Red's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) Read Online Free PDF

warm
bread and lots of honey-sweetened butter.” Ann’s timing was perfect as she came
to the table and placed the food before him.
    “Ah, Ann, you steal my heart. I do believe I’d starve
if not for you.”
    Swatting his arm, the older woman laughed. “All you Den
males are such charmers. You know your momma taught you well.”
    “That she did,” Cord agreed. Eating was something that
Were-bears loved and with the winters being so heavy in the area, everyone
learned young how to cook.
    “Can I get you anything, Marcella?” Ann turned to the
younger woman.
    Cord could only imagine what Ann was thinking. Everyone
in Den probably expected that he’d choose Marcella during the run. The only
person that didn’t agree was his bear.
    “No, thanks, Ann. I’m fine,” Marcella said.
    “Alright, let me know if you change your mind.” Ann
moved back to her place behind the counter.
    “How’s the salon going?” Cord wanted to get her on
another topic before she journeyed back to the one about the festival. Tearing
off some bread, he smeared a healthy amount of butter on it before dipping it
into the salmon chowder soup then placing it in his mouth.
    “Good. Real good. Mama actually listened to some of my
ideas about it. In the spring she’s going to have Theo start on a second floor
where I can begin some of the treatments and spa services.”
    “Well, that’s great. I know how important that is to
you, being able to use your massage therapy degree.”
    “It is.” Her dark brown eyes lit up. “I’m glad you
remember.”
    Oh, shit. Did I make a mistake? “Of course. I try and recall those
things about my friends that they hold dear.” Spooning the thick, creamy
soup into his mouth, he hoped she’d picked up on his emphasis on friend.
    Stretching her hand across the table, she cupped the
back of his hand that was holding another piece of bread.
    He could feel the heat in her hand, but other than that
his body had no response. Not even a residual bubble of lust from their past.
    “I was hoping that we could be more than friends again,
Cord. I’ve never gotten—”
    Dropping his chin to his chest, he took a deep breath
and sighed heavily. “Marcella. I don’t want to lead you on. I can’t make any
promises about Friday night.”
    “I’m not expecting you to. I just want you to know that
I’m more than willing to be—”
    “Cord, there you are!” Genma Berend came bustling into
the diner with all the energy and vigor she always had. Beside her was her
partner in crime, Octavia Bjorn, his grandmother.
    Thankful for the timely interruption, Cord set his
spoon down, moved his hand from beneath Marcella’s and rose to greet the two
older women.
    “Nana.” He kissed his grandmother’s cheek first then
her best friend’s. “Ms. Genma.”
    “I went by your business and Rand said you were here.”
Genma prattled on.
    “What can I help you with?” he looked from one to the
other.
    His grandmother looked pointedly at Marcella, then him.
He couldn’t read her expression, he hoped that she wasn’t about hassle him like
the rest of the town was over choosing Marcella.
    “We’re not disturbing anything are we? You don’t mind
excusing us do you, dear? I see you don’t have anything to eat or drink, I
assume you were just briefly stopping by.” Octavia was anything but subtle even
with the wide grin on her mouth.
    Apparently, his grandmother figured whatever she and
Genma had to discuss with him was more important than what Marcella was talking
about.
    “We don’t want to hold you. I know how busy the salon
can be at lunchtime. Especially with the festival coming up next week.” Genma
gave Marcella a sweet smile.
    Cord feared that if Marcella didn’t leave soon the two
older Were-females would shift and bodily move her from the seat.
    “I do need to get back.” Rising, Marcella looked at
him, a cloud of emotions shadowing her eyes as if she were attempting to
communicate something with him.