Bearllionaire: (BWWM) Paranormal BBW Bear Shifter Romance Standalone (9 page)

He’d owe him even more if things worked out with Janna. They worked for hours, solving issues and making plans. Janna’s brain was really something to watch. He could only imagine how much she’d be able to do given his finances. He could easily see her overseeing the philanthropy in particular. She’d seemed excited by that.

As for him, he was excited each time she tucked a little wayward curl behind her ear. She seemed to have an endless amount of hair, and a bit was always trying to escape. He wanted to touch her hair, but he knew it would be too hard to resist trailing his hand farther down, over those velvet lips, to the tops of her full breasts…

Damn, working with her was going to be harder than he thought.

Literally.

J
anna tried
to stay focused on the papers, but she felt too painfully aware that Ryder seemed to want to eat her up. His gaze was intense, admiring, as he watched her work through the numbers, and she hoped she wasn’t messing anything up.

She set aside the sheet she’d most recently finished and stretched, not missing Ryder’s gaze flicking to her chest, which pressed against her tight sweater. She grinned. “So I think that’s all I can take of numbers right now. How about that special lunch you promised me?”

His deep-blue eyes widened slightly, and he nodded and straightened up. She returned the favor of checking him out while he stretched. His pecs were enormous, cut in that perfect, square shape she liked so much.

“Well, if you want to wait here for a few moments, I just need to get a few things together.”

She nodded at him and picked up a packet of papers she might as well start looking at. Dang, Barry had left things a mess for her. Then again, Barry probably wasn’t planning on anyone looking at these anytime soon. To be honest, she wasn’t sure what he’d planned to do when Royce died. He had to know his sons, one of whom happened to be extremely financially successful, would want to take a look at the business they’d be inheriting.

It was odd that Royce had never mentioned his sons. She’d been here at the lodge for some of his parties, always low key, but never heard him mention his family. She’d always just assumed he was an old bachelor and never thought to ask Leslie or Kylie about it.

The door shut behind Ryder and she sighed and rolled her shoulders, relieved at the lack of sexual tension. Being in the same room with him, even looking at financials, was exhausting. Something inside her kept urging her closer, telling her to take a chance on this mysterious, powerful man.

But that stubborn part of her (that was, she supposed, her mother talking) that wanted her to stay safe wouldn’t shut up long enough for her lustful thoughts to continue unabated. So she kept fighting them, and she was feeling physically tired from it.

The odd dreams and waking up half scared to death by the bear didn’t help.

But the bear’s eyes. They’d been so odd, almost… human? Somewhat familiar, but she didn’t know how.

Her phone buzzed and she realized she hadn’t checked messages since yesterday. She opened it and let her voicemails play on speaker.

Not too much of note. Sherry had left a message saying everything was good at the store and she would be missed. Her mother sent a message asking if she knew where her sister was. She shook her head at that. Beth liked to use the money from her various alimony payments to travel. Janna couldn’t be expected to keep track of that.

The last message made her pause and then made a slow tremor of fear work its way down her spine.

“Think you’re pretty smart? If I were you, I’d leave the lodge.”

The voice was low, ominous. At first, she thought of Scott, but then she shook away that thought. It was too aggressive for him. He liked to intimidate in different ways, and he’d never outright threatened her. Just been overly available.

Her finger paused over the play button, shaking slightly as she tried to decide whether or not to replay it.

Then Ryder walked in, excitement on his handsome face and snow lightly dusting his hair, like he’d been outside. “They’re here. Let’s go.”

“Who’s here?” she asked, slipping her phone in her pocket and making a mental note to think about mentioning the message to Ryder later. Nothing could happen to her as long as she was with him anyway.

“The surprise.” His face was boyishly mischievous, but his body was all man as he helped her on with her coat and ushered her out of the back room. “Come with me.”

She had no choice but to follow him, yanked along by her arm entwined through his, though his stride was much faster and longer than hers. Tall men. Sigh.

He practically lifted her up the stairs to the top floor and then unlocked a door she hadn’t noticed behind some of the tables at the back wall. They went through it and up some stairs that seemed to lead outside. They went through a door and found themselves on the roof.

Janna gasped at the sight in front of her. A helicopter was waiting, blades whirring, and she realized she must have been really intent on her work not to hear it approach. Ryder’s thick, dark hair whipped in the wind and he reached out a hand. She took it, and his strong grip guided her up into the cabin. She belted up, still agape, and he sat across from her, grinning like a cat that had gotten into the cream.

