by Alana Hart
Waving to yet another resident of Craggstone, I called out a warning about the snow and loped across the street, intent on tracking down some yummy, sugary goodness.
My bear was hungry, and a hungry bear was a grumpy bear.
***
Amy
Connie had given me a quick lesson on the old-fashioned till and checked that I knew what everything was, then had scurried back to the kitchen and was busy baking up a storm, muttering something about needing supplies ‘cause things were going to go crazy, and that was the last I’d seen of her. There had been a steady flow of customers, though I had spent the last fifteen minutes, or so, propped on a stool to the side, perusing the local paper, looking at rental places. Now that I had a job, maybe I could find somewhere better to live than the motel.
The bell jingled, shattering the peace and quiet of the shop, and I glanced up from where I sat behind the counter. Ducking through the doorway was the biggest man I had ever seen, with shoulders so wide, he had to turn slightly to fit through the small gap. Strong, muscular legs clad in dark, olive green trousers, strode purposefully toward the counter. Crouching down, his eyes fixed on the sweet and sticky offerings, I took advantage of the fact that he hadn’t noticed me yet. He was wrapped up in a snug looking jacket, which matched his pants, and looked part of a uniform. They were made of that tough-wearing, stain resistant material outdoorsy types wore—or so I guessed, not being the outdoorsy type myself. Connie had pegged me right—my old life hadn’t had room for appreciating nature up close and personal. Something I planned to rectify…as soon as I figured out how to go about it.
The man was made up of bold lines and craggy edges, his eyes a piercing blue, the color of a stormy ocean, framed by thick brows, which gave his face a serious look. Or that could have been because he was taking the choosing of a pastry pretty damn seriously, his wide, firm lips puckered in concentration, his brow creased as he deliberated.
“What would you recommend today?” His deep voice startled me, and I nearly fell off the stool I had been balancing on.
He still wasn’t looking at me, his entire concentration still on the cabinet in front of him.
I shivered, the husk of his voice doing strange things to my insides. I wanted him to speak again, so I could close my eyes and listen, this time with all of my attention. So, I stayed quiet, pretending not to have heard him.
His eyes flicked to me, the blue sparking with flecks of silver, then they returned to the pastries.
Perched on top of his head was a chunky, red hat, complete with pom-pom, and he should have looked ridiculous. Instead, it just elevated him from hot-damn to irresistible-hot-damn, the quirkiness adorable when contrasted with his otherwise manly-man appearance. He looked like a GI Joe doll, all grown up and brought to life.
He stayed silent, his brow still scrunched up in concentration.
I gave up on the self-imposed battle of wills. “They’re all pretty good, I think. Not that I’ve had chance to try many of them yet…” I trailed off as he suddenly straightened from his crouch, coming over to stand directly in front of me.
His eyes widened as they flitted over me, and I had the funny feeling that something strange had just happened, like I had been cataloged.
Good thing I wasn’t on the market for a man, because I wasn’t sure what to make of this one!
“Why haven’t you tried them? Shouldn’t you have, since you work here?” he murmured, his gaze settling on my lips and pausing there.
“I—I only just—”
“Ryan Everson, stop pestering my new employee, you hound-dog!” Connie called across the room from where she was busy stacking bread fresh from the oven.
I hadn’t noticed her reappear from the kitchen.
“Now, Connie. Would I?” Ryan drawled with a cheeky grin.
Ryan. I silently rolled his name on my tongue, deciding that it suited him. And, wow! Where had that smile come from? Dimples had formed in his cheeks, which kind of made me wonder if he had dimples in his other cheeks.
Jeez, where did that thought come from? My cheeks heated in embarrassment. Good thing internal musings were private!
Connie continued stacking bread, oblivious to my lascivious thoughts, but Ryan winked at me, as though he had guessed the way my mind had turned.
“Amy, have you met Sheriff Everson yet? Ryan takes special care of our town. That’s why he’s based here, though he obviously covers the whole county. Though, thinking about it, that’s mostly wilderness with a few hodgepodge settlements. So, no wonder he hangs around here so much! His job is to stamp out any trouble before it’s gotten chance to start, but that’s always questionable when it comes to his brothers. Now they like to cause trouble, specifically one…”
Ryan held his hands up in mock defense. “Hey! Don’t go blaming me for whatever the hell is going on between you and Ralph—”
Connie cut him off, waving French bread ominously in his direction. “Don’t go poking your nose into what doesn’t concern you.”
“You know I can’t help it! Detecting is in my blood. I can’t help but want to know everyone’s secrets!” Ryan chuckled, grabbing the bread out of Connie’s hand and tearing a lump off.
Popping the bread into his mouth, he chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed, a sound of contentment coming from him. “Nice to meet you, Amy,” he said, his voice still doing strange and wonderful things to my stomach. “Where did you blow in from?”
I tried not to panic at the innocent question, but my guard had gone up the minute I had realized he was the sheriff. I didn’t need him sniffing around, messing things up.
“Oh, just from the city,” I replied vaguely. I saw Connie’s ears perk up at the tidbit of personal information; I’d been closed lipped until now.
“City girl, eh? What made you come down this way? You have family in the area?” There he went again with the questions. I didn’t think he was prying on purpose, just the small town attitude that everyone’s business was everyone’s business.
