Free Bearly a Memory: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance) by Moxie North

and almost sighed in relief. There was also a very pretty plum colored lip gloss. She resisted putting that on; it would be silly sitting in the hospital all dolled up, even though she wondered if the sheriff would like it. And finally a very nice tube of nude colored lipstick. This was by far the most expensive item in the makeup bag. Definitely not something she could try on at the moment.
    She put everything back but the lip balm, which she sat on the table by her bed before continuing to go through her purse. Not much else in there, actually.
    If an archeologist were looking through her purse, they’d have no clue who the owner was or what they liked.
    She did think it was strange she wasn’t carrying a phone. Maybe she’d left it charging at the motel.
    The purse itself was nice quality, just like the wallet and makeup. Not super high end but not discount either. It looked like something someone would buy because it was practical to spend more money on something of quality. That struck a chord with her for some reason.
    “Brooke. Brooklyn Nishi,” she tried again.
    Still nothing. When she found her business cards saying she worked at a hospital, she was surprised but as she talked to the nurses and observed her surroundings, she found she knew what most of the equipment was called. She knew why she was being given an IV and why the saline was set at the drip level it was. She wondered if she had more of a medical background than just sitting behind a desk.
    Flicking through the channels again, she jumped as a knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she called out.
    The door opened, and handsome Sheriff Rochon walked in. Brooke felt her breath catch, and her chest tightened at seeing him. Damn, that man was fine. He was the kind of man you would have to sneak an extra peek at if you saw him in public. Subtly, of course, but you would still look.
    His eyes came straight to the bed. They had a worried look until they saw her, then they warmed. They got softer and kinder, she thought. How someone’s eyes could show so much emotion was either foreign to her, or he was just unique. She was sure it wasn’t something she’d come across often.
    “Sheriff! I mean Tanner, you came back,” she exclaimed. Then felt a little embarrassed by the enthusiasm she expressed. She was happy to see him. Thrilled, even. Sitting in the room was lonely, and she didn’t want to be a bother to the nurses. She didn’t need constant medical attention now, so she felt awkward hanging out.
    “Of course, I did. I promised I would. I got your clothes from the motel,” he said, setting the bag on the bed. “I also thought you might want something other than hospital food. So I stopped and grabbed something for us on the way here,” he explained
    “Us? We having a picnic, Sheriff?” she teased. She liked teasing him, she realized. It was fun, and he seemed to like it, too, judging by the big grin on his face.
    “Well, if you don’t mind. I figured you could use some company after being here alone all day. Plus, I have some news for you, and I find conversations always are more pleasant over a good meal,” he said, pulling the food out of the bags and setting it on the rolling table next to her bed.
    “My aunt made this. She runs the diner in town. Turkey and cranberry sandwiches. Her loaded potato soup, and I’m pretty sure she threw in a few pieces of berry crumble.”
    “That sounds amazing. I tried to eat earlier, but the veggies were gray. I don’t know how they managed it, but they were definitely gray,” Brooke said with a shudder.
    Tanner gave a throaty chuckle that had Brooke’s eyes scanning his corded neck. It was a nice neck. Strong, the stubble from his unshaved jaw trailing down his throat. For some reason, she wanted to run her tongue along his neck to taste him.
    Wow, what the hell? She really needed to get a grip because that naughty mental trip had her nipples hardening, and her panties getting damp. Shit, she