“Good surprise,” she said, bracing herself against the wall as it started to take off.

“I’m glad,” he said. He leaned back like he’d done this a hundred times, and maybe he had, and eyed her with that gleam that made her squirm in her seat.

He looked at her like she was the only woman in the world, and she didn’t know what to do with that fact.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked over the whir of the motor.

“You’ll see.” His face was calm as he leaned forward to speak to the pilot. He was commanding, serious, until he turned back to her with that panty-melting smile. She squirmed again, gripping the seat next to her. Heaven forbid they end up alone in the cabin again. She didn’t know what she would do.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then looked out over the mountain as they flew up along the ridge. Breathtaking. He reached out a hand for hers and she took it and let it rest on her knee. A guy who took her in a helicopter could have that and more. She blushed at the thought and kept her eyes on the scenery. Otherwise, she’d be tempted to rake his body again, look at his chest, his tight waist, powerful shoulders, and um, below the belt. She swallowed nervously and forced herself to stay facing the window.

S
he was adorable
. Ryder couldn’t hide his smile at her excitement, so he was glad she was turned to the window, rather than watching him beam at her creepily. He couldn’t help it. Already, her happiness was his happiness. If he’d met her before, he had no doubt they’d have settled into exactly this already. What if he’d never left town?

No, then he wouldn’t be Ryder Hart, the man he was now. And maybe she wouldn’t even want him. That thought rankled. Would she have wanted him as just the heir to a minor tourist hotel? He frowned but pushed away any darkness by watching her gaze eagerly out at the scenery flying by. He’d been up here before, so it wasn’t anything new to him. But it was new taking someone special. It was definitely new being here with a beautiful woman.

He had lunch planned in the little mountain lodge that had been his father’s private retreat.
And probably where he brought his women
, he thought with a frown.

But that wouldn’t ruin his day with Janna. When the chopper landed, he helped her out, and the pilot took off, presumably for a day of heli-skiing with someone like Ryan. Ryder had his own ideas for getting down the mountain.

He carried the basket he’d had the chef put together. Nothing fancy, just some sandwiches, chips, and dessert, but anything would be fun with Janna. She followed him curiously to the lodge door and he opened it for her to go inside first, enjoying the sway of her hips as she went. Damn, he just wanted to pick her up and take her to his bedroom and make love to her again.

But first things first. Wooing.

He could be a gentleman even if he was half bear.

She sat at the rustic table and let out an exclamation of pleasure when he pulled out the food. “Ryder, this is too much.”

He scratched his head and grinned. “I told you…”

“You like ‘em well fed. I get it. I get it.” But she didn’t seem mad about it, and she talked about the reports while they ate together. There was an easy kind of mood between them, apart from the sizzling sexual tension that felt like it was ready to break at any moment. But Ryder wasn’t going to lose control a second time. Not if it was going to give his future mate the wrong idea.

But she kept looking up at him from under her eyelashes with furtive glances, deep-brown eyes flashing with some unknown emotion, and darned if it didn’t keep making his pants tight in the most uncomfortable way. And there was no way to shift position while being a gentleman. So he sat there in near agony, trying to focus on what she was saying and not on the velvety lips speaking the words.

Damn.

When lunch finished and she sat back with a sigh of contentment, Ryder felt ready to burst. He stood hurriedly and tugged on his jacket. “Ready to go?” He couldn’t wait to show her the next surprise and get outside where the cold air could cool his ardor. She wasn’t his yet. He had to go slow.

He put out an arm, loving the feel of her small, gloved hand on his forearm, and led her around the side of the cabin, which was shielded from the cold. His own personal snowmobile was waiting for him, and Janna let out another squeak of pleasure when she saw it.

“You ever ridden one of these?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, but I’m game. Except you aren’t going to try and get me in ski lessons next, are you?”

“Why?” he asked, straddling the seat and reaching for her. “Too much for the Cali girl to handle?”

She smirked and got on behind him. “Never. But a girl can only take so much excitement in one week.”

“Baby,” he said, feeling cheesy but unable to stop himself, “whatever you can take, I’m going to give you.”

