Guardian Bears: Karl by Leslie Chase Read Free Book Online

explained, sounding a little embarrassed. “They taught me a lot about keeping my eyes open and being aware of my surroundings.”
    “I promise there’s nothing to be afraid of here,” she told him, going to the fridge and taking out a big pitcher of lemonade. She laughed, seeing his eyes fix on it.
    “It’s not something I can turn on and off,” he told her with a shrug and a grin, but now his attention was fully on the cold drink as she poured him a tall glass. “While we were out in the field, we had to treat every place we went as dangerous. Maybe it’s a bad habit to bring home, but it’s dug in pretty deep.”
    He looked into her eyes and took the glass from her. Their fingers brushed against each other as he took the cool glass out of her hand, and Allison gasped at the electric feeling of contact with his skin. She froze, unsure what she was feeling as Karl looked her in the eyes for a second, motionless. Allison felt her cheeks heat.
    Then he lifted the glass to his lips and drank deep, giving her a chance to turn away and fill her own glass. Allison, what are you doing? She shook her head, trying to focus. Don’t let him get to you – you’re just thanking him, remember? He’s after the same thing as those guys he saved you from.
    You can’t trust him.
    Part of her, though, rebelled against those thoughts. The touch had woken something in her, and that something wanted more . Just the thought of touching him again made her melt, and she tried not to look at him as she turned. Her hand shook as she raised the glass to her lips.
    She heard the clink of his glass as he put it down on the counter, and a long, happy sigh. “I needed that, Allison. Could I trouble you for another glass?”
    She smiled. She couldn’t help it. For all his obvious strength and toughness, Karl looked like he wasn’t coping well with the weather, and his look of relief was almost touching. It was oddly reassuring to know that he wasn’t quite perfect.
    I guess he’s hot in more ways than one , she thought, blushing as she added some ice to his glass and poured the lemonade. He practically grabbed it from her and downed half the glass before he looked at her again. The look sent a shiver through her, his eyes so powerful in that strong face, and she found herself torn between backing away and stepping closer.
    Frozen in place, she looked down at her own glass, breaking eye contact. Her heart raced and she took a deep breath to steady herself.
    “Thank you for saving me from those men,” she said.
    “My pleasure,” he replied, finishing his drink. “I just wish I could have given them what they deserved. What were they after, anyway?”
    Immediately her guard came up again. No matter how distracting his presence was, this man was still a danger to her. Allison’s grip tightened on the glass in her hand and she looked up, meeting his eyes again. This time she held them, not willing to back down.
    “I don’t know,” she said. “Something to do with the monster, I guess, but I have no idea why they think I know anything about it!”
    She instantly felt bad about lying to him. He had waded into danger for her, he’d taken her home safely – but she couldn’t trust him. I can’t trust anyone, not now. Not until I know what’s happening.

    * * *
    K arl looked at her and tried to judge what he was hearing. It wasn’t easy, not when he was so distracted being this close to her. She drew every part of his attention, and it was difficult not to lose himself in her green eyes.
    They must have had some reason to be after her, he told himself, fighting to stay focused on the matter at hand. Damian wouldn’t have just followed her for the fun of it – and his camera crew tried to keep anyone from going outside and interfering.
    But knowing that there was something going on didn’t help him much with working out what it was. If Allison had some idea of who the lost wolf shifter was, he needed to get that information from