Loving the Bear by Vanessa Devereaux Read Free Book Online Page B

he’d be able to make love to her. When he did, he’d show her what sheer pleasure was all about. She’d never shake from fear again.
    Christopher turned around on his stool, pretending he was hard at work and not daydreaming when Lilly walked back into the living room. She’d now tied her hair up into a ponytail like she had at the café. The tail swung from side to side as she pushed the vacuum across the carpet and Barney chased it. She smiled and laughed at the little dog’s antics.
    Christopher smiled too. She had the most beautiful smile and he hoped he could put more of them on her face. She had dimples in her cheeks and they seemed the perfect partner for the freckles across her nose. She got closer to where he was sitting and then switched off the machine.
    “I’m not disturbing you, am I?” she asked.
    “Nope, I was just doodling some new ideas.”
    She stepped toward the desk and looked at his sketches. “You’re so talented. My daughter would love to see these animals you’ve drawn.”
    Daughter…had she just said daughter?
    “You’re a mom?”
    Lilly nodded. “She’s just turned two.”
    Shit, he hadn’t thought that maybe she was married or…
    “I’m a single mom, in case you’re wondering.”
    “Divorced?”
    She nodded.
    “What’s your little girl’s name?”
    “Katlin.”
    So pretty and if she was an ything like her mother, her looks matched her name.
    “If y ou’re wondering where she is, my mom who lives in Oregon is looking after her while I get settled in here and get some money together so I can afford a babysitter or daycare provider.”
    He didn’t know her that well , but he was guessing she was a great mom to her little girl.
    “Which reminds me , I have some friends who are looking for someone to clean their homes.”
    He didn’t but when he made a few phones call to shifters in the group, they would be looking for a house cleaner. Maybe he’d start with a call of Aiden. Charlotte was a busy MD and could do with some help.
    “That’s great. I appreciate that.”
    “I’ll have the names and numbers for you on Saturday night when we get together for Scrabble and pizza.
    He hoped he wasn’t being too pushy and that she loved the game and the food.
    “Thanks and thanks. And I’ve always loved game night.”
    “Oh, and I know this won’t be a fun event and you can say no, but I’m going to Mrs. Nelson’s funeral service on Friday and I don’t want to go alone.”
    “You want me to come with you?”
    “You can say no,” said Christopher.
    “As long as it doesn’t clash with my shift at the café, sure, I’ll come along. I didn’t know her, but I guess as we found her we should be there to pay our respect to her.”
    “I’ll let you know the time. A nd why don’t I sketch something you can give to Katlin from me.”
    “Oh, she’d love that. I could tell her a story about it. I do that every night when I call her.”
    “Anything she especially likes?”
    “Bears, she loves bears.”
    He bit his lip. He hoped her mom did too.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    “I think we should call the police and report whoever this person is that’s taken over my brother’s mind and body,” said Aiden.
    “Laugh all you want,” said Christopher.
    “So let me see if I have this straight. You’re now are a dog owner. You’re also pursuing a single mom and you haven’t gotten horizontal with her yet?”
    Now that his brother had said all that , it did sound so unChristopher like.
    “Just leave him alone. I’m happy for you, Christopher,” said Charlotte nudging Aiden in the ribs.
    He’d finally accepted the invitation to have dinner with Aiden and his sister-in-law. He’d overlook the cute little slaps on the butt both of them gave one another. The kisses when they didn’t think he was looking. It no longer irritated him because he’d found someone he’d wanted to do all that sort of mushy stuff with. Yeah, he couldn’t wait. Guess it was what finding your