Free Second Chance Bear and a Baby: BBW Bear Shifter Baby Paranormal Romance (Who's the Daddy? Book 3) by Harmony Raines Page B

know that my job is a hard one for someone to handle.”
    “Because you lost Louisa?” she asked softly.
    “Yes. I saw it from where you would be standing. And I want to protect you from that. Especially if one day we are lucky enough to have kids.” He sighed, a shudder passing through him. “I saw the devastation her death caused her family. I’ve done my time in that department, finished what I started. Now, I’m moving to homicide instead.”
    “Nice change.” She couldn’t imagine having to look at dead bodies for a living.
    “I’d be good there.” He left it at that, but she understood what he meant and turned to face him, cupping his face in her hands. He hadn’t shaved, and his skin was rough against her hands, reminding her of how strong and rugged this man was.
    “Because you’ve seen things from the other side of that too?”
    He dragged his eyes away from her face, trying to hide his pain. “Yes. I want to be the cop who turns over every lead to bring justice for a family.”
    She turned his head back to face hers and kissed him on the lips, softly, then as he responded, the kiss deepened. It was if they understood each other on a deeper level, and she knew her no-sex rule might be hard to stick to. For her, at least.

Chapter Fourteen – Liam
    Liam nervously adjusted his tie. He planned to take her to an expensive restaurant, one that belonged to an old friend, one where you normally had to book six weeks in advance. Luckily, Phil, the owner, owed him a favor or two from when Liam had shut down a drugs ring that involved three of Phil’s employees. Liam had successfully managed to keep the restaurant’s name out of the court case, while still sending the offenders to prison with long sentences.
    Phil had never offered Liam a bribe to keep it hushed up, he had never even asked for a favor. Liam had been watching the restaurant, and knew from experience that this was an extracurricular activity by Phil’s employees, and it seemed pointless to drag the good name of the restaurant through the dirt. Liam didn’t pull in the favor often, Phil’s generosity only went so far as bookings; Liam was still expected to pay for the meal, and his prices reflected the exclusivity of the clientele. Expensive.
    As he looked at his reflection in the mirror one last time, he knew he should have taken her somewhere less showy. The restaurant was not his thing. It wasn’t who he was, and he didn’t want her to think he was out to impress her, or that an expensive meal meant he expected her to sleep with him.
    Relax, his bear said inside his head. She won’t jump to conclusions.
    I hope you are right, I’m so scared of blowing it with her . Too late to change anything now. He picked up his car keys and went out into the early evening, breathing in the scents all around him. As he drove towards Broken Creek, he wished he had settled for a picnic on the mountains. There they could sit and talk, he could be honest with her, about who and what he was. In a crowded restaurant, he had to be careful of what he said. Yes, by the way I’m a bear , would either create panic, or have her thinking he was a first-class moron.
    Pulling up outside her house, he switched off the engine and got out, walking up the drive to knock on the door. Before he had a chance to raise his hand, it swung open, and a young man stood in front of him. He didn’t need any of his detective skills to know this was Carla’s brother, Mike. He had the same blue eyes, fair skin, and blonde hair. There the similarities faded. Whereas Carla seemed relaxed and easy-going, Mike had a frown on his face and looked suspicious.
    Damn, don’t say the young cub was going to give him a grilling on what he was doing taking Carla out.
    “Hi. Mike, isn’t it?” Liam asked, holding out his hand.
    Mike took it, but never let his eyes drop from Liam’s. “Yes. And you must be Liam.”
    “Guilty as charged.” His police joke, which usually raised a smile,