She laughed, and he felt it vibrate through him as she pressed against him and wrapped her arms around his middle. Her soft breasts pressed into his back and he groaned. She made him feel like a teenager again. His dad should have warned him that finding your mate made your hormones act like they’d never seen a woman before.

He was Ryder Hart. Billionaire. Magnate. Always in control.

Except with this curvaceous, playful woman who seemed to always be one step ahead. Even when they’d made love, she’d been with him every step of the way, leading and wanting and moaning her pleasure until he did what she wanted.

Damn did he want to do that again.

He hadn’t been lying when he told her what Ryder Hart wants, Ryder Hart gets.

But that didn’t mean the acquisition would be an easy one. Then again, he usually found the more difficult an asset was to acquire, the more worth having it was.

He started up the snowmobile and, after making sure Janna was holding on tight, started down the mountain.

The snow was falling lightly, packed in tight drifts on the trees around them and slowly fluttering to ground when disturbed by the wind. Despite the sound of the motor and the whoosh of the air going past, there was something so still and quiet about the white all around them.

His heart was warm, knowing it was just them here alone together. There wouldn’t be skiers or snowboarders on this hill. It was private and marked off with signs that warned against trespassing.

There were apparently some benefits to being a lodge owner and having your own mountain. Even in this little tourist town mostly known for skiing and bears.

The bears around here should be hibernating, but sometimes they were disturbed. And then there were bear shifters who didn’t follow those rules. Even bear shifters that could shift had varying levels of bear blood. Having any bear was just so rare compared to the other shifter races.

He wondered how he’d explain that to Janna.

He could almost feel her heartbeat against his back; he was that close to her. He could smell her arousal at their touch, remember the scent from last night, and he found himself hitting the gas too hard in response. He told himself to go slower, but they still found themselves back at the base of the lodge all too soon, to both their chagrin.

She seemed reluctant to get off and get back to work. When she got off the snowmobile and made as if she were leaving, he caught her by the hand and pulled her back, catching her lips with his.

The kiss was gentle, the antithesis of the other night, and when he pulled back, a single snowflake fell on her bottom lip, melting when he came back against her. He loved the fit they had, the feel of her, and he pulled her body against him as he gently deepened the kiss. When he let her go, she stumbled slightly and he put a hand out to steady her.

“Full of surprises,” she murmured, touching her lips. Her hair was in beautiful disarray from the ride, extra curly and wild. He wanted to see how it would look fresh out of bed.

“Thanks,” he said. “I had a great time.”

“So,” she said, composing herself and smoothing down her coat. “Back to work?”

He sighed and got off the snowmobile to follow her in. “I suppose.” He put an arm around her and was rewarded with a grin. “If we have to.”

She nodded and led the way into the lodge. “Work before play.”

Ryder sort of wished it were the other way around.

T
he rest
of the workday went by briskly, except for a couple of interruptions from Ryder’s brothers to tease them about working on vacation.

But Ryder was difficult to ruffle, so she hid her blush and worked alongside him and tried not to react to the teasing. What was really on her mind was what was going to happen once they were at the cabin again. And the fact that she shouldn’t ever ride on a snowmobile behind Ryder again. It was far too dangerous. The feel of his wide back against her soft breasts, the hard abs under her hands. It had been heaven.

She made a note to call her girlfriends for some girl time the next day. It was exactly what she needed to clear her head. That thought reminded her of the phone message, and she drummed her fingers on the desk while thinking whether she should tell Ryder.

She would wait and see if more messages came. She knew she was safe here, and perhaps if she showed him, he’d overreact. She’d just have to be cautious.

He was putting away papers briskly and eyeing the clock, and she put away what she was working on as well. They’d made good progress, often with long stretches of silence, which suited her well because she preferred that when trying to focus.

But now that work was wrapping up, all she could feel was the tension in the air around them.

In a few minutes, he’d be taking her back to the cabin. And she didn’t know if she could handle that.

At the end of this week, she could very well be going back to her small apartment and her small business and the daily visits from her ex and the weekly girls’ nights out.

That hadn’t been too bad, up until Ryder Hart walked into her life. Deciding she needed a dose of reality, she pulled out her phone and fidgeted with it until Ryder looked over at her, puzzled.

“You need to call someone?” he asked, drawing up to full height to look down at her. Damn he was tall.

“I was thinking about calling the girls.” Disappointment flashed across his face but was gone quickly, and he smiled politely.

