Bear to the End (Bear Claw Security Book 5) Read online

  Now this was a man.

  Why couldn’t I have found him before I found Clay? And why do I have to be his client?

  He nodded. “But you can call me by my middle name. Mark.”

  She blinked. “Mark. Okay,” she said. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around the room nervously. “Sorry, I know it’s not much…”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said. But he did look perturbed as he surveyed the scene. As he looked at the beat-up doors and windows, she saw a little of the stiff disapproval his brother had. “I can make it more secure, I think.”

  “You think?” she asked, taking a step back. “You aren’t sure?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Will you let me do my job?” His tone was polite but impatient. He wasn’t anything she’d expected. He walked to the window, tested it, opened it, and frowned when the old wood creaked like it was breaking. Then he turned and faced her, leaning on the wall, his long body on full display.

  “So tell me about the guy who’s after you,” he said.

  She sat in her worn-out chair. “All right,” she said. “He’s my ex-husband. Rough biker type. He hasn’t found me yet, but I just… It’s my intuition.”

  “And you know he’s stalking you?” he asked.

  “He didn’t let me go willingly before,” she said, biting her lip as she remembered it. She didn’t want to think about it, but she had to if she wanted this man to help her. “And last time he found me, I had to move.”

  “When was that?” he asked.

  She cocked her head. “Three years ago.”

  The wind blew another burst of his scent, fresh and spicy and masculine, in her direction, and she held back a sigh at how nice it was.

  “So you just have a feeling he’s going to find you again?”

  “I have a feeling he’s watching me,” she said. “I don’t know if he’ll do anything about it. But I think maybe when I go to work or home from work, someone’s there.”

  He cursed. “And you let me wait until six to come over here?”

  She shrugged. “I thought you were busy. And I obviously thought I’d be safe in broad daylight. He might have the guts to watch me during the day, but I doubt he’d do anything.”

  He folded his arms. “You never know what a complete psychopath will do.”

  “Sounds like you know from experience,” she said, slightly teasing.

  A dark, bitter look flashed over his face for a moment. “Maybe.”

  “Who?” she asked. For some reason, she had no problem asking questions of this straightforward stranger.

  He waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m here to help you.” He looked her over. “Have you eaten yet? You look stressed.”

  She grinned and wrinkled her nose. “It’s not much, but I have a frozen pizza in the fridge if you want to share it with me.”

  “I have a better idea. I’ll order takeout, and you can tell me everything about your schedule and what you need from me while we eat.”

  She hadn’t had takeout in a long time. Her job at the shelter didn’t exactly allow for a lot of luxuries. But it was the most fulfilling part of her life. “That sounds great.”

  As he sat on the floor by her small table, pulled out his phone, and began ordering, she felt herself relaxing already.

  He hung up the phone, ran a hand through his tousled blond hair, and gave her a polite smile that sent shivers down to her toes.

  “They’ll be here in about fifteen. I’m going to start setting up some security equipment in the meantime.” He walked out the door and shut it behind him, and she let out a pent-up breath.

  The man was gorgeous. She should be thinking about how to utilize him as a bodyguard, how much safer she would feel while working with him…

  But instead, the bear in her was just screaming for a mate.

  She supposed putting that goal on hold indefinitely wasn’t the smartest thing if she wanted to keep her inner bear happy. But at the time, the idea of another man coming close to her was the worst thing possible.

  But getting close to this man? For some reason, that didn’t bother her at all.

  Maybe it was his height, his width, and the gentle but precise way he moved. Maybe it was his soft, sharp gaze that was more thoughtful than predatory.

  He was nothing like Clay, and that was good.

  He opened the door again and came in carrying a heavy duffle bag full of clanking equipment. Just as he was setting it down, the phone rang.

  “Sorry, I’ve gotta take this,” he said, swiping the phone screen and holding it up to his ear as he walked out the front door again. A normal person would be a little apprehensive standing out on the porch in this neighborhood, but nothing seemed to scare him.

  Then again, he was a giant, powerful bear shifter male. She hadn’t been around a lot of them, so maybe that was typical.

  She tried not to eavesdrop on his phone call, but his voice was right outside her door and was rising.

  “I didn’t have a choice,” he said. “She needs protection ASAP. I know. I know.”

  She frowned and picked up a magazine she’d left lying around, opening to hopefully at least look like she was reading if he came in.

  “No, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. We’re fully booked. What’s your idea? No, I can’t do that. You know I can’t. All right. Fine. When this is over, we’ll talk. But I’m taking the job.”

  His normally calm tone was angry, and she heard him set his hand heavily on the metal railing outside. Then he let out a long breath before he came back in.

  His apologetic blue eyes met hers. Eyes like a Caribbean sky. “Sorry about that,” he said. “As they probably told you, we’re super booked. I know you didn’t want to work with my twin, so…”

  She nodded. “Sorry. I’m glad you could fit me in though.”

  He cocked his head, lips pursed into a line. “What was the problem there? He’s a nice guy. Well trained.”

