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  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Latin Goddess Press, Inc.. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Paranormal Dating Agency remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Latin Goddess Press, Inc., or their affiliates or licensors.

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  Bearly Twisted

  By: Melanie James

  Contents

  Summary

  Books by Melanie James

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Summary

  Bailey Jones is quite content living the big city life she’d always dreamed of, or so she thought. When a weekend road trip with Gerri Wilder turns out to be an elaborate setup, Bailey has to decide between her one true mate and the life she’d worked hard at building. Can she say goodbye to everyone and everything for a shot at true love?

  Gavin Neely was tired of being a loner. With the help of a little ancient majik, he concealed his true nature from the wolf pack that could offer him the life he had always wanted. All that was about to change when he caught the exotic scent of his true mate. Will the wolves he’s been hiding among turn on him, or accept him for who he really is?

  Books by Melanie James

  Twisted Tail Pack

  His Twisted Tail

  Bearly Twisted

  Black Paw Pack

  Fur Ever Yours

  Fur Ever Witched

  Black Paw Wolves

  A Hot Piece of Sass

  Twice the Sass

  You Bet Your Sass

  Watch Your Sass

  Literal Leigh Romance Diaries

  Accidental Leigh

  Serious Leigh

  Hopeful Leigh

  Haunting Leigh

  Joyful Leigh

  Disastrous Leigh

  Tales from the Paranormal Plantation

  Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation

  Back to the Fuchsia

  When You Witch Upon a Star

  Hex U

  Karma Inc. Files

  Karma Inc.

  Mission Impawsible: A Karma Inc. Novella

  Shame of Clones

  Éveiller Drive

  Ava & Will

  Kara & Dave

  Laura & Alan

  Jamie & Brad

  Ashley & Jeff

  Valerie & Greg

  Stand Alones

  Conjuring Darkness

  Snowflakes, Exes & Ohs

  Riverton Romance

  A Valentine’s Surprise

  A Deadly Obsession

  Acknowledgements

  To my husband—thank you for always being there.

  Dedication

  Mom—I’ve put off writing another book because I didn’t want to have to write this dedication. Through the tears, the sentences are flowing. I miss you more than any words could possibly explain. I’ve tried to write this so many times. Only to pause and come back when the tears temporarly stopped, but they never stopped for long.

  You were so proud when I wrote my first book. I laughed when you told me that you had taken it everywhere you went and showed everyone your daughter had written a book. I could hear the delight in your voice with each new book I told you I’d finished. You bragged to everyone even more about me. I sent you a copy of each book, and you always asked when the next was coming. You couldn’t wait to show everyone.

  I knew I had to finish this book…for you. You would have kicked my ass to the moon and back if I told you I was too sad to write another one.

  Thank you for all of the wonderful memories and crazy-ass antics you filled my life full of.

  I can’t say goodbye, it’s just too hard.

  So I’ll say I love you and farewell, until we meet again.

  Chapter One

  Bailey Jones twisted and turned in her bed for the third night in a row. “It looks like it’s going to be another sleepless night,” she said to her puppy, Buddy, as she rolled over and scratched his ear. She couldn’t shake the conversation she’d had with her famous matchmaker friend, Gerri Wilder, a few days ago when she’d bumped into her at the coffee shop.

  Their conversation replayed in her mind, “Every shifter needs to find their mate, dear. You aren’t really living your life until you do. You may think you are, and you may do a pretty good job of keeping yourself busy with the little things in life, but deep down, we both know your life won’t truly begin until you find the missing piece of your soul.”

  Her talk with Gerri had haunted her day and night, because Gerri’s words had the ring of truth to them, and she’d somehow managed to echo the very things her bear yearned for.

  Thoughts of wide open spaces and possible mates that Bailey had spent years ignoring.

  Just when she thought she’d pushed back on her animal’s will, Gerri had forced her to re-examine every aspect of her life.

  She didn’t like it.

  Not one tiny bit.

  Bailey refused to have the discussion with the animal whom she shared her life with. She would not have her life or any aspect of it decided on by her bear. As far as she was concerned, she was the human, therefore, she was the one in charge of important life decisions. Period. End of discussion.

  But she still couldn’t help but wonder… was Gerri right? Had she only been going through the motions of life, trying to keep herself busy and distracted from the fact that she’d grown used to living her life alone?

  Since the day she’d graduated from high school and left her Podunk town in the dust, Bailey had declared herself to be a city girl. She’d lived and breathed city life, loving everything the city had to offer from twenty-four hour diners to the hustle and bustle of the busy humans who surrounded her.

  Yes, she’d pretty much given up hope of finding her one true mate, after all, where in the hell was she supposed to find her true mate anyway? It wasn’t like the city offered hundreds of acres to run free in her bear form, where she could briefly pause at every male bear she stumbled across to ask if they were the one who was her intended. Maybe there was a magazine for mail order bear shifters? Now that would be handy. As crazy as it sounded, in this day and age, it might be a real thing. She would have to look into it.

