The Billionaire Jaguar's Curvy Journalist: BBW Panther Shifter Paranormal Romance (18 page)

“Well,” Paul said. “You weren’t kidding when you said that was a lot.”

It was a busy night at the tavern, and she’d seen half-a-dozen people she knew, most of them wanting to stop by her table and ask about the FBI. She’d had to stop and start her story more times than she could count. But she’d finally gotten to Sam and the job offer.

“What do you think you’ll do?” Paul asked her.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I mean...I love Salem Beach, and I want to stay here, so steady work here would be great. But maybe freelancing is enough. Especially since I’d like to follow this story through to the end.” She picked up her sparkling water and took a sip. “Maybe I could go back part-time, keep working on the Brisbane Chemical angle while doing some work for the paper.

“Best of both worlds.”

“I could ask Bill,” she said. “Worst thing he could say is no.”

“You’d better ask him to trust you going forward, too,” he said. ‘You deserve a full apology, in person, at the very least.”

“I guess I do.” It was certainly nice to have Paul in her corner. “Now, what about you?”

“What about me?” he asked.

“Didn’t you talk to Aaron today?”

“Yeah,” he said. “But...not much news. We just talked.”

Abby knew that any conversation Paul had with his brother was more than ‘just talking.’ It was giving Paul his family back. “Do you think...do you think you’ll see your father again?”

“I don’t know,” Paul said, shaking his head. “It’s way too soon to think about that, I guess. Having my brother back in my life, and you—that’s enough for now. More than enough.” He reached over and took her hand. “More like...everything I ever hoped for.”

Abby felt her face flushing at that.

“Everything?”

“Everything I need, anyway.” He squeezed her fingers. “And then some.”

“Me too,” she confessed. “And then some.”

***

A note from Zoe Chant

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The Billionaire Jaguar's Curvy Journalist.
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Page down to read a special preview of 
Country Star Bear.

The cover concept for this book was designed by
Augusta Scarlett
.

More from Zoe Chant

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Alpha Lion
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A frightened but determined BBW + a sexy lion shifter martial artist + a dangerous enemy = one unforgettable romance!

In the Billionbear’s Den
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A BBW doctor with no time for love + a protective alpha jaguar shifter + a kidnapping = one sizzling hot love story.

And many more!

Special Preview: Country Star Bear

When Colin Losev's tour bus slips off the road, he doesn't expect to be helped out by a lady mechanic--much less a tall, curvy lady like Irene "Renie" Redmond. Renie makes his heart pound, and she's just the right size for a Kodiak bear shifter like him. But they've got a tour date to make in Montreal. Can he convince Reine to hop on for the ride?
Once Renie dreamed of traveling the country. Then her brother got sick, and she had to take over the family business. By the time he got better, she'd been running the garage for years. Then she met Colin, and the promise of the ride of her life. She can't just leave everything behind. Or can she?
But there are storm clouds in the horizon for Colin's band--and the weather is the least of their worries. Can Colin keep his band and mate safe--and can he convince Renie they're destined to make beautiful music together?

“Anyway, the roads should clear up by morning, but I’m not sure about your bus. You might be able to charter something, there are a couple of folks you can call.”

“Probably that’s what we’ll do if we need to,” he said. “But we’ve got a little time to figure it out. When do you think you can take a look at the bus?”

“We can get started tomorrow morning. Big rig like that, you’re lucky we were so close, not many people do them around here.”

“I know,” he said, and his face turned back to her. “Believe me, I feel lucky.” He didn’t sound like he was talking about the garage.

“You’re pretty flirty for someone who hasn’t even seen my whole face.”

“Didn’t they tell you we’re bears? Our eyesight ain’t that great. We rely on our other senses. Smell, touch. Feel.” He put a heavy weight on the last word.

She ignored the way her pulse jumped and swallowed hard. “You haven’t
felt
anything, either.”

“It’s not just about touch,” he explained. “It’s instinct, too. What you feel in your gut and in your heart.”

“So your gut’s usually right?”

“Usually,” he said. “And the heart…that doesn’t lie.”

This guy was smooth. “Must be nice,” she said wryly. “But we just met. No one’s heart is
that
good.”

He thought over his next words before he spoke. “It’s not about skills,” he said. “It’s more like…do you play any music?”

“Not since high school.”

“What did you play?”

“The saxophone.” Not for very long. She’d felt so awkward, the big girl stuck with an even bigger tenor sax.

“You remember what it felt like when you hit the note, when it sounded right? When the whole band was on and everything was in place?”

“Um, kind of?” Playing music hadn’t been all bad. She did remember that feeling, like the music was flowing through them all.

“It’s kind of like that. That feeling that you’ve found a groove and you’re going to stay there.”

She glanced over at him. “Are you calling me a groove?”

He laughed. “More like talking with you feels that way. Like finding a groove and leaning right into it. Steady. Do you really not feel it?”

She shook her head. “I’m human, you know.”

“Yeah,” he said. “But you ain’t immune to chemistry. No one is, human or bear.” His voice sent a sweet little shiver up her spine.

“Now a lot of people—and bears—they don’t always have that feeling. Some people go their whole lives without finding a connection like that. But when it happens—my dad said it hit like a thunderbolt.” He glanced over at her. “And that’s kind of what I’m feeling right now.”

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