Ski Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 5) by Scarlett Grove Page B

she’d asked so honestly, he couldn’t resist her. He wanted to give her everything she wanted. That didn’t stop him from being just as scared the next morning.
    But with their bond radiating back and forth between their hearts, he knew she wouldn’t leave.
    “I want to show you our house,” he told her, just as his phone rang.
    It was Levi. With everything going on in his own life, Zach had completely forgotten about Levi and Juliet’s baby. He answered the phone.
    “Hi, Levi. How is Juliet?”
    “She’s doing well. And so is the baby. We’re having a quick gathering at the hospital this morning. We want everyone to come see our daughter.”
    “Sounds great. We’ll be there.”
    “Is everything all right?” she asked.
    “The baby was born. Want to go meet her?”
    “I’d love to.”
    They finished getting ready and stopped off on Main Street to buy gifts for Juliet and the baby. Maisie picked a pink and black striped onesie and a fancy pacifier. Zach picked out a bunch of balloons. They were for every occasions from over the hill birthdays to congratulations for graduating high school. He also got a bouquet of flowers for Juliet.
    When they arrived, it seemed like more of a party than a hospital room. They pushed through the crew to see Juliet holding her baby in the bed with Levi right here beside her.
    Zach handed her the balloons and flowers with a big grin on his face.
    “These are great.” Juliet laughed.
    “I brought you this,” Maisie said.
    “You’re Maisie, right?” Juliet asked, opening the gift. “You opened the bakery on Main Street. I loved the macaroons. Thank you so much.”
    “Thank you,” Maisie said.
    “You’re Zach’s mate?” Juliet asked.
    “Yes. It’s now official,” Maisie said, sliding her shirt away from her neck to show the mark.
    Everyone in the room gasped, stopped cooing at the baby, and stared at Maisie’s neck.
    “Congratulations to you,” Angus said, slapping Zach hard on the back.
    “What are you going to name the cub?” Zach asked, changing the subject.
    “We’ve settled on Sunshine,” Levi said.
    “Seriously?” Drew asked.
    “I knew that was the perfect name!” Zach said.
    “Sunshine Blackthorn just has a nice ring to it,” Juliet said, rocking her baby girl in her arms.
    The child was so adorable and pink that it made Zach’s heart swell thinking that he and Maisie could have one of their own after last night.
    As they left the hospital, he could feel Maisie’s awe inside his chest. She was as affected by the cub as he had been. Their mutual connection was allowing them to feed off of each other’s emotions. He loved the way that worked between them, bringing them to new heights of feeling they’d never experienced before.
    When they got out to the truck, he turned the key in the ignition and looked over at Maisie.
    “I really want to show you the house now,” he said.
    He had a surprise for her that he’d been waiting to give her since before they’d met. It had been hidden in his glove compartment for months, waiting for this day.
    “I’d love to see the house,” she said.
    They drove back down the street and turned off into the neighborhood where his house was. They parked in front and he opened her door of the car. He slid his hand into the glove compartment and grabbed his secret surprise.
    When they made it inside, Maisie’s jaw dropped. The living room was full of light and the kitchen was a baker’s dream. She gushed over each amenity and the high-end finishes.
    All Zach could do was smile at her reaction. He’d known from the moment he’d seen the place that this was it. This was their house where they would raise their family and grow together. The forest beyond the backyard was park land that would never be developed. Their family could play together as bears there. It would be perfect.
    Zach and Maisie walked upstairs to the master bedroom and Maisie pushed open the French doors out onto the balcony. She looked out