Reforming the Bear by Vanessa Devereaux Read Free Book Online Page A

dad had been.
The tight bear hug he gave Liam confirmed it. Now that he was shifting, he’d
soon outpace his human classmates at school.
    “Hey,
buddy, have you been good at school this week?”
    “Yes!
I got a B on my spelling test.”
    “You
did well. I’m so proud of you.” Liam gave him a hug.
    “He’s
really getting along well at school now,” said Hannah. “And thank you for
taking the time to practice spelling all the words with him. I think the extra
coaching is helping him.”
    Liam
nodded. He didn’t want to let on, but he hadn’t been the best speller at school
and was actually learning along with Sam when they studied together.
    “Bear
told me you were the hero of the night,” said Hannah.
    Liam
shrugged his shoulders. “Just happened to be in the right place at the right
time.”
    “Liam,
if you could show me where…”
    Liam
turned and Hannah looked Lucy’s way as she hobbled out into the garage.
    Hannah
looked back at him.
    “Hannah,
this is Lucy Hunt. She’s the young lady I found on the road last night.”
    “Rescued,
more like,” said Lucy.
    “Lucy,
this is Hannah Morrison, Sam’s mom … and this is Sam, my nephew.”
    “I’m
pleased to meet you,” said Hannah. “Can you say hello, Sam?” asked Hannah.
    “Hi,
Lucy,” said Sam.
    “Nice
to meet you, Sam. Your uncle showed me a photo of you, and I have to say you’re
a lot more handsome in person.”
    “Are
you a bear?” asked Sam.
    “Sam,
what have you been told about asking questions like that?” said Hannah.
     
    Hannah
glanced over at Liam. Shit , he’d need
to have a word with him if he was going to hang around with Lucy.
    “Sorry,”
said Sam.
    “No,
Sam, I’m not a bear, but I like them. In fact, I still have my teddy bear from
when I was a baby.”
    Liam
was relieved at her response. She’d probably thought that question was typical
of someone Sam’s age or that he was goofing around.
    “Lucy’s
going to be staying in the apartment out back while her leg mends,” said Liam.
    “Really?”
said Hannah. She lifted both her eyebrows and Liam knew what it meant when a
human did that. They were reading far too much into the meaning of what he’d
just revealed. Liam was simply doing what anyone else, human or shifter, would
do. However, he couldn’t argue his case in front of Lucy or she might take
offence.
    “I
need to get on my way because I have the last fitting for my wedding dress.
Sam, you promise to be good and I’ll back at seven. Nice to have met you, Lucy,
and I’ll probably see you around as I’m often here dropping off Sam.”
    “Nice
to have met you too.”
“Bye,” said Sam, waving to Hannah as she drove away.
    “What
was it you wanted to ask me?” Liam asked Lucy.
    “I
found some drapes and I was wondering if you had a washing machine.”
    “Sure
do … but let me do that. You should be sitting down healing that leg.”
    “Does
it hurt?” asked Sam.
    “Yeah,
now and then,” said Lucy.
    “If
you leave the drapes in my kitchen I’ll put them in the machine and then you go
and watch TV or read. Once I’m done with this car, you want to join Sam and me
when we go to the pizza parlor?”
    “Pizza?
I have to say, I love pizza … so if I’m not intruding on your time together,
I’d love to.”
    Liam
smiled and Lucy turned and walked away. He put his arm around Sam.
    “Remember
what your mom, Bear and I have told you? You never just ask someone straight
out if they’re a bear. You know not everyone’s a shifter and it could get us
into trouble.”
    “I
forgot.”
    “I
know it’s easy to do but you have to be careful … we all have to depend on one
another to keep our secret. Now that you’re one of us you’re included in that.
Okay?”
    Sam
nodded.
      “You want to pass me some tools while I finish
up on this car?”
    “Sure.”
    They
walked back to the car and Liam raised the hood.
    “You
getting excited about the wedding and giving your mom away?”
    “I
don’t