Chase: Black Bear Outlaws #2 (Mating Fever) by Kenzie Cox

Chapter 1
Katrina
    W as there anything worse than being at the Bearly Enchanted clan ball by oneself? Absolutely.  If I had to watch one more couple declare themselves mated, I was going to scream. This was not the event for a woman whose marriage exploded a mere three weeks ago.
    I grabbed my small clutch handbag, stood on stiletto heels, and hastily made my exit, not bothering to say goodnight to anyone. They’d never notice anyway. I was the new girl in town, fresh from a failed marriage.
    On second thought, they probably would notice, but only because they’d want to know if I’d left with someone.
    Hardly.
    The only person I was interested in seeing had left two hours ago after a brief hello and a slightly awkward exchange.
    Chase Doucet was everything my soon to be ex-husband wasn’t: responsible, honest, patient, and courageous, just to name a few. There were also the added bonuses of being gainfully employed and so sexy it should’ve been a sin. His tall, muscular build, dark hair, whiskey colored eyes, and perpetual five o’clock shadow were more than enough to turn an innocent into a sinner.
    Not that I was innocent. Not by any means. Everything about him made my lady parts pulse.
    Christ. I needed to snap out of it. Or I was going to combust right there in the town hall.
    The cool air of the spring night washed over me as I walked across the parking lot toward my blue Mustang convertible. It was the only thing I’d taken besides a bag full of clothes when I’d left three weeks ago. It’d been the only thing I’d wanted.
    Ty, my ex, was in jail now for possession, assault, and intent to sell. And as far as I was concerned, he could rot there. I’d made a clean break and was ready to live my life my way. On my own. Free to do anything...or anyone I wanted.
    I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted my car and the man leaning against the side.
    “Chase?” I peered at him. “I thought you left hours ago.”
    He shrugged and cast his gaze down my body, pausing briefly on my exposed cleavage. “I did. But I forgot something.”
    I raised one eyebrow. “And what would that be?”
    His lips curved into a wicked half smile. “You.” Then he pushed off the side of the car and moved in close. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he leaned down and brought his lips to mine, stopping just before they touched. “I’ve been dying to feel your lips on mine.”
    I sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh? Since when?”
    “Since the first day I met you at Melinda Greyson’s house. Your fierceness, your quiet inner strength, and those deep blue eyes of yours do something to me.”
    My insides melted. No one had ever spoken to me that way before. Not even my shitty husband before he’d turned into a giant douche. “Then why did you leave?” I gestured to the hall behind me.
    “Because, Kitty, you’ve barely left your husband and the things I want to do to you...”
    I fisted his shirt and pulled him closer so our lips were barely touching. “You should know that as far as I’m concerned, my marriage has been over for a year. It just took me that long to finally break free. So if you’re waiting for me to—”
    He covered my mouth with his, cutting off my final words. And I sank into him completely, letting myself get lost in his woodsy scent and hard, muscular body. Strong arms held me close, his fingers inching up my neck and into my hair.
    “You’re incredible,” he whispered and caught my bottom lip between his teeth for one scintillating moment.
    I closed my eyes and ran my hands up his chest, memorizing every contour of his body. “Take me somewhere. Anywhere,” I ordered.
    “Are you sure?” His voice was low and gravelly between the kisses he brushed over my rapidly beating pulse.
    “More than sure.” I planted my palm against his chest and pushed slightly.
    “You don’t have to ask twice.” He produced a set of car keys, grabbed my hand, and tugged me the few feet to the truck parked beside my