Bear My Heart: A Small Town Paranormal Romance by Natalie Kristen Read Free Book Online

locked her front door. She
was startled by her own easy laughter. She hadn't felt so relaxed in
a long time.
    “Where's your sling?”
Troy narrowed his eyes at her.
    “I don't need it. It's
cramping my style.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
    He didn't exhale for a long
moment. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time and in a
way, he was. He was seeing the real her, that carefree, optimistic,
cheerful girl that she had hidden away under a tough, impenetrable
armor. He saw her, truly saw her, and she literally took his breath
away.
    Troy's eyes lit up with
wonder and happiness and his handsome face split in a grin.
    “Shall we?”
Gallantly, Troy tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her
to his truck.
    It was just a five-minute
drive to Megan's place, but Troy was deliberately driving slowly. He
told her some funny stories about his nephews, Leo and Logan, and it
was obvious that he adored them.
    He told her a little about
Megan as well. “Her husband died barely a month after the
twins were born. It's not easy taking care of two newborns on your
own. And Megan didn't have a job then. That was when I moved to
Bear Cove.”
    Dot looked surprised. “I
thought you've lived in Bear Cove all your life.”
    “No. I've been here
just six years.”
    “That's not very long.
But you seem to know everyone in town.”
    Troy chuckled. “It's a
pretty small town.”
    Dot nodded and stared
straight ahead. As they drove past Papa Bear's Diner, a large family
with seven kids came spilling out noisily from the diner. The
children shrieked and jumped up and down when they saw Troy's truck.
Troy waved at them and grinned at their parents.
    “The kids love you,”
Dot said, smiling.
    “I helped their dad
build a treehouse for them last summer.” Troy explained.
“It's a really awesome treehouse with secret ladders, trapdoors
and complicated pulleys.”
    “I've never been in a
treehouse before,” Dot said wistfully.
    “I'll ask the Henderson
kids if they'll make an exception and let you up to the treehouse,”
he said solemnly. “They have a very strict rule. No adults
allowed.”
    “I don't think they'll
make an exception just for me.”
    “Oh, I think they
will.”
    Dot smiled and glanced away.
After a moment, she shifted in her seat and faced him.
    “Can I ask you
something?”
    “Ask away.” Troy
gestured grandly.
    “Who else knows
about...the bear?”

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

    Troy turned to look at her.
He exhaled slowly and replied, “Everyone.”
    “Everyone in Bear
Cove?” Dot asked.
    “Yup.”
    The crease between Dot's
brows deepened. “I'm at Papa Bear's almost every morning. But
no one's ever mentioned...” She shook her head. “Even
Lilly never said a word about it.”
    Troy glanced at her and saw
the doubt and distrust in her eyes. He had been chipping away at the
wall she'd built around her heart, but now, she was fast rebuilding
and reinforcing the barrier she'd erected between herself and the
world. She was going to distance herself, and one day, without
telling anyone, she would just leave.
    He didn't want her to leave.
He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever.
    Troy sighed and said quietly,
“These are good, decent people, Dot. The people in Bear Cove
look out for one another.”
    “I never said they're
bad people,” Dot mumbled defensively. “I just thought
that in a small town like this, gossip spreads faster than wildfire.”
    Troy quirked a smile. “The
townspeople do like to gossip, but it's just harmless news. They
won't ever spread any vicious, hurtful gossip about anyone. And they
will never share secrets that aren't theirs to share.”
    She tensed when he took her
hand gently. “We protect our own. You are one of us, Dot.
You protected Casey and Timmy. The townsfolk won't forget that.”
    She swallowed and shook her
head sadly. “It's better not to remember me.”
    Troy didn't release her hand.
“Why won't you trust us to protect your secrets? Why