TEMPTING THE BEAR
By
Natalie Kristen
BEAR HEAT series
Bear's Bride (Book 1)
Bear's Kiss (Book 2)
Bear's Claim (Book 3)
Bear's Baby (Book 4)
Bear's Heart (Book 5)
GRAY BEARS series
Marrying The Bear (Book 1)
Loving The Bear (Book 2)
Mating The Bear (Book 3)
Tempting The Bear (Book 4)
Copyright © 2015 Natalie Kristen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the author's written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously or are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual locales, events, establishments or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
About this Book
Harper Clair may be desperate, alone and pregnant, but she will fight to protect her unborn baby. She will do everything to give her baby a happy life and a loving family. If she could meet her true love and create a happily-ever-after for herself and her child, that would be really nice. But that's just wishful thinking. Nice things didn't happen to her.
No matter. She and her baby would make a small but complete family of two.
Bear shifter Jackson Gray is stunned to find a young woman in terrible pain in a small dark lane. She is in labor, but what did Jackson know about childbirth? Nothing, that's what!
Panicking, panting and experiencing what feels like labor pains in his gut, Jackson manages to rush her to the hospital in time.
Harper and her baby are fine—for now.
Someone is out to kill her baby.
Danger closes in on Harper and her son, but she is no longer afraid and alone. Harper may be human, but she is every bit as fierce and protective as a mama bear. She is determined to live happily ever after, not just with her little boy, but with her true love and the wonderful family she has come to know and love.
* * * * *
CHAPTER ONE
Harper Clair put the two wine glasses on the tray and walked steadily towards the well-dressed couple seated at the window table. There were only a few customers left in the restaurant. It was almost ten o'clock and the dinner crowd had left. In about half an hour, her shift would be over and Harper could finally go home and flop into bed.
She felt so tired, and every muscle and joint in her body was aching. She was eating a little better now but she still had night sweats. Harper wasn't sure if her poor appetite and insomnia were due to stress or her pregnancy.
Harper glanced down at her tummy. She was rather petite, and with her baggy clothes, her baby bump wasn't showing all that much.
With a wince, she pressed a hand to her side. Was it normal for her baby to be kicking so violently and moving around so much in her womb?
But she wasn't carrying a normal human baby now, was she?
Harper took a deep breath and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. The distance to the table seemed unnaturally, unbearably long. She swayed precariously on her feet and she hurriedly put the tray down on a nearby table to stop the glasses from sliding off the tray.
Harper gasped at the sudden sharp pain in her tummy. The pain shot up her spine and spread through every nerve in her body.
Cold sweat oozed out of her pores. Harper took quick, shallow breaths and tried to quell her spiking panic.
This couldn't be labor pains. She was only five and a half months into her pregnancy. She couldn't be going into labor now.
“It's just gas and gastric pain,” she wheezed to herself. “It's okay. Baby, hang in there. Mummy's working now, but we'll get home soon,” she whispered to her tummy.
The pain subsided, and Harper took another shaky breath and tried to smile as she approached the couple's table.
The woman didn't even glance at Harper as she set the wine glasses carefully on the table. Harper blinked, momentarily blinded by the glittering rocks on the woman's fingers.
Harper was about to step away from the table when the man drawled, “You may pour the wine now.”
With trembling hands, Harper took the wine bottle from the ice bucket. She bit her lip hard as another stab of pain lanced her body. She grabbed the bottle with both hands and straightened up after filling the man's glass.
Harper's vision was starting to swim as tears flooded her eyes. She had never felt such pain before. It was a miracle she was still standing.
The woman arched a penciled brow at her and indicated her empty glass. “My wine,” she said icily.
Harper nodded and proceeded to fill her glass.
The man spoke but Harper couldn't hear the words. It was just a low, droning buzz, and the buzz wormed into Harper's head and intensified her throbbing headache.
The woman laughed at her companion's joke and waved her bejeweled hand animatedly. Her hand slapped against the wine glass and toppled it. Harper watched helplessly as the dark liquid spilled all over the table cloth and dripped onto the woman's dress.
“Argh! Look what you've done, you stupid girl! You've ruined my dress!” the woman shrieked. “You dumb, clumsy bitch!”
“I'm sorry,” Harper sputtered, staggering back in shock and pain. She pressed one hand to her tummy, her mind going blank as her body screamed in agony. The pain was growing more intense by the minute. “I'm so sorry...” she whispered.
“Stop saying you're sorry, you stupid bitch! My dress is completely ruined. You can't even afford to pay me back!” The woman turned to her companion and whined, “Oh, Christoff, what am I to do? I love this dress so much. You bought it for me, remember?”
“Yes, of course, Stephanie,” Christoff said smoothly.
The restaurant manager, Howard, rushed up to the table, apologizing profusely and bowing so low his forehead almost touched the edge of the table.
Stephanie dabbed at her eyes and pouted. “Get the bitch out of my sight. I don't want to see her.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” The manager bowed lower. He turned to Harper and hissed, “What are you still doing here? Get out!”
