Laid Bear 2: The Kodiak Clan Read Online Free PDF Page B

tongue seemed like the right thing to do at the moment. If she started talking, it was almost certain she would babble on incoherently. Her bear was nervous, wanting to run away, but she was determined to stay put and answer any questions Grace had. I just hope she doesn’t hate me , she thought as eternity ticked by.
    Almost in a daze, Grace stood slowly and moved to the living room window. She hugged herself as she stood there staring out at the pothole-filled street.  
    “How far has this gone, Ronnie?” Her voice was deadly soft.
    “Grace, I haven’t even met him in person yet, I swear.”
    The cold glance Grace cast at her made her bear shiver in fear. Even though she was much smaller than Veronica, Grace had always been more dominant, stronger, fiercer. “Yet?”
    “Well, he wants to meet. I’ve been putting him off but…”
    Grace turned back to the window. “But what?”
    Summoning Keith’s strength, she blurted it out. “I love him. He’s absolutely everything I want in a mate. He’s stable, he’s kind, and he really wants to meet the boys.”  
    “But he’s human.”  
    She nodded, knowing Grace wouldn’t see it. “I know.” She felt defeated. The same conflicting emotions she’d been struggling with for the last couple of months resurfaced and threatened to break her.  
    “What should I do?” she pleaded.
    Veronica recognized the determined set of Grace’s shoulders as she turned and strode briskly back to the table. Relief flooded her at the thought of someone telling her what to do. It was always so much easier when you just followed directions.
    But it isn’t as satisfying, is it, my love?  
    She mentally shushed her dead husband’s voice. He’d always been a bit of a pain in the ass that way, always making her think for herself. A brief flash of grief burned through her soul, as it always did when she thought of him. She was resigned to them now, knowing they’d pop up at unexpected times, but they were growing shorter and less devastating as time dragged on without him.
    Pulling Veronica up by the hands, Grace said, “You need to do the right thing, Veronica Muir.” She pulled her into a tight hug, then released her and gathered up her purse and coat.  
    Veronica was speechless as she watched Grace turn and walk to the door. “What the—“ she lowered her voice, in case the boys had woken up from their nap “— eff is that supposed to mean?! Grace? Grace Harnig, get back here right now!”
    But she was already at her car with clearly no intention of explaining herself. As Grace was climbing up into her gigantic brown SUV, Veronica resorted to begging. “Please?”
    Grace glanced down at her, giving her a sad smile. “You’ll figure it out, chica. I love you, remember that.”
    And with a slam of a door and the roar of the engine, Grace was gone, leaving Veronica standing in her doorway like a schmuck.  
    “Bitch,” she whispered as she watched the SUV drive away.
    “Momma? Are you mad at Auntie Grace?”
    Whirling around, she saw sweet Jason rubbing his eyes with one fist while clutching his ratty security blanket to his chest with the other. She scooped him up in her arms, burying her nose in his neck, breathing in his scent.  
    “Why do you always smell so good, Jace? I just want to gobble you up!”  
    He giggled and squirmed when she nibbled at his neck. “Stop it, Momma!”
    One of her rules was to always stop teasing or tickling or rough-housing whenever one of the boys asked her to. How could she expect them to blindly obey her every command if she didn’t give them the respect of stopping a game they were uncomfortable with? Playing was supposed to be fun for everyone involved, not just one person who might be stronger. Of course the rule only applied to playtime; all other times, it was her way or the highway.
    She plopped down on the couch and pulled him into a side hug. Still sleepy, he snuggled up to her and slipped a thumb into his mouth, his