Free Bear With Me by Vanessa Devereaux Page A

baby and he
guessed she’d inherited that trait from Aiden, but it wasn’t anything
noticeable that would draw attention.
    Thick
dark hair, typical of bear shifter babies, a dark mark round her navel which
was another shifter trait that would disappear within the year. He turned her over
and saw the mark on her back. That wouldn’t fade, so if she ever saw a regular
doctor they’d need to lie and say it was a birthmark.
    “Is
she okay?” asked Charlotte.
    “She’s
perfect.”
    “Does
she have any shifter looks to her?” asked Aiden.
    “Oh
yes, but I think she’s got the best of both of you. And there’s nothing to
worry about, no one’s going to ask questions.”
    In
fact, Bear was already madly in love with her, making him suddenly want a
hybrid of his own. She suddenly cried and it sounded more bear than human which
made him smile. Nothing like a bear baby to warm your heart. He wrapped her in a blanket and carried her over to Charlotte who cried the
first time she saw her.
    “You’re
right she’s so beautiful. Thank you, Bear, for coming here to work at the
hospital and for bringing Bridget safely into the world,” said Charlotte.
    ****
    Hannah
picked up her cell phone the following morning but then promptly put it back on
the table. She’d thought about Bear all night. Had she led him to believe that
there was something beginning to happen between them? Has she let him kiss her
only to drop that bombshell on him?
    She
wanted to call him but didn’t know what to say. Her mouth was suddenly dry and
her hands shook. He deserved something better than he’d gotten from her the
night before. She had to find a way to apologize. She’d take him something to
eat, lunch maybe, and explain to him why she couldn’t physical be with a man
again. She owed him at least that. Her heartbeat picked up tempo as she quickly
punched in the numbers before she chickened out yet again.
    “Hi, Dr. McWilliams speaking.”
    “Bear?”
    “Hannah?”
    “Yes,
I hope I didn’t wake you or disturb you on this Sunday morning.”
    She
glanced at the clock. It was noon, but he sounded sleepy. Maybe he was in bed
with someone. She didn’t know why, but her heart sank. How stupid was that?
First telling him she didn’t want to get physical and then being upset that he
might have taken another woman to bed. Of course he’d do that. Any man would.
    “Nope,
it was about time I got up and back to the hospital.”
    “I
did wake you,” she said.
    “No,
I’d set my alarm and it was due to go off in ten minutes. I prefer your voice
doing that than music blaring in my ear.”
    She
smiled. He was just a sweet guy. “Did Charlotte Renner have her baby?”
    “Yes,
a girl delivered by C-section and hence the late night I had.”
    “Are
they both doing okay?”
    “Charlotte’s
tired and the baby’s had to have oxygen because it wasn’t breathing very well.
That’s the reason I need to get to the hospital soon.”
    “I’m
sorry to hear that, but tell Charlotte not to worry because Sam had breathing
problems too about a day after he was born.”
    “Why
don’t you come along to the hospital and visit her and you can see the baby?”
    “Would
it be okay?”
    “Sure
and I’d like to see you too.”
    There
was silence. “How about I bring you some lunch?” she asked.
    “That’s
perfect because I won’t have to stop to buy any, and as soon as I’ve showered I
can head back to my patients.”
    Shower,
an image of him naked with water cascading over him was suddenly etched into
her brain.
    “Okay,
I’ll be by around one-thirty. Will it be okay if I bring Sam, because I don’t
have a babysitter?”
    “That’s
fine.”
    ****
    Bear
glanced at the clock on the wall as he entered the hospital. He’d taken a quick
shower, grabbed a cup of coffee, and then headed out. He yawned for the fourth
time. He was a typical bear who liked his sleep. He pushed his hands through
his hair and headed down the hallway. He stopped at the