The Bear's Bride (Mail-Order Mates #3)(10)

Amy rolled her eyes. Tom was a nice guy but he was far from perfect. He could never make any plans and he was terrible at confrontations. Once when they were all at a bar, a man had spilled a drink on Karen. Amy’s first husband, Richard, had been ready to knock the guy out when he wouldn’t apologize to Karen. Tom got Karen napkins to mop herself up and suggested they go to another bar. That might have been the “mature” way to handle the situation, but it drove Amy nuts. She didn’t want a guy to fight all the time for no reason but in this occasion some fire was called for. It made Amy feel safer knowing the man she was with could protect her in any situation that arose.

“Right. Tom’s great.” She didn’t need to get an argument about Tom at the moment. “I need more time to get to know this guy. Listen, I have to go. I need to finish editing this chapter before I leave.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“I love you too.”

Amy hung up her phone and then got to work. She only had a few pages left to edit before she could start getting ready. She’d had some free time after leaving Frank’s in the afternoon and talking with Karen. She had gone shopping to procrastinate a little more before getting to work. There was a great boutique in town that had sexy clothes. Amy was surprised to find her size and had quickly scooped up a new shirt before coming back to the hotel to work. Gwen had recommended the boutique and she hadn’t been wrong. Amy would be returning to the shop to buy more when she had time.

Amy kept a close eye on the clock as she worked. It had been a very long day for Amy and she was ready to see Frank again. It was nice getting to see him at work. Even when it was a madhouse of screaming children with a line literally out the door, he was calm and cool. He took time to speak with each customer while still hustling them along. Amy was impressed.

She started getting ready as soon as she’d finished the last page of edits. The biography was even better than she had expected. Her editor was going to love her when she read it. Amy was very proud of her work on the biography of a minor duchess in England during the Restoration. She’d been working on it for three years and was on her final edits. She known it was going to be a great piece, but reading it again she was moved by her own work. That didn’t happen often.

Amy hummed as she took down her hair and fluffed it out. She’d borrowed some hairspray from Gwen and had put her hair up on rags to coax it into a curl. Gwen had assured her that there would be no charge for the towels she had to cut up to get the “curlers.” Her hair now framed her face in full waves and was still soft to the touch. Amy took her time doing her makeup so it looked natural but still glamorous. It was her favorite makeup look but it took time to do. She didn’t wear it often but when she did, she always got compliments.

The process of getting ready for her mystery night with Frank helped calm her nerves. She was starting to like him. More than like him if the butterflies in her stomach were any indication. She didn’t want to like him yet, but she couldn’t help herself. He was doing all the right things and she was starting to fall for him. Really fall for him. She reminded herself that there was no rush. She was only in town for one more night, but she could come back after Thanksgiving. She didn’t need to fall in love with the guy on day one.

Not that it would be unusual for her. Amy sighed. She’d been through this so many times already. Each time she’d thought the guy was different and she gave him her heart too fast, only to be disappointed. She’d been so good for the last few years. Now she was falling back into her same patterns. She had to keep her guard up just a little longer. If Frank was a good guy, he’d take it slow and wait until she was ready.

Amy gave herself one last check in the mirror before leaving for the shop. She looked tastefully sexy. She admired her body from the side. Even with her little tummy pooch, she still looked great in clothes. Maybe she didn’t need to go on that diet after all. The new shirt showcased her great chest even better than her favorite sweater. Her makeup was on point and her hair was perfect. She was as prepared as she could get.

***

Frank set up the last of the small plates on the counter in back. The day was not going as planned. He didn’t think he was going to get many customers since he had already sold out of pies for the season. The weekend before Thanksgiving had never been this busy. People were coming out of the woodwork to try his new treats and to grab a coffee. Normally, he welcomed the business but he had plans today. His shoot with Allison was in a few days and he wanted to get Amy’s opinion on the menu. It was the perfect way to spend time with his mate.

Having to postpone the date only made Frank more nervous. Last night, he had been bold and brazen. He’d even kissed her before he left! Today was a whole different story. He knew Amy was his mate. There was no doubt of it anymore. His bear had told him everything he needed to know when they kissed. Now, he was afraid of ruining their relationship. Not jinxing it, flat-out ruining it. He was afraid of coming on too strong now that he knew Amy was his mate.

After he’d closed the shop for the night, he had rushed through cleaning. He had all the tasting plates set up in his kitchen along with a little bistro table. He ate his breakfast there when he came to the shop early to go over his finances. He’d added a vase of flowers and a tablecloth so it looked nicer for Amy. It looked very romantic, and Frank was proud of the little touch. He hoped she would like it.

He was changing out of his work clothes into a nice pair of jeans and a button-down shirt when there was knock on the door. He rushed to close the last few buttons on his shirt before going to let her in. She was waiting alone in the dark outside the shop. Frank’s heart skipped a beat when he saw her under the streetlight. She was wearing a different outfit and she looked sexy as hell.