Loving the Bear by Vanessa Devereaux Read Free Book Online

saw new plaid dog bed with Barney’s name embroidered upon it, and three squeaky toys that weren’t there before.
    “Mrs. Nelson’s son travels a lot so he was going to have to find a new home for Barney. Whose knows where the little guy would have ended up so I decided to take him?”
    “That’s so sweet of you.”
    Any guy that liked animals this much had to be okay.
    “Oh Barney, aren’t you lucky finding a new home?”
    Barney barked and then chased his tail . “That’s his way of saying thank you for the sausages,” said Christopher.
    “Anytime, Barney. Now where would you like me to start cleaning?”
    “I think the kitchen needs the most attention. You’ll see that I’m really bad about cleaning up after I cook.”
    At least he was honest.
    “Let’s see what I can do.”
    She followed Christopher through to the kitchen. He wasn’t lying because it was a mess, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
    “Let’s start with getting all these dishes into the dishwasher and turn it on.”
    He stood nibbling on an apple, leaning up against the doorjamb watching her as she rinsed some dishes under the tap. She glanced his way every now and then, hoping he didn’t see her, hoping he’d go into the other room.
    Christopher was one of the most attrac tive men she’d ever met. She wished that he’d hang around, hold on long enough for her to be healed and back to the person she was before the horrible mess with Matt. But he wouldn’t wait forever. No man could be expected to do that. He might tolerate non-dating for a little bit but like any male, he’d eventually want proper dates, someone who wasn’t afraid to be held and kissed, and yes, have sex. Bottom line was he was a guy and they had needs.
    “How are you sketches coming along?” she asked him, hoping her mind could focus on something else.
    “They’re all done and I sent them off so I should hear within the next week.”
    She turned off the tap and began loading the plates into the dishwasher. “That will be so exciting. I mean if you get the job.”
    “I know and it co uld be the start of more work for the company.”
    “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you,” she said closing the dishwasher’s door.
    “I’ll just wash down the countertop and mop the floor and then how about I dust and vacuum all the condo?”
    “Sounds great to me. I’ll be in the living room working on some sketches if you need me.”
    She nodded. Glad that he would be out of the way and she wouldn’t be drooling or thinking about what might have been had she had met him before Matt waltzed into her life.
    She filled the bucket with soap and water and then pushed the mop over the tiled floor.
    Lilly left the kitchen and walked along the hallway, seeing the bathroom to her left. She went inside and guessed that Christopher had recently showered. The smell of aftershave lingered in the still moist air, and two bath towels hung over the shower door. She began wiping down the top of the vanity while spotting his boxer shorts sticking out from the laundry hamper. He looked like the boxer sort of guy. She took another peek at them. Blue. She tried to imagine what he looked like wearing them.
    She swallowed , feeling her pussy pull just thinking about it. It had been forever since she’d had these sorts of feelings and sensations. Maybe her body was coming back to life. Her counselor had told her it would happen slowly without her being aware of it because trauma took time to heal. Good news was nothing bad lasted forever.
    Lilly picked up the bottle of cologne that sat next to the mirror. She couldn’t resist putting it to her nose and taking in its scent.
    “Hey Lilly, I forget to…”
    She hadn’t heard him approaching , and in fright she spilled some of the cologne down the front of her t-shirt and apron.
    How embarrassing.
    “I’m so sorry. I was just admiring this. Let me pay for the amount that’s been spilled.”
    “No, it was my fault for sneaking up on