Page 2 of Bearly Mated

And I was going to use that fact to save my ass.

Wren had grown up in Cub Lake too, though we hadn’t become close until we realized we were at the same university. Two semesters in, she realized she wanted to open a bookstore in our hometown, and moved back.

We’d talked every day since then, and when I moved back after getting the news about my dad, had started spending a ton of time together in-person instead of just texting. I helped her at the store or with her toddler when I could, and had a ton of fun doing it.

She didn’t agree with my plan—she’d even called it insane—but it was the best option as far as I was concerned.

The bell over the door dinged again, and I looked up once more.

False alarm. Again.

The middle-aged man in the doorway was one I knew well, though. Small town problems. He saw me, and his eyes lit up as he crossed the room.

Conversation incoming.

Dread flooded me, but it couldn’t make me feel any worse than I already did. And the fact that he was a bear shifter only increased my worry.

“Callie Jones,” he said, offering a hand as he approached my table. “It’s been a while.”

I stood reluctantly, and took his hand. “Kevin Carter,” I said, forcing a smile. “It has been a while.”

The feelings that surfaced when I shook his hand were strong ones. He had been one of my dad’s best friends, and felt more like family than anything.

But missing dad made those feelings bittersweet, and the bills I had hidden under my bag made me wonder whether or not he’d known what my dad was up to and just didn’t get involved.

Suspicion was a bitch.

Kevin chuckled, and pulled me in for a hug. I hugged him back, and he let go after a brief moment. “How are you doing? I heard you were only staying in town for a few days after the funeral.”

“That was the plan,” I said, laughing a little awkwardly. “Going through everything took longer than I expected.”

And my shitty, full-time assistant job had been bad enough that I wasn’t even disappointed about moving back from New York.

“It always does. Can I sit?” He gestured to the bench across from mine.

“I’m meeting Hudson, actually,” I admitted. Everyone in town knew about our childhood friendship.

And as much as I would’ve preferred to keep the meeting a secret, it was bound to come out. People would see us and talk, like they always did.

Everyone would realize what I was signing up for pretty quickly. Since I’d have to stay in Cub Lake indefinitely, there was no point in trying to hide it.

Recognition crossed Kevin’s face. “You’re not…”

“I’ve got to go,” I said, forcing another smile. “But it’s good to see you.”

He frowned. “If you need money, I?—”

The bell over the door jingled again.

The hairs on the back of my neck raised, and a masculine smell had me taking in a small breath.

It was Hudson.

Definitely Hudson.

“Bye.” I gave Kevin another smile, slightly more genuine.

A man stepped up next to him, and my eyes landed on the newcomer—then widened.

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