Bare Instincts: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (3 page)

*     *     *

Tasha glanced up
and tightened her hold on her glass. Oh, crap. Wade Black was headed their way, and right behind him was Burke. She’d worked hard not to think about him or his brother, but she couldn’t avoid him now. When she’d seen him at the café, her body tingled in all the wrong places, and she thought she might be coming down with something.

“Ladies,” Wade said, glancing at all three of them. “Ms. Emmaline, would you do me the honor of a dance?”

She shot a look to both of her friends. They’d just been talking about which men in town were players and which ones weren’t, and both Burke and Wade were at the top of the first list.

“I’m good.” Em held up a hand.

Wade was tall, dark, and packed with muscles—as were most bear shifter men. “You afraid of us bears, wolf lady? Come on.” He puffed out his chest.

Knowing Em, she’d rise to the challenge. “Sure. Why not?”

She was so predictable. Once they headed to the dance floor, Lily came over. “Can I refresh your drinks?”

“I’m nursing mine,” Tasha said. She’d already had two, which was one more than her limit.

“I could use another one,” Burke said.

Before Tasha was able to extend her sympathies, Storm rolled in. As soon as he slid next to Chey, her friend’s eyes lit up, and their kiss lasted a bit too long for Tasha’s comfort. Given they were engaged, she wasn’t surprised at the passionate exchange.

Chey pulled away, but still looked deep into Storm’s eyes. “Want to dance?”

It was one of Chey’s favorite pastimes. According to her, Storm didn’t feel the same way. “Sure.”

His brows rose, probably sensing Chey was trying to get him away from the table. For that, Tasha would make her pay. Having Burke next to her—alone—had her pulse racing. It was stupid since they’d grown up together, but somehow, her inner animal was doing odd things. It was weeks past mating season, so she shouldn’t suddenly be hot.

“How is your mom holding up?” she asked, trying to shift focus off her hormonal urges.

“As well as can be expected. It was nice of your mother to come over. I know Mom appreciated it.”

Lily delivered Burke’s drink and he chugged it. “Another, please.”

Lily’s mouth pinched. “Be right back.”

Tasha was surprised she’d bring him another one. She had a strict rule about drunks: she didn’t like them.

“So how long do you plan to stay in town?” Tasha sucked at talking to good-looking men.

“Depends. I have a good construction job in Pennsylvania, but now I’m not too sure what I’ll do. I thought I’d see if I can pick up an odd job around here for as long as Mom and Dad need me.”

That was nice of him. “The library just hired Archfield and Kress to build an addition. You might check with them.” She shouldn’t have mentioned that. The last thing she needed was Burke working where she did.

“I’ll look into it.”

Lily brought his drink, and Burke looked up at her and smiled. “Thanks, babe.”

As soon as Lily left, Tasha faced him. “Really? You called her babe. She’s married.”

He faced Tasha, acting as if he saw no harm. “Doesn’t mean she can’t be hot.”

If she hadn’t been at the table alone with him, Tasha might have left, but that would have been cruel to both of them. She needed to be around her friends, too.

The music changed to a slow dance, and Tasha twisted around, expecting to see both couples return. Instead, they remained on the floor, almost as if they were giving Burke a wide berth.

“You want to dance?” he asked.

He must have misunderstood her glance, and her heart stuttered. “I don’t really do that.”
I’m clumsy and awkward
.

“Come on. For Tom.”

That was low. Burke held out his hand, and she placed hers in his. The moment their fingers touched, something inside her caught fire. This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

Chapter Three

B
urke had asked
Tasha to dance in part because she would have pummeled him with questions about Tom if they’d stayed at the table. It was who she was, and right now, Burke needed to forget.

Holding her hand, he led her to the already overcrowded dance floor. Just his luck, they were playing a slow song.

He found a clear spot on the floor, and as soon as he pulled her close, his inner bear went crazy. His cock stiffened and adrenaline poured through his veins. Jesus. He shook his head, trying to clear it. This was Tasha in his arms—the girl who helped him get through English class, the one who built a fort with him when he was ten, and the one who never told his folks that she’d stumbled upon him and Carrie Ann drinking under the bleachers after a basketball game. He had to remind himself that Tasha wasn’t his usual one-night stand. She was a good girl.

Sure, she had perfect skin, eyes the color of dark chocolate, and a body a man could get lost in, but shit, he’d come home to bury his brother, not bury himself inside a woman. If he were honest—which he wasn’t ready to be right now—Tasha had always had an effect on him. It was the biggest reason he’d tried to keep her at arm’s length since they were teens.

“Burke, you’re squishing me.” Tasha looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Fuck. “Sorry.” He loosened his grip. The only way to cope was to put on his charming façade. “Seems I can’t get enough of you.”

Her brows furrowed. “Try harder.”

The laugh that escaped surprised him. It must have been the effect of the alcohol, but it felt good to let loose. Burke inhaled deeply, her linen scent invading his body. It was stupid to torment himself like this, but it gave him a jolt of much-needed pleasure. It probably wasn’t wise to feel again, but he needed some hope and goodness in his life right now.

When the song ended, he didn’t want to move. Tasha was different from the girls he hung out with. She knew him—knew his fears—at least until he’d turned thirteen. Then everything changed. She got big tits and his hormones kicked into high gear. He’d never understood what it was about her that threw him off balance.

“Come on, Burke. The band is taking a break.”

