The Easter Bunny's Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance Read online

  Maybe the Easter bear is real after all.

  Lisa could think of no better gift than what she’d been given.

  ***

  A note from Zoe Chant

  Thank you for buying The Easter Bunny's Bear! I hope you enjoyed it. Please click on the title to write a review of The Easter Bunny's Bear. I love hearing what my readers think! It helps me decide what to write next.

  If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list.

  And keep paging through to read a sneak preview of another book I wrote, Bear Cop.

  ***

  More Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant

  The Saber Tooth Tiger's Mate. A BBW recovering from a bad break-up + a sexy saber tooth tiger shifter + a sinister stalker and a deadly duel = one heart-pounding romance!

  The Billionaire Dragon Shifter's Baby. (Gray's Hollow Dragon Shifters #5). A curvy social worker in need of a break + a carefree dragon shifter + a baby dragon who needs her father = one hot and heartwarming romance!

  Bear Cop. A BBW baker with a troubled past + a protective bear shifter cop with a secret of his own + an accident that leaves them stranded in the wilderness = one untamed romance!

  Rescued By The Jaguar. A curvy Mexican billionaire whose money can't buy her love + a powerfully masculine American jaguar shifter firefighter + a world trying to tear these fated mates apart = one fiery romance!

  Dancing Bearfoot. A single dad from the city + his daughter's BBW teacher + a surprise snow storm = a steamy story that will melt your heart.

  A Werewolf's Valentine. A BBW cat shifter who's turned her back on love + a handsome werewolf stranger who comes to town + a very special Valentine's Day = a hot and heart-warming romance!

  Bad Boy Bear. Biker bear on the open road + BBW runaway-bride hitchhiker + evil motorcycle gang = an unforgettable red-hot road trip!

  The Billionbear's Bride. A BBW desperate to save her little sister + a hot alpha billionbear who needs a wife + a fake marriage that becomes a sizzling reality = one steamy romance!

  Bodyguard Bear. (Protection, Inc. # 1). A curvy paramedic who witnesses a murder + the sexy bear shifter bodyguard sworn to protect her with his life + firefights and fiery passion = one hot thrill ride!

  Hero Bear. A wounded Marine who lost his bear + a BBW physical therapist with a secret + a small town full of gossips = a hot and healing romance!

  Sheriff Bear. A small-town sheriff + a wrongly accused BBW on the run + deadly enemies and dangerous passions = a sizzling forbidden love!

  Guarding His Honey. A BBW in danger + the hot bear shifter who'll do anything to protect her + a dangerous fight with the mafia = one thrilling romance!

  Hollywood Bear. A BBW stuntwoman + a movie director bear shifter + Hollywood hijinks = one blockbuster romance!

  See Zoe Chant’s complete list of books here!

  ***

  If you love Zoe Chant, you’ll also love these books

  The Billionbear's Winter Angel, by Annora Lynn. Curvy Ella meets handsome billionaire bear shifter Martin at a holiday fundraiser. When Ella is kidnapped, only Martin's polar bear can find her in the freezing cold of this snowy winter's night.

  Billionbear Heir, by Annora Lynn. Curvy fashion designer Cat returns to her hometown—only to stumble straight into the arms of bear shifter Marius, heir to a fortune. Can Cat learn to love again, and can Marius protect his new-found mate and reclaim his father's legacy?

  Laura’s Wolf, by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine Roy Farrell, scarred in body and mind, thinks he has no future. Curvy con artist Laura Kaplan, running from danger and her own guilt, is desperate to escape her past. But together, they have all that they need to heal. A full-length novel.

  Prisoner, by Lia Silver. Werewolf Marine DJ Torres is a born rebel. Genetically engineered assassin Echo was created to be a weapon. When DJ is captured by the agency that made Echo, the two misfits find that they fit together perfectly. A full-length novel.

  Partner, by Lia Silver. DJ and Echo’s relationship grows stronger under fire… until they are confronted by a terrible choice. A full-length novel.

  Mated to the Meerkat, by Lia Silver. Jasmine Jones, a curvy tabloid reporter, meets her match in notorious paparazzi and secret meerkat Chance Marcotte. A romantic comedy novelette.

  The Christmas Tree Bear, by Rosie Lynne. Bear shifter Willis Barnett meets his fated match in Charlotte Caldwell when she hopes to earn extra money as Santa Helper’s on Willis’ family farm turned Christmas Tree Town for the holidays. A romantic comedy novella.

  The Strength of the Pack, by Jorrie Spencer. Seth Kolski, a werewolf, hides his heritage and passes for normal. Until he meets Jamie.

