Free Bear Hearted: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance by Ava Hunt Page B

his mind created that connection. He had pointed to his heart. Even though his shower was steaming the bathroom, an ice cold shiver slowly moved its way down Toby’s spine. Toby had been through the impossible since he fainted on the golf course. He’d been given a second chance with a new heart that Estrella got from somewhere secret. Then he turned into a fricken bear. Would it be that impossible to make the connection between the two? He was washing his chest when a dangerous thought crossed his mind. From his search, shifters tended to have quick healing abilities. Had Estrella lied about the medicine to clear up the scar? Even though he never saw doctors, he knew technology like that would be well known.
    His heart sank at the thought of another woman in his life lying to him. She had no reason to be truthful, he barely knew her. He wanted to know her better, but not if she turned out to be like Alexa. There was only one way to find out.
     
     
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    The sign for Patrick’s Pub was carved out of wood, easy enough to miss in the dark if you weren’t looking for it. The streetlights in that area were few and far between. Toby was surprised when Estrella suggested the place. He was used to taking women—mostly Alexa—to more expensive and quieter places. Yet another reason they weren’t compatible. He still chastised himself for not listening to Stan sooner.
    He expected to wait for Estrella but she was already at the bar when he arrived. She waved him over and hopped off the bar stool. A breath caught in his throat. He’d only seen her in a lab coat or in a business suit at her office. He was pleasantly surprised to see her in normal clothes. Her jeans showed the curve of her hips and the low-cut shirt added to those curves. Her dark hair was down, longer than he expected since she’d always had it up in his presence.
    Her lips curled into a smile when he came up next to her. “Hey, Toby.”
    “Hey Doc.”
    “Estrella, please,” she said sitting on a stool. Her accent was more pronounced tonight. Maybe she was more relaxed in this place. Whatever it was, he wanted it to keep happening. He’d forgotten how gorgeous she was, or it might have been because he was clouded by Alexa’s bullshit. At the end of the day he was an honorable man. Though seeing Estrella made him want to fast forward to the next part of their date.
    Get yourself together , he thought. You have to get answers before anything can happen.
    He sat on the stool next to her, unsure how to ease into the conversation.
    He was happy when she spoke first. “Have you ever been here?”
    “I can’t say that I have,” he said, looking around at the wood paneled walls adorned with random photographs. “I didn’t even know this place existed.”
    She smirked. “It’s a hole in the wall for sure.”
    The bartender leaned against the counter in front of Estrella. “A hole in the wall that you’ve been keeping in business since college.”
    She pursed her lips at the tall, burly man. “What can I say?” she turned to Toby and stage-whispered conspiratorially, “I like the fact that no one here will hit on me.”
    Good thing Toby hadn’t hit on her yet then. “Why’s that?”
    “My cousin owns the place.”
    The bartender chimed in. “And he’s very protective.” He smiled with all of his teeth.
    If he was trying to be intimidating, it wasn’t working.
    The thump of a glass on the bar grabbed all three of their attentions. “Marty, gimme another round.”
    The greasy guy winked at Estrella and Toby’s chest tightened.
    She planted a kiss on the bartender's cheek. “I hope Isabelle is doing well.”
    He leaned close to her. “She’s better when I’m not sober.”
    Estrella laughed, tilting her head back. Her hair brushed Toby’s thigh and it took all of his strength not to run his fingers over it.
    The bartender, Marty, placed a full glass of beer on the wood top. “Whose tab is it on tonight?”
    “Mine,”