Free Geek Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 6) by Scarlett Grove Page B

touch with her emotions in a way that he never would be. He could imagine their life together. Both of them working on their own projects, taking breaks to swim together in the lake. It could be beautiful.
    She could open him to his own heart. He could help her keep her life in order.
    But it never could be like that. They were fated mates. The pheromones and their animal bond would destroy that peaceful scene and turn it into something compulsive and ugly.
    He couldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t do it to himself. Just because the rest of the guys on the crew had found love and happiness didn’t mean it would happen to him. There had been plenty of problems during his friends’ courtships. There was no guarantee that any of them would live happily ever after.
    It was a chance his friends had been willing to take, but it wasn’t one Corey was willing to take. His phone pinged as he sat down on the couch.
    “Target cannot be located.”
    The text came from one of his contacts in Seattle. Corey decided to contact the police and see what they were doing about the case. When he got on the phone with the detective in charge of Willow’s case, the detective immediately started to interrogate Corey.
    “Where did you find this information? Who is your source?”
    “I prefer not to reveal my source.”
    “How am I supposed to know this is true?”
    “I sent you all the information you need to make an arrest.”
    “I’m sorry, sir, but there is no reason to arrest this person. You’ve given me some circumstantial evidence. Sending letters to someone isn’t illegal.”
    “Those letters are threatening.”
    “Indirectly. He never said he’d murder her and cut her up. If he had, maybe we could move on this information.”
    “You’re kidding, right? You and I both know these things always escalate.”
    “Be that as it may, sir, the suspect still hasn’t done anything illegal.”
    “So, you have to wait for him to hurt her before you’ll do anything?”
    “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I suggest you stay with her to make sure she’s safe, since you are obviously concerned for her safety.”
    “Well, thanks for nothing,” Corey said, hanging up the phone.
    He felt powerless, a sensation Corey was not used to having. He was a Rescue Bear. An ex-Navy SEAL and a computer genius. There wasn’t much Corey couldn’t do. But when it came to Willow, he was lost.

10
    W illow went back to her suite, feeling the tears already rolling down her cheeks. She’d covered it up on the way through the lobby, but the moment the door was closed behind her, she burst into sobs.
    Ugly crying, she walked from one room to the next, throwing her things into her suitcase. She didn’t care that she had almost an entire week left at the lodge. She had to get away from here as quickly as possible. She couldn’t risk seeing Corey again.
    He’d hurt her. Why? Because he was afraid of hurting her? He’d already done exactly what he was so afraid of doing. He’d let himself get carried away on the beach. He’d licked her until she’d screamed for more.
    But she couldn’t blame him. She’d let him kiss her. She’d let herself get swept up in the desire that seemed to take over her body whenever they were together.
    Why had she allowed herself to be so stupid? She’d come down here thinking she was going to meet a great guy. Maybe things would work out. She’d been willing to give it a shot.
    Then she’d arrived just to find a man who didn’t want her, no matter how good they might be for each other.
    It wasn’t fair.
    She wanted to storm back over to his house and demand he tell her why he was so opposed to falling in love with his fated mate. She needed to know.
    But the last thing she was willing to do was see Corey ever again. She wouldn’t have believed it was possible to break someone’s heart after three pseudo-dates, but somehow Corey Bright had managed to do it.
    Now she was stuck with a broken heart,