Reinicke

By Becca Fanning

Happily Ever After. These three words annoyed Anita Vasquez to no end. For most women, they summoned images of sunsets over tropical beaches, strolling hand in hand with some handsome masculine perfection. For Anita, as the director of a very popular dating service, these three words were a curse, one that infected the minds of the women she tried to find compatible matches for. Before they even sat down in her office, they already wanted the impossible. It was enough to drive someone crazy, so it was time to take a break from all of that. This Fairhaven Park was a nice enough area, but most importantly it was off the grid. No one would be able to bug her or get under her skin. Not even this six foot tall slab of meat park park ranger whose muscles must be choking his few remaining braincells.
Reinicke Best was at his end of his wits with these park visitors. Every year, they seemed to get worse. Less respect for the wildlife (no, you can't take a selfie with a grizzly bear). Less respect for the environment (no, this virgin old wood forest doesn't have a place for you to charge your phone). Less respect for the staff (no, I absolutely will not take your phone to get charged so you can take a selfie with a grizzly bear!). And then there was this newest visitor. Driving along without the common sense to watch where she's going, almost causing a car crash. He had a feeling she was trouble, the kind of trouble you'd have to keep a close eye on...
This 10,000+ word novella has hot Bear Shifter Bachelor action, a Happily Ever After, no cheating and no cliffhangers!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gizmo Media
• Release date: May 23, 2021

Book preview

Fanning

Prologue

The most irritating thing in the world was a ‘happily ever after’. As the director of an incredibly popular dating agency, Karina Vasquez was responsible for such miracles occurring every damn day. She was inundated with calls from those who she’d set up, wanting to thank her for making their dreams come true. And, when grateful past clients weren’t clogging up her phone line, new ones with dreams of their own were battering down her door. In simple terms, she had become far too good at her job. Demand was outweighing what she could supply, and there was only one solution to the problem, as far as Karina could see.

The sign on her office door read: Out to lunch. Permanently.

She had driven to the place where happy childhood memories called, memories of a time when there were no demands or pressures placed on her. It was the place where her mother, Rose, had taught her to swim, and where her father, Javier, had cooked ribs on a rickety old barbeque. As she arrived in Fairhaven Park, the sun was shining with a glorious brilliance, and all at once she was no longer a twenty-five year old business sensation in the world of romance. Karina was as free as the birds that soared above her.

Best of all, work could not follow her here. Not long ago she’d had four clients in this very park, all of them brothers with the surname Best. But now they were paired off, a domino effect of happily ever afters that had been part of the boom which sent Karina off the deep end. That meant there were no eligible men seeking love here, only a park full of quiet, silent places where she could forget that the rest of the world existed. It was going to be heaven.

And then there was a crash, and Karina rocked in the seat of her car.

Watch where you’re damn going! said a voice that was almost a growl.

Karina threw her head out of her car window, watching as a man in the Land Rover opposite her did the same. He had tawny brown hair cut straight and sensible, and his face was the most serious one Karina had ever seen. He had a strong jaw pulled into a grumpy sneer and shining eyes that appeared gold by the light of the brilliant sun. For a moment, Karina just looked at him, mesmerized. Before she remembered what he’d said, and done.

You bumped my car! she decreed, outraged.

You were daydreaming! the man insisted. You came straight at me.

Come on! Karina retaliated at once. It’s a wide road. You could have gone around! You’re just one of those assholes who likes to make trouble.

Sure I am, the man replied, but I’m also responsible for other people’s safety here. Can’t let a menace like you go unchecked.

It was then that Karina spotted the badge glinting on his lapel. He was in some kind of uniform, and further inspection of his car