“Of course.”
“What would happen...if you were forced to become human?”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Forced?” Graham's voice had deepened to a growl.
“Yes,” Lisa said, looking him straight in the eye. “If there was a kind of serum that changed your shifter cells to human cells, and you were forcibly injected with that serum...”
“I would die,” he answered simply. “My bear is a part of me. Killing my bear would kill me.”
Lisa nodded and turned away. She stared at all the people enjoying themselves at the carnival. There were families, couples, groups of youngsters and squealing kids running around. Some of the children had shifted into their animal forms in their excitement and she saw adorable cubs and pups chasing their own tails and playfully pouncing on one another.
With a sad sigh, she murmured, “I don't deserve to be here.”
“What do you mean?” Graham said in a very low voice.
“After what I've done...”
“Lisa.” Graham gripped her shoulder. “What kind of trouble are you in?”
Lisa swallowed and took a deep breath. She wondered how she had landed herself in such a mess. But she wasn't one to shirk from her responsibilities.
She just wished she had looked more carefully at the people commissioning her research. If she had asked more questions, she might have discovered the true purpose of her research much sooner. Instead, she had been too trusting and she had thrown her whole heart and mind into her work. She was and always would be a workaholic. When she was knee-deep in her research, she worked with single-minded, laser-like focus and intensity. She was a scientist, a lab rat, a geek, and she'd always been a hard worker.
Working hard was one thing. She loved science and she loved her work.
But finding out that you'd been working hard for a cause that was not just wrong, but downright evil—was another thing altogether.
Lisa was proud of her work and she always took responsibility for her work. She had made a mistake but she was determined to make things right. She would create something good out of this terrible serum she had created.
“Lisa,” Graham said quietly. “The question you asked earlier...”
She looked up with a wince. “I'm a scientist, Graham. I was commissioned to research and come up with...”
“A serum that can change shifter cells to human cells,” Graham finished for her.
Lisa gulped.
She realized that Graham had been listening very carefully to every word she said. And he had watched her reaction, her expression and joined all the dots immediately.
Behind that carefree, laid-back demeanor and seductive smile was a quick, sharp mind. Graham missed nothing, and he would know at once if she tried to lie to him.
She didn't want to lie to him. But could she trust him with the truth?
Graham was looking at her with deep concern and interest. There was worry and a spark of desire in his eyes. Lisa wrapped her arms around herself and wished that it was Graham's arms that were holding her. It was an irrational thought, a silly, foolish wish but she wanted so badly to believe that Graham did genuinely care for her.
Nah, guys like Graham just didn't happen to her. A dumpy, geeky scientist like her didn't attract men like Graham. Graham Hatfield was a hunk, while she was plain, plump and boring to most guys. She hardly dated and the dates she'd been on were disappointing and disastrous. In the end, it was just more sensible to invest in a handy vibrator and give up dating altogether.
She jerked back when Graham took her hand in his. “Talk to me, Lisa,” he said.
CHAPTER SIX
Graham frowned at the pretty, curvy little scientist in front of him. He had always thought of scientists as strange men and women in white coats who played with test tubes and Bunsen burners.
Lisa didn't look like a scientist at all. He had never met a scientist before, so he didn't know what they really looked like. He just never expected a scientist to look like this.
Hot, sexy, beautiful and adorable.
But this sweet, human scientist was in a whole lot of trouble if she did really create a serum that could forcibly change shifter cells to human cells.
There had been a lot of talk lately about how the paranormal community had been the cause of almost all the problems in the country. Business leaders had condemned the paranormal community for taking jobs away from the human population, and politicians blamed shifters for the rise in the crime rate in cities. There had been heated discussions and debates about using unconventional methods to curb the shifter population. The suggestion of mandatory sterilization for shifters had drawn widespread criticism and there had been some violent protests in some shifter towns.
Shadow Point was a small town with all kinds of paranormal residents. Shifters, vampires, fae folk, witches, humans and half-paranormals all lived and worked peacefully together. The community was close-knit and united, and Graham's human friends and neighbors had expressed outrage at the prejudice and disrespect shown to paranormals.
But not all humans were so supportive and trusting of shifters. The shifters were the largest group of paranormals and some human politicians had tried to turn public opinion against the shifters. They blamed the shifters for all the ills of society and spoke of getting rid of the shifters once and for all.
The residents of Shadow Point liked poking fun at political speeches and they simply dismissed all that talk and bluster as pure garbage. No one paid much attention to all that nonsense, and life went on as usual in Shadow Point.
But now, Graham realized that it hadn't been just talk. It wasn't just empty talk and rhetoric. Plans had been put in motion and action had been taken. Those people were serious about getting rid of shifters, and research had been commissioned to achieve that aim.
There were laws against murder, so they couldn't just round all the shifters up and kill them. But there was no law against Changing. It wasn't illegal to Change a human into a paranormal and vice versa. But so far, no one had found a way to change a paranormal into a human safely and permanently.
