Rust

By Becca Fanning

Samantha once thought she could take anything life could throw at her. Terrible jobs and worse men, it could all be taken in stride. But a tragic event leaves her beside herself and she wonders if she can ever really love again. When a stranger barges into her life, life might be throwing her a curve ball.
Rust was a man in pieces. He never had much going for him, truth be told. His broad shoulders and the golden shine in his Bear Shifter eyes meant he had few enemies, but that didn’t matter now. Haunted and tormented by a terrible event, he decided he’d had enough drowning in pity and sorrow. He would meet his fate, no matter the consequences. And if he could make someone’s life a little better in the process, so be it.
This 11,000+ word BBW Bear Shifter Romance Novella contains all the heat and passion you expect from a Fated Mates story!

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

Book preview

Fanning

Prologue

"H ey, what about me? Rust turned to the old lawyer. What about my kid?"

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The men on the other side of the table settled into an uneasy silence.

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Unfortunately, sir, there were complications, Partridge said. We wish we had good news for you.

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Rust balled his massive hands into fists and slammed them down on the antique telephone table, shattering it into tiny fragments of wood.

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God damn it, Rust said. Be straight with me.

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Partridge swallowed uncomfortably. I know this is probably difficult for you to hear-

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What are you saying? Rust roared.

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Partridge’s cheeks flushed. I apologize, he said sadly. There was simply nothing the doctors could do.

Chapter 1

Samantha Cardiff took a deep breath as the phone rang for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. Her narrow blue eyes flashed with irritation. Don’t let it be Randy , she thought. Her micromanaging boss had been breathing down the back of her neck for two weeks now, and Samantha thought he was looking for any excuse to fire her.

Hello, thank you for calling the Langdon Center. This is Samantha, how may I help you?

There was no reply. Samantha frowned and tried as hard as she could to listen. There was nothing creepy – no one breathing or making lewd noises – but she had the feeling of being disarmed all the same.

I can’t hear you, Samantha said cheerily into the receiver. You’re going to have to speak louder.

When there was still no reply, she hung up and frowned at the phone.

That’s the second time that’s happened this morning, Sam said under her breath as she situated herself in her orthopedic chair and turned her attention back to the spreadsheet on her screen. I wonder what exactly is going on. She frowned. Samantha had only been working as an administrative assistant for the Langdon Center for about a year. She didn’t exactly enjoy the job – on good days, it was tedious and on bad days, she went home with migraines – but she knew that it was good for her to be getting out of the house and staying active.

Hey there, Sam, Randy said with forced cheer. He walked up to her desk and mimed a fist bump before putting his hands back in his pockets and rocking on the balls of his feet. Almost ready for the weekend? Big three days off! He let out an awkward guffaw.

Samantha stared. Right, she said slowly. Three day weekend. That’s exciting. Her heart began to thud a little faster than usual and she swallowed. Not now, she begged herself. Not now, don’t think about it now, don’t think about it. Are you doing anything? She plastered a cheerful smile on her face as she looked at Randy’s face.

Oh, god, yeah, Randy stretched his arms over his head and folded them behind his neck. Family’s going swimming, to the beach, I think we’re even gonna have a barbecue!

That sounds great, Sam said mechanically. She turned her eyes back to the screen.

What are you doing? Randy eyed Sam with curiosity. "Anything