Bear the Heat (Fire Bears Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

said, standing and dusting off her backside. “That is the kind of stuff the public needs to know. It humanizes you.”
    Boone slowed his long strides so she could keep up beside him. Damn, she was cute, and to stop his fingers from itching to touch hers, he linked his hands behind his head. “Cody says we need a publicist. He gave me a stack of applications last week and told me to pick one, but none of them seem the right fit for my crew.”
    “A publicist would help, but I agree. You need someone you can trust with your image. How people perceive you is everything right now, and you shifters are going to have to build from the ground up. I can ask around and see if I can track down a couple of options for you. I have a lot of connections at the station.”
    “I’d appreciate it. I wouldn’t mind you interviewing my family either, if you ever get the time.”
    “You’d give me an exclusive interview?”
    “Yeah. It’s something Cody has brought up a few times already.”
    “All right, gimme.” She fluttered her fingers. “Let me see your phone.”
    He pulled it from his back pocket and handed it over. Cora punched in her number and hit the call button. When her phone rang, she pulled it from her purse and saved his contact. “Since we’re now friends, we should have each other’s numbers anyway, in case I ever think of another wildly inappropriate story to tell you. And you, Mr. Keller,” she said, handing him back his phone, “are the first man I’ve given my number to since I met Eddie. Call me when you’re ready to set up that interview.” Cora waved and walked away.
    And as he watched her leave, phone clutched in his hand, he inhaled deeply and reveled in the silence.
    For the first time in months, his inner bear wasn’t snarling to escape his skin.

Chapter Four
     
    “Tish, I don’t know. I just feel better. Lighter without him now. It was so heavy that first week, but now I feel freer than I’ve felt in a long time.”
    Tish, the station’s hair stylist, pulled at the bright pink tress of hair Cora had dyed last night. “Is that freedom where this came from?”
    Sheepishly, she smiled. “I know it seems weird, but Eddie hated spontaneity, and I’ve always wanted to rock a little peekaboo color, and I don’t know. Last night it was just nice to do something I wanted. Something that made me feel good.”
    “Well, thank you for putting it some place I can pin it out of view from the cameras. I don’t know how ready the public is for your wild, spontaneous hairdo,” Tish said, gray eyes sparkling. “I’m happy for you, girl. Whatever you’re doing to get over that pinhead, Eddie, keep right on, because I’ve noticed a big change in you over the past couple of weeks, and it’s been kind of awesome to watch.”
    In her reflection in the giant wall mirror that hung in the hair and make-up room, Cora’s expression faltered. Boone had been the one to cause the stirrings of these changes, but he hadn’t called or made contact in any way over the past two weeks. It was as if he’d disappeared into thin air. She’d felt a strong connection, friendship or whatever, with him, but he’d obviously bolted.
    “Delivery for Cora Wright,” a man with a giant bouquet of pink and orange roses said. The thing was so big, it covered his torso, and the man wasn’t slender.
    “For me?” she asked, baffled.
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll set it right here. The card is in the middle. You two have a nice day.” The delivery man settled the flowers on the table, fluffed the stems once, then bustled back out the door.
    Slowly, she leaned forward and plucked the card from the bouquet. Inside the tiny envelop was a yellow sheet of paper.
    Because a woman like you deserves flowers, even if they are from a friend.
    At the bottom of the card, there was a scribbled cartoon of a cheerful looking ball sack and taint with a little smiley face and bug legs. It was labeled taint-weevil .
    “Ha!” she laughed louder