  She bit her lip. “It’s not that. It’s just… I have personal issues; that’s all. He reminds me of something I’d rather not think about.”

  He was quiet at that and leaned on her wall, just watching her. “Maybe you shouldn’t judge just on first impressions.”

  She shrugged. “Sometimes first impressions are right. I mean, when you wear certain things, you’re sending signals. He was sending signals that he’s the type of person that comes from a lot of money and doesn’t mind showing it. That’s all.”

  “And there’s a problem there? I think it’s pretty admirable he’s doing security work when he has all of that.”

  “He’s your brother,” she said. “You would think the best of him. Anyway, I’m more comfortable with someone like you. Someone like that, would he really understand my life anyway? Would he even be comfortable here? I don’t need to be judged while I’m being protected.”

  Mark looked around the room. “Well, I’m glad it worked out. Or will work out. Or whatever.”

  “Were you going to set up equipment?” she asked, breaking the awkwardness.

  He grinned. “Right.” He picked up the bag again and began rummaging through it. He pulled out what looked like door and window sensors for security systems and adhesive to attach them. “This isn’t going to work the best with the really old hinges and framing, but we’ll do what we can.”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  “I suppose even if I told you we had a company apartment where we can take clients, you’d want to stay in your home.”

  She nodded. “If at all possible.”

  “It’s possible,” he said, bending his large frame to start the installation. He gave her a heart-melting grin over his shoulder. “As long as I’m here, you’ll be perfectly safe.”

  His words made her heart pound. Looking around her scrubby apartment, everything felt better with him here.

  “So are you married?” she asked, wanting to pull the words back into her mouth the minute she’d said them.

  He r
aised an eyebrow. “No.”

  “Just wondering, you know, because a wife wouldn’t really like you staying over on security jobs.”

  “A wife would trust me, hopefully,” he said. “If I had one, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to look at anyone else.” He gave her a long, slow look. “Even if they were as beautiful as you.”

  “Excuse me?” she asked, choking back how pleased she felt that he noticed her like that. It’d been a long time since she’d been hit on, since she’d felt like a woman. It was surprising the first man to notice her that way would be a handsome bodyguard type.

  “I’m a man,” he said, putting up his hands. “Sorry, it’s just kind of something I notice, when there’s a gorgeous woman around. But I can be a perfect gentleman.”

  She didn’t want him to be a perfect gentleman. She wanted to push him up against her old door and break it while having naughty. She felt blood run up into her cheeks and was glad he couldn’t see it.

  “So what do you do?” he asked.

  “I work at SWH, a non-profit,” she said.

  The doorbell rang, and she stood, but before she could get the door, he was there in front her, protectively putting himself between her and whoever was there.

  He paid for the pizza, gave a generous tip, and then came back to her with two great-smelling, steaming boxes in his hands. She grabbed two plates and joined him at the small table in the center of the room.

  “I should have paid,” she said.

  “I’d never let a lady pay,” he said with a wink. “Besides, I’ll be the one eating most of it.”

  She grinned, opening one of the boxes and pulling out a cheesy piece. “You never know.”

  His eyes widened and his grin deepened. “I’d be happy to be proven wrong.”

  She grinned as she took a bite of the delicious pizza, trying not to moan at how great it tasted. His eyes narrowed in on her pleasure like it was the only thing that mattered to him. Another little thrill went through her.

  “Anyway, you’ll see what I do tomorrow, since you’ll be coming in with me, right?”

  He nodded. “I’ll be on you twenty-four-seven.”

  She felt blood move into her face and watched his face heat in a deep blush.

  “W-wait,” he stuttered. “That’s not what I… Damn.” He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish grin. “You know.”

  She giggled. “I know.”

  “But yeah, I’ll find out more tomorrow. For now, let’s enjoy pizza. Then you can do what you like while I get the system installed. And then we’ll hit the hay.” He looked around the room. “I’m assuming I’m sleeping out here?”

  She frowned. “Sorry.”

  He shrugged. “It’s fine. I’ve slept in worse places.”

  She felt relieved at that. After all he was doing for her, she hated that he had to be on the ground. At the same time, she couldn’t let him stay in her bed.

  His comment about being on her twenty-four-seven had sounded just a little too good for her to allow that.

  He gave her a charming grin and went back to eating his pizza, and she tried to focus on her own.

  Even if there was something in her house that seemed far more tempting.

  Three

  Mark was already up and checking the equipment when Char wandered in, still drowsy from sleep.

  She looked adorable in a knee-length nightshirt, and at first, she seemed surprised he was there. Then she let out a little squeak of shock and went running back into her room, slamming the door.

  Mark let himself grin, despite the tiredness he felt from the night before. He’d lied when he told her he’d slept in worse places. He’d never slept in anything close to this. Uncomfortable was a very mild way of putting the experience. His apartment was packed with every amenity, including a comfy Cal-king bed that was perfect for his long body.

  Definitely this experience was already making him appreciate what he had more.

