Page 40 of Bearnapped at the Altar

I sighed. “I’ll talk to her before she comes home.”

“Barrett. Let’s not commit to forever. Let’s just do what gives us this tingly feeling in our bellies as long as it lasts.”

“You make me feel things in places that aren’t my belly.” I chuckled, brushing my lips against her cheek. There was no way she wouldn’t feel me getting hard. “I’m a bear, Tegan. Forever is what we do.”

“I like that.” She sighed.

I caught her lips in a kiss. It was only supposed to be quick, but my bear took over. We knew exactly why she had reservations about the long haul. Hell, I did too. But it wasn’t just that she’d given me tingly feelings in my belly.

This woman had somehow made me feel alive again. I hadn’t really lost Renee. She’d always be with me, but this was a new, exciting chapter. I lifted Tegan onto the counter, and pushed her legs open. She wrapped them around me, caging me in. Our kisses were growing more intense, and the first meal she was gonna have served in this kitchen was me.

“Sweet moon…Dad?”

I jumped away from Tegan, shocked by the sound of Natalie’s voice. “Hey sweetie, what are you doing here?”

Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. “I had a long weekend, and talked to Uncle Bellamy about helping me arrange a surprise trip…but I guess you’re the one who’s full of surprises.”

“I can explain everything.”

“I would’ve warned her, boss, but I had no idea this was what you were up to,” Bellamy added.

“You don’t need to. I get it. And it’s about time you start dating.” Natalie came into the kitchen, circling the island, her lips parting as her gaze landed on Tegan. “Wait a minute. Are you the Runaway Beastlerette?”

Tegan’s brows shot up. “Is that what they were calling me?”

“Yeah. Not that I blamed you. I wouldn’t have married Gideon, either.” Natalie made a disgusted face.

“Have you seen today’s press conference yet?” Tegan asked.

“No, I fell asleep the minute the plane took off. What happened?” Natalie asked.

“Hold up. How do you know what a Beastlerette is?”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Dad, everyone watches the show. It’s such a trainwreck—sorry. But we were all rooting for the Beastlerettes this season to revolt against Gideon. He’s a not a wolf—he’s a weasel shifter. Wait. No way. Dad, are you the one who abducted Tegan from the wedding?”

I nodded. This was not going how I expected it at all. Somehow, it was much better. “That was me, bearnapping the Runaway Beastlerette.”

“No way. That’s so cool. I have to go tell everyone right now. I think I just became the coolest kid at space school.” She took off in the direction of her bedroom.

“Are you staying for dinner?” I asked Bellamy.

“Absolutely.” He pulled a chair onto the other side of the island. “Good thing we got here when we did. I take it you’ve had the talk with Nat before she left for school.”

“It’s space school,” I reminded him.

Tegan pushed against my chest. “You don’t think a smart, beautiful girl like that isn’t turning the head of every nerd enrolled there?”

“She better not be.” I growled and helped Tegan down from the island. “Welcome to the family.”

Chapter

Nineteen

Tegan

“Where did you learn how to do this?” My hair was perfectly curled and pinned, and my stylist had just expertly added a strip of lashes. No, I wasn’t in the Moonlight Mates makeup trailer. I was in Natalie’s bedroom. “You have some serious talent.”

“When you’re the nerdiest kid in a small town you wind up with a lot of time on your hands,” Natalie said as she spread the glue on the other lash strip. “There are only so many science experiments Dad will tolerate, and I like to keep busy. So I started watching tutorials and practicing on myself. And it was a good way to make friends when I went away to school.”

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