Target: BillionBear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant Read Free Book Online

the pottery. And weekends, I exhibit my art in Overton.” She swallowed a giant gulp of tea that made her eyes water, and then she rose. “Thanks for the tea. I’ve got work. Bye!”
    She got up without looking at him at all, and escaped into the cool air. What was it about Marlo that bugged her? Maybe it was just her persistence, and the fact that no one wanted outsiders to find out about the shifters. Or even the possibility. NPR. Shudder.
    Kesley slowed when she was out of sight of Ralph’s, and tried to get her head together. Grandma Zhao would have a load of teacups waiting, which meant Kesley needed steady hands.
    She entered the Flying Cranes shop, sniffing appreciatively at the smells of paper and books at the left side of the shop. The right side was where the Zhaos sold their pottery. Kesley said hi to David Zhao and was about to open the door to the back when David waved her over.
    She walked up to the counter, where David was busy restocking. He straightened up, shoved his glasses back up his nose, and shook back his ponytail. “Chick was just here,” he said. “You were hanging out at Ralph’s with some guy?”
    “He’s with that woman from NPR who’s trying to do a story about humans changing into animals .”
    David’s glasses flashed as he straightened up. “Animals. Like . . .”
    “Like maybe someone has seen one of us shifting. And put something on the net, and she found it. And is here to investigate. Do you know anything about that?”
    “No!” His eyes widened. “I don’t anyone who would screw up that way. Did she say something specific?”
    “All I know is, she cornered me at Ralph’s just now. The  camera guy didn’t say much, but she started in about how Auntie Julia told her that story about the old hippies. And right before that, Ralph said it was skinny dippers. We’d better decide on one story, and stick to it until she goes away.”
    “Right. I’ll text Chick and Amelia,” David said, pulling his cell from his pocket.
    Kesley hoped the fastest texters in the western hemisphere ought to be able to come up with a plan. She passed through to the storeroom, and the studio beyond. Grandma Zhao wasn’t there, so Kesley went to the work table where the latest order was set out, ready for decorative painting.
    She got her brushes and paints, and put on music to get herself thinking about other things besides nosy reporters, and a pair of handsome hazel eyes.

 
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Jameson discovered that he hated lying to Kesley.
    He considered that as Marlo laid out her plans for the day. She wanted to work her way down to each store, catching locals as she could.
    He listened with part of his attention, but his main thoughts zeroed in on Kesley, the neat way her hands held a teacup. Her glossy hair falling gracefully around her shoulder blades. How cute she was, blushing when she had nothing to blush about. Or was it nerves? She’d certainly seemed intimidated by Marlo. He frowned, feeling an urge to protect Kesley, though there was certainly nothing to protect her from .
    He just didn’t like seeing her unhappy. Which was odd, considering he didn’t know her. That was as odd as the fact that he didn’t mind being James Cannon to Marlo. To anybody, really. But when he’d forced himself to say ‘James’ to Kesley, it was like biting into a peach and finding a mouthful of ash.
    Ash. Heat. Voices shouting . . . Arabic?
    He shut his eyes . . . almost had it. His head panged, and he decided he needed fresh air, and movement.
    He discovered he’d eaten every bit of his breakfast, whereas Marlo hadn’t touched her toast—and she’d switched to complaining about the fat content in bread.
    He closed out her complaints as another almost-memory caused his hands to come up, and his muscles to tense in readiness. Sparring?
    “I need some exercise,” he said when she stopped talking long enough to drink her coffee.
    “Go ahead,” Marlo said. “Exercise would be