Gabi was close. Too close. I could smell her – sweat mixed with the scent of clean rain and honey. Why did she have to smell like fucking honey? The laundry room walls were closing in on me. I wanted to lift her on the washer and claim her. God, my bear was desperate for her. I had to get out of here before I gave in to my instincts.

“Let’s see if she’ll sleep.” I pointed to the kitchen and brushed past Gabi, groaning at the impact. “I don’t want her to hear us talking about her. I don’t know what she’s been through.”

Gabi ran after me. “But you said…”

I turned. “After she’s asleep.”

Gabi sighed. “Can I at least have one of those grilled cheeses while I wait?”

I grinned accidentally. “Sure.” I moved back to the stove and added another sandwich to the griddle, slathered in butter. The pan sizzled as I flipped it over.

It was going to be a while before the cub napped. I had a few questions of my own.

“How did you get the Fall Festival job?” I asked. “It’s the first time an out-of-towner has taken it on.”

Gabi watched while I made lunch. “I’m in marketing and I’m an event coordinator.”

“So you do this kind of thing for a living?”

She laughed. “Yes. My firm in Atlanta handles events like these all over the country. I love it. Depends on the job, but I can do most of the planning remotely up until the event. Like this one,” she explained. “I just flew in and rented a car for the week.”

“And what do you think about our little town?” It seemed important that she liked it. That she found something here worthwhile. It felt as if my bear demanded it. I tried to lock him away again, so I could at least talk to Gabi without thinking about her in my bed.

I flipped the grilled cheese on a plate and slid it across the counter in front of her. I started another sandwich for myself.

“It’s not like any other place I’ve visited. I can say that with complete confidence.” She smiled slowly. There was something insanely seductive about everything she did. “It’s beautiful,” she added.

“First shifter town?” I asked.

I saw the way she lowered her eyes. She didn’t have to speak to tell me her answer. Most people were surprised when they traveled to Twilight Hollow. We didn’t advertise, but humans knew we were here. It was accepted, just not discussed. It wasn’t what we wanted to be known for. We’d stick to the orchards, vineyards, and the festival for town notoriety.

“Don’t worry. I won’t bite, Gabi.” I winked and saw the blush rise from her neck to her cheeks. Damn, she was pretty. There was an innocence about her. If this was her first shifter town, then that meant I was going to be her first shifter. My cock twitched with an ache.

I knew there were a lot of steps that had to come first. I had to slow my bear down. All he could think about was the prize.

My palm flattened into the counter.

“Everything all right?” she asked.

She didn’t know what she was doing to me. She didn’t know how she had awakened the most primal instinct inside my bear. The part that was supposed to be buried deeper than my heart.

“Yes.” I cleared my throat. I flipped the sandwich on a plate and turned to face her.

Gabi looked over her shoulder at the cub. “She ate everything on her plate.”

I nodded. “She was starving. Guess the apple didn’t really fill her up,” I teased.

“I can’t believe you found her in the orchard.” Her voice cracked in her throat. “She’s so small. So helpless.”

I knew Gabi wanted me to focus on the child, but all I could think about was the other thing I’d found in the orchard this morning—her.

* * *

I gathered wood and hauled it inside. I stacked the logs in the massive stone fireplace while Gabi tried to settle the girl to bed. She closed the door and listened to make sure she was asleep before joining me in the living room.

The fire crackled and popped behind me. I stood in front of the flames in a wide stance.

Gabi walked toward me.

“She’s asleep. I had to tell her a story, but I think she’s finally out.”

“What story?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

“What did you tell her?”

She cocked her head. “Something I made up.”

“Not Goldilocks?”

She sank into the couch. “No. Thought I should skip that one. I’m afraid I might not know all the facts on that story any longer.” She smirked. “I’m not the bear expert around here.”

“I think it’s safe to tell little cubs anything you want. They tend to be less imaginative than human children.”

Her green eyes glittered. “Wait. You’re telling me she’s a shifter too? A cub. Is that what you called her?”

I took a long stride from the hearth and sat next to her. The couch bowed under my weight.

“Yes. She’s a bear cub.”

Gabi exhaled. “I-I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to process any of this.”

It was impulse, but I reached an arm around her, gripping her shoulder. “I’ll explain the best I can.”

She nodded. “Please.”