Bear's Baby (Bear Heat Book 4) Read online

  BEAR'S BABY

  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)

  Copyright © 2015 Natalie Kristen

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without 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

  Baxter Sadowski is good at his job and he is good with women. He works hard, plays hard, and likes to have fun.

  But Baxter isn't one to kid himself. He knows that fun and happiness are two different things. It takes a lucky bear to find his true mate, and well, he knows better than to count on luck.

  Lindy Meyers has never forgotten a tough, tenacious, hunky Black Bear she met ten years ago. When she meets him again, she is no longer the shy, self-conscious twenty-something woman. She is still plus-sized and curvy, but with the added dollop of success and independence.

  What was supposed to be just a night of fun with the sassy, curvy human turns out to be something more.

  When Baxter leaves for an urgent, dangerous mission, he realizes that everything he has worked for, fought for and stood for is being threatened by a deadly enemy.

  Baxter can't believe he has finally found his mate, but if he doesn't act fast enough, he might just lose her forever.

  *****

  CHAPTER ONE

  Baxter Sadowski totally owned the dance floor. He was spinning and twirling with two beautiful brides, showing off all his fancy footwork and expertly fending off challenges to his dance crown. He was the king of the ballroom, the bestest of the best men.

  All the males in the Black Bears clan were Caleb and Thor's best men and all the females had been given the coveted role of bridesmaid. This was the first double wedding in the clan, and everyone wanted the biggest role they could land their paws on in the celebrations.

  The two lovely brides, Prisha and Aubrey, laughed and squealed in delight as they boogied with him. They gamely went along with his outlandish moves and antics, and worked with him to sidestep and exasperate their grinning, hapless grooms. Caleb and Thor tried their darnest to wrest their brides back from Baxter's arms, but they were no match for the King of Rock and Roll!

  The entire clan had crowded round to watch the show and they hooted and cheered Baxter and his two lively, playful dance partners on. Caleb and Thor began to co-ordinate their attempts to retrieve their brides, but Prisha and Aubrey seemed to take great pleasure in dancing circles around their grooms. They shrieked and giggled as they spun their way out of their husbands' reach and gleefully into Baxter's arms.

  The Black Bears cheered and clapped as they teased the two grooms mercilessly. Caleb and Thor threw up their hands in defeat and shook their heads laughing. They were good sports. They had been outdanced by Baxter, and they knew it.

  Baxter crowed his victory and took a deep bow with Prisha and Aubrey. The entire Black Bears clan broke out in raucous applause.

  “Thank you, thank you!” Baxter shouted as Aubrey and Prisha blew kisses to their clan members. “I am the champion! I rock! Now where's my prize?”

  Aubrey and Prisha giggled, then leaned in to give him two big, loud kisses on the cheek. Baxter pretended to swoon. He closed his eyes with a blissful, goofy grin on his face, placed his hands over his heart and simply fell backwards. He just rocked back on his heels and let himself fall. He didn't even glance back to check. He had complete trust in his clan members. They would catch him.

  Sure enough, they did.

  Big, strong hands formed a safety net behind him and caught him neatly before he hit the floor. Baxter opened his eyes and beamed at Dylan and Luke.

  “Thanks, guys.” He winked as they set him on his feet. “I knew I could count on you!”

  He saw Dylan give Luke a quick nod of approval. Luke Keller was the newest member of the Black Bears clan, and Dylan had been assigned to mentor and train the young man. It seemed that trainer and trainee had already established a good rapport and could read and anticipate each other's moves. They had acted in concert, in a heartbeat, and had caught Baxter together in a swift, seamless move. They would make a good team, and Baxter had no doubt that Luke would make a great Black Bear. Their Alpha, Ethan, had chosen Dylan over Baxter to be Luke's mentor. It was the right choice. Baxter could see that, but he just liked to yank Dylan's chain now and then.

  “Great catch,” Baxter said, clapping Luke on the back. “One second later and I'd have ended up with a big bump on my head.”

  Dylan massaged his wrist and grimaced. “Have you put on weight again, Bax? You almost broke my wrist.”

  Baxter turned up his nose haughtily at Dylan. “It's all muscle. Every pound, every inch.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Luke chuckled as he headed off towards the long buffet table with his mentor. Baxter turned to see his clan members taking to the dance floor as the ballroom lights dimmed and a romantic ballad started. Couples slow-danced to the music and Baxter saw Thor and Caleb leading their brides to the middle of the dance floor. Thor held Aubrey close to him, and Baxter could see the joy and love glowing in their eyes as they gazed at each other. Caleb was holding Prisha possessively as he leaned down to whisper in her ear and nuzzle her neck.

  Baxter leaned against the wall and watched the newly-weds for a while.

  “Congrats, guys,” he said under his breath. He raised a wine glass in a silent toast to them and downed the vintage wine in one gulp.

  Swiping his hand over his mouth, he loosened his bow tie and winced. He wished he could get out of this monkey suit, but this was a special day for Caleb and Thor and their mates. He would walk through the fires of hell for his clan, so what was donning a tux for a few hours?

