Lonely Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Clan Book 6) by Harmony Raines Read Free Book Online

However, Dermot had his job to do and she was the one who had called him, after all. She sensed both the sheriff and Nate tensing, ready to fight, and she only hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
    As the three men turned and came back, fishing out IDs with plenty of complaining, she let out her pent-up breath. While Dermot took down their details, she went back to Nate, leaning against him for support.
    “How’s your ankle?” he asked, his hand finding hers and clasping it tightly.
    “It’s OK. Throbbing a little.” Like her body when she was close to him; damn, she wanted it to be just the two of them alone. But she knew she needed to go and get her ankle checked. “If you want, you can leave me with Dermot. I don’t want to take up any more of your time. You’ve been so kind.”
    “You really think I’m going to leave you here?” His eyes flicked over to where Dermot was still talking to the hunters. “I’ll go with you to the hospital, and then we’ll see what happens from there. Right?”
    She smiled weakly, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank you.” It had been a long time since someone had wanted to be with her, to spend time with her and want nothing in return.
    They stood together in silence, no need to talk; they just basked in the other’s presence. Chloe wondered at how easy it was, just being here with Nate. No pressure, no hurry to be anywhere, to visit the trendiest restaurant, to see the latest movie, to be the best at everything. And that’s when she realised she had completely let go of Jerry. He hadn’t been the one for her; she was just too close to see it.
    “Right, thank you. Now, have a good day, and once you have visited Chloe’s father, I would appreciate you and your guns leaving Bear Bluff, or I will be asking you to turn them in until you leave town.” Dermot’s voice left no doubt that he meant it. The sheriff might have an easygoing manner, but he was no push over. Something about him exuded power and confidence, such that men tended to get the message and move along quickly.
    Right now, the three hunters were getting the full force of that authority.
    “Shall we get going, guys?” Dermot said, heading back to the police vehicle. “I think you need the hospital, and then I’ll file a report.” He opened the door, watching Nate help Chloe in. “It’s good to see you again, Nate. Been a while since you went to live in that cabin. I can see you had a good reason to come back down.”
    Chloe looked up to see the glance the two men exchanged and then Nate answered, “Best reason in the world. And you, Dermot?”
    Dermot laughed, his voice tinged with longing, “I wish. I am still waiting. As are those two brothers of mine. Another year nearly past, you know how it is.”
    “Not anymore, Dermot.” Nate smiled and slipped in next to Chloe. She wasn’t sure what had passed between the sheriff and Nate, but for some reason she had a strong feeling she was now classed as Nate’s woman. A sensation she found arousing. Her whole body was attuned to his, this was so much more primal than anything she had experienced with Jerry.
    And she had to admit she liked it. But when they reached the hospital, Olivia, her good friend and would-be bridesmaid, was waiting. Chloe suddenly realised things were about to go down a different path. One she didn’t much like.
     

Chapter Twelve – Nate
    The ride in the sheriff’s car had taken ten minutes, during that time he had tried to come to terms with what had happened, and how the rest of the day—hell, no, the rest of his life —was going to go. Somehow, he was going to have to convince her he was the one for her, the only one . He also had to break the news to her that he was a bear. Yeah, simple.
    Dermot got out of the car and went to find a wheelchair for Chloe, while Nate waited with his mate. She was leaning heavily on him, her face contorted with pain, etched deeper with exhaustion. It had been a rough couple of days for her