“Sure. If you’d like, I’ll send the jeep for them. I don’t want you to feel lonely up here while you’re working.”

She got the impression that he’d like to be the one keeping her from being lonely, but she appreciated that he didn’t have any problem with girl time. If what they had gone longer than this week? He’d need to be okay with her girlfriends. That was non-negotiable. “That would be great, thanks.”

An unreadable expression moved over his features and he nodded and ducked out to make a phone call. She dialed on hers as well.

Leslie was first to pick up.

“Hello? Where the hell have you been?” she asked, sounding exasperated and relieved at the same time. “You weren’t at work, and Sherry said something about going off for a week with some guy, and I
know
you weren’t planning to not tell your best friends about it!”

Janna laughed, wincing a little at Leslie’s exuberance. She couldn’t help but think she’d be a good match with Riley. Both seemed to have a little too much energy at times and too much fun interfering in other people’s lives. But she loved Leslie all the same.

“It’s Ryder.”

“Ryder Hart? Um, excuse me, but if you’re on a first-name basis with Ryder Hart, then I need details immediately. Not that I’m not supportive of you finally stepping out of Scott’s shadow, but come on, girl. Deets!”

“Give me a second to talk,” Janna said. “Ryder was thinking of sending down a Jeep to pick you and Kylie up to bring you to the lodge. I’m staying here right now.”

Leslie let out a wolf whistle. “Wow, when you step out of that prissy shell, you really—”

“We’re working on paperwork together. His father’s accountant really made a mess of things, and Ryder hired me for a week to sort it out with him.”

“Mm-hmm.” Leslie didn’t sound convinced. Janna knew she was probably right. But still, she had to try the less controversial story first. “As for the Jeep, sure, that’d be fun. Kylie was coming over tonight and we were going to make plans to stalk you, so I guess this works.”

“Stalk me, hm?” Janna teased. “Or were you simply hoping the mysterious man I was with was one of the brothers and you’d be able to chill with them too?”

“Pssh. Like you’d hold out on us. There’s three of them. Three. You’ve got the billionaire. Share the wealth.”

“I haven’t got anything. And you’re welcome to any of the men.” She fidgeted nervously as she said it. She wasn’t really sure that was true. If anyone else showed interest in Ryder…

“Sure, sure. I can tell from your voice something is up,” Leslie said. That was probably true. Leslie was uncannily good at reading people. Maybe it had something to do with being a bartender.

“Well, maybe,” she said, thinking of what had happened when they got to the cabin the other night. She felt hot from head to toe, and Leslie made a hissing noise.

“You screwed him, didn’t you? Janna, you naughty accountant!”

“Hey, accountants gotta have fun, too. After all, we don’t have exciting careers like you.”

“Ha! Listening to sad drunks and fending off tourist advances? Not that exciting.”

“So come up here and get you some excitement,” Janna said. “Bring Kylie. I totally need girl time.”

“Girl, if I had the chance to get any of those men alone, girl time is the last thing I would want.”

“Hm,” Janna replied.

“Trust,” Leslie said. “I’m just warning you. If I get an opening, I’m moving in. You don’t get men like that out here often. I mean, damn.”

Damn indeed. Janna couldn’t argue with the sentiment, given that just yesterday she’d thrown her cares to the wind and just gone with it.

“So… how was it?” Leslie asked after a pause. Janna could hear the smile in her voice.

“Hm, I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Yes, you damn well do! We all do! Now spill.”

“I can’t,” Janna said, twirling a piece of hair around her finger, kind of pleased to be the one with actual adventure to share. “He’s just outside.”

“Well, say it in code or something.”

“Code?”

“Something he won’t know what you’re saying,” Leslie spat out.

“Hm. Well, let’s just say he’s a
big
deal,” Janna said, trying to keep from laughing. “And he’s
good
at his job. And he’s a great…
multitasker
.”

“Girrrl…” Leslie muttered. “I’mma need more deets when I get there.” A knock sounded in the background. “That’s Kylie. I’m going to go tell her. When will the Jeep be here?”

“As soon as Ryder can send them. Do you want me to come down?”

“Nah, you can just be ready to greet us with a big entrance. And, Janna?”

“Yes?”

“Try and get the other boys there.”

