Wilde Bear (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Blue Bear Rescue) (2 page)

“No, I have everything I need,” she said, her words yanking him out of his dirty daydream. What the hell was his problem?

“See you around then.” He turned on his heel and headed straight for his truck. His destination was already settled. Whether his crew was down at Mack’s Brewery or not, he needed a drink.

L
aurel parked
and stared through her windshield at the crowd spilling out of Mack’s Brewery. It was barely dinnertime and not even close to tourist season, but the place crawled with people. No, not people. Shifters, she realized, as the faces filling the outside eating area came into focus. She’d heard they liked to hang here. It was how she knew where to find them outside office hours.

And true to the gossip mill, here they all were.

Five men, all of them built and toned and straining against the fabric of their cotton tees with the Blue Bear Search and Rescue logo printed across the left breast. She knew them all from the DOT meetings she’d sat in on, had spoken to one or two on the phone even. But she’d never allowed herself this close to them. Xavier’s rescue earlier today was the one and only run-in she’d had with the Wilde Crew, and it hadn’t been anything like she’d expected.

She’d walked into that rescue determined to remain professional, in control, and politely aloof. Between her chilly demeanor and the ridiculous amount of perfume she’d sprayed in the car beforehand, she’d hoped it would be enough to keep him from sensing her animal. If he’d outed her in front of the rescue crews, she would have lost it. Thirteen months she’d lived here and managed to keep her animal a secret. Outing herself now would have devastated her and possibly cost her a job.

But the perfume had worked. He’d grown more and more curt with her, and by the end, she’d sent him retreating. A funny outcome, considering he’d almost knocked her over with his dominant alpha when he’d let it rise to the surface. But Laurel couldn’t laugh. Not when she still felt the spark from their handshake all the way into her bones. And then tingles he’d sent through her middle, straight between her thighs, with a single look… no, she definitely wasn’t laughing about that.

Xavier Wilde was no laughing matter.

She’d almost prefer never to see him again. When she’d realized she’d missed his signature on the report, she’d been tempted to delegate it to her assistant, but Laurel was no coward. Besides, if the men in her office found out about her pushing her duties off on others, she’d never hear the end of it.

Laurel got out of the car and squared her shoulders. In and out, she told herself. Just be quick.

She took the stairs resolutely, bypassing the front entrance and heading straight for the deck. The noise increased as she got closer, and when she rounded the corner, her breath caught at the sight of him.

Xavier’s navy shirt was tucked, straining against the muscles underneath and accentuating his big biceps. His shaggy brown hair was messier than it had been earlier. She remembered because she’d spent the better part of the day wondering what it would feel like to run her hands through it. As if he’d sensed her thoughts, Xavier ran a hand through it himself. He leaned back, nodding and grinning at the man seated across from him. They both raised their glasses and clinked them together in a quick toast.

Laurel watched in fascination as his lips touched the mug and he gulped his beer. Lord, he was beautiful.

Laurel shook away the thought and gripped the papers in her hand even tighter. She started forward again.

When she was only a few feet away, Xavier finished draining his glass. He set the empty mug on the table and his gaze leveled on her. His eyes narrowed fractionally, and again, Laurel stopped in her tracks.

One by one, the conversations at the table died off. Still, Xavier continued to simply eye her. She shifted but held his stare as long as she could. When another of the men cleared their throat, she finally glanced down and away, secretly proud of how long she’d stood up against the alpha’s stare.

“I’m Jake,” the man across from Xavier spoke up. His hair was lighter than Xavier’s, and longer too. But more importantly, his expression was friendlier. He smiled up at her with light brown eyes and Laurel relaxed.

“Hi, Jake.”

Jake put out his hand, and Xavier scowled as Laurel shook it.

“This is Nash,” Jake said, pointing to the golden-skinned one next to him. Laurel smiled at the threaded bracelets and the tunic-style shirt he wore. Nash, the hippy, she recalled from the little she’d heard about him. “And that’s Lucas,” Jake continued. From next to Xavier, Laurel caught sight of dark eyes obscured by jet black hair that hung over his brow. Lucas half-waved and then stared down at his glass. Something about him reminded her of Eeyore. “And that’s Harley,” Jake finished, pointing.

At the far end of the table, Harley scowled at her.