“I want her gone, permanently,” Stephanie said, tugging at Christoff's hand. “Look what she did!”
“Of course, darling.” Christoff turned to the manager and said, “Howard, we have been coming to your restaurant for years. We like your restaurant...”
“Thank you, Mr Caldwell. Thank you very much. You and Miss Stephanie are our most valued customers,” Howard said, almost prostrating himself before the haughty couple. “It is our privilege and pleasure to have you in our humble restaurant.”
“We will visit your restaurant again, Howard,” Christoff said with a thin smile. “And we don't want to see her on our next visit.” He jerked his chin in Harper's direction. “Is that clear, Howard?”
“Y-yes, Mr Caldwell.”
Howard spun round and glared at Harper. He pointed to the door.
“You are fired! Get out now!”
“But Mr Howard...” Harper stammered. She blinked hard to try to focus, but the only thing she was really aware of was the tightening pain in her body. It felt as though her guts were being squeezed and twisted and wrenched out of shape. She had to clench her teeth hard so she wouldn't cry out in agony.
She couldn't even find the words or the energy to defend herself.
“Please...” she managed t
o whisper before the manager grabbed her by the elbow and marched her to the door.
“Out!” he barked.
Harper stumbled out the door and fell onto the sidewalk. She turned back and saw her bag being thrown out of the door after her. Mr Howard poked his head out and threw a fistful of dollar bills at her. “Your pay for today,” was all he said before the door slammed in her face.
CHAPTER TWO
Harper crawled to her bag and stuffed the money hurriedly into her bag. She looked around and saw only a single car zooming by. The restaurant was situated on a rather quiet street and the shops beside the restaurant were already closed for the day.
There was no one around to see her humiliation.
Harper picked herself up and careened towards a lamp post. She clung to the lamp post for support and forced herself to take deep, steadying breaths.
“What's happening, baby?” she whispered to her tummy.
She cradled her baby bump protectively and closed her eyes, willing the pain to go away. She wasn't ready to give birth. She had just lost her job. She wouldn't be able to provide for her baby.
And she'd heard that shifter babies had bigger appetites than human babies. How could she afford to feed him?
But she would find a way. She would protect her child and provide for him. Her child would live and grow big and strong. She would not let anyone hurt him. No one would harm a hair on his head. No one!
Harper stroked her stomach and hummed a soothing lullaby. She closed her eyes and sang softly to her baby, letting her child know that he was loved and cherished.
When she opened her eyes again, the pain had diminished to just a dull ache in her side. She smiled and patted her stomach. “Good boy. We're going home now, okay? All that noise and shouting must have upset you, little one. Don't be afraid. Everything is fine. Mummy's here. Always.”
Harper adjusted her bag on her shoulder and trudged homeward. No one in the restaurant had come to her aid. No one even knew she was pregnant. She had only moved to this little town about a month ago, and she had been working in the restaurant for only two weeks.
She didn't know anyone in town, and she didn't trust anyone enough to tell them about herself and her past. She wanted to stay hidden for as long as possible. She couldn't let Douglas find her. He would kill her baby.
Harper tried to push all thoughts of Douglas out of her head. She didn't want her baby to know that his own father wished him dead.
She'd thought that Douglas would be thrilled at the news of her pregnancy. Instead, he had flown into a rage and ordered her to terminate the pregnancy immediately.
“If you don't get rid of the baby, then I will,” he'd threatened.
It was only then that she realized her folly. She had stupidly thought that Douglas loved her and wanted a future with her. He never wanted anything with her. She wasn't even a fling.
She was only twenty-one when she met him. Douglas was twelve years older than her. He was suave, confident and he would chat and flirt with her while she served him at the diner he frequented.
She thought there was love, romance and honesty between them. But there was nothing. She had given him her virginity, her trust and he used her.
In tears, she had assured Douglas that she would raise the child on her own. The child would have nothing to do with him. But Douglas coldly told her that the mere existence of the child was a stumbling block to his plans and his future life.
“I'm going to be the future Alpha of the Hamilton pride. This child cannot exist, Harper. Get rid of it!,” Douglas had snarled.
Harper finally understood who and what Douglas was. Douglas was a lion shifter, and he had set his sights on Lucy Hamilton, the only daughter of Warren Hamilton. Warren Hamilton was the Alpha of the Hamilton pride of lion shifters and the Chairman of Hamilton Inc. If Douglas married Lucy, he would inherit the Alpha position and all the wealth and prestige that came with it. There was too much at stake for him.
If Warren Hamilton found out that Douglas had a child with another woman, he would never allow Douglas to marry his precious, virgin daughter. Douglas was a Vice-President at Hamilton Inc, and had systematically and schemingly worked his way into Warren's favor over the years.
Douglas was a lion shifter, but Harper finally saw that he was really a cold-hearted, manipulative snake. He had unfeelingly used Harper to satisfy his own lust and pleasure. Warren Hamilton guarded his daughter's virtue fiercely. If Douglas slept with Lucy before marriage, Warren would kill him. So Harper was a free and easy outlet for him.