  Instead of trying to talk things through quietly with her bear, she turned to Buddy. “This is silly, right? I’m a city girl. I’m finally living my dream of being surrounded by people. By life. Instead of cornfields and cows. I can’t imagine moving back to some ranch in bumble-fuck where there’s no hustle and bustle of the city surrounding me. Where you’ve got one restaurant and a single under-stocked grocery store. Granted, there are no bears here, which makes it lonely as hell. There’s a fuckton of wolf and fox shifters around here, but no bears.”

  Bailey huffed, annoyed she couldn’t seem to let go of her conversation with Gerri. “And I don’t really feel like I’m simply going through the motions of life. I mean, we’re happy, right?”

  Her dog cocked his head and looked at her as if he was following her every word and thinking up a snappy reply, but he only yawn
ed and lay back down on the bed.

  “Gee, thanks! I guess I have my answer. I’m sitting here at three in the morning, pouring my heart out to my dog, who would rather be sleeping,” Bailey sighed.

  “Fine. I’ll figure it out on my own.”

  Bailey wanted to kick herself for agreeing to the little road trip Gerri had asked her to take. She hated leaving the city. Even if it was just a quick weekend getaway. Instead of feeling all calm and serene, and all the other shit people were supposed to feel thanks to the fresh air and scenic countryside road trips always promised, she felt anxious and nauseous, wanting to turn the car around immediately and head back to the chaotic life she’d built for herself.

  She wanted to refuse and stay home, but she felt like she owed Gerri her life. The older woman with the pixie haircut had been one of the first people she’d met when she’d moved to the city. Gerri took her under her wing, offering friendship with ease and grace she was known for. Bailey adored Gerri because Gerri never tried to hide behind a false pretense or a fake smile. Gerri said what was on her mind… always. And no matter how busy she was with her own life, she’d always made time for Bailey.

  At first, Bailey thought it was hysterical that Gerri owned and ran a paranormal dating agency. Until she saw how freaking good Gerri was at what she did. Scary good. She could find anyone’s mate, anywhere they seemed to hide. Bailey had yet to see her fail.

  Bailey was thankful as fuck Gerri had never turned her matchmaking skills toward her and her non-existent love life.

  Climbing out of bed, she gave up on the idea of sleep, deciding instead to start packing. Gerri would be picking her up in a few hours to head off to some wolf pack up north. Apparently, they were off to check up on a girl Gerri had set up a few months ago with the Alpha of some pack called Twisted Tail.

  Bailey tried to relax and even out her breathing. There was no point in launching herself into a full-blown panic attack. Besides, what harm could come from her visiting a wolf pack? It’s not like she’d find her mate there or anything. Bears and wolves weren’t exactly known for their ability to live together in peace and harmony.

  Chapter Two

  Gerri Wilder laughed at something her friend Bailey had said as she pulled up to the closed steel gate and placed her car in park. She pressed the button on the intercom and waited for an answer.

  “What a long drive. I can’t wait to get out and stretch my legs,” Gerri said to Bailey as she adjusted the rearview mirror so she could touch up her lipstick.

  A woman’s voice boomed through the loud speaker.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Gerri Wilder to see Daisy Parks.”

  Adjusting the mirror back to its correct location, Gerri watched as the gate slowly opened, allowing her to pull forward.

  “Let’s do this,” Gerri winked at Bailey.

  They were in awe with their surroundings as the long driveway twisted and turned, snaking through a densely wooded forest. Gerri’s wolf bristled in the back of her mind with a yearning to run the vast property. It had been ages since she’d been out of the city.

  “I don’t know about your bear, but my wolf is begging me to ditch the car and go for a run.”

  “Oh yeah, once we passed the city limits my bear started to stretch her legs.”

  “Sadly, business has to come first,” Gerri pouted. As the owner of a paranormal dating agency, it was her duty to check up on her recent matches so she could be certain everything was on the up and up, and because she hadn’t heard much from Daisy since Gerri had set her up with Calder Lorenson, the hunky Alpha of the Twisted Tail Pack. It was time to set her mind at ease and scope out the situation for herself.

  Gerri not only wanted to check in with Daisy to see how things were going with Calder, she had a nagging feeling she was needed at Twisted Tail, and when she’d bumped into her friend, Bailey, at the coffee shop, she knew without a doubt that Bailey was meant to make the trip with her.

  The driveway came to a stop at a beautiful three story log home. Windows stretched the expanse of the immense building and gleamed in the afternoon sun. Taking her sunglasses off and slipping them into the case, Gerri let out a low whistle. She’d expected a small cabin in the woods. Not the lavish home that towered before her.