Graham stared at Lisa with a growing sense of dread, disquiet and disappointment. He refused to believe that she was part of this dangerous, diabolical plot to eliminate shifters. She had to know what she was doing, and what her serum would do to shifters. How could she not know?
Before he could question her further, a high-pitched female voice tittered close to his ear. “Hi, Graham.”
Graham half turned but kept his eyes fixed on Lisa. “Hi, Sophie,” he muttered absently.
Sophie pressed her voluptuous body against his side and purred, “What a party, eh?”
“Yeah.”
“Shall we continue the party at my place?” Sophie said in a seductive voice as she nipped at his ear.
Graham growled. Sophie was good for a night of no-strings-attached fun, and he was always up for a good romp between the sheets. The lioness was great in bed. Sophie was adventurous, playful and she was always in heat.
But this time, Sophie's offer annoyed rather than pleased him. Sophie was forward and direct, and he used to like that about her. She had a high sex drive and she boldly went after what she wanted. She wanted sex. And sex was just sex with Sophie. No complications, no hurt feelings.
But something was different now. Graham couldn't stand the thought of having any other female. There was only one woman he wanted.
“No,” he answered flatly. “I won't be going to your place, Sophie.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The note of finality in his voice made Sophie step back and stare at him with both surprise and amusement. Her eyes swiveled from him to Lisa, who was watching a couple try their hand at one of the games.
“So, it's her,” Sophie said, a smile spreading across her face. She canted her head at him and asked, “Are you sure it
's her? She's human, you know.”
Graham growled again.
Sophie laughed and sauntered off. “If you're not sure, you can always come to me.” She blew him a kiss over her shoulder.
Graham didn't even look at her. His eyes were on Lisa. He didn't want to take his eyes off her, not even for a minute. Lisa was standing a little distance away from him, watching some kids at a game booth with a look of wonder and longing.
Graham went to her and stood beside her in silence. “Lisa,” he began.
“I've never played a carnival game before,” she whispered.
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “My dad was a single parent, and he worked two jobs to put food on the table and give me a good education. I studied hard and took up some part-time jobs to help supplement the family income. I worked hard and I studied harder. I didn't go out with the other kids and my dad had no time to take me places. I didn't get to see my dad much because he was always working. But he did his best by me. He passed away during my final year in college.”
Lisa paused and sighed. “I worked long hours and I guess my social life suffered.” She shrugged. “Not that it really mattered.”
Graham looked at her for a moment. It did matter. Her social life, her happiness, her whole life mattered to him.
There were still so many questions he wanted to ask her but that could wait.
“Come on. Let's play,” he said, taking her hand firmly.
“Oh, I don't know...I've never tried my hand at...” Lisa stammered.
“No one hits the target on their first try,” Graham said encouragingly. “It's okay if you miss.”
She glanced up at him with a shy smile. “Okay.”
Walking up to the booth, Graham joined the queue and explained the rules to her. “You'll be given three balls. The aim is to hit as many green cans as you can.”
Lisa studied the rows of green cans and the one red can at the very back. “I thought the aim is to hit the red can without hitting any of the green cans,” she said at last.
“Well, yes,” Graham answered with an amused smile. “If you do that, you'll win the grand prize. But no one, absolutely no one, has ever won the grand prize. So now everyone just concentrates on taking out as many green cans as possible.”
“What do you win if you knock down a green can?”
“One green can, one toffee,” he said, holding up a finger.
“So if I knock down a dozen green cans, I just get a handful of toffees,” she mused.
“Yup.”
“I think I prefer the grand prize,” she deadpanned.
“Okay,” he said, humoring her. “You get three throws. Pick up three balls and...”
“I only need one,” Lisa replied, stepping up to the booth.
“But if you miss...”
“I won't miss,” she said confidently.
Lisa tossed the colorful ball back and forth between her hands, as if gauging its weight. Then she stared straight at the red can and drew her arm back.
Graham's eyes rounded and continued widening as he watched the ball fly from her hand straight towards the red can. With a clang, the bright red can toppled from its perch and a bell rang out loud and clear. People started cheering and clapping wildly.
“You...you've won the grand prize!” Graham spluttered.
Lisa beamed at him. “Yup.”
“You weren't telling me the truth when you said you've never played a carnival game before,” he said reproachfully.
“It is the truth,” she said. “I've never been to a carnival before.”
“But you hit the red can,” he repeated, staring at her in disbelief. “No one has ever hit the red can in all the carnivals we've had! It's just not possible.”
“It is entirely possible,” she answered as she happily hoisted the gigantic teddy bear. “I estimated the distance and the weight of the ball, and I did a quick calculation. If you get the angle and the velocity right, you'll have a ninety-nine point seven per cent chance of hitting the red can. It's just science,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Science,” he repeated, completely baffled.