  Taming the Beast, by Honey Dover. Beauty is a paranormal investigator hired to deal with a man cursed to become a monstrous beast. Helping him recover his humanity will change her life.

  Claimed by the Wolf, by Candi Jackson. Zenobia Jones ends up pregnant after a night with a billionaire—and lands herself in a war between werewolf packs. A full-length novel.

  The Right Bear's Arms, by Nora Eli. After a sizzling one night stand with bear shifter Jake, curvy Katie realizes her perfect man is everything she's tried to avoid. If they can both stop running from their pasts, they may find a destined future together.

  Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Lauren Esker. Curvy farm girl Julie Capshaw was warned away from the wolf shifters next door, but Damon Wolfe is the motorcycle-riding, smoking hot alpha of her dreams. Can the big bad wolf and his sheep shifter find their own happy ending? A full-length novel.

  Handcuffed to the Bear, by Lauren Esker. A bear-shifter ex-mercenary and a curvy lynx shifter searching for her best friend's killer are handcuffed together and hunted in the wilderness. Can they learn to rely on each other before their pasts, and their pursuers, catch up with them?

  Guard Wolf, by Lauren Esker. Avery is a lone werewolf with no pack; Nicole is a social worker trying to put her life back together. When he comes to her door with a box of orphan werewolf puppies and danger in pursuit, can two lonely people find the family they've been missing?

  Discovering the Dragon, by Sofia Stone. When reporter Chloe Martin investigates Lancaster Gold, she finds herself tangled up with the oldest son—Isaac Lancaster, billionaire dragon shifter.

  ***

  Bear Cop

  By Zoe Chant

  Special Sneak Preview

  Eve Connolly stared at her phone in consternation, nearly dropping the cupcakes she had just been about to place in the display.

  “Sorry, Eve.” The voice of Phil, the bakery delivery man, came over the phone's speaker. “I'm fine, but the car's busted. That truck pushed me straight off the road. The car doesn't look that bad, but it needs to be towed. We are waiting for the cops to show up.”

  Eve sighed deeply. “You're sure you're all right?” she asked reflexively. But her mind was already busy calculating how to best deal with the remaining deliveries for the day.

  “Not even a scratch on me,” Phil reassured her. “Listen, Eve, I know it's my first day today, and I'm really sorry this happened.”

  “Not your fault, Phil.” Eve put the tray of cupcakes down, still wondering what they'd do without a driver and a car for the day.

  No wedding deliveries today, thank God. Those are always the worst, she thought.

  Eve loved the little bakery she ran and as good as owned, but today was quickly proving to turn into one of the more stressful days.

  “Just wait for the cops,” she said resolutely. “If the car has to go to the shop, we'll get a rental for the week. Or Mr. Herbert's old pick-up will have to do for a few days. Anyway, what's important is that no one is hurt.”

  Mr. Herbert would probably love an occasion for his old truck to be put to use once more. The thing was still painted with the ghastly logo he'd come up with when he had founded the tiny small-town bakery a long time ago. By now he really only came in to chat with his customers, many of whom had bought the
tempting creations of Linden Creek Bakery for half a century.

  “Thanks for taking it so well, Eve,” Phil said, still sounding subdued.

  “No need to get worked up about it now. Let the insurance handle it,” she said. Phil's description made it seem like a clear enough case, at least. Still, even if that other guy had caused the accident, a week without their new delivery car would be quite a hassle.

  Eve sighed heavily once Phil ended the call, remembering how Mr. Herbert kept giving her meaningful looks whenever he talked about how his joints ached, and how his back couldn't take long hours in front of cakes and tarts and cupcakes anymore. She really hoped he wouldn't ask her to buy out the bakery again.

  She didn't mind talking with their customers—most were very sweet—but the small town gossip often became too much for her. Half the conversations always seemed to drift towards the same topic: How was it that a beautiful, single woman like her spent her days and weekends behind the mixing bowl instead of finding herself a man to spoil with the bakery's famed cupcakes?

  With a frown, Eve tore her eyes away from the bestselling red velvet cupcakes that she had decorated with little hearts just this morning.

  Not for her, she told herself firmly. That was just how it was. It didn't even matter that she wasn’t good at finding clothes that would hide her hips and round belly. She’d never had success with any of the new diet fads anyway—and really, who would buy from a baker who didn't enjoy her own creations?

  It was just as well she was forever doomed to stay single. She could eat all the cupcakes she wanted, and would never have to fear that someone would find out about her past. Life in Linden Creek really wasn't bad—especially for someone who had tried her best to hide from the police for the past decade.

