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

than she’d meant to. She couldn’t help her face-splitting grin as she read and re-read the card.
    Boone had sent her flowers, but more importantly than that…he’d listened.
    “Five minutes, the producer said into the open doorway as he bustled by.
    No time to call Boone now, but her stomach did curious flip-flops when she thought about talking to him after the show. Focus. She needed to calm down and trample the giddy feeling in her middle before she flubbed her lines and put Brandon and Deanna on the spot for an impromptu save-Cora-from-humiliating-herself-on-television scene. Like Eddie, her co-workers did not enjoy spontaneity. Eddie. Another wave of happiness washed over her as she realized the thought of him didn’t bow her over anymore, and hadn’t for days. In fact, she didn’t feel anything but anger toward him now. And pity. He was destined to lead a sad and lonely life, never knowing how to give his heart to someone and have it protected. He would always be a rat, and she pitied anyone who ended up with him.
    And Boone…sure, he’d put her squarely in the friend-zone with his note, but she was happy to be there.
    He’d sent her flowers, her first ever, and Cora was suddenly glad Eddie hadn’t ever listened.
    ****
    It was late, past eleven, and Cora was dog tired as she always was after doing the late night news in studio. It wasn’t her favorite part of the job. Any day of the week, she preferred to be sent out on assignment to cover events hosted by the town. It was a small station that catered only to the local area, so the staff was minimal, and most of them floated between multiple jobs that Mark, the producer, assigned them to.
    She fought the urge to pull off her peep-toe pumps and walk barefoot the rest of the way to her car. All she wanted to do was get behind the wheel, lock the door, and call Boone to thank him for…well…for bringing her back to life.
    She started hard when she saw a towering, shadowy figure leaned up against her car. Heart threatening to leap from her throat, she pulled an oversize serrated pocket knife from her purse and flipped it open with a practiced flick of her wrist.
    “Put your knife away, woman. I’m not here to mug you.”
    Boone’s familiar deep timbre settled her into a heaving sigh. “You scared the devil out of me.”
    “I can tell. You looked ready to gut me.” His words were laced with frank approval, so she squared her shoulders and slipped the knife back inside the hidden pocket, feeling a lot safer with a scary-looking bear shifter than when she’d left the building alone. She didn’t know why she was so certain, but Boone wouldn’t let anyone mess with her.
    Cora hefted up the giant vase of flowers. “Some hunky friend of mine sent me these,” she teased. “Do you like them?”
    Boone rocked his weight off her car and licked his lips as he approached. “I do. Did you like the cartoon?”
    “I laughed entirely too loud, and my hairdresser made me explain. I’ll keep the note forever.” She had a spot already picked out for it in the bottom of her underwear drawer where she kept meaningful birthday cards from Grandma Ruth and tiny trinkets she’d collected over the years.
    He chuckled, the sound low and alluring as he took the floral burden from her hands.
    Tonight he was dressed down. Gray V-neck thermal sweater that clung to his wide shoulders just right, sleeves pushed up enough to let those sexy curls of ink peak out from underneath, leather necklace that dipped beneath his collar, medium wash jeans with designer holes at the knees and dark, scuffed work boots. His hair was loose tonight and a strand fell in front of his face and lifted slightly in the breeze. She wished she could touch it to see if it was as soft as it looked. The epitome of masculine beauty, dangerous and alluring all at once.
    “Hey, Boone?” she said, dragging her gaze to the soft, blond day-old scruff on his chiseled jaw. “I just wanted to thank you for the