Kodiak Moment: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Read Online Free Page A

the city home.”
    “Trying to figure me out?” he teased.
    “Maybe,” she said, with a challenging glint in her eye.
    He laughed. “Nothing really to figure out about me. I’m a country boy, raised out in the middle of nowhere. Tried living in the city once, too many lights, too much noise, and too many people. Out here, there’s just me, unless I want company. Out there, things aren’t as complicated as they are in the city, or they’re not as complicated as people make them.”
    His bear hated the city.
    “You wouldn’t even think about moving into the town?” she asked.
    “Not unless there was a reason for me to. I like it out here, sweet, I suit it, and it suits me.”
    “I can see that.”
    He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she blushed. “I mean, you look…” she stammered.
    He laughed and let her off the hook. “I knew what you meant, sweet, and I thank you for the compliment. At least you’re not trying to persuade me to get down to the town. Dan usually tries at least once a week, when he’s not trying to set me up on a date.”
    Her heart, curiously, skipped a beat. “Oh?” she asked, hoping she sounded casual enough, and he wouldn’t mind the query. “Does he try to set you up a lot?”
    “Have any friends that are happily married and determined to make sure that you end up the same way?” he countered.
    “No, but I take your point,” and she did. “So he’s had no luck in finding a girl to win your heart?”
    “Not for lack of trying. What about you? Any special man waiting for you in the city?”
    “Absolutely not,” she said firmly.
    “Well, that was a definitive,” he said in surprise.
    “Not many men have the patience to deal with me being away for so long on assignment.”
    She could have sworn she heard him mutter, “More fool them.”
     
    ***
     
    The more that James learned about Nessa, the more he liked. She was smart, sassy, and sensible, as if she had been designed for him. Designed to be his mate. She hadn’t tried to convince him that the city way of living was the best, as some tourists did. She had laughed at a few of the blind-date experiences he had shared, and had shared a few of her own.
    She had headed back over to her cabin to tidy, or clean, or do something. He hadn’t wanted to pry too much. Not after she agreed to come back over to his place for dinner that night. He wanted to make her something special, make her something as special as she was proving to be.
    As he moved around the kitchen, gathering the ingredients, he wondered if it was the bear driving him, or if it was all himself. Most of the time, it was hard to tell where he ended and where the bear began. But ever since he had seen Nessa, he had felt a gulf growing between himself and his bear. His bear wanted Nessa, wanted to take her, to claim her, and make her his. His bear wanted to drive off all rivals, protect her, defend her, and love her.
    What did he want to do?
    Absently, he diced an onion. What did he want to do? If he forgot about his bear, and the nagging urge to claim his mate. She was attractive, intelligent, and he would certainly like to get to know her. He’d like to see if those lips tasted as sweet as they looked. He’d like to run his fingers through her hair and trail them down over her skin.
    He halted his knife, before he could start slicing the carrots, and examined his train of thought.
    It sounded very much like he was starting to fall for this lady. His lady.
     
    ***
     
    Their second evening meal together had gone as well as their first, with another bottle of wine being opened to set the mood. They had talked over dinner, random, winding conversation with no real meaning other than to pass the time. Once again, they had retired to the couch after dessert, to stare into the fire together.
    She was so warm next to him, snuggled up so trustingly into his side. She was a strong, confident woman, and he admired that about her. Daringly, he bent his head and pressed