Page 9 of Just Right
And if there are bear shifters making their home in the woods, what other monsters are out there? A howl had me deciding to break into their cabin in the first place. Do bears howl? Or did I somehow instinctively sense that, of two evils, barging in on a trio of bear shifter brothers was the lesser one?
I’m not sure. All I can tell is that, since walking into the dark woods, I snuck into their cabin, eyeballed their chairs, ate their food, and attempted to sleep in all of their beds.
I’m a mature woman. I’ve had my fair share of relationships, both long-term and so fleeting, they were barely one-night-stands. I know when a man is interested in me, and when I’m attracted to one.
Look at Goldie. Always the overachiever.
Because me?
I’m attracted tothree.
CHAPTER 3
MATE
When I finally get the nerve to go downstairs, it seems like I missed breakfast. At least, the social part of it. There’s a single bowl left on the tabletop. On its left, there’s a fresh spoon. On the right?
A note.
In a blocky print, two lines are written in the center of the small page:
Stay here. Eat your porridge.
We’ll be home soon.
I don’t have to wonder about which Brown brother wrote the note. I only just met them, but this has Rowan all over it. He must’ve guessed that—because I was let into Blackmoor in the first place—I have my own reasons for being in the forest. Being trapped in a cabin owned by three bears? Sorry. That’s another Goldilocks’s fate. Me? I need to find Charlotte.
But do I want to just go? It would be as fucked-up as just sneaking into their cabin would be, but that’s not even why I hesitate. Finn, Colt, and Rowan live in the woods. If Charlottedidspend her time—three days or three weeks—in Blackmoor, there’s a chance they know something about her. It’s a long shot, but the only chance I have, and I don’t want to disappear before I have the opportunity to ask them about her.
Besides, there are three beds here. And while I’m not about to negotiate my way into one of them, that couch in the living room is big enough to be a bed for me. Hell, there’s enough space in front of the fireplace that would fit all of us comfortably. Give me a blanket and some pillows and I’d be set.
Maybe hanging around isn’t that bad of an idea. Even if they don’t know anything about Charlotte, they know these woods. If I worm my way under their skin, I might be able to get one of the brothers to help me search for her. At the very least, it might be handy to have a big ol’ grizzly bear on my side. If there reallyaremonsters out there, I’d feel a lot better knowing that I have some powerful backup of my own.
Am I talking myself into sticking around because food, shelter, and safety seems a lot more promising than wandering around the woods in my stockinged feet? Maybe, but I have twenty days now. Give me a few to use my Goldie charm on these guys and who knows? I could keep that promise of food, shelter, and protection while also working toward getting my prize just by getting the Brown brothers to want to help me.
Something tells me that won’t be so difficult…
My first clue?
The porridge.
I can’t tell if it’s a gag or not. If I’m really reliving a fairytale here, then that makes sense. Thatwasporridge that Goldilocks chowed down on, but I’d never had any before. I just figured it was oatmeal, and you know what? Maybe that’s what porridge is. Another name for oatmeal.
Regardless, the bears left a bowl for me. All it takes is a tentative taste to realize that they noticed how I ate all of onebowl out of the three. The porridge left behind is exactly the same as the one from yesterday, only a little bit warmer since it’s fresher.
Damn it. It’s delicious.
When I’m done, I see a small sink with a hand pump for water. I’m desperate enough for a drink that I spend a few minutes figuring it out. After rinsing off my hands, I cup my palm, gathering enough water to sip it. After four handfuls, my thirst is quenched for the moment, and I wipe my palms against the skirt of my dress.
I try not to think about what state it’ll be in after twenty more days. And my underwear… those were all things I didn’t really think about when I agreed to this madness, but now I’m regretting that I didn’t at least negotiate for a couple of extra pairs of panties.
Ah, well. I’ll go commando if I must, and steal one of the sheets from their beds for a change of clothing if I have to. They’re tall guys, but I’m thick enough that one of their flannels might fit me like a dress. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.
For Charlotte.
For my own sanity.
For the closure I never thought I’d have.
