Bear Hearted: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

was a vault. He’d never tell Cal that. Even though they were around the same size, he was sure in his condition, Cal could kick his ass.
    “Right,” Toby said instead. He didn’t like Cal’s nickname for Estrella. He enjoyed the way her full name felt on his tongue. It was unique, like her. Though he wondered about their relationship.
    “How do you know Dr. Martinez?” Toby asked.
    Cal smirked. “We go way back.” He didn’t elaborate further.
    Toby allowed Cal to help him up from the bed, but took over when it came to getting dressed. His body was stiff from laying down so long, otherwise he was good. Possibly better than good. He didn’t want to press his luck.
    Cal insisted on giving Toby a ride home since he took a cab there the day before at the insistence of keeping the surgery secret. Toby tried to make polite conversation but it was apparent that whatever rapport they had was left at the hospital. Cal turned up the volume of the radio while navigating his car through the downtown streets as swiftly as an Indie 500 driver. Toby allowed himself to relax against the cool leather seat and watch the world fly by. The buildings appeared sharper to him, almost as if he was moving in slow motion, able to take in every single detail of the brick and concrete around him. His euphoria from getting a second chance at life must have been affecting him, slowing down his racing brain to take a clearer look at the world.
    They arrived at Toby’s home on the edge of downtown quicker than he expected.
    Toby was able to help himself out of the car, feeling stronger with each passing minute. He leaned over, peering into the car. “Thanks for the ride, Cal.”
    Cal leaned across the divider between them, his face close enough that Toby could smell the leftover bacon from his egg sandwich. “You heed Ella’s warning or I’m coming for you.”
    Was he her bodyguard? Toby’s gaze darted between Cal’s eyes. “Yeah, I got it.”
    Cal sat into his seat and stared in front of him. A small smile touched the corners of his lips. “You enjoy your new life now, ya hear?”
    Toby pushed the car door. The second it closed, Cal reversed and sped away.
    “What a strange guy,” Toby mumbled. He looked across his freshly mowed lawn and inhaled, taking in the warmth of the sun. The clean scent of the dewy grass filled him with a new impression on life.
    A dog barked, jarring him from his thoughts. He whirled around, looking for it. The sound had been right behind him but where was the animal? He inhaled sharply, immediately not knowing why. He scanned the area. He must have imagined it. Maybe hearing things was a side effect from the anesthesia.
    Dismissing it, he headed for the front door.
     
    Toby quietly navigated the house for fear of waking Alexa before ten. She demanded twelve hours of sleep. His body warmed thinking of her. As he healed, he would heal their relationship as well. And get back on track.
    He went into the guest bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He expected a pale, sickly person to look back at him, but instead the color had returned to his face. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the large bandage across his chest. He had to remember to change it later. He turned on the sink and dipped his head under the faucet, scrubbing the hospital out of his hair. After washing his face and quickly moving a damp cloth over his body he headed for the guest bedroom. He’d been sleeping in the guest room on and off over the past weeks when Alexa insisted, so he had a stash of clothes. He pulled on a t-shirt and workout shorts. The small act of changing clothes made him feel like a new man. His body pulsed with energy. Not what he expected, but who was he to complain?
    He texted Stan, and twenty minutes later, his friend showed up at the house.
    Stan waited until Toby was in the car before asking, “How the hell are you standing right now? Did you do the surgery?”
    Toby grinned. “I don’t know. And