Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Boone
That was her…
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to push that thought away. That was my mate, but I can’t deal with that right now.
I’m in the middle of the town square, completely naked, with a thirty foot Christmas tree on my back.
She was so beautiful…
The image of her standing there like a Christmas miracle is burned into my brain. It’s all I can think about. It’s all I can see.
I want to go to her. I need to find her. To have her. To claim her.
But first, I have to get out of this disastrous predicament.
“What the hell were you thinking?” I mutter, coughing and wiping my burning eyes from all that pepper spray. They’re watering as I peek out from under the massive tree branches. The cops are swarming the area, looking for my grizzly.
As soon as this tree came down, he tucked his tail and pulled me out, letting me deal with the mess.
I grab one of the fake decorative presents under the tree and punch two holes into the cardboard.
I open the top and stick my legs in there, pulling it up like a pair of shiny cardboard shorts.
It looks ridiculous, but it’s better than running out there with my cock flopping around for everyone to see.
I slip out on the opposite side of the tree, using it as cover from the cops as I hurry along it, hoping no one is watching. I dart into the alley, toss the present, quickly grab my clothes, and yank them on.
My heart is racing as I look out, hoping I don’t see any shocked or curious faces looking my way.
It’s all clear.
I take a deep breath and slip out, hurrying along the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets. A group of cops run my way.
“Have you seen the bear?” one barks at me.
“It ran that way,” I say, pointing to the wilderness. “Into the mountains.”
Two peel off the group and head into the direction I pointed as the other two race to secure the area.
Where is she? Where is my mate?
I feel frantic as I look around for her. And that’s when I see…
What I did.
Shit.
It’s chaos and destruction everywhere. The massive tree is laying across the town square, cutting the road in two. A wreckage of huge broken decorations litter the snow and the window of the candle store is broken.
There’s no more singing or dancing or people enjoying the holiday. There’s cops and screaming and a line up of cars that can’t leave because the tree is blocking their way.
My heart squeezes into a tight ball. I feel kind of bad. This isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be.
Told you, my bear seems to say, gloating.
“Clear the area!” the Sheriff yells to the cops who are running around, trying to find my grizzly.
That’s when I see her.
My mate.
She’s perfect. I can’t breathe as I stare at her across the square.
Emotions I haven’t felt in decades, and some I’ve never felt in my life, flood into my soul, filling me until I feel like I might burst. My eyes water as I stare at her in awe.
She’s standing near the news van, cheeks flushed from adrenaline, hair a little wild, facing the camera and speaking into the microphone like a total pro.
She says something final and then smiles. The light over the camera turns off and the woman holding it lowers it off her shoulder.
What am I supposed to do? Go over there? Talk to her? Throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my cabin?
I never thought I’d ever want a mate, so I never bothered to plan or prepare for the moment when I saw her. I thought if that moment ever did come, I’d just roll my eyes and keep going, choosing my solitude over her.
But now…
Looking at her… Looking at that angel…
How could I ever choose anything but her?
She’s all I want. All I’ll ever want.
I sigh as I look around at the mess. She’s not going to want me. I ruined the whole night for everyone. I tried to cancel Christmas.
I step back as the mayor and Sheriff come hurrying past me.
“We need to get a boom crane out here,” the mayor says. “Quickly.”
The Sheriff nods. “It’s going to take a few hours, the guy is…”
I don’t hear the rest of what they say as they hurry along.
I look at my girl looking disappointed as she surveys the mess and then I turn to the fallen tree. I squeeze my hands into fists and narrow my eyes in determination.
I’ll fix this. For her.
I march over to the massive tree, step under it and position the thick trunk on my shoulder. With a fierce grunt, I start lifting and pushing, giving it everything I got.
It doesn’t move. I grit my teeth and push harder, every muscle in my body flexed to the max.
I think of my mate and use that as motivation. I want to see her smiling. I want to see her eyes light up as she looks up at the tree. I want to fix this for her.
I let out a fierce grunt as it starts moving. I push and push, my veins ready to pop, my muscles ready to tear. But I don’t stop. I take a small step as it starts to rise. Another. Another.
“Secure it!” I hear one of the cops holler. “Secure the base!”
