Red and the Bear: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Grimm Bears Book 1) by Natalie Kristen

Author:Natalie Kristen [Kristen, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Rose eased back from her bedroom door. She'd overheard the entire conversation between Nan and Jack.

Swallowing hard, Rose put a trembling hand on the door knob. She felt both apprehensive and relieved. She was relieved that Jack knew the truth, but at the same time, she wondered what he was thinking right now.

Squaring her shoulders, Rose took a deep breath and opened the door.

Jack was sitting alone at the dining table, deep in thought. He turned at her step and jumped up.

“Hi,” Rose said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. Her hair was damp from her shower and she was wearing a loose, red nightdress.

“Hey,” Jack said gently. “Nan said she's going to have her soup in front of the TV in her room. She said for us to finish everything in the pot.”

“Oh. Okay. I...I'll go get the bowls.”

“I'll help you.”

Jack followed her to the kitchen, and Rose almost dropped the bowl when Jack's hand brushed against hers. “Here, I'll do it,” Jack said. “Let me serve you. You've been serving me in the restaurant the whole day. I'm a very good waiter. Don't look so skeptical. I used to wait tables when I was younger.”

He took the ladle from her and nudged her away.

Rose went to the dining table and smiled when Jack came out with a tray held high above his shoulder. He set the steaming bowl down in front of her and bowed, “Enjoy your meal, M'am.”

“Would you care to join me, kind sir?” she asked coquettishly.

“It'd be my pleasure.”

They ate in silence for a while. Finally, Rose looked up and said, “Why did you come to Redcape Grove, Jack?”

“I didn't intend to come here,” he answered. “It just happened. It's true I guess. Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”

“What plans were you making?”

Jack put down his spoon and sighed. “I was planning to leave everything behind. My old life, my memories, my pain.” He paused and said, “My son, Alex, died six months ago. It was an accident, but I blamed myself. He was my world, my darling little boy. I didn't take time to mourn and grieve properly, because grieving would mean acknowledging that my boy was really gone forever. So I just drifted through the days in a state of denial and suppressed anger. I was uncommunicative, and I lashed out at my brothers and my staff. I tried to drown myself in work and drink, and I began to despise and hate myself. I woke up one morning and I knew that Alex would be so ashamed of me if he saw me like this. I had become a stranger to myself and to everyone around me. I needed a break. So I left. I promised my brothers I wouldn't disappear, and I would return when I was ready.”

Rose nodded and said, “You need time to heal. And time is a great healer.”

Jack touched her chin with a finger and smiled. “How did you get to be so wise?”

“I have Nan,” she answered immediately.

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