  She could never buy the bakery. The purchase would require legal paperwork, and she was living under a false last name. It was just too risky.

  She pursed her lips.

  Concentrate, Eve. You need to get to Phil, you need to deal with whatever he has done to the car, and then you need to come up with a wedding cake design for the Johnsons this evening. It was a full day, and the Herberts wouldn't even be around to help out today.

  When the little bell tinkled to alarm her that someone had come into the shop, she looked up—only to freeze in surprised delight.

  Woah, her mind supplied as her eyes came to rest on a broad chest. Woah!

  And then the rest of her brain caught up with the part of her that couldn't tear her eyes away from what had to be the fittest man to ever enter her little bakery.

  Police! her mind called out in warning.

  That broad chest was covered by a uniform shirt. He'd have a gun and handcuffs. And there, parked right outside the bakery, was his police car waiting to take her away...

  “It smells amazing in here,” the cop said. He eyed the little tower of colorful macaroons that she had piled up this morning to accompany the sugar cookie display in the window.

  Eve's heart was still racing with fear. But this wasn't how cops introduced themselves before they put handcuffs on you, was it?

  For a moment, Eve contemplated whether he could be bribed with macaroons, and was only barely able to hold back the hysterical laughter that wanted to escape at the thought.

  “Sorry, you probably already got the call,” the cop said. “There was an accident with your delivery car, but no one is hurt. My colleague's already there. I thought I'd give you a ride. Your driver said you're without a car, so I thought I'd use the chance to introduce myself. I'm Chris Anders.”

  Eve felt her knees weaken, and not just because he wasn't here to arrest her after all! He'd just given her the most incredible smile—brown eyes filled with a deep warmth that made something in her belly tighten, white teeth flashing as though he'd sprung straight from some commercial, all broad shoulders and strong arms. When he took off his hat, she saw that he had short brown hair just long enough to curl a little, giving him a hint of ruggedness that went very well with his firm jaw and warm eyes.

  Too well, Eve thought, her stomach twisting with a strange heat. How long had it been since someone had made her feel that way?

  She forced herself to tear her eyes away from where she could watch his pecs shift beneath his uniform shirt. This was the wrong time to become distracted by this vision of manliness right before her. For one thing, there was the accident, which would mean yet more work if they couldn't use the car for today's deliveries. And also, there was the fact that her past wouldn't hold up to investigation.

  Ten years ago she had changed her name and her story, on the run until she wound up in the small town of Linden Creek, where a kind old baker needed someone to help out a few hours every weekend. It hadn't taken long until he'd let Eve take over more and more of his work, and he had never asked questions about her past. Mr. Herbert knew that she was a good person who wouldn't do anything wrong—but a cop would never believe her.

  “Is everything all right? Your driver is fine, I promise,” the cop said. He took a step closer, looking worried. “I can take you to him. It's really just for the insurance formalities. From what he said, it sounds like your car is still good to go. Just scratches.”

  Eve realized suddenly that all this time, she must have been gaping at him like a lunatic. Wonderful, that was just what she needed! If he wasn't suspicious yet, he probably would be very soon, if she kept staring at him like she wanted to jump him at the first chance!

  He's probably used to that, she told herself firmly. A guy like that could have any woman he desired.

  “Sorry—sorry. Just the shock. Hi,” she said belatedly, feeling her cheeks heat.

  Now she felt like an idiot. There was still flour all over her arms, she realized too late when she held out her hand.

  But he only laughed softly and shook it. His hand was warm and strong.

  “Welcome to Linden Creek,” Eve said. “Jim must be relieved to have you, he's been looking forward to retirement for ages. He comes in every Monday for our apple pie. I'm Evelyn Myers. Most folks here just call me Eve. I hope you'll get a chance to try our pies as well. Some of our recipes still come from Mr. Herbert’s grandma.”

  Great, now she was babbling. She forced herself to give him a bright smile. If he didn't think yet that she was an idiot, that had probably done it. But that was a lesson she had learned quickly—if you didn't want people to ask about your past, just smile a lot and talk about pies, or cakes, or the weather, or the preparations for the next state fair. It was strange how lonely you could be, even if you spent half your day smiling at the people who bought your cupcakes.

  “Eve,” he said slowly, as if he was savoring the word.

  Ooh. She felt her knees weaken again.

  She had never heard someone say her name like that. His voice was all warm, with the barest hint of something darker beneath—almost like a soft growl. Whatever it was, it was damn sexy.

  ***

  Click here to keep reading Bear Cop.