“Yes! Science is the systematic study of the behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, calculation and experiment. I studied the position of the cans and the various throwing techniques of the players before me.” She beamed. “Isn't science wonderful?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Graham was still gaping at Lisa when she turned around and spotted Gramma and Ne-ma in the crowd. The two witches were standing in line in front of a hot dog stand and waving at her.
“Wow! You hit the red can!” Gramma squealed when Lisa went up to them.
“We were aiming for it,” Ne-ma said, admiring the giant teddy bear. “But we didn't even hit any of the green cans! We were trying to win the big teddy bear for our great-granddaughter. Our Katie is growing into such a lovely, lively little she-bear!”
Lisa pushed the teddy bear into Ne-ma's arms. “It's yours,” she said. “Give it to your great-granddaughter.”
“No, no, no, we can't take it. You won it! You won the grand prize!” Gramma and Ne-ma tried to give it back.
“Please, I want you to have it,” Lisa said firmly. “You brought me here and this is the most fun I've had in my life. I want to thank you.”
“There's no need to thank us at all,” Gramma said. “You're here because you're meant to be here.”
Ne-ma pushed her glasses up her nose and grinned. “I love weddings! There's just so much love and magic in the air.”
“Magic?” Lisa said, looking skeptical.
“You don't believe in magic?” Gramma peered at her.
“Magic can be defined as the power to influence events through unknown or unexplained forces. But science does that too. The difference is that scientists continue studying these unknown and unexplained forces until everything is known and explained about them.”
Gramma and Ne-ma stared at her with identical open-mouthed expressions. And it wasn't often that one found Gramma and Ne-ma at a loss for words.
Graham stifled a laugh when Lisa went on to explain in excruciating detail how scientific inquiry turned up evidence of the existence of ionizing radiation and particles, which in turn led to the discovery of...
Gramma and Ne-ma were saved by the bell.
A bell sounded and a loud cheer rose from the crowd as the bride and groom bounded up the makeshift stage. Damien grabbed the microphone and announced, “All right, ladies and gentlemen! This is the event you've been waiting for!”
Damien and Penelope did a dramatic drum roll together. “We present...the beer drinking competition!” The crowd went wild as beer barrels were rolled onto the stage and humongous, towering beer glasses were carried to the front of the stage.
“All competing couples, step right up! And—I know the bride and groom are supposed to compete as well, but I am appointing my best man, Graham, as my representative! Graham, my man, where are you?” Damien hollered, squinting into the crowd.
“There you are!” Damien pointed at him. “Grab a partner and come on up, Graham! Come on! I'm counting on you, don't let me down!”
Graham blew out a breath. There was no way to get out of this. Everyone was cheering and applauding and gleefully shoving him towards the stage. Instinctively, he reached out and grabbed Lisa's hand.
Gramma and Ne-ma followed in their wake, waving their hands and shouting, “Count us in! We want to take part in the beer drinking competition too!”
Damien and Penelope grinned and waved the two witches up to the stage. “Come on up, Gramma and Ne-ma! You're Team Number One!”
Gramma and Ne-ma took up their positions in front of the first gigantic yard glass and hi-fived each other. They smirked at Graham, Lisa and the rest of the competition. “We'll win
this,” Ne-ma said triumphantly.
Lisa was strangely calm as she stood beside him. She and Graham were Team Number Two. She seemed unfazed by the crowd, the noise and the beer, but Graham couldn't help feeling a little worried for her.
“You okay?” Graham leaned in to whisper. “We can still back out if...”
“Back out?” She blinked. “Why would we want to back out? It's just beer.”
There was an odd smile on her face and Graham wondered what kind of complicated calculation she was doing in her head this time.
“Ready, teams?” Damien yelled. “On your marks, get set...” As they put their hands on the enormous glass that was filled to overflowing with golden, frothing beer, Graham saw that Lisa's eyes were gleaming with anticipation and delight. She was relishing the challenge.
“Go!”
CHAPTER NINE
“And now we'll present the prize to the runner-up, Team Number Two!” Penelope announced to thunderous applause.
Graham and Lisa stepped up to receive their trophy, which was shaped like a beer barrel. Penelope gave Lisa a warm hug and handed her the trophy. Damien grinned and nudged him. “Good job, buddy! You didn't let me down.”
Lisa hiccuped and grinned at the cheering crowd. She linked her arm through Graham's and together, they moved to the side of the stage with their precious trophy. Lisa hugged the trophy to her chest and beamed proudly.
“And now, may we present the champion of the beer drinking competition, Team Number One, Gramma and Ne-ma!” Damien and Penelope hollered.
Whistles, cheers and applause exploded from the crowd. Popcorn, confetti and flowers were thrown and Gramma and Ne-ma waved their arms to encourage more adulation and applause.
“Louder, people!” Gramma shouted.
“Show us some love!” Ne-ma yelled and gyrated her hips.
The two witches cackled gleefully as they took their trophy from Penelope and held it high above their heads. “This is our thirtieth trophy!” Gramma boasted with a loud burp.
Guardian Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 7) Page 2
