The Bear's Forever Mate (Borealis Bears Book 3) Read online

  “They are. They take after their father, and their father’s father.” She tapped him briefly on the nose and watched his grin bloom at her playfulness. Then she sighed softly. “But all work and no play is a bad idea, Giles. It took a long time for me to teach you to relax. And Glenda is the one who makes sure our son takes time to smell the roses. Who is going to be there to help our grandsons realize there’s more to life than a bottom line?”

  Giles blinked. “Oh.”

  She snuggled against his broad chest, the way she had for years and years. While there she marveled a little that this sweet, determined polar bear shifter who had won her heart had no idea she could read him like a book.

  “Well, work is important,” Giles began.

  “Work is very important,” she agreed. “I couldn’t want more for the company than to have our grandsons in charge. But if it means that they keep pushing off falling in love and starting their own families, well, then.” She snapped upright, not just acting but sharing the truth she felt to her core. “I’d give the entire business to Midnight Inc. and be done with it if Borealis Gems proves to be a detriment to Cooper, Alex and James finding mates and forever loves.”

  Giles chuckled at her tone. “You’re magnificent when you’re fired up.”

  “It’s just that I love you so much,” she said honestly. “You’re my heart, Giles Borealis, and don’t you forget it.”

  “I love you, Laureen Borealis, and you leave the boys to me. I think I can deal with your worries easy enough,” he promised.

  And he had, or so it appeared.

  Giles didn’t need to be reminded about the times she’d spent with Kaylee and James when they were younger, guiding the two youngsters into a rich, deep relationship that would be ready to bloom at the perfect moment.

  There wasn’t a reason to mention that Laureen had first met the Lazuli family years earlier, back at college. That she’d encouraged the parents to move to Yellowknife in the first place.

  And when Lara had gone away to college, Laureen had kept in touch with the Orion pack through monthly “book club” visits with Amethyst Lazuli. Oh, yes, there’d been behind the scenes work done all around to be sure when Lara returned, she’d find a place to call home with Alex.

  And the bits of help she might have provided Amber to make sure that she was ready to meet her challenge—well, that had simply been a woman helping another woman find her feet in the wilderness of the north.

  Laureen glanced again at the pages of Giles’s journal.

  It was tempting to post a sticky note. To add a couple of lines referring to the items she’d set in motion, but then again, this wasn’t about who had done what.

  Her grandsons were mated. That’s what counted. It had taken some doing, but every bit had been worth it. Giles was happy, she now had granddaughters, and soon there would be great-grandbabies to cuddle.

  He didn’t need to know the rest of the story.

  Contented, she pressed a kiss to his lips.

  Giles smiled without opening his eyes. “What a wonderful dream I’m having.”

  “Not a dream. Just an everyday, ordinary event,” she whispered.

  That made him pop awake. He pulled her into his lap, this shifter with whom she’d spent most of her life. He stared at her face, fingers brushing her cheek gently. “A kiss from you is far from ordinary, my love. You’ve magic in you, and it teases my senses and fills my soul with joy.”

  “Sweet talker.” But she leaned closer and kissed him again because good behavior should be rewarded.

  He hummed happily.

  “He adores you so much.”

  The voice in her head that was Giles, but not, was as familiar to her as breathing. “I adore him too. And you as well, sweet bear of mine.”

  “Of course you adore me. I’m the best of bears, after all. I’m the one who knew you were ours before he did.”

  “Smart, beautiful bear,” Laureen agreed.

  “And cute. Don’t forget cute,” Giles’s bear prompted before offering the equivalent of a kiss to her nose.

  “You two stop flirting,” Giles said, but it wasn’t a complaint. It was joy and forever and family.

  Laureen felt contentment to the tips of her toes. Grandchildren who were happy, children living rich lives, and the heart of her heart and his bear staring at her with love.

  She couldn’t have arranged it better if she’d tried.

  I hope you enjoyed Cooper and Amber’s story, and all the match-making-mischief of Grandpa and Grandmother Borealis in this series. Thank you for reading, and if you do have a few minutes to leave a review for others, I’d appreciate it.

  That’s the conclusion to this trilogy. So you don’t miss whatever I come up with next in paranormal romance, make sure you’re on my mailing list! (I’ve got plans! Oh, boy, do I have plans!!) The mailing list really is the best way to get information because I’m not super active on any social media.

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  If you’re looking for another completed series to try, the TAKHINI SHIFTERS are snarky, light-hearted stories that will satisfy your need for a paranormal fix. Start with COPPER KING which features another feisty bear couple!

  Sweet, shy Lillie is in Sin City for a final fling, and billionaire grizzly Jim Halcyon is pleased to oblige. Only when Lady Luck gets involved with these two bear shifters, lust and ambition clash.

  If this is one of the first Vivian Arend books you’ve read, check out my Newbies Guide to Viv’s Paranormal Romances!

  About the Author

  With over 2.5 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 60 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.

  Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shih-tzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.

  www.vivianarend.com

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The Bear’s Forever Mate

  Copyright © 2020 by Arend Publishing Inc.

  ISBN: 9781941456767

  Edited by Anne Scott

  Cover Design © Damonza

  Proofed by Angie Ramey, Linda Levy, & Manuela Velasco

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.

  First electronic publication: February 2020

  www.vivianarend.com