I swallowed, trying to clear the panic that was threatening to cut off my breathing. “Yup, city girl, born and bred. Just got tired of it all, the rat race and so on. I fancied some fresh air and clean living.” I tried to make it sound reasonable, but it came out clipped and false sounding, even to my ears.
Ryan’s eyebrows rose slightly, his bullshit meter obviously going off. He opened his mouth again, probably to fire off yet another question, but Connie coughed loudly, a pointed sound, and his mouth relaxed into yet another grin, this time aimed at me.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Amy. Welcome to Craggstone Town. If you need any help with anything, the Sheriff’s station is over at the end of Main, on the corner.” He mimicked tipping his hat, whipping his red hat off in the process, and releasing a mess of blond hair that curled haphazardly in all directions.
I blinked in surprise as the curls softened his harsh features, giving him an appealing, impish look.
Ruefully running a hand through his hair, he chuckled before securing the hat back in place. “Not my best look, I’m sure.”
“No! You look edible.” The murmured words slipped out, bypassing my brain. I slapped a hand to my lips in horror, hoping he hadn’t—
“Edible?” he repeated, leaning against the counter, his broad shoulders filling the space in front of me.
“I’ll be in the back if you need me,” Connie said dryly, not waiting for an answer before slipping away.
Ryan pretended she hadn’t spoken, his eyes daring me to deny that I hadn’t just made a complete fool of myself.
There was no way out of it. I was trying to learn how to stand up for myself, how not to be a mouse of a woman. This test was as good as any. I had to brave the gauntlet.
“Impish,” I blurted out.
“I’m not sure I like that one. I preferred edible.”
“Roguish?”
“Better.” He leaned closer, obviously enjoying making me squirm.
“Quirky?”<
br />
“Going downhill, fast.”
I indicated his hat by way of explanation, and he chuckled, a large finger reaching up to flick the pom-pom.
His hand drifted down, coming to rest on the counter, inches from my own, and my fingers twitched with the urge to pull away, back into safety.
“Jumpy,” he murmured, focusing on my hand.
“I thought we were talking about you?”
“But you’re so much more…interesting,” he said, his voice husky. “To me, anyway,” he added. “There’s something about you.”
“Nope, there’s nothing about me.” Panic flared as he continued to stare intently at my fingers, the urge to snatch them away nearly overpowering by now.
“I mean, you’re gorgeous, witty, interesting.”
“Thank you,” I muttered, wondering where he was going with this.
“I just don’t—” He stopped, his eyes widening, then he leaned over the counter and took a deep breath.
He froze, his face inches from mine, his blue eyes flecked with spirals of silver, widening even further.
“You’re her!” he growled, and my heart jumped inside my chest.
CHAPTER TWO
Ryan
I had noticed the woman the minute I entered the warm, sweet-scented bakery. I mean, who wouldn’t? She was all soft, rounded curves with smooth café au lait skin that made a man want to lick and kiss in exploration. Her features were striking, with cheekbones that looked to be carved from glass and lips that were generously plump.
I was nearly one hundred years old, but my bear was testing me, growling and pacing beneath my skin as though I were a teenage cub.
Stop talking…smell…take, he growled in my head, not interested in food anymore.
Her hand was so close, fingers twitching with nerves. Did she feel it, too?
I leaned over the counter, acting on instinct, our faces inches apart. Her scent hit me, sinking into me and burrowing deep into my skin. She smelled like fresh coffee and vanilla. Rich and sweet.
Mate! My bear snarled inside my head, urging me forward.
“You’re her!” The words trickled out on a growl, my heart pounding in my chest. I had found her! And she was exquisite.
And she was looking at me with what looked to be shock in her eyes.
Shit! Not a smooth move. I had frightened her, towering over her, coming on too strong. She was human, which meant that she had no idea…
Yup, I was still acting like a teenager. But my hormones were out of control, the blood thundering through my veins, heading straight to my cock. Her scent was wrapped around me, teasing my senses, and all I wanted was to wrap myself around her, feel her body slick with sweat rubbing against my own as I drove into her, claiming her, taking her.
All from one sniff.
But then her eyes widened, the shock fading, her pupils dilating into black orbs, reflecting back my desire. Her mouth parted, her warm breath coming out on a soft gasp of surprise, caressing my lips…and I let go of control.
Seizing her lips with mine, I threaded my hand into her silky, dark hair—not pulling, not pressing, but urging her silently. Please…
She stiffened for a second, seeming to fight herself, then on a moan, she gave in, moving her lips against mine, her hands coming up to rest on my shoulders, pulling me closer.
That was the only signal I needed.
Lust roared to the surface, my body vibrating with need, as I deepened the kiss, tilting and angling, desperately wanting to drag her to me so I could feel her lush curves moving and bucking against me.
Her hands crept up, tugging my hat off, then she moaned, her fingers fisting in my hair as she gripped me to her.
I speared her parted lips with my tongue, licking deep, tasting her sweet mouth, taking her breath deep within me.
I needed to get closer. I was aching with the need to feel her, lay my hands on her. But this damn counter was getting in the way.
Placing my hands on her waist, I lifted her, hooking her legs over my arms, not breaking contact, not wanting to end the kiss. With ease, I cradled her in my arms, then let her slide down my body, inch by delicious inch, discovering her secrets that my eyes could not see, only feel. Her stomach cradled my cock, her generous breasts sliding against my chest, teasingly soft against my hard frame. