Bear's Fake Bride (Shifter Marriage Service 2)

She could hear him chuckle as she returned to her room and slipped into a pair of pull on boots she used to muck about in the barn. When she got back to his room, he was waiting by the door this time. He smiled and opened it, letting her walk out and then joining her on the other side. He took her hand as they walked down the stairs and said some quick hellos to a few of the early workers before ducking out the back door and making their way toward the barn. He made a minor production of kissing her before leaving to do his own chores.

Mornings at the ranch were hectic. The clan members always arrived, the ranch suddenly bursting into work. A flurry of activity ensuing from every barn, stable and pasture. People wasted no time in getting their work done. It was the worst part of the place, getting up at ungodly hours to tend livestock and harvests, but the best part came in the fact that the work was done early, and they could do as they pleased with the rest of the day.

At least, that was the case with most people here. It was a bit different for Kay, who still had her “wifely” duties to do. There were times that she could go about her day alone, as any wife would do, but those days were not of her choosing. Bradley dictated her days off just as any other boss would do. A quarter mil had purchased his right to do so.

She shook off any sour thoughts about being here. This is what she had chosen, and it was helping her out of a potentially bad situation. She’d had no thoughts of this turning into some sort of real romance. That was the last thing she needed or wanted. Things were, so far, going according to plan, and that is what mattered.

Time seemed to pass quickly as she emptied her head and just focused on the horses, their coats soon brushed to a smooth gleam and the stalls smelling like fresh hay for their return to them. Some days, she got in there much later, after they had been taken out by other people on the ranch for work or exercise and then returned, but today, they rested and that allowed her to get in and out early. so she could head to town with Bradley for the day.

Once she was done, she returned to the house. Bradley was still out and about for a bit. She took the opportunity to run back through the shower to rinse off the residue from working in the barn and changed clothes, this time remembering to put on shoes.

The vibrant red tank and linen capri pants hugged her curves perfectly. She still didn’t have a lot of clothes, despite having the money to buy new things now. When she left here, she didn’t want to have a lot to pack up and relocate. It was better to only buy what she needed and leave with a suitcase or two. Still, she had bought something for any occasion and this, paired with a pair of multi-color sandals and her long hair pulled up into a ponytail was perfect for a simple day out.

Rather than waiting in her room, she took the opportunity to go downstairs and enjoy the view, grabbing a book she had pulled from a stash found left in her room when she had first arrived. Perhaps she would at least buy an e-reader while they were in town, but she was rather enjoying the old school smell and feel of the hard cover classics that had been stacked in the back of the closet.

“Bit of a hard go, that one,” a voice said as she sat reading by the open windows.

“A bit, but I’m enjoying it.”

“I love books. Don’t find a lot of people reading down here. You must be new.”

Kay looked at the woman, puzzled. She had never seen her here before and, apparently, it was mutual.

“Fairly new. I’m Bradley’s wife,” Kay told her.

The woman looked stricken for a moment, obviously struggling to regain her composure. Kay could almost see her looking for an escape route. Was she another sister of his deceased ex?

“I’m sorry. I had no idea. My apologies.”

“It’s okay. Might I ask what you are doing here? Do you work on the ranch?”

“I came to visit Bradley, but I can see now that isn’t appropriate.”

“Oh?” Kay replied, feeling less and less hospitable.

“I’ll go.”

“I didn’t get your name,” Kay said.

“I didn’t give it,” the woman replied, suddenly turning and making a quick exit.

Her path was cut off by Bradley coming through the door and colliding into her. He instinctively reached out to catch her as she went flying backward, catching her before she hit the floor. The look on his face was one of surprise, but it revealed no emotion beyond that.