  “Holy crap! I was expecting a tiny little cabin in the woods,” Bailey giggled. “This place looks swankier than any hotel I’ve ever stayed at.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Gerri slid from her car, grabbing her purse and overnight bag just as Daisy bounded down the front steps.

  “Gerri! It’s so good to see you!”

  “It’s good to see you, too, my dear. I’d like you to meet Bailey. She was the one I was telling you about.” Gerri waved her arm in a sweeping motion toward Bailey.

  “It’s so nice to meet you. Any friend of Gerri’s is a friend of mine.”

  “You look wonderful! Country life agrees with you.” Gerri was stunned to see how fabulous Daisy looked. The girl was a beauty. There had never been any doubt, but to see her now—after spending a few months as the mate of a shifter—wowzers! Her skin glimmered radiantly in the sun. Gone was the timid woman who Gerri had first met. The woman who had been worried about not fitting in because of her curves. She’d been replaced by the goddess who stood before her, sporting a heartwarming smile that stretched from ear to ear. But the absolute best part for Gerri had been seeing that Daisy’s smile was not only genuine, but it reached her eyes.

  “It really does. I love it here, and Calder has been amazing. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.” Daisy wrapped her arms around Gerri, giving her a warm embrace.

  “I’m happy everything turned out so well, but really, dear, you do need to learn how to pick up a phone now and again. Or even a quick text message letting me know you were alive would have been great. I’ve been worried about you. When I hadn’t heard so much as a peep from you, I figured I’d grab Bailey and we’d take a ride up to see you. I hope you don’t mind us imposing on such short notice.”

  Daisy pulled back, grabbing Gerri’s overnight bag, escorting her and Bailey into the house. “Of course not! I’m thrilled to see you! Besides, I could use a break. It’s been crazy here. Calder’s been working hard to get the pack established under his command, and I’ve been trying to support him in any way that he’s needed me. I also set up a small clinic just down the road and I’m seriously understaffed for a pack this size.”

  “I’m thrilled to hear you’re embracing your new life. I remember how terrified you were when I first brought up the idea of meeting a wolf.”

  “Haha. I’m so glad I took your advice. I can’t imagine going back to my old life.”

  “So, Bailey, are you enjoying the fresh country air?” Daisy asked.

  “It’s a really cute area and much nicer than I expected it to be. But I have to admit I’ve become a city dweller. I used to live in a small town. I’m not so sure I could ever go back to the small town lifestyle.”

  “I used to feel that way, too. I grew up in a rural area, but moved to the city after college. I loved my city life until I met Calder and moved here,” Daisy sighed. “I love the wide open spaces, and being able to see the stars at night. There’s so much about the country life that I hadn’t realized I missed until I met Calder and decided to make Twisted Tail my home.”

  “It’s definitely nice and quiet here. I’ll give you that. We’ll see about the rest of it as the weekend progresses,” Bailey winked, teasing Daisy.

  “Tell you what, let’s get your things inside and I’ll give you both the grand tour.”

  “That sounds wonderful, dear! I can’t wait to meet your hunky Alpha. Is he around today?”

  Daisy giggled, “Absolutely! I’m glad the two of you will finally get a chance to meet.”

  ***

  Gerri was impressed with the mad hostess skills that Daisy possessed. Not only were their rooms fabulous, Daisy had spared very little expense in making sure they would be com
fortable. Every little detail had been meticulously thought out for each of them. Daisy had even made sure to plan accordingly for Bailey and the fact that she was a bear and not a wolf. The subtle differences in the two rooms made everything perfect.

  Now they were off to see the town and meet some of the locals, and that was fine with Gerri. She had a pressing need to head into town.

  “Whatever happens, just follow my lead. There’s a reason I brought Bailey with me this weekend,” Gerri whispered to Daisy.

  “You really think her mate is here? At Twisted Tail?”

  “I not only think it, I know it. They just have to run into each other.” Gerri smiled and headed into the coffee shop where Bailey stood holding the door, waiting for them.

  “Are you okay, Gerri?” Bailey asked as her friends finally made their way into the coffee shop.

  “All of the sudden I have a bit of a headache. I’m not sure what happened. One minute, I was fine, and the next, boom. It’s like something exploded in my head,” Gerri explained, trying to keep the conniving smirk off of her face that threatened to give her away.

  “Oh no. Do we need to head back to Daisy’s? Maybe you should lie down for a bit?”

  Gerri felt bad about deceiving her friend, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She knew deep in her gut it was the only way to get Bailey to see her mate. The girl was as stubborn as they came and hung up on a city life that just didn’t suit her. Gerri knew damn well, some people just needed a little push to make them see what they were unwilling to admit.

  “Nonsense. I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Daisy, honey, is there a convenience store or something close by where I can grab some Advil or something?”

  “Of course. It’s right around the corner.”

  “Bailey, would you be a dear and see if you can find a bottle of Advil or Tylenol for me?” Gerri pulled a twenty dollar bill from her purse and handed it to her.