A Spark to Bear (Fire Bear Shifters Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that forced the crew to head to the safety zone. He told her he knew she was out there and needed help, but that no one on the crew believed him, so he jumped away from the rescue helicopter at the last minute. He dodged her questions about how he had known, simply telling her that he just knew. Trying to explain to her that he had a bear’s sense of smell didn’t seem like the best idea at the moment. She’d already had quite enough excitement for one day.
    After he finished telling her his story, he asked her about herself. She seemed reluctant to talk at first, but, once she got going, the words came out like a flood. He got the feeling that she had been starving for someone to listen to her stories. She told him about losing her longtime job and boyfriend at the same time. Then she told him about her decision to come camping and hiking on her own, admitting rather sheepishly that perhaps her solo trip hadn’t been the smartest idea. Hunter listened without passing judgment. He couldn’t blame her for being hotheaded and wanting to do things on her own. After all, she’d lost everyone she thought she could trust in a very short span of time.
    As she finished her story, she confided in him that she didn’t know what to do next. She had dreams of opening her own bakery, but thought the idea seemed too farfetched. Hunter didn’t offer advice, since he didn’t know much about bakeries or business ownership. He just listened, and this seemed to satisfy her. The heavy shadows that had been clouding her eyes since the moment he met her slowly lifted.
    She was beautiful. Her hair was the darkest shade of brown he had ever seen, and her eyes sported the same color. Even though her face was grimy and covered in soot and sweat, he could tell that she had smooth, soft skin. Her long, lean legs drove him crazy as she innocently crossed and uncrossed her ankles during the course of their conversation. When she finally laughed, the sound warmed his heart like a cascade of warm, summer raindrops.
    A desire to make things better for her overcame Hunter. He didn’t know how, but he would find a way to help her find a new path for her life that fulfilled her, and kept that sparkle in her eyes and that laugh on her lips. He could listen to that laugh for hours.
    She fell silent as she finished listing out all the reasons that she knew a business of her own would never work, and they both stared at the lantern together for a few moments.
    “I think you should go for it,” Hunter finally said.
    “Really? Why?”
    Hunter shrugged. “It’s what you really want to do. You can find a way. And what better time than now, when you don’t have another job demanding your attention? You seem like a really sweet, good person, and I firmly believe that things work out for good people in the end. Sometimes it’s a long road to get there, but things will work out the way they’re supposed to.”
    Riley didn’t look convinced by his little speech, but she rewarded him with a smile anyway. “Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
    Hunter felt himself warming at her smile, and he quickly changed the subject. “We should get some rest. We’ve got a long day of hiking ahead of us tomorrow.”
    Riley nodded, and Hunter thought he saw a shiver pass through her body. She was only wearing cotton shorts and a t-shirt, and the nights out here could get pretty cool.
    “Do you want to borrow some of my flame retardant clothes?” he asked. “I have a few sets with me. They all look like this sexy dark green pants and shirt set I’m wearing. Not the most fashionable outfit ever, but the long sleeves and pants will keep you warmer overnight.”
    Riley smiled at him again. “That would be awesome, actually. I’m freezing. And I was wondering what was up with the dark green long underwear.”
    Hunter laughed. “Make fun of it all you want, but the heat resistance on these babies is amazing.”
    Hunter got her an extra set of the flame