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked around the swanky ballroom. Everyone was enjoying themselves, and some were still helping themselves to the food at the buffet table. Baxter let out a loud burp and rubbed his tummy. God, those bears could really eat. He thought he had a hearty bear-sized appetite, but his clan members were proving to him that when it came to good food and good wine, they could outeat and outdrink him any time.

  Baxter exhaled a long, slow sigh as he watched the happy, dreamy couples on the dance floor. The flash of white lace and satin drew his eyes back to the beaming, blushing brides. Aubrey and Prisha looked so beautiful, he could just see the fierce pride and joy on Thor and Caleb's faces.

  They were lucky, so lucky to have found their true mates.

  Baxter was happy for them, but beneath that happiness was a slight twinge of envy.

  The mate bond was a rare, precious thing, and not every bear was lucky enough to find his or her true mate. Some searched their whole lives. Some just gave up the search and settled. Settled, not settled down. Personally, Baxter felt that those bears weren't being fair to their partners, but who was he to judge? They seemed happy enough, and many of them had built strong, stable families with their partners.

  Baxter grabbed a slice of wedding cake off the tray of a passing waiter and absently crammed the whole piece into his mouth. He made a face as the saccharine sweetness coated his tongue, but he managed to swallow the whole mouthful.

  He was just reaching for a mug of beer when two female bear cubs barrele
d up to him and tugged at his trousers. They wanted him to dance with them, the way he'd done with the brides. The two little girls were dressed in identical puffy-sleeved dresses and had a mind-boggling assortment of glittering ribbons in their hair. They were the youngest twin daughters of Karen, a Black Bears lieutenant. He looked up and saw Karen watching her baby girls with an indulgent smile.

  “Ladies.” He crouched so he could talk to them at eye level. “Can I have this dance?” The twins squealed and bounced on the balls of their feet. Gallantly, he took their little hands and led them out to the dance floor.

  As he danced enthusiastically with the bright-eyed, giggling young she-bears, Baxter stole a glance at Thor and Caleb and quirked a wistful smile. They were so damn lucky.

  For a fleeting moment, he let himself wonder if he would ever find his true mate. He frowned and shrugged away the thought.

  He wasn't one to kid himself.

  He might be full of energetic fun and wisecracks, but he wasn't lucky. Still, even though he wasn't a lucky bear, he would never settle. He would just party and have fun till he was old, creaky and cranky.

  Baxter blew out a breath and sternly told himself to stop all this navel-gazing. And from the way those two cubs were yanking at his shirt, his navel would be exposed to all and sundry in no time.

  He had to keep up. He had a reputation to maintain.

  “Come on, baby dolls!” He winked at the twins. “Let's show 'em some smooth moves! What do you say to that?”

  The little girls jumped up and down, squealing in excitement, “We say yay!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Baxter pulled up in front of the brightly lit diner and hopped out of his car. He had meant to drive straight home but along the way, his stomach had let out an insistent growl and his bear had woken up with the mother of all hangovers and demanded a burger and a cup of strong, black coffee.

  His bear was an aggressive, impatient, unpredictable beast. His bear acted on pure instinct and want, and what his bear wanted, his bear got. Maybe he shouldn't let his beast have its way all the time. But lashing that big, bad bear down was hard work. And to be honest, he liked having his bear close to the surface. It made his senses sharper, keener and kept his predatory skills and instincts honed. It also made him more impulsive and reckless, but well, some of the bad guys deserved more than what his bear dished out to them. The clan owned the Black Bears Group, a reputable, highly efficient security firm. The Black Bears worked closely with many law enforcement agencies in the city, and they'd helped hunt and capture some of the more violent, dangerous criminals that had eluded the city police for years. His bear had been perfectly happy to rough those sick fucks up a bit in the interrogation room. His fist-happy, bear-driven interrogation methods had always yielded results and had gotten them crucial information, information that had helped save lives and prevent more deaths and tragedy.

  Baxter was fully aware of his reputation as a relentless, ruthless investigator and interrogator. Some said he was out of control, but what did he care about what people said anyway?

  He was what he was, and he would do what he had to do. He was one of the best trackers and investigators in the clan, and if his bear wanted in on the action, he wasn't going to deny his bear a bit of fun.

  Baxter paused at the entrance of the diner, his brow furrowing. Was that why their alpha had ultimately chosen Dylan over him as Luke's mentor? Baxter's frown deepened as he recalled Ethan's words: Luke has to learn to control his bear. Not unleash it.

  “Pfff!” Baxter huffed and rolled his eyes as he pushed into the small diner. Ethan was right, of course. But—where's the fun in that? Unleashing your bear was fun. Controlling it, not so much.

  Baxter went straight up to the counter and hopped onto a corner stool. He had ditched his jacket and bow tie, and his sleeves were rolled up. The white shirt still felt too stiff and constricting, but this was as comfortable as he could get for now.

  “Hey, Nancy,” he greeted the waitress. “New hairdo. Nice.”

  “Thanks.” Nancy patted her bouffant. “You're looking spiffy yourself. Don't see you in a shirt much.”

