EXCERPT FROM BOUNTY HUNTER BEAR
©2018 Bianca D’Arc. All Rights Reserved.
Ezra parked his bike where he could see it from the window of the truck stop and headed inside. He’d fuel up before he left, but for right now, he needed food and plenty of it. He headed toward the restaurant area and chose a seat at the window that gave him a good view of all the exits, as well as outside. When the waitress sashayed over and took his order, he gave her a smile as she filled his coffee cup. A few minutes later, after he’d sent a quick text to his friend Ace to apprise him that Ezra was right on schedule, the food came and Ezra began to shovel it in.
It smelled decent. The food at this particular truck stop was a bit better than at the chain places. He scented fresh herbs and vegetables in his generous portion of meatloaf and the gravy was tasty. He applied himself to his meal and other than glancing occasionally at his bike, he let the food begin to wash away some of his weariness.
It wasn’t until he was mopping up the last of his dessert that Ezra heard the rumble of an approaching motorcycle engine. It was a newer model Harley in prime condition and as it pulled into a spot right next to his bike, he noticed the female driving it was pretty prime herself. A shapely ass and long legs made his mouth water as she stood from her ride as if she’d been born to straddle that hog.
His eyes were drawn to her as she turned her back to him. She took off her helmet and looped it over the handle, shaking out long, golden hair that made him think of honey. And, of course, bears loved honey. The woman was a knockout from behind in her leather duds that hugged every curve faithfully. Then she turned and started walking toward the entrance.
It couldn’t be.
No fucking way.
The last time he’d seen that beautiful face, it had been gaunt with weight loss and her energy had been at its lowest ebb. Could the bombshell with the curves that didn’t quit and the smooth sashay that said she owned her piece of the world and Goddess help anyone who tried to take it from her be the same woman he’d rescued those months ago in Lake Tahoe?
Could it really be Theodora?
His heart almost stopped as she opened the door and headed straight for the restaurant. She gazed around the room, taking it all in and Ezra found himself standing without even thinking about it. Their gazes met across the distance and held…
Her eyes narrowed for a moment as if she was surprised, but she didn’t make any other outward show. Then she started walking toward him.
Goddess help him. It really was Theodora and she was heading his way.
She looked long and lean and curvy in all the right places. As she drew nearer, he caught the delicate scent of her on the air conditioned currents. She smelled even better than she had before, if that was even possible. Sure, she’d been weak and had almost given up the ghost a couple of times before she stabilized and started to come back to the land of the living, but he’d remembered her delicate scent. A scent that had haunted him these many months.
And now she was here. How? Why?
Ezra almost shook his head. Did it really matter? She was here and she had recognized him. Well, that answered that question. She remembered him. More than that, she remembered him and hadn’t run screaming in the other direction at the sight of him. Will wonders never cease?
Thea walked right up to him and stopped, a few feet separating them. She looked him straight in the eye, strong, vibrant. So different from the way she’d been when he’d last seen her flying away in the company of her parents on a private plane chartered by Collin Hastings, the shifter P.I. her folks had hired to find her.
“Ezra.” Her voice was solid. Full of confidence that seemed to ooze from her every move. It was incredibly sexy.
“Theodora,” he replied, nodding slightly. “You’re looking well,” he said, then thought his words a little too sappy. “You’re looking incredible, in fact.”
“Thanks to you,” she replied after a moment where she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, drawing his attention to her lusciously curved hips. “I can’t recall if I ever did thank you properly for what you did.”
Ezra held up one hand, palm outward. “No need. I’m just glad I was there, in the right place, at the right time.”
She looked like she wanted to argue the point, but her gaze flitted around the room. People were watching them. Right. Get a grip, man.
“Would you like to join me?” he asked, gesturing toward the other side of the booth he’d been sitting in for the better part of an hour.
“I don’t want to intrude,” she said, but he hoped she was just being polite.
“Not at all. I’d enjoy the company,” he told her. If he’d been at a table with actual chairs, he would’ve acted the gentleman and pulled one out for her, coercing her to sit with him. As it was, he merely stood, waiting for her to make up her mind.
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