Free 9781631054747HerstoBearHoffa by Tamara Hoffa

that
woman is never on time for anything.”
    Julia
rushed into the room, a toddler on her hip, a diaper bag and a purse hanging
off her shoulder, her hair falling out of a messy bun on the top of her head
and looking like she’d had a day from hell. “Oh my God, Miss Raynes, I’m so
sorry! Jimmy is sick and I was at the pharmacy picking up his medicine. The
line was terrible. I hope I didn’t hold you up.”
    “Not
at all. Sarah and I were just chatting until Bern got here, and please call me Jenna.”
    The
baby in her arms started to fuss and Bern reached out and plucked the boy from
her hip. “What’s the matter little man? You not feeling well?” Bern arched a brow at his sister.
    “He’s
teething.”
    “Oh,
that explains it. Little bears have some big teeth to come in at his age. I
know you’ve met before, but Jenna, this is my sister, Julia.”
    “I’m so
happy Bern has finally met his mate, and I couldn’t be happier to welcome you
to the family. We’ll have to all get together soon and have a big family
dinner.”
    Bern
bounced Jimmy on his hip and the baby seemed perfectly happy now. Seeing him with Sarah and now Jimmy made her think he’d be a
wonderful father. Whoa, slow down girl, let’s not put the cart before the horse,
but she couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Bern holding a tiny baby in his
big bear paws.
    “That
sounds great. Call me later in the week and we can set up a date.”
    “Wonderful.
Bern would you mind helping me get these two out to the car?”
    Bern
looked at Jenna, she nodded. “Sure, no problem.” He
linked his free hand with hers and they strolled out to the parking lot.
    Bern
strapped Jimmy into his car seat while Julia loaded Sarah into hers. He kissed
his sister on the cheek and patted the top of the SUV before she drove away.
    “Are
you ready to go?”
    “Sure,”
she said.
    “Well,
I’m not.” He pulled her into the shadow of a tall oak tree and crushed her body
to his. Capturing her head in his hands he held her in place as his mouth took
possession of hers in a most carnal way. His tongue swept in, stealing her
breath, he tasted of brown sugar and maple. She melted into him, sliding her
arms around his thick neck to twine in the long hair at his nape.
    When he
finally came up for air, she was panting for breath and could barely stand on
legs that felt like over-cooked spaghetti. “I’ve been waiting to do that all
day, little one. God, how I’ve missed you,” Bern growled.
    “Wow, a
girl could get used to a hello like that, big guy.”
    “Mmm,
you better,” he said, with another quick peck to her lips, “because I plan to
kiss you like that every day for the rest of our lives.”
    Now
that was a promise Jenna certainly hoped he kept. Bern stepped back and took
her hand. They started walking toward the outskirts of town. She wondered if he
owned a car, he seemed to walk everywhere, just like she did.
    They
walked for quite a while in silence, but it was a companionable silence. The
fall day was beautiful, cool but not cold. Colored leaves covered the trees and
drifted to the ground, crunching under their feet occasionally as they walked
along.
    The
trail began a steady uphill grade, until finally they reached the top of a high
hill. There sat what Jenna could only describe as a mansion. A
sprawling Tudor mansion, with massive oak front doors, surrounded by beautiful
forest. It was perhaps the most beautiful house she had ever seen.
    She
stopped dead in her tracks and her hands came up to cover her mouth. “Oh my God.”
    Bern
turned to her, worry evident on his face. “What’s the matter?”
    “It’s
beautiful,” she said in an awed voice. “You really live here? It’s a freakin’
mansion.”
    Bern
shook his head. “It’s not a mansion. It’s just a house. A big
house, yes, but just a house.” He tugged her hand to get her moving
again. “Come inside and let me show it to you.”
    Jenna
hesitated, pulling against his hand. “I