Read Hunter Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Enforcer Bears Book 2) for Free Online

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    “Hey,” he said when he finally reached her, grinning widely. Water dripped from his hair. “Um. I’m not actually—I mean, this time I’m wearing shorts!”
    Cleo stared at him, and then she started laughing, she couldn’t help herself.
    “Thanks for telling me,” she said, once she’d been able to calm herself again. “I mean, I’m glad!”
    No, you’re not, a voice whispered inside her head, and she couldn’t quite bite back a grin.
    “Anyway, I caught more than I can eat,” she continued. “So in case you are hungry and you don’t have other plans… Actually, I never asked. Where do you live? Do you drive out from the town every day, or did you rent one of Higgins’ houses?”
    “Oh, I’m camping out here until I get that beast.” Steven didn’t quite meet her eyes. He took hold of the side of her boat with one hand.
    Fascinated, Cleo stared at his fingers. His hand was large, and despite the life he must lead out here, it was clean and free of scratches or bruises.
    But there had been scars on him. All of a sudden, she remembered the long lines across his back. Had that been a wild animal he had been hunting, like the jaguar?
    “Well, if you feel like a barbecue tonight, like I said, you’re invited.” Suddenly she couldn’t quite meet his eyes either.
    Her gaze lingered at his shoulder. There was another scar there, old and pale.
    “Thank you.” His voice was soft. His fingers tightened around the wood. “I think I’d like that that. If you’re sure you don’t mind…”
    Finally their eyes met. Cleo thought she saw uncertainty in his. Was he as surprised by her actions as she was?
    She felt the familiar itching in her fingers again. She wanted to grab a pen and sketch the way his skin gleamed in the sunlight. She wanted to reach out and touch his hand, trace those scars to find out what stories they would tell.
    Instead, Cleo straightened and took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. Something about him unsettled her. It wasn’t just the fact that he was incredibly sexy—and she was the best judge of that, as she’d already seen all those incredible muscles.
    No, something else drew her towards him. It was like he was a painting just waiting to be put onto paper. Something inside her recognized that he meant something—but she couldn’t yet figure out what it was.
    Perhaps I should draw him. Really draw him, not just a quick sketch. Maybe I’ll think clearer if I can just get it all out of my head and onto paper…
    At that moment, a roar rose from the forest before them. It was an eerie sound, anger and loneliness twisted into a cry that rose and fell.
    Cleo shuddered instinctively.
    “The jaguar!” they both said at the same time.
    “I have to—” Steven began.
    Cleo nodded quickly. If she had doubted him before, she no longer did. That sound had definitely come from a large, angry animal. “Of course. I’ll get back home and lock the door. No walks in the wood, I promise.”
    “Sorry about the dinner.” He gave her an apologetic look, and then his hands released the boat.
    “Some other time then,” she called out after him, watching him glide through the water with powerful strokes.
    So much for her first date after Walter. Maybe it just hadn’t been meant to be.
    Once more her eyes rose towards the woody hills that lined the lake. Everything looked peaceful. The sun was still shining brightly. A breeze had sprung up, and gentle waves were lapping at her boat, rocking her gently as if the lake wanted to lull her to sleep.
    But somewhere out there, a wild jaguar was roaming, and Steven had dedicated himself to hunting it down.
    She shivered despite the warmth. Then she took up the oars once more to hurriedly row back to her own pier.
    I hope he’ll be safe…
     
    ***
     
    The next morning, Cleo woke with the sunrise. She'd had an uneasy night. She'd woken up several times and listened to the wind howl around her small house, wondering how Steven was