Harper felt so ashamed and angry and...dirty. She felt used and cheapened. How could she have allowed a man like Douglas to touch her?
When Douglas continued threatening and intimidating her, Harper decided that the only way to be free of him was to run. Run far away and stay hidden until her child was born.
When she reached Shadow Point, she thought that this small town would be a good place to raise her child. There was a large paranormal community in Shadow Point. There was shifters, vampires, witches, fae folk and humans all living in the town. Her child would feel right at home here. She didn't want him to feel like he didn't belong. There were many half-shifter kids in the community, and he could make many friends who were just like him. And many more friends who were not at all like him.
Harper smiled at the thought of her son playing in the school yard with all the other cubs and pups. There was so much hope and promise in that beautiful image, and she imagined a little boy with brown hair and hazel eyes like her running and laughing with all the other kids.
With a quiet sigh, Harper jolted herself out of her reverie. She remembered that she was out of a job and fast running out of cash. Tonight's incident had been the only unpleasant thing that had happened to her since she came to Shadow Point. But unpleasant things happened everywhere. In big cities and small towns. All she had to do was look for another job.
She would be fine. Her baby would be fine. They had each other, and that was all that mattered. They were a family, small but whole.
As long as she had her precious baby, there was nothing that she couldn't endure and overcome.
Harper gazed up at the stars as she walked. Her dad had passed away a few years back and her mother had left them a long time ago. She couldn't even remember what her mom looked like. Her mother had remarried and she didn't want anything to do with Harper.
After her dad died, Harper had no family and she yearned for one. She had been so grateful when Douglas showered her with small gifts and flattering words. She thought that she'd found someone in the world who cared for her.
But Douglas cared only for himself. She learned that too late.
Harper passed a small house and saw a family having supper together round a table. “Happy family,” she muttered with a wistful smile.
She wished she had a happy family. She wished she could meet someone who truly loved her and her child. If only there was a happily-ever-after for her and her baby...
Harper shook her head and laughed at her silly, romantic notions. Her wish wouldn't come true.
It didn't matter. She had her baby, and her baby was her family.
“I love you,” she whispered to her baby.
Her eyes widened as she gave a gasp of pain. The sudden, violent pain was almost unbearable.
Clutching her tummy, Harper made a silent plea and sank to the ground.
CHAPTER THREE
Jackson Gray frowned as he screwed in the new light bulb over the entrance of Broomstick Inn. He didn't mind doing repair jobs for his Gramma and Ne-ma. In fact, he enjoyed helping out at their inn. What he didn't like was the attention he got while he was doing those said repair jobs.
Being ogled by female passers-by while he was perched on the top rung of a ladder was a tad uncomfortable. It wasn't his fault that his t-shirt rode up a few inches while he stretched up to replace the faulty light bulb. It gave everyone a tantalizing view of his ripped, tanned torso and some women giggled an
d winked at him as he scrambled down the ladder.
Jackson folded the ladder up and ducked into the inn. He found Gramma and Ne-ma in the dining hall, laying out delicate porcelain cups and saucers on a table. There was a freshly baked pie on the table, surrounded by plates of pretty cupcakes and cookies.
“Let me guess,” Jackson said, reaching for a cookie. “You got these from Baker's Hut.”
“Where else?” Ne-ma beamed and promptly slapped his hand away.
Jackson grinned. He managed to snag a big cookie once Ne-ma's back was turned. His sister-in-law, Elle, owned Baker's Hut and the family had an endless supply of baked treats all year round. Elle was his second brother Aidan's mate, and she was half witch, half human. She was the best baker in Shadow Point as far as Jackson was concerned.
“Alisa baked the pie for us before she left,” Gramma said, straightening a fork on the table. “Smells heavenly, doesn't it?” Alisa was the chef at the inn, as well as his big brother, Tristan's mate. All his elder brothers were happily mated now. Even Mason. Mason and Suzanne had just moved into their own little house last month, so it was just Jackson, Aidan and Elle living in the big double-story house.
Jackson took a whiff of the pie and decided it wouldn't hurt to ask. “Can I have a slice?”
“No!” Gramma and Ne-ma said in unison.
“But you can't finish all this food by yourselves,” he protested.
“Yes we can,” Gramma said firmly. “Some old friends are coming over. This will be our first book club meeting!” She rubbed her hands in glee.
“Book club? This looks like a food club,” Jackson mumbled.
Jackson went into the kitchen to check on the tap. He had just fixed the leaky tap in the kitchen and repaired the dishwasher. His Gramma and Ne-ma were witches, but they were wary of using their magic on electronic gadgets. “Electrical energy has a way of warping magical energy,” they told him. “We fried the toaster and melted the washing machine some time back. We're not going to risk another blackout in the inn! That will freak out the guests!”
Tempting The Bear: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Gray Bears Book 4) Page 1
