m Bethany Sweet.” My bear hisses, “fucking dumbass,” in my ear when I glance down at her outstretched hand but don’t reach for it.
Something in the back of my mind screams that I’m already fucking this up, but I can’t stop myself. I stare down at her delicate hand for a second before glancing up into her shocked emerald eyes. I’m a goddamn moron, but I can’t wipe the shocked horror from my face as my hand refuses to move. “What’s wrong? Scared my humanness is contagious?” she taunts, and my bear groans sadly.
“No,” I manage to mutter past the lump in my throat. “My fucking brother is the contagious one.”
“You are a fucking dumbass moron,” my bear growls. “And we’re going to spend the rest of our life mateless and lonely because you fucked this up.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” I grumble back as my brain and body combat the crazy emotions running through me.
“Look here, Yogi.” Her adorable growl sends every drop of blood in my body straight to my cock. My bear celebrates the nickname from my mate while my human side winces at the childish name. “We’ve had a busy first day and we’re all tired. If you want to try the honey buns, come back another day, or not, it’s no skin off my nose.” She takes a step back, and I loathe the distance growing between us.
“Yogi?” I ask as Thorne busts a gut laughing. “Yogi? I should whip your gorgeous ass for calling me Yogi in public.” Visions of my hand smacking her sweet ass fill my mind, and my cock grows steadily harder behind the stiff denim of my jeans. Ouch.
“I’m going to move Angel Baby out of the line of fire.” Thorne grabs his dog and steps close to his mate. “This is getting interesting,” he whispers in Mabel’s ear, but my bear easily hears his dumbass comment. Ignoring his lovesick ass, I concentrate on my own issues.
“Public? We’re the only people in the bakery,” my mate flips me off, sealing her fate. I fucking fall head over heels in love with her while my bear warns me I’ve already dug a deep fucking hole for myself. Convincing her to give me a chance after my stupid display won’t be easy. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I’ll knock your head off if you try to whip me.” When my mate spins around and sashays toward the kitchen, incensed growls fall from my slack lips as I watch her disappear.
“Sweet girl, this moron is my brother, Clay.” My asshole brother is a little late starting his introductions.
“Hello, Clay.” I have no problem shaking her hand as she glares at me.
“That’s right. You screwed the pooch with your mate and her sister,” my goddamn unhelpful bear grumbles.
Anger swirls around Thorne’s mate, telling me I have a ton of work ahead if I want to fix this. “I’m Mabel.” She looks me up and down like I’m gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe. Great, I outdid myself by insulting my mate and pissing off her older sister at the same time.
The constriction around my throat eases a little, and I’m able to use my brain. Drawing deep, I find a tiny ounce of charm to use. “Nice to meet you. I’m this big asshole’s better-looking brother.”
“I think Wilder claimed that title earlier.” Mabel smirks as her eyes brighten a tiny bit.
“That fucker is wrong. I’m much hotter than him.” I’m not sure why I’m able to hold an intelligent conversation with Mabel while my mate turns me into a braindead dipshit.
“You’re both wrong. I’m the best-looking Bearly brother.” I almost gag as my older brother pulls his mate close while Angel Baby licks the back of Mabel’s hand.
I need to get out of here and head home to think. Hard. Surely, I can come up with a way to win over my mate. “Come on, Angel Baby. It’s time for us to leave.” I reach over to take the dog, and my hand accidentally brushes Mabel’s chest, nearly starting a fucking war when Thorne loses his goddamn mind. His first punch catches me in the stomach, and it’s on from there.
I manage to get a few good licks in before the bakery door flies open as Wilder rushes in. “What in the hell? I leave for one hour and this happens. Who threw the first punch?” he asks Mabel while the two of them watch us fight it out.