Page 9 of Bear Outlaws


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“You look upset.” His words were silky, as if he used a loom to weave words instead of speaking.

His words burst through my defenses like water through a dam. “It’s something...personal.” Tears welled in my eyes. I turned my head so he wouldn’t see them. In my experience, the only guys that were willing to listen to you when you were a damsel in distress were worthless. Unfortunately, half the time I couldn’t help but be one.

He reached his arm out like he was going to embrace me. Instinctively, I backed up. Some hot guy decides to hug you, and you run away? It’s normal he wanted to console you. That’s what nice guys do. Or guys that want to get into your pants do.

Much to my surprise, he let out a hearty laugh. “Too much?”

My own laughter echoed through the hallway. “A bit. I do my best to keep my personal life out of work. I’m not doing a very good job.”

He threw his hands up. “Well, aren’t I work?”

That was true. “I was talking about the call.” I giggled. “But, to answer your question, yes. You’re work.” I grabbed his bicep and squeezed. Rock solid muscle met my fingers. He didn’t look chiseled, but it was as if his arms were made of iron. I blushed as I realized my fingers were lingering. He raised his eyebrows and wiggled them.

“Don’t get too excited. You caught me at a weak moment.”

“Weakness is my specialty. A predator can smell his prey from a mile away.” He flashed me a fiendish grin.

“Well, just don’t eat me before I have a chance to see my patients. Your brother is one of them.”

He gnashed his teeth. “I have a spare.”

A spare brother? Hardly a tasteful gag when your brother was hospitalized. It was nice to find dark humor in a man, but there was an edge to his tone I couldn’t place. I used my arm to push him out of my way. I did it playfully, but there was something about our encounter that caused my heart rate to increase and my teeth to rattle. Was it my attraction to him or something greater? When he stared, I did feel like prey. Prey that was being toyed with. As much as I wanted to get laid, something creepy or complicated was not an option at the moment. “My job is to keep you with as many brothers as you came in with.” I smiled and headed back towards the nurse’s station. When I reached the end of the hall, Jared was exactly where I had left him. The heat of his stare penetrated my thin scrubs and caused my skin to flush. I pretended not to notice and gathered up today’s charts and made my way into the intensive care wing, knowing that his eyes didn’t leave me until there was a door closed between us.

Chapter 8

Wes

There she is. Jen entered the door wearing the same sweater as before. If I bought her a new sweater would that be overstepping my bounds? I don’t think it would hit the same as a bouquet of roses. Women like things like that, but isn’t it a bit insincere? Here you go, a bunch of flowers that are going to die. But if I got her something that she needs and would use every day, I would be considered a creep. Why is that? Societal norms are such buzzkills.

I glanced at Jen again. Her eyes were vacant, as if she wasn’t present. Goose pimples were spread across her arms. I listened quietly for her pulse and respiration. Elevated. One of the few perks of being a shapeshifter, even if you were an out of shape nerd. Something scared her. Recently. She smiled at me and waved.

“How’s it going?”

Terrible. You’re all I can think about. “I’m great!” I said a little too enthusiastically.

Her laugh hit me like a tonic. “That good, huh? I wish I was there.”

“Actually, I’m really just overly excited to see you. You’re my favorite nurse.” And I am head over heels in love with you despite the fact that I know nothing about you.

She laughed again. “I’m sure you haven’t encountered too many nurses these days.”

“Oh, you would be surprised.” Frank and Jared ended up in the hospital countless times. I was always the one that interacted with the nurses first. Not one of them ever piqued my interest. This was real.

“After everything that’s happened in my life, I’m pretty sure nothing could surprise me,” she sighed. Jen pulled off her gloves and

tossed them in the trash. “I’ve changed the dressing on his wounds. It looks like they didn’t change it last shift, so I’m going to make a note about it. If this happens again, I want you to raise the issue with the administration. They’ll never listen to me.”

I nodded. “I appreciate you taking such good care of my brother.” Now if only you could take care of my heart as well.

“Of course. It’s my job.”

It really wasn’t. “I’ve encountered plenty of medical professionals in my life. None of them were ever as pleasurable to deal with as you.”

She smiled again. I wanted to make her look happy forever.

“Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”

“Listen, I need to talk to you about last time. I meant what I said. Let me take you out. Dinner, drinks, dancing. Anything you want.”

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