Read Online Christina's Bear by Jane Wakely - Free Book Online Page A

bubbly—sometimes
loud—personality. Looking for love resulted in dating often and had gained her
the reputation of being a fun party girl. Unfortunately, many people made the
mistake of thinking she was easy and slept around. Jenn was the only one who
knew the truth and now Jenn was gone. Christina felt very alone.
    Christina
realized this was the first time in her life that she was truly on her own.
She’d lived with her parents until she was eighteen then went to college and
gained Jenn for a roommate. They became fast friends and decided to move to the
mid-size town of Chestnut Rock after graduation.
    The
girls found Chestnut Rock on a road trip weekend and they each instantly fell
in love with the ample trees and wildlife combined with all the amenities of
living in a big city. The Pacific Northwest was far from home for both of them,
but after living in the area for four years, they loved it. They had each other
and staying seemed right to both of them.
    Triggered
by being unsure of what to do next, Christina entertained the idea of moving
home for about two seconds. The town that she grew up in wasn’t her home
anymore though. Chestnut Rock was her home and she wasn’t leaving. She’d just
have to figure out her new living arrangements. Did she try to find another
roommate or move to a smaller apartment? Neither idea held any appeal. She’d heard
enough roommate horror stories to know that she’d gotten lucky when she’d been
paired up with Jenn. No, a new roommate wasn’t for her.
    Still,
she hated to move out of her apartment complex. Instead of being stuck
together, each apartment was a single story, stand-alone cottage. They were
close together, with only four feet separating each building, but it was enough
space. There was a patch of grass surrounding each walkway, and the front of
every cottage lined the street. The back of the buildings lined the forest.
    Several
houses in Chestnut Rock had the forest line meet their backs, but very few
apartment complexes did—and this was the only cottage complex in town. When they
moved in, Christina knew she wouldn’t want to leave until the time came for her
to buy a house of her own. She could afford to buy a house with her salary—her party
planning business was doing extremely well—but she wanted to live in a house
with her husband and family, not by herself.
    As much
as she wanted to stay where she was, she didn’t want to spend the money on a
two bedroom apartment when she didn’t need the space. There was no reason to
rush into anything—she could take her time—but she might as well start looking
for a smaller place.
    Satisfied
with her decision, Christina decided to walk down to the market for a cup of
coffee and a newspaper. It was time to start her search.
    ****
    James “Bull”
Johnson sniffed outside the cave before lumbering inside and shifting back into
his human form. Because he was new to the area, he had taken a long hike
through the woods, checking for danger and hiding places in case he needed
them.
    Matt had
told him that the town of Chestnut Rock, and the connecting forest, would sooth
his restless bear, but he honestly hadn’t known what to think. With nothing to
lose and very few belongings, he’d packed up his tiny apartment and moved to
the mid-sized town.
    Matt and
Bull had met in college and when they quickly recognized the other as a
shifter, they’d formed an unbreakable bond. After college, they each went their
own way, traveling and exploring the country. They’d met up once or twice a
year until Matt put down roots in Chestnut Rock. Bull had continued to look
until he decided he didn’t want to look anymore. He was tired and he wanted a
permanent place to call home. Matt constantly raved about his home and convinced
Bull to make it his home, too.
    Bull
pulled his shirt, jeans and flip-flops out of the crevice in the cave wall
where he’d stored them earlier. Being a bear shifter meant he needed to take
precautions