Cops rush around me, but I can’t focus on that. Every last bit of my energy is being used to push this heavy bastard up.
It gets lighter as it gets straighter and finally, the momentum shifts and it falls into place. I grab a branch to keep it from falling in the other direction.
The cops race to the bottom, securing the trunk as I hold the tree up, my body aching, my lungs heaving in deep breaths.
I can feel my inner bear glowing with pride. He thinks there’s hope for me yet.
I just want to please my girl.
“We got it!” one of the officers says and everyone cheers.
I step away from the tree as everyone returns, crowding around the square. I look out at them and they all cheer for me.
I’m looking for one person. She saved my life. The Sheriff was aiming for my bear’s head and she leaped on him, pushing the gun into the air.
But it wasn’t just that. She saved my life in more ways than she’ll ever know.
“Sir,” the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard says. “Sir! Can we get a word?”
My mate comes running at me with the camerawoman following close behind, the light on top of the camera practically blinding me.
I’m stunned as she stands beside me, her delicious scent filling my lungs for the first time. I just want to take her in my arms, hold her, cherish, never let her go.
But I’m on live TV here, not to mention the police force and the whole town is watching. So, I just keep my trembling hands in my pockets and stare at her, completely mesmerized.
“This is the man who saved Christmas,” she says, half to me, half to the camera. “He lifted the tree back up all by himself. Truly a tree-mendous performance. Sir, what made you attempt such a heroic feat?”
She shoves the microphone in my face, but my head is swirling from a million possessive thoughts and obsessive emotions.
I want this girl to be mine. It’s all I can think about.
I look at her stunning face and I get lost in those lips… god, that mouth… the things I want to do to it.
My heart races. I haven’t spoken in way too long.
“I just saw… everyone upset,” I say, leaning into the mic. “And I wanted to bring a smile to your face.”
“Well, you certainly did,” she says, smiling at the camera. It’s such a breathtaking sight that my knees wobble. My legs lose all their strength. “Christmas is saved thanks to this large, handsome…” Her eyes widen as she looks up at me, realizing what she just said.
It seems that I’m not the only one struggling to hide this connection we’re feeling.
“…man.”
She swallows hard, looking like she’s panicking inside.
“Take two,” the mayor says into the microphone. “Let’s try that again, shall we?”
I step aside as the camerawoman focuses on the dark tree.
The cops and city workers got everything all set up.
The lights are strung back on, the angel was retrieved from the candle shop, and the broken decorations have been swept away.
There are still plenty hanging on there, although a few of them look a little banged up.
“Let’s get a countdown going,” the mayor says, trying to get everyone back into it.
The crowd is more than willing. They’re all pouring back into the town square. “Ten!” Everyone shouts, counting all the way down together.
Everyone is looking at the tree, but I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s the most magical thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe she’s real.
“Three!”
“Two!”
“One!”
Lights flash on beside me, washing my girl in a colorful glow. My heart squeezes when I see that big beautiful smile. The lights are sparkling in her eyes as she looks up at the tree in awe.
Everyone cheers.
My body aches with gratitude. My heart has never felt so full.
I can’t believe she’s here.
“There you have it, folks,” she says, turning back to the camera. “Christmas will not be stopped. This holiday refuses to sleigh down. From me to you, have a merry Christmas and a happy holiday. I’m Veronica Weaver from KNSP 300, signing off.”
Her cheeks blush as she looks up at me. “I’m sorry about the… handsome part.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” I say as our eyes lock on each other.
She looks at me for a long moment as if she’s trying to figure out what’s happening. Trying to understand why she’s feeling so drawn to me.
She’ll know soon enough. We were made for one another.
“Well, that was interesting,” the camerawoman says with a laugh. “I could use a drink. Or three.”
My girl tucks her hair back and smiles shyly as she turns away. Her eyes only leave me for a moment before they dart right back onto mine.
“You,” the camerawoman says. “Strong man. Want to come out for drinks with two pretty ladies?”
I grin as I stare at my girl. I’ll follow her anywhere. Even to the most crowded bar in the world. I’ll sing Christmas carols. I’ll wear a stupid ugly sweater. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep that woman looking at me like that.
“Absolutely,” I say, never taking my eyes off her.
“Great,” the camerawoman says. “Let’s go.”