Bear Mechanic: BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance by Zoe Chant Read Free Book Online Page B

that’s what you’re asking,” he snapped.
    “But you want to,” said Oliver shrewdly.
    “I didn’t say that. It’s not… She doesn’t even know about shifters. I’m just helping her out.”
    “Methinks the werebear doth protest too much,” said Tyler in a horrible, fake British accent. God, tigers were smug. Sometimes the urge to knock his stripes off was overwhelming.
    “Just give me some damn eggs,” Noah ordered. “I’m definitely not letting you lot loose on her.”
    At this, Tyler’s demeanor changed in an instant. “Boss, I’ll be on my best behavior. I swear. You know how good I can be with women,” he wheedled.
    “Yeah, no shit. That’s why I don’t want to.”
    “Don’t want to let her near me?” Tyler preened. “Smart move, I wouldn’t either.”
    Rolling his eyes, Noah turned to the group gathered at the table. “Anyone else want to air their oh-so-important thoughts on this matter?”
    “Unlike Tyler, I would be a perfect gentleman,” promised Oliver, holding up a Boy Scout salute.
    “I’d like to meet her,” Gabe offered.
    Will and Cam only shrugged.
    “Fine,” he snapped, and turned back to the tray he’d been preparing. It was stuffed full of coffee accessories and accoutrements anyway. “But I’m going to take her coffee first.”
    “She’ll need it, if she’s having breakfast with Tyler,” said Cam in a deadpan, a trace of amusement lingering in her voice. “And there’s Splenda in the cabinet if she wants that. If you have room for it,” she added, eyeing his tray archly.
    “Shut up,” he'd muttered for what felt like the dozenth time that morning. Everyone laughed.
    He'd known it. Everyone had known it.
    What he didn’t know was how she would respond to knowing the truth about him. She might be his mate, but would she want to take his mark?
    Noah had never met a woman he wanted to mark, so he was at a loss. Moreover, none of his crew had ever taken mates, so they weren’t any help either. If Noah’s parents, or any of his clan, were alive, he could have asked them. But they weren’t.
    She was a regular human, and as far as he knew she didn’t know there was any other kind. Shifters had all kinds of horror stories about humans reacting to shifters—their fear, their prejudice, their violence. Mentally, Nick knew this was garbage. Mostly garbage, anyway. But even if she didn’t assemble a mob and arm them with pitchforks, that didn’t mean she would want to be bitten by him. Not only was it a permanent scar—mating marks never disappeared—but it was a lifelong bond. Unbreakable.
    And they’d known each other for less than twenty-four hours.
    Obviously he’d have to wait for a while. Once her brother’s problem got cleared up, they would have all the time in the world to get to know each other, and each other’s secrets.
    So long as his crew all kept their mouths shut, he thought wryly.
    Elise returned in something more serviceable, although she would never be plain to him. Her golden hair fell in loose, natural curls down to her shoulders. Noah was tempted to tug on one of them and watch it bounce back, like a spring.
    He resisted that urge, but not the one to kiss her. His hands fit to her waist and he ran his thumbs over her ribcage, fluttering.
    She shivered, the gesture too small for anyone but him to see, and returned the kiss. It was maybe a little deeper than appropriate for a semi-public place, but Noah couldn’t bring himself to care.
    His bear made a contented sound in his chest. You should keep her , his bear told him. She makes us happy .
    “Hello to you too,” she said when they parted, looking rather pink. Then she blinked twice and pretended confusion. “What did I come down here for again? I can’t quite remember.”
    “Well, if you want to stay upstairs…”
    She giggled. “Not an unappealing idea. But I think your employees might protest.”
    “I’m the boss. I can do what I want.” But he slipped an arm around her