“Hi,” Laurel said to the group. Her knees felt weak, and she had to remind herself to play it cool, professional. These guys were practically celebrities in this town and here she was, getting casual introductions.

“And you are?” Jake pressed.

Laurel opened her mouth to answer, heat rising to her cheeks as she realized how utterly awkward she was being. But Xavier beat her to it.

“This is Miss Adams,” Xavier said. “She’s from DOT.” Jake raised a brow at Xavier, and Nash and Lucas exchanged a glance. Xavier ignored them and swiveled back to her, his blue eyes melting every solid surface of her body. “Can I help you with something?”

“I… yes, I need to follow up about earlier.” Laurel felt her cheeks flush at the way she’d stammered. What was wrong with her? She was usually so confident—or at least good at pretending.

Xavier growled. “You couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

“Geez, man, ease up. She’s just doing her job.” Nash shook his head.

But Xavier’s scowl only deepened and he stood, shoving back from his chair so hard it teetered. Lucas caught it before it could fall.

Xavier gestured sharply to the far end of the deck. “We can talk over there.”

Laurel cast a last glance around the table and was met with sympathetic smiles. She waved and hurried after Xavier, her humiliation only growing with each step.

Xavier reached the far end and turned, leaning his elbow on the wooden railing. His blue eyes pinned her to where she stood. “Now. What is it you need so badly, you’d come all the way out to Mack’s to hunt me down?”

He was using his alpha bear on her again. Just like earlier. He wanted to see her sweat. And darn it, it was working.

Laurel swallowed. “I forgot to have you sign the official report detailing the rescue effort earlier.”

Xavier’s brows lifted. “You came all the way out here for one signature?”

Laurel held up the paperwork, still gripping it too tightly. “Without it, we’d be open to all sorts of things like lawsuits and safety violations. It’s very important that I file it correctly.”

His eyes softened, and he relaxed, leaning closer. “Of course it is.”

Laurel wasn’t sure what she’d said to make him change his mind so suddenly, but it was better than fighting. Already, her skin was beginning to tingle with that heated look he gave her. His eyes were blue magma.

“I just wanted to… do my job right,” she said. Crap, why did her voice sound so breathy? How was he doing this to her with just a look?

“Are you always so persistent about your job?” he asked.

“Are you always so hard to work with?” she shot back. He laughed.

Laurel leaned in, drawn to the way he seemed to let all his walls down when he laughed. She wanted to be the one to make him laugh.

“Not always,” he admitted. “Only for you, it seems. You bring out the grumpy alpha in me.”

She felt her lips curving. “Funny, I was hoping only to bring out the grumpy alpha in myself.”

His brow quirked. “You like being in charge, huh?”

She tried to decide whether he was poking fun at her, but he looked serious enough. “I guess I like being in control of things,” she admitted. “Probably a little too much sometimes. It’s a gift and a curse. But I’m pretty sure my boss calls it management material.” In fact, her boss, Gerald, was the only friend she’d made here and the only one she let joke with her like that. Until now.

He grinned. “You’re way more fun when you’re not trying to piss people off.”

“I wasn’t…” She frowned because he’d nailed it. She had been trying to ward him off from the beginning. And now, standing so close she could practically feel his hot breath on her face, she couldn’t remember why she’d want to make him mad enough to leave her alone. “Maybe I was,” she finally admitted. “Sorry about that. Occupational hazard when you’re a woman working in an office full of men.”

Xavier’s expression darkened. “What do you mean? Did one of them threaten or hurt you?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” she said quickly. She put her hand on his chest to stop him from getting so riled up and the same jolt shot through her again. Just like earlier, she tried yanking her hand away, but Xavier grabbed it and held it in place.

“You make me feel strangely alive,” he murmured in her ear.

“Funny. You scare the crap out of me.” She felt her cheeks heat at the sound of her words.

She hadn’t meant to admit that—Fear made you vulnerable. It made you more easily hurt or exposed—but Xavier just gave her a crooked smile. “You don’t seem like the type who scares easy,” he said.

She considered making a joke or even lying. She’d come here determined to keep her secret safe, and here was her opportunity. If she shut him down now, she was sure he wouldn’t try again. But in the end, she couldn’t. Something about Xavier Wilde called to her. And not just her animal, but her; the woman. She wasn’t ready to walk away just yet.

