Chase: Black Bear Outlaws #2 (Mating Fever) Read Online Free Page B

didn’t resist when he grabbed the remote.
    “Get your shoes.” He killed the TV. “We’re getting out of here.”
    “Why?”
    My older brother narrowed his dark eyes. “Because, jackass, other than going to work, you haven’t been out of this house in six weeks. Cole and I are staging an intervention.”
    I glanced past him, looking for my younger brother. He was nowhere in sight. “Looks like he ditched you.”
    His nostrils flared with irritation. “He’s meeting us at the Bayou Bear in ten minutes. Now get your ass up and put your shoes on.”
    I downed the last of my beer and shook my head. “I’m not hungry. Tell Cole I’m sorry I missed him.”
    He stared at me for a long minute and then stalked off toward my kitchen.
    “Bring me another beer, will you?” I considered getting up to get the remote, but laced my fingers behind my head and closed my eyes instead. A nap wasn’t out of the question.
    “Get the fuck up.”
    I opened my eyes just before my boots slammed into my gut. I let out a loud groan and launched one back at him. “What the hell is your problem?”
    Cyrus reached out and snagged my boot, stopping it from clocking him. “You’re my problem. Put the damned shoes on. I have something to talk to you both about.” He strode to the door. “I’ll be in the Jeep. If you’re not out in two minutes, I’m coming back in here and dragging your ass out. Got it? Your life isn’t over because she left.”
    “Fuck you!” I bellowed, finally sitting up. “Smug bastard.” There was nothing worse than a happily mated bear. Just because he was getting laid every morning and night, it didn’t give him the right to walk in here and tell me I was pathetic.
    Even though he was right.
    It’d been six weeks since I’d woken up to an empty bed. Six weeks since Katrina, my mate, had left me that damned note and disappeared from Bayou Basin without another word.  At first I hadn’t let it bother me. I wasn’t a stranger to one-night-stands. Hell, I’d even escaped in the predawn light more times than I cared to remember. But then her absence started to chip away at my resolve. Her leaving after the night we’d shared had started to eat at me. And then I had to make sure she was all right; that wherever she’d ended up, she was safe and happy.
    That’s when I’d called in a favor to a PI I knew and found out she was in Georgia with her aunt, waiting tables at a local restaurant.
    Safe and happy enough, it appeared, and miles away from me and our small Louisiana town.
    “Chase, God help me—”
    “I’m coming. Keep your pants on.” Son of a bitch. If I didn’t go, he’d make my life a living hell. It was easier to just do as he said. At least there’d be more beer.
    ***
    “W hen’s the last time you got out of the house?” Cole asked, reaching for a hot wing.
    Leaning back in the wooden chair, I signaled to the waitress to bring us another round. “I’m out now.”
    Cole scoffed. “I meant with a woman. Cyrus tells me you’ve started hibernating on your couch.”
    I eyed the waitress. She was on the petite side, with bright red hair and an easy smile. She was a perfect choice, or should’ve been. But when I’d taken her out a month ago, I hadn’t been able to stop comparing her to a certain blue-eyed beauty who’d moved to the beach. “Two, maybe three weeks ago.”
    “More like four,” Cyrus chimed in. “The man needs serious help.”
    “I’m fine,” I barked. “Just regrouping. Now get off my ass.”
    Cole chuckled. “You really are in sad shape. Want me to set you up?”
    Alyssa dropped off our beers, but before she went, she placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “I volunteer as tribute.”
    “Excellent.” Cole raised his beer. “Congratulations, brother. Things are looking up.”
    Cyrus toasted with him and drank in my honor as if I’d agreed.
    I covered Alyssa’s hand and gave her what I hoped was a kind smile. “That’s generous of you. Can I give