Bare Instincts: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (8 page)

“But faithful, right?”

“For the most part.” There were always exceptions.

Emmaline pointed a finger at her. “Work your magic on him and then we can see if he’s right for you.”

Wonderful
. “If I decide I actually like him, as opposed to being in lust with him, and then find out he’s either cheating or he’s not interested, my heart will be broken even worse.”

“Stop being so pessimistic. You said yourself he can’t keep his hands off you.”

“All that means is that he’s horny.”

Her friend laughed. “You’re hopeless. Listen to me. Ask him out and we’ll figure it out from there.”

“Since you’re orchestrating this romantic interlude, where do you suggest I take him?”

Emmaline brought her bottle to her lips and sipped. “What does he like to do?”

“Have sex.”

She cracked up. “Besides that. We want Burke to see you for the wonderful person that you are. What do you both like to do?”

She drew a blank. “I like to read. He claims he’s read Stephen King, but if he has, I’m betting it’s the only book he’s ever opened. He loves his motorcycle, but I’m not a fan of them. In fact, I hate them. They’re too dangerous.” Emmaline rolled her eyes. “He dances with grace while I’m as clumsy as a bear. Pun intended.”

Emmaline shook her head. “There has to be something you both like to do.”

“I like to fish, though I’m not sure he does.”

“You fish? As a human or in your bear form?”

Tasha laughed. “Both. My dad loves fishing, and he taught me to appreciate it at a young age.”

“There you go. Invite him to some remote fishing hole—remote being the operative word here.”

The idea had merit. “Maybe I’ll pack a lunch and see if he wants to join me after I get off work Saturday.”

Emmaline grinned. “Now you’re talking!”

Her palms sweated just thinking about bolstering her courage to ask him out. “What if he says he hates to fish?”

“Stop it. If he does and still goes with you, it means he’s interested.”

“Or he’s horny and wants to seduce me again.”

“Would that be a bad thing? You said yourself that he rocks between the sheets.”

“He does.” But if she asked him out, it would signal a new phase in their relationship—one of actively dating. She prayed that she was ready for this big step. Hell, she’d been content without a man in her life for as long as she could remember. Burke’s sudden appearance in town had made her question her long-held belief.

Em huffed out a laugh. “You are a piece of work. Now drink up then get some rest. You need your beauty sleep.”

She opened her mouth. “Are you saying I’m a tired looking hag?”

Em held up her beer bottle. “If the shoe fits.”

“I should shift and eat you.”

Her friend laughed, cutting her anxiety in half.

*     *     *

As Burke helped
another worker dig more postholes, the sun beat down on his back. They’d made good progress on the library extension this week, and while his boss said he expected the job to last a good three months, at the rate they were going, Burke believed they’d be done in two.

While he loved manual labor, he’d been distracted today. The memory of his brother often intruded in his thoughts, but ever since he’d been with Tasha, her image had taken over, often making him lose focus. He’d caught a glimpse of her through the library window yesterday and been about to wave to her when Dee Dee shouted his name. She was a cute girl, but the two of them were alike in too many ways. They both liked to party and keep their feelings buried deep. When they’d dated, he was convinced she wasn’t even capable of a relationship—not that he’d been looking for one at eighteen. Only after his brother died, had Burke realized just how short life could be. Since returning home, he’d been re-evaluating his priorities.

As soon as Burke had spotted Dee Dee’s provocative attire, he knew she’d be trouble. He willed Tasha to move away from the window, but her shadow remained off to the side. Not wanting to make a scene, he’d smiled at Dee Dee then tossed back the drink as quickly as possible. While he appreciated the refreshment, he hoped she didn’t make another appearance today. If she did, he’d have to tell her he wasn’t interested. Knowing her, though, she’d work harder to convince him to throw a little love her way.

The whole time Dee Dee had been standing there with her big blue eyes aimed his way, he kept hearing Tom’s voice urging him to take her up on her offer—that Tasha wasn’t interested. Tom might be right. Hell, she’d thrown him out on his ass after they’d had the most amazing sex in his life. Then again, the way she’d screamed his name when she’d come convinced him she hadn’t been immune to their intense draw either.

Wade suggested that because of Burke’s reputation, Tasha had sent him packing, knowing he’d walked out on her if she hadn’t. He never should have told her about not spending the night with a woman. That was plain dumb.

“Burke?”

He looked up. As if he’d conjured her, Tasha was coming toward him, and his cock instantly hardened. Fuck. The foreman wouldn’t let her come close without a hard hat, so Burke set down his shovel and hustled over to her.

He probably smelled bad after a hard day at work, but that couldn’t be helped. “Hey there.” He motioned they step under one of the large maples to give them some shade and be farther away from the construction noise.

He studied her expression but was unable to tell if she was here to read him the riot act or demand to know his intentions toward Dee Dee. Yes, he should have called Tasha Sunday to thank her for letting him crash at her place, but he believed she needed time to figure out what she wanted—or else he was the one who needed to think things through. He’d only spoken with her for a minute at the funeral, and that hadn’t been the time to discuss their relationship.

In all honesty, after the Dee Dee incident, he hadn’t been sure Tasha would ever speak with him again.

“My dad gave me a new fishing pole, and I thought I’d try it out after work Saturday.”

That was nice, but he couldn’t tell if she was asking him to join her or if he should say what a great dad she had. He used to fish all the time since it brought him peace. “Great. Where are you going?”