  “Yeah. Just attended a wedding.”

  Nancy gave him in incredulous look. “There's usually lots to eat and drink at a wedding. Why are you here? Didn't they feed you?”

  “Oh they did.” Baxter laughed. “I ate half the buffet spread all by myself. But—that was like hours ago. I'm hungry now. My bear wants his burger, so...”

  Nancy shook her head. “You spoil your bear.” But she came back briskly and poured him a big cup of coffee. “Here, you look like you need this.”

  “I do. Thanks, Nance.” He took a big gulp and sighed.

  “Your burger will be with you in a few minutes.”

  She refilled his cup before moving off to clear the plates at an empty table. Baxter took another mouthful of bitter, black coffee and looked around the diner. He ate at this diner at least three times a week. Dino Diner had the best and biggest burgers and the strongest coffee in the universe. The diner was open twenty-four hours, and there was always a steady stream of customers at all hours of the day and night.

  He glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight. The wedding party had ended a few minutes before eleven. Some of the cubs were yawning and a few were already snoozing on their parents' shoulders. Their alpha's mate, Cora, was pregnant, and Ethan wanted to get her home early so she could have enough rest. But Cora had insisted on staying till the end. It was, after all, her best friend's wedding. It had been a great party, even though it hadn't gone on till the wee hours of the morning.

  Baxter drummed his fingers on the counter and looked around the cozy little diner. A few booths were occupied, and he saw some familiar faces, regulars like him.

  But there was one pretty face that he had never seen before sitting alone in a corner booth.

  Baxter swiveled his stool so that he was facing her but she didn't seem to notice him. She was staring out the window, seemingly watching the street but her eyes wasn't focused on the few cars parked along the street in front of Dino Diner. She seemed to be seeing something way beyond the quiet neighborhood.

  She had cut her waffle up into neat, bite-sized pieces and had one honey-smeared piece impaled on her fork. She raised the fork halfway to her mouth, and muttered something to herself. Abruptly, she put the fork down and bent to scribble something on a legal pad that was lying between her plate and her half-empty coffee cup.

  Intrigued, Baxter watched her repeat this motion a couple of times. The woman would pick up the fork, open her mouth but before she could take a bite, she'd just pick up her pen and start scribbling frantically.

  Baxter continued staring at her, amused and fascinated. She was pretty, with short, sassy blond hair and soulful, blue eyes. She was in a smart, long-sleeved blouse that flowed over her generous curves fluidly and flatteringly.

  Baxter tilted his head so that he caught a glimpse of her black pumps under the table. She was wearing a navy blue knee-length skirt and there was a jacket draped over her briefcase beside her. Baxter raised a brow. She looked like she had just gotten off work, but if that was so, then the woman sure worked crazy hours. He continued sizing her up. Mid-thirties, professional, driven, single. Baxter spied no wedding ring on her finger.

  When Nancy slid the plate of burger and fries under his nose, Baxter picked up his plate and coffee cup and walked towards the booth. The woman was still staring out the window, mumbling and frowning as she scratched out something on her legal pad.

  She jerked her head up when Baxter put his plate and cup on the table and slid into her booth. He sat down across the table from her and picked up his burger.

  Blinking at him, the woman flipped the page over quickly so that he couldn't read what she had written. “Excuse me,” she began, glaring at him. “This booth is taken. Can't you...”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Baxter waved his burger at her and took another bite. �
�But you're sitting here alone. This seat here is empty. You're only taking up one side of the booth. We can share, can't we? Honey, this booth is big enough for the both of us, don't you think?”

  To her credit, she kept her face straight and her temper in check. “No. This booth isn't big enough. Get your own booth. There are plenty of empty ones. And my name isn't Honey.” Her voice was calm, but Baxter saw the flash of annoyance in her eyes.

  She sat back and folded her arms. Baxter smirked at her, impressed. He had wanted to provoke a reaction and ruffle her straight, smooth feathers. But it seemed that he hadn't quite succeeded.

  Baxter put down his burger and slurped his coffee loudly.

  “You aren't leaving,” she said at last.

  “Not yet.”

  “Mister, I don't want any trouble and I don't mean to be rude, but I prefer not to share my booth with a stranger. So, if you'd just...”

  “Baxter Sadowski.”

  “What?”

  “I just told you my name. Now that you know my name, I'm not a stranger anymore. I know your name isn't Honey. So why don't you tell me your name and we can...”

  “I bet you think you're real funny. Well, that rakish grin might work on some women, but you're going to be wearing your coffee instead of drinking it if you don't get out of my booth right now.” She smiled sweetly and leaned forward. Baxter saw that she was getting ready to make good on her threat.

  He grabbed her hand just as she reached for his coffee cup. They both jerked back at the same time. And from the look in her eyes, she had felt the same sizzling, electric shock he had.

  She rubbed her wrist and gulped. “You can keep the booth. I'll go,” she muttered as she gathered her things.

  “No, don't go.” Baxter's hand shot out to grab her wrist. When she shrank back, he released her immediately.