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

stay inside, or out on the lake. I promise." She gave him another smile, trying to fight the heat that gathered in her belly, pooling between her legs.
    When she shifted, she could feel that she was already damp. Heat rushed to her face.
    Maybe this was a mistake.
    But for so long she'd been sensible, and in the end it turned out that Walter had been the real mistake.
    Whatever Steven would turn out to be, at least she didn't think he'd leave her for fame and glory. There was something refreshingly honest about Steven.
    Perhaps that was why she felt drawn to him. She didn't think he'd lie to her. A man who was actually hunting a wild jaguar in her forest had no reason to make up crazy lies.
    "I'm looking forward to it." He spoke softly, his voice low and intimate. There was the smallest hint of a growl in it. It wasn't threatening at all, but a delightful rumble.
    Need pulsed between her legs as she imagined what it would feel like to have him growl softly into her ear. How was she going to survive that dinner?
    Her coffee had gone cold, she realized as she watched Steven vanish back into the forest. She drank it nevertheless, feeling breathless and overwhelmed. She couldn't help but think that this might just turn out to be the best bad decision of her life.
     
    ***
     
    Today, her hour on the lake had yielded three trouts—none as large as the one she had caught yesterday, but together with the other dishes she had prepared, she hoped it would be enough even for a jaguar hunter who hadn't seen real food in weeks.
    Cleo had used some of the blueberries she had gathered to bake muffins. There was a loaf of cornbread waiting as well, and she'd prepared a big bowl of salad. It was just as well that she'd driven into town for groceries a few days ago.
    She still couldn't quite believe that Steven had been camping out in the wild all this time. It had been more than a week since she'd run into him first. And while the weather was still warm enough to sleep comfortably in a tent, she was sure that he'd be missing real food by now.
    After some hesitation, she'd opened a bottle of wine as well. She didn't even really know why she had bought it. Now, with the glasses waiting on the old table, she felt a little ridiculous. What if he didn't think of this as a date? What if he was really only craving some food and conversation after too many days in the wilderness?
    Self-consciously, she looked into the mirror. She'd put on a bit of make-up—not enough to be noticeable, or so she hoped, but it had made her feel better about herself. She hadn't exactly planned on having any dates out here, and she hadn't brought anything suitable to wear on a date. In the end, she'd settled on a simple, white linen skirt and a green tunic that went well with her eyes. Most importantly, it was one of the few items she owned which hadn't been stained by paint or polish yet.
    She tilted her head, then smoothed back a curl of hair that kept escaping from behind her ear.
    He's living out alone in the woods, she thought. This will do. I'm sure he doesn't expect anything fancy...
    Nevertheless, she once again went to check on the fish. She'd rubbed it with salt and her Grandma's special herb mix for the fishes her Grandpa had pulled out of the lake: thyme, sage, rosemary, tarragon, mint and onion, mixed with salt and oil. The fishes had been resting in the aromatic mixture for a while now. All they'd have to do once Steven arrived was put them onto the fire.
    Just when she'd gone to check on the muffins for the third time, there was a knock on her door at last. When she opened it, Steven was smiling at her.
    He was still wearing the same clean, white shirt he'd worn earlier that day, and once more Cleo found herself utterly captivated by the triangle of chest it revealed.
    "Sorry, I hope I didn't make you wait!" he said. "I would have brought wine, but that's a bit hard to find out here. I hope this will do?"
    He held out a small bowl that was full to the