A few summers ago, he’d found a great lake about thirty miles from Hidden Hills. Some people who had lived in the area their whole life weren’t even aware of its existence.

She shrugged. “I wanted to ask your opinion.”

Really? His pulse raced. Being near Tasha caused this unnatural reaction, and the potential of another date had his hormones flying. “There’s a lake I found up in the hills that’s good.”

Her eyes sparkled. “You fish?”

The hope in her voice gave him a new insight. “Don’t you remember how we’d go in the stream at the back of Dad’s property and try to catch something?”

“That was a lifetime ago.”

It was. “It’s been forever since I’ve had the time to fish, so would it be okay if I tag along?”

She smiled and his heart soared. He needed to get his head on straight in part because he had yet to figure out why Tasha was even here given she’d kicked him out. Wade might have been right about her reason.

“I’d love that. How about we meet here at one? I’ll pack a picnic in case we don’t catch anything.”

He wasn’t into shifting and eating fish raw anymore, but perhaps she was planning on a nice fire and cooking it first. It didn’t matter to him. Whatever her plan, he was game. “Perfect.”

She spun on her heels and hauled ass out of there. He figured she was on her break and might get in trouble if she stayed out too long. As soon as she disappeared into the library, he went back to work, his mood greatly improved.

Then doubt surfaced. Burke couldn’t quite tell what was on her agenda. She had asked him out—more or less—but he hoped she didn’t plan on getting him alone just so she could tell him to shove it. Then again, she might seduce him. He couldn’t wait to find out whether it was door number one or number two.

*     *     *

As soon as
Burke asked his father if he could borrow a fishing pole, his dad raised his brows. “Why the sudden interest? If I recall, when you and Tom came home last summer for your mom’s birthday, I couldn’t get you guys to do any such thing.”

By then, Tom was having a hard time sitting still for any length of time. “Tasha asked if I’d take her fishing. Apparently, Alden bought her a new pole, and she wants to try it out.” That wasn’t technically the truth, but he had suggested the location.

His dad stroked his chin. “Don’t recall Alden mentioning he bought her a new rod. All he said was that she’d been real moody lately. Maybe he got it to cheer her up.” He narrowed his eyes. “Could her bad mood have anything to do with you?”

She hadn’t seemed moody when she’d spoken with him, unless she’d been upset when she’d seen him with Dee Dee and mentioned it to her father. It was hard to keep a secret longer than a few minutes in this town, though if Wade hadn’t heard about Tom’s death, perhaps the grapevine had dried up since he’d moved. “I hope not.”

“You’ve been seeing a lot of her, I hear.”

Burke was in no mood to discuss the strange feelings he’d been having when he was around Tasha. Perhaps after his date on Saturday, he’d know more. “Some.”

“You came home real early Sunday morning from her place.” His father leaned close. “Don’t go breaking her heart, son.”

Shit. “Dad, we’re just going fishing.” He certainly wasn’t going to tell his father he hoped it would lead to something more.

Ever since she’d mentioned they’d be having a picnic, his imagination had been out of control, picturing all the ways he wanted to make love with her—against a tree, on the soft sand edging part of the lake, and even on the blanket. Hell, he’d take it any way he could get it.

“Remember, she’s the Alpha’s daughter.”

“I know.” He’d never forget, but he wasn’t intimidated by Alden, the man who’d practically raised him. Well aware of the Clan politics, Burke had no intention of messing things up with her.

Tasha’s heritage was one of the reasons why she didn’t have a hoard of young bears after her. She was like Clan royalty. Her older brother would be the next Alpha should her dad step down, but she still commanded a lot of respect.

If he was lucky, she’d bore him to death Saturday, and he could forget all about her.

In my dreams.
There was something about her that had him fixating on her. He wondered, once more, if she was his mate.

Chapter Eight

B
urke paced the
library parking lot. It was a quarter after one, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Tasha had changed her mind about their date or if this was his punishment for talking with Dee Dee.

He decided to text her to make sure nothing had happened, but when he pulled his phone out he remembered they hadn’t exchanged numbers. That was dumb on his part.

Here he was alone with his pole and one of Dad’s beat up trucks and no date. Burke had spent this morning cleaning the interior, but it still smelled of fertilizer and oats. Perhaps it was for the best that she didn’t show.

He was about to head inside the library to ask if one of the workers could give him Tasha’s information when she drove up. Relief filled him. Burke really wanted to see how compatible they were now that he didn’t have alcohol swimming in his veins.

Tasha parked and stepped out of her car, wearing a tight short-sleeved shirt over rolled-up jeans. Man, she was hot.

He leaned his pole against the side of the truck and jogged up to her. “You made it.” He smiled, hoping to defuse any possible concern she might have for being late.

“I forgot something at the store and had to stop. You ready?”

“Yup.”

She glanced at the truck and grimaced. “I only have my fly-fishing pole.”

“Perfect. One of us should catch something then. Unfortunately, I never did perfect the art of fly-fishing. I’m a reel man.” That sounded bad. “That’s r-e-e-l.” When she laughed, the muscles in his shoulders relaxed. “Want me to drive?”

She glanced over at the truck. “I’ve got everything packed in the back of mine, but if you want to chauffeur me in my car that would be cool.” She dangled her keys from one finger.