Romance: Loving The BillionBear: BBW Bear Shifter Romance Standalone (Spicy Shifters Book 3) by Ashley Hunter

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    It wasn’t really that different of a day. The weather outside was cool and crisp, and Amelia could sense the first hints of fall in the air. It made her smile – autumn meant boots and sweaters, hoodies, and comfy blankets. It was her favorite time of the year.
    She stepped out the door of the small town veterinarian office where she worked. No, it wasn’t a glamorous job, but it let her work with animals, which she loved, and it let her stay in her hometown. Everywhere she looked in town, she had sweet memories of her parents, who died in a vehicle collision when she was just 18. How could she ever leave? It would be like leaving the last connection to her family behind. Even after she graduated from college, it just wasn’t something she even considered.
    Strolling home, she had a smile on her face. She was two hours early and she would get to surprise Lucas. She wondered if he remembered that today marked their two-year anniversary together. She wanted to do something special. That’s why her boss let her leave early.
    As soon as she walked in the door, something was…off. It just didn’t feel right. She stood in the threshold trying to figure out what was wrong. That’s when she heard a woman laugh.
    She didn’t even say anything when she opened the door to the bedroom and saw Lucas lying in bed with a strange -- and very sexy-- woman. She just stood there, too dumbstruck to even gasp. But then Lucas saw her.
    “Oh, god. Oh shit. Amelia. What are you doing here?” He jumped out of bed, apparently trying to distance himself from the woman he was just naked with. He grabbed his boxers, haphazardly thrown on the floor and for a minute, Amelia wondered why. It was clear everyone in the room had seen him naked after all.
    “I…I got off early for our anniversary,” she stammered, the tears starting to form in her eyes.
    “Listen. It’s not what it looks like, ok?” He started walking toward her.
    That’s the point when Amelia finally found her anger and her voice.
    “Not what it looks like? Because it looks like you just had sex with her.” She tried to stay calm. Didn’t they always say crying was a sign of weakness? But, she felt the tears sliding down her cheeks.
    “Well, yeah, but. Well, Amelia, it’s really your fault.”
    “My fault? How is it my fault?” She was really trying not to scream at him now. And, to add insult to injury, his…female friend…had to open her mouth. At some point, she had gotten out of bed and zipped herself into very tiny jeans before walking to stand beside Lucas.
    “Well, honey, he told me he needed a sexy woman. I mean come on, look at yourself! Couldn’t you lose a few pounds to keep your man?”
    Amelia’s hand moved.
    She never slapped anyone before. She didn’t realize how much it would hurt. The bombshell huffed and stormed out, holding a hand to her face protectively.
    “Deal with her if you want to be with me, Lucas.” She demanded as she brushed by Amelia.
    The tears were flowing now and Amelia inwardly cursed herself for crying. She should be stronger than this.
    “How long?” She breathed through clenched teeth, brushing her blond hair out of her face.
    “What?”
    “How long have you been cheating on me?”
    “Amelia…I”
    “No, tell me Lucas.”
    “A couple of months, I guess.”
    She wanted to scream. Curse at him. Throw things. Anything. Instead, she marched across the room, pulled her big suitcase from the closet and started flinging clothes in it without folding them up.
    “Amelia wait.”
    “What? What could you possibly say?” She didn’t stop emptying drawers to respond.
    “I just. I told you. No, you know what? I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t attracted to you, Amelia. Jeez. Look at me and then look at you. It’s a no brainer.”
    Amelia glanced up at the man she had loved for almost two years. He was still shirtless and was certainly good looking. He did have a nice