She sighed. She supposed it wasn’t fair to hold out on them. They’d had so many girls’ nights dreaming and talking of men like this, and now she had an in. She’d just have to hope Ryder wouldn’t take it wrong. “All right, I’ll try.”

“You’re the best.”

“No, you are,” she told Leslie. Truly feeling like she didn’t know how she would have survived without the other woman. Leslie simply chuckled, blew a kiss into the phone, and hung up.

When Janna exited the office, Ryder was waiting.

“You get a hold of your friends?” he asked.

“Yes, they’re up for it.”

“Great, give me the address and I’ll send the Jeep. The driver’s already waiting outside.”

“Perfect,” she said, writing it down for him. He ran it outside and she enjoyed the look of his taut ass and long legs. Who knew smart guys could be so hot? She liked being with him, partly because he always seemed to have things under control. Always had a plan or was ready to come up with one. Always thinking one step ahead. It was such a relief after a man-child like Scott, who’d expected her to handle most things herself and whined when he didn’t get his way.

Watching Ryder walk back to her, swishing dark hair off his forehead and smiling, she felt her heart skip a beat, and for the first time, was almost a little glad that Scott had cheated on her.

Without him, she wouldn’t be here.

Or would she? A silly, romantic part of her felt maybe she and Ryder would have met otherwise.

She shook her head, stunned by her thoughts. Though she’d been smitten by Scott, she’d never had any thoughts about fate or destiny with him.

Was it simply that Ryder was a billionaire, rich and handsome, that was sweeping her off her feet? No, there had to be more. It was like the air was electric when their eyes met. His touch was unbelievably hot yet perfectly suited to her.

She was glad they wouldn’t be alone tonight. She didn’t know if she’d be able to keep her hands off his hard, muscled body. Not after everything he’d done for her today. And all of the sweet conversation they’d had.

No, company would be perfect.

She didn’t trust herself around Ryder Hart. She was too likely to make a fool of herself over him. He was everything she’d want in a man, if she could order it. Integrity, openness, control, protectiveness. She could easily fall in love with him.

“You okay? What do you think they’d like to eat for dinner?” he asked as he approached.

She fidgeted and then dropped her phone in her pocket. “I don’t know. Steak never goes wrong.”

“I was thinking more party food. What do you think about pizza? Fancy pizza, of course, because that’s what they have here. And drinks. And snacks.”

“That sounds great,” she said. “And can you invite your brothers?”

“Sure,” he said. “No problem.” He turned as if he were going to go call them and then stopped, hesitating. He gave her a slightly dark look, and she realized with astonishment that he was jealous of her asking for them to be there.

“No, no,” she said, waving her hands in front of her in a placating gesture. “Leslie and Kylie wanted them to be here.”

Relief washed over his handsome features and an adorable dimple appeared in his cheek. “That’s fine. I’m sure they don’t need any inducement to hang out with a couple of beautiful women.”

It was Janna’s turn to feel jealous, and she didn’t like Ryder calling her friends beautiful, even if they were.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “Not as beautiful as you.”

She flushed and then laughed at being caught in the same position as him. “It’s all right. Is it okay if I freshen up before dinner?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said. “Just stay close.”

“I was just going to go to the cabin. You gave me a set of keys, after all. And my stuff is there.”

His face tensed and a corner of his mouth turned down. “I’ll walk you over.”

“There’s no need…”

He seemed to sense that she wanted to go on her own, so he shrugged and followed her to the entrance closest to the path that led to the cabin. “All right, I’ll watch you from here.”

She prickled. “I’m really fine.”

“What about the bears?” he asked, and there seemed to be a hidden meaning there.

“Oh. I thought they’d be gone.”

“I’ll watch from here,” he said.

She looked at the stubborn tilt of his jaw and realized she wasn’t going to get her way with him, so she just stood on tiptoe to place a kiss gently on his jaw, which was lightly roughened with stubble. She breathed in his uniquely masculine scent and then stepped away. She didn’t miss the subtle, sharp intake of breath he’d made when she kissed him or the fire burning in his eyes as he watched her walk away.

She could see him in the glass behind her, watching her with eyes that were sharp and wanting.

Wanting something she wanted right back.

She stepped out into the cold, grateful for the evening air to cool her mind. A week with Ryder Hart? She was never going to make it that long without making a fool of herself or breaking her heart.

But she was going to try. She’d risked more for less. She grinned as she entered her cabin to get ready for the night.