Catching Her Bear Read Free

present, but he could always say he’d purchased the gift because he couldn’t make it. “I’m hoping to. I work long hours, and I get called into work all the time.”
    He didn’t want Elana to think he was looking to hook up. Given she was Izzy’s best friend, he wouldn’t even chance asking her out, not even to the movies. It could only end in disaster.
    She set the bouquet and wolf on the counter. “Here you go. We’re open Saturday until noon. If you stop in, I’ll give you a helium balloon to attach to the vase.”
    Elana was too nice. “If I have time, I will, thanks.”
    Kalan couldn’t wait to leave. He was battling this unwanted attraction again, and if he shifted in a public place, the world would never be the same. As soon as he signed his name, he swiped the vase of flowers and wolf off the counter and rushed out. Just he reached the door, the stuffed animal slipped from his fingers and dropped. He fumbled to pick it up and then bumped his head on the door handle as he stood up. Damn. He swore Elana giggled.
    Face heating, he tucked the wolf under his arm while he opened the door and hurried out. No way in hell he was going to that party and subject himself to being near her again.

Chapter Two
    ‡
    E lana sat alone in a booth at McKinnon’s Pub and Pool waiting for her friends to arrive for happy hour. The floor was littered with peanut shells, but that was what gave the place the cozy, family-friendly vibe, or else it was the polished bar and the spotless mirror above that made her feel the pub was clean and safe.
    Even though it wasn’t too noisy yet, she’d picked a booth in the back of the main area, far away from the pool room, as shouts occasionally came from there.
    Elana couldn’t wait to share her hot news with her friends. Her body was still zinging from being in Kalan Murdoch’s presence for so long yesterday. At least she hadn’t made a fool of herself, though she must have done something to make the hunky man so nervous.
    The whole time he’d been standing there, she’d tried to keep her fingers from shaking as she arranged the flowers, when what she really wanted to do was run her fingers through those dirty blond curls of his. The shoulder-length locks made him look rugged and romantic. Coupled with the slight scruff on his face and those full, kissable lips, Kalan was her dream man.
    Since Izzy would be at happy hour this time, Elana would have to alter her story a bit as to why Kalan had come into her store. She’d have to say he was there to buy some roses for his mom or something, though the truth would come out as soon as her friend saw the wild flowers and stuffed wolf at her party.
    Since sitting alone made her a bit self-conscious, Elana checked out the menu, her mouth watering at the pictures of the juicy hamburgers, fries, and thick steaks. It didn’t matter she’d already eaten.
    Elana probably shouldn’t have come so early, but she’d wanted to make sure they had a booth. She’d only been to McKinnon’s Pub once before and didn’t know how busy it would be on a Thursday night. She, Missy, and Teagan used to meet down the street at the Lake Steakhouse bar, but now that Izzy was back in town, she wanted to come here, probably because Rye’s uncle owned the place.
    The door opened and her three friends came in, lowering her anxiety level. Elana smiled and waved as they all rushed over. One by one, they hugged her. Izzy and Missy sat across from her and Teagan slid in next to her.
    Within seconds, their waitress, a girl she’d known slightly in high school, came over asking for their drink orders. Elana wasn’t much of a drinker. Not only did one or two glasses make her tipsy, she couldn’t afford the weight gain from the alcohol. If she had any hope of ever catching Kalan Murdoch’s eye, she’d have to slim down, though that was the story of her life. It seemed like she’d been on an endless diet for the last ten years.
    “Elana?” asked Izzy.
    She