Read Online Reforming the Bear by Vanessa Devereaux - Free Book Online Page B

mom seemed upset over something.”
    “Yeah,
she was a little worried about Sam going running. She’s such a typical hu … woman.
Present company excepted, of course.”
    Lucy
smiled at him and his legs went wobbly. No shifter ever made them do that
before.
    “She
mentioned the wedding and that you’re going to be my date. If you don’t want to,
that’s okay with me.”
    He’d
hate to think Hannah had pressured her. Maybe Hannah’s hunch about Lucy liking
him was way off.
    “I’d
love to go with you.”
    “There’s
also the rehearsal dinner.”
    “Do
I have to buy new dresses?”
    “I
thought women liked to do that.”
    “We
do.” She looked at her watch. “I guess I should be getting to bed. I’m still
tired and I’m going to take a pain killer.”
    She
stood and put the crutches under her armpits.
    “You
sure the apartment’s aired out enough?”
    “It’s
fine, please don’t worry. I’m so tired I probably won’t notice and I’ll keep
the window cranked open.”
    “You
know I’m just across the way if you need me.”
    She
nodded and Liam opened the door for her, turning on the light so she could see
to walk across the yard to the apartment. She gave him a wave before going
inside and shutting the door.
    Liam
leaned against the jamb. It was a beautiful night. Moon full, stars shining … and
a beautiful young woman was about to sleep no more than a hundred yards away.
    Tempting.
So very tempting.
    ****
    Lucy
really thought she’d fall asleep and stay asleep until morning, but she’d woken
up in the middle of the night––and not on her own accord. Wolves howling close
by had woken her suddenly. She struggled to get out of bed, tapping the chair
for her crutches and as quickly as she could, made her way over to the window.
She shut it while making sure the lock was secure.
    It
was stupid because there was a screen on it and wolves probably didn’t come
close to these sorts of areas and jump through people’s windows.
    They
howled again.
    She’d
never been out of the city. Never seen so many stars twinkling in the sky, and as
clearly as they were tonight. She’d never heard wolves howling. Yes, she had seen
nature shows on TV, but never in person. She was sure the surrounding area was
full of them. Probably mountain lions and bears, too. Scary, but she knew if you
didn’t venture into their territory, which she wasn’t likely to do, they
generally didn’t bother you.
    Lucy
glanced across at Liam’s place. It was in total darkness. She knew his bedroom
was the one at the back on the left and next to the bathroom. She wondered if
he slept in shorts or maybe in the nude.
    Why
had she even thought that? She hobbled back to bed, turned around, hopping on
her good leg, and sat back down on the mattress.
    Now
that the window was shut, the room did have that closed-in, musty smell to it.
    Poor
Liam, she thought. Not wanting to venture in here for so long because of the
memories of his brother, and then finding his medallion. She laid back down wishing
she had her squishy pillow from home with her. Why hadn’t she thought of
putting it into the car?
    Because
she’d left in one hell of a hurry, that’s why.
    Liam
loved his brother like she loved Mike and she could see how tough losing his
sibling must have been on him. She could never understand how some brothers and
sisters didn’t get along, didn’t speak to one another for years, and often
parted company once both parents were dead.
    She
guessed that like her and Mike, Liam’s parents weren’t around either. At least
he had Sam. When she’d eaten with them at the pizza place and they’d both been
in profile she could see the resemblance. She hadn’t seen a photo of his
brother but she was guessing Sam must look more like him than he did his mom.
    Lucy
had committed herself to going to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. She
wasn’t sure if all the trouble with Mike would blow over before then. She’d
hate to let Liam down, but