Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and paint landscapes and florals. Mostly watercolor, and almost always outdoors. That’s why I thought about coming to the mountains of New York. It’s so beautiful here.” Damn, she was still babbling. What was it about the big man that both put her off guard and comforted her at the same time? Her body hummed with excitement being in his presence and she’d left her cool in the cabin bedroom. She had to get control. She was in New York to get away from people, not meet new ones. Especially not sexy new ones.
    He had facial hair and she had a rule. No facial hair. That was simple enough, right? No facial hair meant zero facial hair. Well, except eyebrows. She’d dated a guy in college who shaved off his eyebrows as part of his Goth sensibilities. Best guy ever at quoting Whitman. No facial hair except eyebrows had been a rule since that guy was out of her life.
    “I see. Well, I’m glad to hear you aren’t painting with harsh chemicals.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He gripped the back of the kitchen chair and scooted it across the wooden floor to its place under the table. “Sorry. I’m having a hard time staying awake.”
    “Sorry.” Her face heated again. “I’m trying to tell you how lovely I think this area is, especially compared to the city.”
    “The mountains are picturesque, especially in springtime. I think you’ll be an ideal tenant, long as you can follow the rules.”
    His gaze lingered, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Th-thank you,” she stammered at his close inspection. “I can follow the rules.” The landlord won’t be too bad to look at, either. Not a bonus I was expecting. Looking is okay.
    “One thing you need to know. Take it to heart, please. The mountains are very dangerous. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going. You don’t want to go traipsing around these trails by yourself. You could get lost pretty easily and it could be days before someone finds you. There are things—”
    “I don’t think you need to worry about Ms. Francis,” Jill spoke up. “She’ll be fine.” She fiddled with her notebook, flipping pages quickly. “She’s from Atlanta.”
    Griff reared up to his full height and stared at the Realtor. “This is not Atlanta.”
    Amy bit her lip. So close, he seemed larger than was possible for a man, and he gave off the strongest vibe of power she’d ever felt from a person. Even stronger than the VPs at the ad agency. Griff commanded the room without even speaking. In a positive way. A trustworthy way.
    “The mountains can be dangerous,” he continued. “With the spring thaw we’ve had and the rainy season starting, you never know when a safe, dry place can become a hazard without warning. Flash floods, rockslides, dangerous animals...” He spoke low, gritting his teeth and fisting his hands. “There are dangerous animals out there. Animals that will tear her apart. So don’t assume she’ll be safe. I know these forests and mountains.”
    “I’m sorry, Griff.” Jill dipped her head in clear submission. “What I meant is that I’m sure Ms. Francis will be careful. She’s smart. That’s all.”
    “Of course I’ll be careful. I can take care of myself. I’ve handled a lot of difficult situations. I won’t do anything stupid.” Amy pulled out a chair and sat. “Now let’s get these papers signed so I can bring my things in. I’m exhausted.”
    He paused a moment then... Did he just sniff the air ?
    He stared at her. “No one implied that you couldn’t take care of yourself.”
    “I’ll be okay.”
    He definitely sniffed, then he folded his arms across his chest. “I’m saying that the dangers here are different and potentially more serious than the dangers in the city. Here, things can be deadly and your body may not be found for days. When it is found, there may not be enough left to identify.”
    “I’ll be okay.” She gave him her eighty-five cent smile, but he looked away,