Scrooge's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) by Yvette Hines Page A

Dainton.”
    ~YH~
    Ebony stared down at the hand
offered to her—a strong, large, wide hand. The question of whether or not she
should take it never crossed her mind. It wasn’t that she was some germaphobe.
But, taking heed of her reaction to him since she’d spotted him at the door,
she wasn’t taking any chance.
    She’d never been one of those women
who believed the hype of Hollywood movies where the girl got a million
butterflies in her stomach at the sight of a handsome man and dreamed of
romance. She categorized them with the fools that had faith in Santa Claus.
Even with the experiences of her past haunting her, she still found herself
unable to slow down the quick pace of her heart, which had increased with every
step he had taken toward her.
    Tonight must be the night of firsts,
since she’d never utilized the service of an escort, but here she sat with one
towering over her in what must be six-five plus of “oh my god” maleness. Where
did people find men so striking and imposing? The man could have had a career
in the NFL. Or been some corporate tycoon. She’d been around more than her
share in the business field and none of them wore a suit like this man. At his
astounding height and girth, he had to have them tailor made. With what she was
paying the service for his company, they could afford it easily.
    Still aware that he waited for her
to accept his proffered hand, she spoke into the phone. “Nikki, I’ll call you
tomorrow.”
    “You better,” her best friend began.
“I want every detail.”
    “You know that is not my style.”
    “Hey, with my husband in Afghanistan
working for the last seven months and having to live vicariously through your
hot, high-dollar adventure, you’re going to tell me about it with every T and I
that was performed dotted and crossed. You got that, Ebony Scrooge?”
    Ebony felt the corners of her mouth
twitch a little. She only had one friend in the world, and that was Nikki. Over
the years, it had been hard for her to connect with people and believe that
they would stick around for her. However, Nikki Tiglen had borrowed a pen from
her during freshmen orientation at the state college and been in her life since
then. “Fine, I’ll see what I can do.”
    Laughing, Nikki said, “You better.
Take care of yourself. You need this.”
    With her escort standing so close,
Ebony wasn’t in a position to question or comment to her best friend. It had
been Nikki’s idea to contact the service as a sort of liberation and
celebration of starting a new life for Ebony. She had allowed Nikki to convince
her that restarting her life by revitalizing her nonexistent sex life was the
key. Ebony wasn’t sure if she was convinced.
    The man drew his hand away and
slipped both of them into the pockets of his slacks, disturbing the lay of his
coat.
    “I guess. Talk to you later.”
    “Nightie Night.” Nikki’s sing-song
words came through the line moments before the call was ended.
    While she took a moment to drop her
cell phone into her purse, Ebony gathered her thoughts and tried to use the
seconds to take a deep breath. Big mistake.   
    The man had the most alluring
cologne she’d ever smelled—a robust woodsy scent with a hint of cinnamon. Just
the small whiff made her toes curl in her shoes and created a strong desire to
lean in and bury her face in the curve of his neck.
    Clearing her throat she looked up at
him. “Please sit. I don’t relish having a crick in my neck when I wake up in
the morning.”
    As he lowered himself to
the booth seat across from her, she noted the frown on his face at her tone.
She purposely maintained a crisp and direct speech, the same she’d used for
years at the investment firm. A job she held no more. However, she wanted this
giant of a man to know she’d hired him and to her it was
business—sex—but business.
    He maneuvered his bulk
into the booth, settling across from her. Once he was situated, squeezed into
what appeared to be a