Her Bear Protector (BBW Shifter Romance) Read Online Free Page A

yesterday, I guess I just had bears on the brain. But one particular one, actually."
                Emily asked how come, and I briefly explained about the Taggert brothers and the bear.
                She nodded. "We saw police cars here yesterday while hiking, so we knew you must have had some trouble. That's part of the reason we came by today -- we just wanted to make sure you were okay. And actually, Aaron here was the one who knew about the -- the trouble, but he figured that maybe a lone man you'd never met showing up at your door the day after you'd experienced something bad might not be the very best thing for your nerves." She grinned, her big gray eyes twinkling. "So I got designated to be the tag-along, because even though I can hit five-foot-one on my tiptoes, I'm told that somehow, I'm just not that intimidating."
                I laughed, thinking how considerate it had been of Aaron to bring Emily along to put my mind at ease about his intentions. "Well, I'm glad you both came. It's been nice to have some company after yesterday."
                Emily asked how I was feeling and if my nerves had returned to normal.
                I nodded. "Yeah, for the most part. I definitely don't feel as rattled today. Yesterday, I was so shaken up that I was just interpreting reality in a really weird way, Sergeant Laine thought."
                Again, I couldn't be sure, but it seemed as if Emily gave Aaron just the tiniest of glances.
                "How so?"
                "Well – I -- it's hard to explain. But that painting is actually of the bear I saw yesterday, and as you can see, he's got green eyes, because that's how I saw them, even though I know that's not possible. Sergeant Laine said the stress I was under might have just made them seem that way to me, and I'm sure he was right. Although...." I thought back to the previous day, my gaze on the lavender coneflowers in the middle of the table. "Everything just felt so real. The bear actually brought me these flowers that are on the table and followed me home, almost like he wanted to make sure I was okay."
                Emily didn't say anything, her gaze on her glass. Aaron took a long, thirsty drink of his iced tea. Realizing I'd said what probably sounded like some pretty crazy things, and in front of quite possibly the most attractive man I'd ever met, I felt a little heat rise to my face.
                "Sorry, guys. I'm being weird."
                Emily said I wasn't at all. "I'm just so glad you're okay after yesterday."
                I gave her a little smile. "Thanks. Me, too. Things could have been a whole lot worse if the bear hadn't helped me. But I guess now, I'm just going to try to put it all behind me and enjoy the rest of my time here. And in fact, I was planning on a hike here in a bit. Getting right back on the horse, I guess. Would you both like to join me?"
                Emily said she'd really like to but would have to take a rain check. "I have an afternoon fishing date with my husband."
                But Aaron said he'd love to go with me. "That is, if you feel comfortable with it being just the two of us."
                I said that was completely fine, looking into his deep green eyes, hardly able to even speak to him without butterflies zipping around my stomach.
                Soon Emily left, hugging me goodbye, and after I'd changed into hiking clothes, tucking my gun into the waistband of my jeans as I'd promised Sergeant Laine,  Aaron and I set out on our hike.
                "Now, I promise to fight off any bears we may encounter on this hike with my bare hands, if you'll promise to immortalize the scene in a painting."
                I glanced up at him, and I did really glance up , with him being nearly a foot taller than me, trying to gauge if he was being