Page 49 of Protecting the White Bear

She chuckled. “Now if that isn’t a guy line if I ever heard one.”

“Yeah, but it’s sincere. A hot shower would be good on your back, nice and relaxing.”

“That sounds heavenly.” She climbed out of bed and joined him in the bathroom.

It was so bright and spacious. The commode was in its own separate room. There was a large bath big enough for two, givingher ideas of joining a hot bear in it when she wasn’t hurting. A double sink for two was backed by a large mirror and lighting, covering one wall. The shower was glassed in, a walk-in variety that she loved.

She removed her pajamas and put them on a warming rack in one corner. “Now I love this feature.”

“Yeah, it’s great to keep towels from being damp after showering. They’re nice and warm when you get out of the shower.”

“That’s what I need.”

Then he removed the ace bandage from her hand, and she walked into the shower, and he joined her.

“I’ll get your back.”

The steam of the shower felt delightful. His hands, covered in body soap, gently slid down her back, making her feel heavenly. She breathed in his fresh bear scent and his masculinity. She would soap up the rest of herself after he finished with her back, but then he began soaping up the front of her.

She had to take her turn soaping him up, eager to do it. They had already seen each other naked several times while they were shifting. Touching him was so much different than just seeing him naked. All those planes of muscles were fabulous, and his buttocks were so firm. They started kissing, his tongue intertwined with hers.

Their bodies slid against each other, but she couldn’t do this right now. Not with her hand and back hurting so much.

“I’ve got to sleep.” She didn’t want to stop their sensual caresses, but she knew she had to.

“Absolutely.” He kissed her forehead, finished rinsing off, and then they dried off. “Are you sure that you’re going to be okay with me being in bed with you?”

“Yeah. I need my injuries to heal before we go all the way.”

He smiled, appearing glad that she wanted to continue their relationship.

He helped her into her pajamas, pulled on his own, and then they climbed under the covers.

“Night, Andy, and thanks so much for letting me stay here.”

“I’m so glad you are staying with me, or Ben would be after you.”

She laughed and then curled onto her side to sleep.

They had sleptthrough most of the night when Andy got a call from Roger. He hurried out of bed so as not to disturb Monica, who looked like she was sleeping heavily, probably from the medicine.

“Yeah, Roger?” Andy headed out to the kitchen and started the coffee. “What’s up?”

“Monica’s brake lines were definitely cut. Not enough that she would run out of brake fluid right away while traveling through White Bear and could get help, but just nicked enough to drain the brake fluid once she was out in the middle of nowhere.”

So who knew what she planned to do and needed to stop her?

12

Before she headed out to rescue Helen, only one person who knew Monica was in White Bear came to mind:Pierre.

Now that Andy knew Monica’s brake lines had been cut, and not just to cause an accident near White Bear but to give her time to travel somewhere else where she would be stranded in the wilderness and could have died of hypothermia, he was sure it had to do with the kidnapping case she’d been on.

Hating to tell her the news, he couldn’t think of any other reasonable explanation.

Monica’s light footsteps approached as she walked down the hall toward him.

“Hey, good morning. How are you feeling?” He was ready to make them breakfast, but first, he pulled her into a warm embrace and rubbed her back.

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