We sit like that for several silent minutes, until both of us are covered in sweat. I’m kind of tempted to open the front door and roll around in the snow to cool off. It felt so amazing as a Yeti, diving into the soft, white fluff head-first and…
“Guys!” I cry, jumping off Julian’s lap. “I have an idea. But I need you to turn around and promise not to look.”
Chapter Eight
Amber
“I’ll go make us some Cozy Cocoas. Iced.” Julian rounds the counter and gets to work.
“Just don’t peek,” I warn. “That means all of you.”
I make sure the guys all have their backs to me, channel my chameleon magic, and shift into a Yeti. Cozy, comfortable… too hot, boiling, dying in this unbearable heat, Yeti.
If the temperature was painfully uncomfortable as Amber-me, Yeti-me is in absolute hell.
I let out a roar that shakes the walls of the cafe.
“What the hell?” Wes shouts, and next thing I know, all three of my guys are spinning around to face me. Wes looks ready to shift, Chase drops into a martial arts pose straight out of a movie, and Julian raises his arms as if preparing to cast a spell.
Then their eyes widen and their jaws drop. Because, instead of looking at a threat, they’re looking at me. Pot-bellied Yeti me dressed in skinny jeans and a pink bra.
“Ambear?” Wes is the first to speak.
He gapes at me, and I wish I could disappear.
The Yeti body I’m in isn’t just ugly, it’s hairy. Really, really hairy. Almost like he’s wearing a furry sweater, hairy. And he does not look good in a bra… not that he would look much better without a bra. Honestly, I’m just lucky I shifted in my pants this time.
“You’re a… Yeti?” Julian asks, surprise evident on his face. I wait for him to add ‘a very ugly Yeti,’ but he looks less disgusted and more confused.
“What were you trying to do, little bear?” Wes asks softly. He looks at me as if he still sees me, and not the hairy man that I’ve become.
“Was it an accident?” Chase adds, and I don’t blame him. What girl would willingly shift into this monster in front of of her mates?
“Don’t cry, Bean.” Julian rushes to my side. I didn’t even realize I was crying, but I can feel my eyes tearing up as he pulls me into a hug. My hairy Yeti belly gets in the way, but Julian doesn’t seem to care.
Wes moves to my side and places a comforting hand on my shoulder. He doesn’t look disgusted, far from it. My bear shifter’s gaze is soft, like he can see right through my Yeti to the real me.
The kindness from my two mates should comfort me, but I only have eyes for Chase. Chase, who’s probably so disgusted with me right now he’ll never offer me his carrot again.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he whispers. But instead of pulling away from me in disgust, he reaches forward and wipes a tear off my Yeti cheek.
I can see the love in his eyes. The caring. All three of my guys look at me like I’m the most gorgeous, lovable creature in the world, and I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I have three of the hottest, most amazing mates, and they love me unconditionally, even when I look like this.
My heart warms, and for a split second, everything feels perfect. Then, a torrent of sweat literally drips from my hairy pits and slides down my side. I get a whiff of Yeti B.O., and I nearly faint. I’m actually surprised my guys don’t let me go and rush to the other side of the cafe.
For an instant, I want to shift back and run upstairs for a very long shower. Then, I remember why I shifted into a Yeti in the first place.
“Can you open the front door?” I ask my guys in a loud Yeti growl.
Chase yanks on the door, and Julian pulls me back as the wall of snow collapses onto the floor. I step forward, but it’s so hot in the cafe that it melts into a puddle at my feet.
“Are you sure about this?” Wes asks, and when I nod, he doesn’t try to stop me. None of my guys do. They stand back and watch as I dive head-first into the snow.
The unbearable heat of the cafe is instantly replaced by heaven. Pure, unadulterated snow heaven. For a split second, my Yeti instincts take over, and I roll, luxuriating in the snow.
You’ve got a job to do, Amber. I remind myself. A tunnel to dig and a party to host.
The party seems to be enough of a motivator to pierce through the Yeti-in-snow-heaven trance I’m currently in. I stop, get my bearings, and begin to dig.
The snow is soft and fluffy and a pleasure to dig through. Building the tunnel turns out to be the Yeti equivalent of a day at the spa, and I’m actually disappointed when I’m done.
“That was amazing, Bean,” Julian cries, running up to me.
“You are amazing,” Chase adds, picking me up bridal style. Yeti me, I might add.
I instantly try to shift back to myself, but no luck. Still, Chase doesn’t stagger under my weight. He carries me into the cafe, sets me down on one of the tables, and grins at me.
“You’re like a Yeti shoveling machine.”
“She is, isn’t she?” Julian adds proudly.
“Are you cold?” Wes asks, concern evident on his face. “Julian, could you make us some Cozy Cocoas? Warm Amber up?”
“I’m not cold.” I shake my head. “I’m actually boiling.”
“Here, let me prop the door open.” Julian grabs the door stopper.
“It’s not getting any colder.” I shake my head and summon my chameleon magic, but it’s no use. For some reason, I’m stuck.
“Let me make us some iced Cozy Cocoas.” Julian rushes around the counter. He scoops ice into mugs, mixes in the milk and spelled cocoa, and hands me the first glass.
One sip, and I instantly feel colder.
“Oh, that feels good,” I moan.
“Is it just me, or is it getting colder?” Wes asks as Julian hands him his iced cocoa. He shivers but takes a sip of the iced drink anyway.
“It is,” Julian says, his breath forming a white cloud in the air.
“It was, but now I think it’s getting warmer again,” Chase frowns.
“It is,” I grumble as the temperature in the room starts to rise. I take a sip of my cocoa, which seems to cool me down, and sigh in relief.
“It’s getting colder again,” Chase says.
“That’s odd.” Julian hands a glass of iced cocoa to a now shivering Chase. My bunny shifter takes a sip, and I start to feel warm again. Too warm. Uncomfortably warm.
“Cold!” I order and gulp down my cocoa.
The room instantly starts to freeze. I sigh in relief.
Then, Julian takes a sip of his own drink, and his eyes widen in surprise. “Oh hell, it’s the cocoa, isn’t it?”
“What’s the cocoa?” I ask, even though I think I already know.
“Every time you drink it gets cold. Every time one of us drinks, it gets warmer.
“It does.” I nod, and my eyes widen. “The Yeti was the last customer we had last night! And we went upstairs as soon as he left!”
“So the cafe took on his ideal temperature. Freezing.” Julian nods. “And I’m the reason it got this hot.”
“You are?” I ask in surprise.