Page 32 of Cowboy Bear’s Hope (Motley Crewd Shifters #3)

“ Welcome to the Cow Country Valentine’s Day Rodeo!”

The announcement was all broken up over the sound system because of the wind and static. My sensitive ears hurt, so I hunched in on myself and waited for it to end.

February was cold as fuck in Barren County, but since we missed the January rodeo, I was actually looking forward to this one.

But it would have been better without all the noise.

My inner Bull bucked and snorted, the monster inside me was eager to fight.

This was the first time I planned on entering the ring in my Shifter form. A little project Dante and I had been working on.

See, as Shifters we had to keep our secret, but performing in these mostly human events was tricky.

We couldn’t give ourselves away, but that got more and more difficult.

Ever since the Bear had gotten mated his animal had been particularly gnarly. Usually, he was great with the normal critters on the ranch. But not when he was riled.

So, I came up with a solution.

The ranch still needed help to get the word out about our dairy products, and with spring coming, our produce.

Folks sure loved seeing cowboys do their thing. So, in order to help Dante get some airtime, I volunteered to be a real live bucking Bull for the behemoth.

Then afterwards, I’d do the bareback riding contest in Max’s stead, since Penny was too ill with morning sickness to come today, and the Jersey Devil was too anxious to leave her alone.

I couldn’t blame him. Plus, I was hoping this plan would work to quiet my own animal.

See, he’s been rather ornery since everyone on the ranch started pairing up. Silly critter was dumb enough to think we could settle down.

But I knew better. It was why I went into town every weekend and spent the night with faceless, nameless strangers, just to work out that anxiety.

No sane woman would want to settle down with a guy like me. Didn’t matter what the animal thought.

I looked around, making sure I was alone, and whipped my shirt off. I needed to be in my hide and ready for Dante in the next couple of minutes.

Next came my pants, but fuck, I forgot my boots. Bending down, I was hopping backwards on one foot, trying to get the fucking thing off when two things happened all at once.

“Ooof!”

First, I crashed into something sweet-smelling and soft. My chest was bare, and my jeans were caught around my hips, so her warm hands landed flat on my chest, and the rest of her was pressed up against me in the most delicious way.

That alone was enough to make me thank God, I agreed to come today.

But that wasn’t all.

See, the second thing that happened was our gazes locked. Pure heat and adrenaline poured into me as I stared into this sexy soft woman’s big blue irises.

Hell, the moment our eyes met my entire life changed. Like the whole world went topsy-turvy.

That was when I knew I’d found the one.

My fated mate.

And she was pretty as a Pixie too with her pale skin, rosy cheeks, and petal pink lips.

Oh, fuck.

“What on earth?” Pixie gasped.

“Marry me, Pixie?”

“Pixie? Boy, did you hit your head?”

“Head’s just fine. now, how about a drink after the rodeo?” I asked, still staring at the gorgeous blonde haired beauty queen sprawled out on top of me.

“Easy, Romeo. Let me get up and I’ll see what I can do to help,” the Angel whispered.

For a minute, I thought she was going to kiss me. But that really would have been something, and I didn’t have good luck like that.

“Who are you? What’s your name?” I asked because I needed to know.

“My name’s Arliss. Are you alright?” she asked, standing up and wiping the hay off her clothes.

“I’m Kian, and I’ve never been better.” I said, scrambling off the floor.

“I know who you are. You’re something of a legend the way you move through ladies. So, Romeo, are you competing today?”

“Uh,” I said, wanting to explain myself, but feeling all tongue-tied.

She looked at me like I had three heads. You know, because I was so fucking articulate.

Obviously.

“Cool. I’ll see you out there, but I hope you’ll keep your clothes on,” she said and winked.

“Will you go out with me after?” I asked, all smiles.

“I don’t think so, Cowboy. Good luck though.”

“Wait! Why not?”

My heart was beating me to death. I just had to get her to agree. But how?

“Have a good ride, Romeo!”

She just laughed and kept on walking away, swinging that fine ass as she went.

“Yo, Kian! You ready?” Dante asked, poking his head inside the barn.

“Not hardly,” I replied.

“What? Get shifted, will you?”

“Uh huh,” I said, only half paying attention.

I’d just met the woman of my dreams, and she wanted nothing to do with me.

The end.