  But he was also loving being round Char. She’d been working on her laptop for a lot of the night, engaging in small talk with him as he set up the security system. He wished he could talk her into coming somewhere nicer or safer, but he knew she was proud of her place, and it was important to stay here.

  Besides, if he took her to his place, it’d be that much harder to keep his secret.

  But he hated lying to her, especially since the longer they were together, the more content and comfortable he felt. He loved her smooth, dark skin, her soft curls, her smoky eyes, and those killer lips, often bitten by her little white teeth.

  Her curvy body was always hidden under something bulky, and he longed to free her from the clothes she wore, but he knew that was a long way out.

  She would be mad at him when she found out he lied, even if it had been with the best of intentions.

  She looked embarrassed when she came out, fully dressed in another heavy, loose-looking black suit that was professional but still doing its best to hide her gorgeous body. She avoided his eyes as she walked to the fridge and pulled out a yogurt. He passed her a bag of bagels he’d ordered with different cream cheeses, and she took it gratefully.

  “You haven’t been up long, have you?” she asked with worried eyes. She looked over at the living room. “Was it uncomfortable?”

  He looked at the blankets and couch cushions he’d used as a makeshift bed and considered his words carefully. Luckily, as someone who’d had to do a lot of work with businessmen over the years, he was good at wording things delicately. “It was fine,” he said. “I’m an early riser anyway.” That much was true.

  He tried not to look at her rounded ass as she bent to grab orange juice out of the fridge. He turned away and leaned on the counter, facing the only window in the living room, which was now monitored.

  He wanted all angles to be safe, even though he’d be here with her. He wasn’t taking any chances when it came to his mate.

  Yes, it was clear she belonged to him. Every time she came into his vision, it was plain as day. It made sense. He’d never felt this way about another woman. It would only happen with the one.

  He wasn’t really sure where to go from here, though. She gave him a look over her glass, and once again, he got the feeling she was just as attracted to him as he was to her.

  But would she still be if she knew the truth? How much of that attraction was because she thought he was some badass ex-Special Forces soldier and not a glorified accountant who also happened to be a powerful CFO?

  “Whatcha thinking?” she asked, setting her glass down. Her apartment was pleasant in the morning, with light coming from the window in the living room to fill the small space. It looked much more open than at night.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, puzzled.

  “You looked troubled. Is something wrong?” she asked, folding her arms. “Did I get you in trouble with your boss?”

  He wrinkled his nose. Were all mates this good at reading their man’s mood? “A little. But it’s fine. You’re worth a little trouble,” he said, giving her another wink.

  He saw her eyes widen and wanted to punch himself. His flirting was both rusty and too smooth. Rusty because he’d never had to flirt with someone he actually cared about. Smooth because he was used to using the typical moves on women who wanted to flirt with the financial guy.

  He knew how to flatter while keeping his distance. But he didn’t want to keep any distance between him and Char, his mate.

  “Sometimes I think you’re more complex than you seem,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

  “You ready to head out?” he asked, jingling his keys. “I can drive.”

  She nodded. “Let me get my purse.”

  He sighed when she disappeared again, relieved to dodge her questions about his complexity. In reality, he wasn’t a very complex person. He liked the nicer things in life, but never put them ahead of other people’s needs. He took care of those around him, infinitely loyal to those he loved.

  And he was
ready to love Char as well.

  When she came back in the room, he felt overwhelmed by the warmth that washed through him. As he held the door and then locked and checked it behind her, he told himself to focus. This was his first mission as a bodyguard, and he couldn’t afford to screw it up. He also couldn’t afford to blow his cover, or she might not let him stay and protect her.

  And yes, maybe he could find someone to take his place. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t trust just anyone with his mate’s protection.

  “You’re kind of a quiet guy, aren’t you?” she asked.

  Only when my brain is exploding just trying to keep my lies in check, he thought. “Not really. Just a lot on my mind.”

  “Gotcha,” she said.

  He held the door for her to get into the truck he’d rented (since he didn’t think the Porsche would go over well), and they headed out in the direction she pointed.

  When they got to her workplace, he frowned.

  Just like her apartment, it wasn’t in a very safe part of town. He wanted to just sweep her up and out of this life to somewhere nicer, somewhere safer.

  Then he saw the faded sign on the building. Southeastern Women’s Haven.

  She worked at a shelter.

  When she walked ahead of him and pushed open the door to go into the small office ahead and started greeting her co-workers, he felt a deep sense of unworthiness. His mate was an angel. He quickly gathered from the flyers around the office that the main point was to help provide means or shelter to women escaping domestic violence situations.

  “It’s small,” he said without really thinking.

  She shook her head. “This is just the office. The shelter is the next door over. But yes, mainly, we provide help getting women to more long-term set-ups or different shelters or helping them get back on their feet.”

  “Pretty cool,” he said. “When did you start working here?”

  She didn’t answer that, instead turning to a co-worker who was waiting to talk to her. He didn’t know if she’d avoided answering on purpose or if she really needed to answer another question right at that moment.

  When she was done, he folded his arms and leaned on a nearby cubicle. “So how do you keep this thing running?”