Big Sexy Bear Read Free Page B

Ares and why you might think about staying in Bearstone Village.”
    Kat nearly choked on her sandwich, and the woman threw her head back in a laugh.
    “All right, maybe not tonight, based on that reaction,” she said, waiting for them to finish. “You want any more?”
    She and Mac both shook their heads. Now that they’d eaten, sleep was forcing its way in. She didn’t think she could even wait for Ares to get back with their bags.
    “We’ll just get you upstairs to your room. Only the best for friends of Ares,” Maude said, taking Kat’s arm gently as she tugged Mac behind her.
    She hadn’t realized how tired she was. How much the adrenaline of needing to run had been keeping her awake when she should have been asleep long ago. Mac had luckily been able to take naps, but she’d never had that luxury. She’d always had to look over her shoulder.
    Maude opened the door to a room at the top of the stairs, and Kat gasped as she walked in. It was perfect, with a small queen bed with a quilted coverlet and little crocheted blanket on the end. Sheets folded back with two fresh pillows in pillowcases all ready to sleep on. There was a small window that looked out on the quiet street, and Maude walked over to pull the curtains closed.
    Privacy. Kat felt her throat go tight and had to work hard not to get emotional. When was the last time she’d been able to sleep without wondering who would come upon them?
    She turned to see Maude studying her with an expression that looked a lot like pity, and she fought the impulse to feel shame.
    She’d done what was right in the world, taken on responsibility that others would have run from. She had nothing to feel bad about.
    “You two sleep as long as you want. I’ll make sure Ares gets your car taken care of.” She walked to the door and put her hand on the handle. Then she looked over her shoulder, a slightly playful gleam in her eye. “But like I said before, if I were you and I’d caught that man’s attention, I’d think about Bearstone Village as a final destination, not just a stop.” With a wink and a quiet cackle, Maude was gone.
    Kat tucked Mac into the covers, turned on the lamp, turned off the overhead light, and then got under the covers as well. Before long, Mac was quietly snoring, and Kat listened to the peaceful sound along with the rain.
    She enjoyed the rhythmic sound for just a few moments before she let sleep claim her.

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    T he next morning , Katrina panicked when she realized Mac was no longer beside her. She felt the bed next to her, calling his name in a panic. She glanced at the clock by the bed, nearly eleven a.m. How could she have slept so long?
    Well, she knew the answer to that, but still, it felt like her heart had dropped into her shoes as she yanked the door to the bedroom open and fled down the stairs, desperate to see Mac and know he was okay, feeling like a bad guardian.
    She skidded to a halt at the bottom of the stairs as an odd sight met her.
    Ares, the huge man from the night before, was dressed more casually today in a worn blue tee and jeans and was currently on the ground playing trains with Mac.
    Her heart let out a sigh of relief, and she managed not to slump to the ground as Maude came over and wrapped an arm around her waist.
    “You look like you’re about to faint. You need breakfast,” she said, leading Katrina into the kitchen and seating her at a small, white, wooden table. “Lucky for you, your man hit up the bakery this morning.”
    “My man?” she said blearily, still confused by waking up and panicking. “Huh?”
    “Ares,” Maude said, winking and shoving a tray of donuts toward her.
    Katrina sighed and took one, accepting a cup of coffee from Maude. “I really appreciate this. It’s been a long time since someone was so nice to us.”
    Maude frowned. “Well, isn’t that a shame? I don’t know what the world’s coming to these days when a pretty girl like you is surprised by hospitality.”
    Katrina