Free A Bear's Baby by Vanessa Devereaux Page A

back.
She’d called him about an hour ago to say she was on her way to talk about the
findings.
    Maggie
knocked on his door. “Ms. Paxton is here to see you.”
    “Show
her in, would you?” Brady took a sip of his coffee which had turned cold and
bitter.
    Jenna
stood in the doorway, holding onto a file folder. Small flakes of snow
glistened in her hair. Her red coat with a tie belt clung her around her
curves.
    “Is
it snowing again?”
    “Yeah,
started when I got half way here.” She pulled up a chair and placed the folders
on his desk. “Okay, do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
    He
knew it. He tapped his fingers on the desk. “Good news.”
    “They
have finished with their samples and testing.”
    “Bad
news?”
    “You’re
going to have to clean up the area before you can build there.”
    “Clean
up the area?”
    Jenna
opened up the file. “They e-mailed these to me before I left. There’s some
contamination of the soil. It seems at the moment, they can’t identity exactly
what has seeped into it. Two of your workers reported flu like symptoms and
there might be some connection.”
    Brady
remembered what Lucy had said about the guys getting sick. Whatever this
contaminant was, it was affecting humans and shifters alike.
    “This
is going to put the project back months,” said Brady.
    “You
could get slapped with lawsuits from the government, and not to mention the
workers. I can assure you don’t want that to happen, because in the long run
that will cost you big time in legal fees. There’s also your reputation to
think about, too.”
    She
was right. “Okay, so once it’s cleaned up, I can start building again?”
    “Yes,
they’ll have to inspect it again, but I’ve gathered together some companies who
are recommended in clean ups like this. One of them worked on the contamination
in Libby.”
    “So
this isn’t from the old copper mining days?”
    “They’re
not sure right now,” said Jenna.
    Brady
leaned back on his chair. He hadn’t foreseen any of this. He rubbed the back of
his neck. He just wanted to get away for the evening. Relax, have a nice meal,
listen to some music and yes, have a good fuck. That always got the kinks out.
    “Would
you like to come see my cabin in the woods?” Brady asked her.
    “I
would and there’s something I’d like to ask you, a favor in fact, said Jenna.
    He
couldn’t wait to hear what that was.
    ****
    A
cabin in the woods. Her father once had a hunting cabin and it looked like a
garden shed compared to this place. This was a cabin, but a high end one. Jenna
ran her hands over the shiny logs that lined the living room. A huge window
overlooked the valley below. A gas fireplace sat on the wall on the opposite
side of the room. Rugs that seemed ideal to snuggle on, lined the floor. Ideal
place to make love and make a baby.
    “Can
I get you something to drink?”
    Brady’s
voice startled her. Since he’d entered her life all she’d done is daydream.
    Her
father would not have approved. However, every one needed a dream, or life
wasn’t worth living.
    “Sure.
You have any red wine? I’m in the mood for red instead of white.”
    “I
certainly do. You want to come to the wine cellar and pick one?”
    “This
place even has a wine cellar?” she asked.
    “Sure,
and a sauna and a Jacuzzi tub. Tennis court and swimming pool out back.”
    “And
you said this isn’t going to be your permanent home?”
    He
shrugged his shoulders. “I’m thinking maybe it will be. Follow me.”
    Brady
led her through the kitchen. Wow, hers would fit into this place four times.
    “You
like to cook?” she asked him.
    “When
I’m in the mood.”
    He
flicked on a light and opened back a door. She followed him into another area.
They went down some steps and into what looked like a wine store. Bottles lined
all the walls.
    “The
previous owner, an actor, sold it to me and threw in some bottles of wine with
the price.”
    Brady
switched on an overhead