Bear's Kiss (Bear Heat Book 2) by Natalie Kristen Read Free Book Online

you.”

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

    Prisha poured herself
another cup of coffee and went back to sit beside Caleb at the dining
table. He had his laptop in front of him and his phone to his ear.
She couldn't hear what was said on the other end and Caleb's
responses were terse and largely monosyllabic.
    It was morning now, but Caleb
had been on the phone the whole night, coordinating his investigation
teams. She had woken up in the middle of the night and found him
pacing in the kitchen, speaking rapidly and quietly into his phone.
She'd heard him give clear orders to his Black Bears to watch over
Nurin, Ali and Jennifer, and to check out her apartment and
restaurant.
    It was clear that Caleb had a
lot on his mind, and he had a lot to do. He scowled into his coffee
as he worked through various plans and strategies in his mind. His
phone kept beeping with messages, and he fired off rapid responses to
each message, leaving his bowl of cereal untouched.
    Finally, he put down the
phone and looked up.
    “Ray Shapez didn't
destroy your restaurant. Everything is still standing.”
    Prisha managed a lopsided
smile. “Strange. I thought it would be in smithereens or
ashes by now.”
    “Not strange. Shrewd.
He wants to lure you back to a place that is familiar and precious to
you.”
    Prisha blew out a long sigh.
“And I was hoping to get back to the restaurant. The customers
must be...”
    “Your customers can
wait. And I'm sure all your loyal customers would want you to be
safe.”
    Prisha agreed that she should
stay in Caleb's tree house for a while. “You're right,”
she conceded before breaking into a grin. “I haven't taken a
break in a long while. I'll just take this chance to rest and
relax.”
    Caleb nodded but a deep frown
was still etched on his face. “I might have to make a quick
trip back to the office. A few things have cropped up. And…”
    “Don't worry, I'll be
fine,” Prisha said quickly. “You do what you have to do.
I'll just lounge around your tree house.” She gave a low
whistle and gestured at the place. “I never imagined a tree
house could be so...lavish!”
    “Glad you like it.”
He grinned, but the lines around his eyes betrayed his stress and
worry.
    Prisha kissed him tenderly on
the cheek. “I love it. And I love you.”
    “I love you too,”
he murmured against her lips. “So much.”
    With one last kiss, Caleb
grabbed his phone and car keys and left the house.
    Prisha took her mug of
steaming coffee out to the balcony. She smiled and waved as Caleb
got into his car and started the engine.
    His green eyes shone with
love and longing as he looked up at her. Be back soon , he
mouthed.
    Prisha watched until his
Range Rover was out of sight. With a quiet sigh, she finished her
coffee and went back into the house. The place was lovely, but it
just felt so cold and empty without Caleb. Prisha washed her cup and
tidied up the place a bit. It was still early morning, and the whole
day stretched out before her. She wished she was back in her
restaurant, cooking and chatting with her customers. She loved the
routine and rush of her hectic, bustling life. She wondered how
Jennifer and the rest were faring. They must be so scared and
worried for her. And her regular customers must be wondering why
Curry Corner wasn't open today.
    Unable to bear the stillness
and silence in the house, Prisha went out to the balcony and stared
out at the lake. She inhaled a deep breath, comforting herself with
Caleb's familiar, masculine scent. She was wearing one of his
t-shirts and her jeans, which was the only item of clothing that
Caleb hadn't shredded last night.
    She raised her face to the
sky, warming herself in the morning sunlight. She gasped and
shivered suddenly as the image of the dark alley and the barrel of a
gun flashed before her eyes. She could hear Ray Shapez's chuckle as
he gave the order, Get rid of her. Make it quick.
    No, no, no. She wouldn't
dwell on that.
    She wasn't dead. She was
alive,