“I’m scared constantly,” she admitted. “Of everything. People getting to know me. My past. Rejection. I guess that’s why I piss people off. Keeps them from getting too close.”

Something flashed in Xavier’s expression. Regret? Pain? It was gone before she could be sure, but she had her suspicions. People at work talked. Rumors, mostly, since none of them knew Xavier personally, but she’d heard about his past. The parties and the women when he was younger. But since his father had died, he’d been a recluse. No parties. No women. Not much wild anymore about Wilde Bear, so they said.

Was he guilty of pushing people away just like she was? Hard to believe someone like Xavier Wilde was scared of getting close to anything. But if the expression on his face currently was any indication, maybe they were more alike than she’d realized.

She laid a tentative hand on his arm. “Xavier?” she asked softly.

Xavier cleared his throat, and when he re-focused, he studied her so intently she knew there was no other thought on his mind besides her. “I know what you mean about keeping people out,” he said quietly. “I know a thing or two about that.” He cast a quick glance behind her, probably at his guys. She had no doubt they were watching and listening to the entire exchange. But she didn’t care. Not when Xavier was staring at her like she was the sun. “My crew taught me that’s no way to live, though. Maybe we can help each other get over the fear of letting someone in.”

“I’d like that,” she said, and his smile widened.

“Have dinner with me,” he said. It sounded like a question, but even as she shook her head yes he’d already slid his arm around her hip and led her back to the table with the rest of the guys.

She welcomed the warmth and pressure of his hand against her, and there was that delicious tingling again. She had to bite back a whine of disappointment when it fell away. He grabbed a chair from the empty table behind them and set it down next to his.

“Take a seat,” he said, gesturing.

“Boss?” Jake asked, brows raised as Laurel slid into the empty chair.

“Laurel’s joining us for dinner,” Xavier said simply.

He might as well have said she was their new sister. That was all it took for them to whoop and clap Xavier on the back. They smiled and greeted her as if they’d known her forever.

“Finally,” Jake hooted, Nash echoing him. Xavier rolled his eyes, but she wondered. Maybe the rumors were true. Xavier Wilde didn’t bring girls home. Or at least, not until her. The idea warmed her.

Lucas nodded at her with a shy smile. “Glad to have you,” he said quietly.

Harley shoved back abruptly, glaring down at her. She paused, certain he was going to tell her to piss off, but he just grunted and said, “I’ll go get you a beer.”

She murmured her thanks as he disappeared inside.

“So, you’re DOT. That means you’ll be on site for the rescues this season?” Nash asked.

“Gerald’s still around,” she assured them. “He’ll be back from vacation in a few days. I’m filling in until he’s back and then who knows. I wouldn’t mind it, though. Today was fun to watch.”

“I bet.” Jake gave her an exaggerated wink and Xavier growled.

She laughed. “I meant the crowd. Your alpha caused quite a stir when he refused the medic’s help and opted to carry the guy all the way down.”

“Show off,” Jake said, and Nash shook his head.

“No wonder you didn’t call us,” Nash said. He leaned in and whispered to Laurel. “He just loves the spotlight. Doesn’t want any of us to get the attention.”

She shot Xavier a wry smile, remembering the way he ducked away from the crowd of women who’d shouted for him as he’d walked away from her. “Definitely a diva,” she agreed.

Jake and Nash laughed, and even Lucas smiled at that. Here it was easy to see how their community was so accepting of a crew of bears living so openly as shifters. When they turned on the charm, it was hard to dislike a single one of them.

Throughout a dinner of fish and chips, Laurel smiled more than she had in ages, but she didn’t fully relax. She’d have to be extra careful now not to show her fox, she realized, looking around the table as the guys all laughed and joked. More than once, she had to remind herself all she stood to lose if anyone at work found out about her animal. She’d lost a job before. Friends, family even, over her being a shifter, and she’d promised herself she’d never let that happen again. No matter what. Sitting here around the table with these guys made it tempting, though. They were so easy to be around and clearly wouldn’t care if she was a fox.

But others might. Anti-shifter talk had been growing in this town. A shame, since she’d moved here to escape where it was happening in the bigger cities.