Free Blake, Her Bad Bear: A Paranormal Bad Boy Romance by Amy Star Page B

remembering that in general Beaver Creek was considered “off-limits,” though unofficially, to members of law enforcement. A sort of neutral peace that was abided by, but never acknowledged formally. “Certainly not handsome cops,” Lily added, forcing a blush as she looked down.
    The cop bought it and put his hands on his waist, tucking his thumbs into his belt loops and pushing out his own chest, which did little to conceal a formidable paunch. A tight-lipped grin spread on his lips. Clearly, he was either dumber than he looked or simply didn’t get many compliments from stunning women.
    “Well, I don’t know about that,” he said.
    “Oh, I do,” Lily said, putting her hands behind her back and pointing her toes inward. “Heh, sorry, I can’t believe I said that out loud. Oh my god, I’m embarrassed. It’s just we don’t get many visitors up here. Heh, and none that are in uniform.”
    The cop blushed again, and Lily resisted a grin. “Well, Miss, I’m flattered, but I’m only passing through—business, y’know,” he said.
    “What kind of business?” Lily asked, trying to sound alarmed. “Nothing serious, I hope?”
    The cop flinched and bobbed his head from side to side. “Well, I can’t talk about it too much, you understand,” he said, and Lily drew closer to him, pushing her cleavage toward him. Her breasts weren’t overly large, but the tank top she had chosen to wear was slack enough on her chest that the cop had no problem looking down her bosom. Absently, pretending not to notice, Lily drew her finger across her clavicle.
    “Oh, I don’t want to get you in trouble,” Lily hummed. “I’m just concerned is all.”
    “You live around here?” the cop gulped, not even making an effort to avoid staring at the small mounds of her breasts.
    Lily licked her lips playfully. “My whole life,” she lied, hoping that the cop wouldn’t interrogate her further—judging by how she’d drawn his attention, that didn’t seem like a possibility at this point. She backed away, teasing him, and put her own hands in her pockets, which forced the top of her cargo pants further down. The lip of her black panties gleamed above the surface, and the zipper where she’d unbuttoned the top started to come undone. “Just a small town girl, that’s what everyone says. But one day, I’m gonna move to the city.”
    “Well, it’s a uh, beautiful place here,” he stammered, and sniffed loudly.
    “You sure there’s nothing to be concerned about? I know you all mean the best, but my old father sees a handful of police cruising down the street, he’s liable to have a heart attack—he hates trouble, y’know.”
    “Well, nothing like that, nothing to be concerned about, Miss,” the sergeant coughed, “just uh, well it looks like there was a death, that’s all.”
    “A death?!”
    The cop raised both hands, as if to silence her down. “Well, keep it quiet, Miss. But yeah, some poor guy looks like he got attacked by a bear of some sort.”
    “A bear?” Lily tried to hide her confusion. “Well, no offense, but if it was a bear—isn’t that under the jurisdiction of the ambulance service or a park ranger or something?” Her voice had suddenly lost its infantile ring, and the sergeant squinted at her.
    “Normally, yes, but, uh, if there’s… other things involved, or if it was suspicious then,” he seemed to have remembered himself, and shook his head, as if shaking off the spell that Lily had cast on him, and his orderly demeanor reappeared. “Really can’t talk about it, sorry, Miss. I have to go, if you’ll excuse me.”
    She let him pass and watched with her hands in his pockets as he left. The cruiser roared to life and pulled out, and she made a note of which direction it was headed before sliding back into the car and turning the ignition. Lily had learned from one of her old colleagues during university how to tail cars without drawing unwanted attention—and by the looks of him,