Page 8 of Into The Light
I stick my hand out at him. "I'm Noelle Harper."
At first, he just stares at my hand like he doesn't know what to do with it. And then, very slowly, he lifts his hand toward mine. And holy freaking crap, his hand is… I’ve run out of synonyms for “huge.” It could engulf both of mine and when his fingers curl around mine and his palm touches mine, his hands are as rough as cinderblocks. His grip is darned near delicate, though, as if he knows exactly how powerful he is and how to modulate his grip.
"Bear."
I blink up at him. "Bear? That's your name?"
"Yup."
"Like, for real? It's not a nickname?"
He just shakes his head.
"Bear, huh? Well, it certainly suits you." I try to see around his Godzilla thighs. "You're not bringing anything in. Adopting?"
"Volunteering."
"Oh. Really?”
"Yup."
I can't help but laugh a little. "You don't talk much, do you?"
Another shake of his big, shaggy head.
The door to the back opens and Gloria emerges, leash in hand, putting a cell phone in her vest pocket and then looking up.
"Wow. Hi." She blinks at Bear, clears her throat. "How…um. How can I help you?"
I'm nosy and curious, so I stay to watch the exchange.
Bear slips past me to the counter—that tingling on my skin explodes all over again as he nears me. "I'd like to volunteer. Work with the dogs."
Gloria stares at him for so long that it's awkward. "You…what?"
"I'd like to help. Volunteer." He repeats himself patiently, no sign of awkwardness, no sign that he even notices her reactions to him.
She swallows hard. "I…we…yes. Yes. Let's see." She ducks to peer under the counter and comes up with a clipboard with a stack of tear-off volunteer forms. "Just fill this out. I, um…I do need help in the back. It's just me right now, and we’re almost full up. I can't man the counter and clean up."
"No people. Just the dogs," Bear rumbles.
I almost laugh, but manage to hold it in.
Gloria watches him fill the form out; he hesitates when he gets to the section about prior convictions; I have good eyes and can read the form from where I’m standing.
He looks up at her. "I have a record. I work for Riley Crowe. He will vouch for my character."
Gloria opens her mouth, closes it, and opens it again. "I…I see. I would have to speak to Mr. Crowe. But…if you're okay staying in the back, I think we could make it work. I…I mean no offense, Mr. Bear."
The corner of his mouth twitches. "Just Bear. I’d rather stay in back anyway. Not good with people."
Gloria's mouth flaps again, and then she reads whatever he wrote on the form regarding priors her eyes widen. "Um…"
"Paroled. Good time credits and work release. Won't be trouble."
"But…but….” She's white as a sheet.
Bear sighs and takes a step backward. "Nevermind. I understand."