His eyes started to roll back in his head, but he tensed his muscles to wake up. “Okay.”

This time, she grabbed his hand, and he was forced to follow. Burke never let anyone take the lead, but he was a bit drunk. As soon as he sat down, he polished off the rest of his drink. God that tasted good.

“Hey, Lily!” he shouted.

Tasha placed a hand on his. “You don’t have to shout.”

He faced her. “I don’t?” His words slightly slurred. “How else am I going to get her attention? I need another Jack.”

“Like this.” She raised her arm and pointed to him.

The bartender looked up and nodded. Seconds later, another drink appeared in front of him. “Last call, big boy,” Lily said.

“What are you talking about? It’s early. I’m just getting started.”

“Then take it someplace else. We don’t cotton to drunks in here.” She ripped the bill from her pad and placed it in front of him.

“That wasn’t very nice.” He raised his glass and downed half the contents.

“Burke,” Tasha said. “Getting drunk won’t bring Tom back. Nothing will.”

Well, fuck me
.

*     *     *

Burke Devereaux wasn’t
Tasha’s problem, but guilt would ride her hard if something happened to him on his way home. It wasn’t even nine, but if Burke went in search of more booze, there was no telling what trouble he might get into. “How about we call it a night and get out of here?”

Crap, that sounded like a proposition, and that wasn’t what she’d meant. She planned to take him to his parents’ house, and once he slept off his drunk, his dad could bring him back in the morning to pick up his cycle.

Burke fished out two twenties, placed them on the table, and stood. At least Lily would get a good tip.

Wade piped up. “You’re leaving so soon?”

“Got me a hot date.” Burke wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Oh, boy. She’d never live this down. Tasha pushed her chair back and got up. “I’ll see he gets home safely.”

“Talk to you tomorrow, buddy,” Wade said.

Because no one tried to convince him otherwise, the others must have agreed that he needed to sleep it off. Burke slid his arm around her waist, but she wasn’t sure if it was for support or pride after being cut off. If Chey and Storm hadn’t been there to keep Em company, Tasha might have insisted Burke stay since the bar served coffee.

“Let’s go, party boy.”

Tasha hoped she wouldn’t regret this. With her arm around him for additional support, she led him out of the bar. The air, while warm, was more refreshing than the bar’s, and she was glad to get away from the smell of stale beer and the stench of body odor.

Burke half-dragged her to where the motorcycles were lined up. “Oh, no, you don’t,” she quickly announced. “I’m driving you home.”

He laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart, I never spend the night. I’ll need my hog to take me back once we finish.”

Heat flamed her face. He was talking about sex? She faced him and shook his arm. “Burke. It’s me, Tasha. Let’s get in my car so I can drive you to your
parents’
house.”

He placed his helmet on his head and stuck his hands in his pocket. “I don’t want to go there. Too much sadness. Can you imagine the fuss my mom would make if I came home with al..alcohol on my breath?”

Yes, she could. Hopefully, his mom would lock him in his room until he came to his senses. The sad part was that Tasha understood why he’d had so much to drink. However, if he’d planned to get drunk, the smart thing would have been to ask Wade to chauffeur him for the night. “You should have thought of that before you got stinking drunk.”

“Stinking drunk?” his voice escalated. “I’ve only had a few drinks. I’m good.”

He swung his leg over the seat. The man was too huge for her to pull off. “You’re in no shape to be on your bike.”

Tasha didn’t want to come off as a buzzkill, but the man could hurt not only himself but someone else. ‘Friends don’t let friends drive drunk’ flashed in her mind.

“What kind of bike is this?” she asked. Her goal was to distract him enough to get the key away from him.

“Only the best hog on the road.” He stuck the key in the ignition, making her goal harder. “It’s a Softtail Deluxe. You like it?”

“It’s a beautiful bike. Would be a shame to wreck it.” She ran her hand over the engine casing and quickly yanked the key from the ignition.

“Hey,” Burke shouted.

That was kind of fun in a sick sort of way. She strode back to her car, believing he’d follow. The next thing she heard was a loud crash and a lot of cursing. She whipped around. Oh, shit, Burke was on the ground with the bike on top of him. “Oh, my God.”

She raced to help. If she turned into her bear form, she might be able to lift the bike, but she hadn’t shifted in forever. She looked around for someone strong, but before she’d taken more than a couple of steps toward the bar entrance, Burke slid out from underneath the bike.

He dusted himself off and righted his Softail Deluxe. “I’m good, but maybe I should take you up on that ride.”

That made her chuckle, partly from the relief of not having to locate someone to help. “Sure, biker boy.”

Burke appeared to have sobered up a bit after that. The fall must have shaken some sense into him. She showed him to her car, but this time she didn’t wrap her arm around his waist. Every time she touched him, her body reacted too much.

Burke was quiet on the way to her house. She understood why he didn’t want to distress his parents by showing up in his condition, but they’d have to assume he hadn’t been in the best of shape if he didn’t come home until the wee hours of the morning.

Ugh. That meant she’d have to drive him the four miles back to town for his bike once she pumped him full of sobering coffee, but that scenario was better than having her neighbors see a man come out of her house early in the morning.

“What will you tell your mom? That you’re staying with Wade?” She definitely didn’t need him to mention that he’d stayed at her place, especially since Mr. Devereaux was her father’s Beta.

“No can do. Wade’s at his parents’ house. My folks would find out.”