**blurb**
Some people could cook; some could cook
well; Chef Nevena Nolan could flat out burn.
While she’d graduated from one of the top culinary schools in the world,
her grandmomma had taught her how to cook; school had taught her how to play
the game.
She minded her own business, stayed out of
shit, and kept her opinions to herself as she worked her way up through the
French brigade system. Her station was
spotless, her dishes had the southern grandmomma seal of approval. She never mixed business with pleasure. Of course, she’d never been tempted to…until
she bumped into an Italian chef who knew his chocolate, his wine and his way to
a woman’s heart.
On a sabbatical from his executive chef
position in one of Europe’s finest restaurants, he gave her plus size curves a
second, third, fourth and fifth glance, gave her taste buds an adventure, and
gave her hope that women like her could get HEAs. After he’d gotten what he wanted, he left her
with a broken heart, a ruined reputation and a baby.
Down, but not out, Nevena kept her head up,
took her apprentice chef, and kept it moving.
When she’d healed enough on the inside, she and her best friend
bum-rushed their way into one of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants and won over its
owner.
Winning over the crowd of regulars who all
seemed to have “aire” describing their net worth, they called her on her shit
but they treated her like she was family.
Knowing she had to spread her wings, they sent samples of her food to
the owners of an upscale resort in Alaska.
Once in Alaska, she discovered another group
of people who considered her family, her complete ignorance about wildlife, and
a man who made her heart beat in triple time.
She knew she could love him. Her
daughter did love him and her best friend encouraged her to jump on him and
ride him into another Ice Age.
Sheriff Dominic Kenai was an Alaskan grizzly
shifter. He was also the law in
Arcticus, Alaska. If you didn’t count
what he did to people who fucked with his territory, there was zero point zero
crime. Despite the new resort going up
and the increasing number of tourists coming in, he was determined to keep that
record intact.
An alpha male with simple tastes, all he
wanted was good coffee, peace and quiet, and a willing woman every now and
then. And then he met Nevena and his bear
went crazy. Determined to win her over,
he took his time so that she could heal.
He’d show her that he wasn’t like other men; he was better. He had the whole territory in his corner,
along with Nevena’s daughter, her best friend and her brother. Now all he had to do was prove to her that
loving him wasn’t a mistake.
**excerpt**
Flashing the two bricks of kuugiaq at Antarctica to add to his tab, Dominic was about to exit
when the dulcet voice of a human woman stopped him cold. Of its own will, his body made its way to
that voice, curious about the woman it belonged to. Being a local store as opposed to a
supermarket, Dominic didn’t have to hunt long to locate her and when he did all
he could do was thank the Creator. A big
male, he appreciated a big female and there was a whole lot to appreciate on
this woman—both up and across…and front and back.
The woman was on the other side of six feet and two
hundred pounds. Of course, he didn’t
get to see as much of the ‘whole lot’ as the woman was bundled up pretty
good. Still, that didn’t stop him from
undressing her with his eyes. She had
mocha skin that was without blemish, sparkling eyes, kissable lips, and had an
afro that proclaimed pride. All he could
think was that her African ancestry and his Alutiiq ancestry would look good
combined in their offspring. He wasn’t
being a bragging bastard, he was simply using logic. Considering how cute her cub was who didn’t
have his genes, there was no way the children they had together could be
anything less than stunning.
Dominic damned the cold weather that made it necessary
for her to wear so much. Next, he damned
the laws that made it necessary for her to wear clothes at all as he wanted to
see her on her back, against any flat surface, on her front…wearing nothing but
him, his scent, and a look of adoration.
While he could’ve spent all day looking at that woman, the tinkling
laugh of a child drew his attention.
Dominic didn’t need shifter senses to know that the
little girl belonged to her. Everything
about the way they interacted proclaimed it louder than any words ever
could. This woman was danger to
anything that made the mistake of thinking it was going to threaten her cub. Ms. ‘She Would Look So Good Draped on Top of
Me’ might be human, but something told Dom that she had a lot of bear ways
about her.
…
Dom
took a deep breath filled with a mouthwatering scent and turned to face the
woman who was going to be his. Oh,
Creator. His soon-to-be mate was
tempting a half a store away. Up close she
was absolutely stunning.
All woman, she held her ground like she was seven feet
tall and three hundred pounds. He
couldn’t help but smile at the fact that even if she matched those stats, he
was still bigger. His bear rumbled in
his chest acknowledging her scent, which was more of a turn on than anything
he’d ever scented. Not a hint of male
was on her letting Dom know she was available.
Good, he wouldn’t have to kill anyone.
If her cub hadn’t been with her, Dominic would’ve spread her out on the
checkout and buried himself deep in her body.
“Why are you looking at my mommy like that?” her cub
asked.
“Because she’s beautiful,” Dominic answered truthfully.
…
Taking a step closer, he looked in Nevena’s eyes and
introduced himself properly.
“I’m most
pleased to meet you,” he damn near purred.
“Pleased to meet you too,” Nevena said after catching
her breath.
Oh, you most
definitely will be pleased, he thought. Dominic couldn’t help but smile upon hearing
that catch in her voice and scenting the faint trace of her interest. It was a damn good thing she wanted him
because she was his the moment he laid eyes on her. Now all he had to do was convince her. Of that, Dominic had no doubt as he excelled
at many things and getting his way was at the top of that list.
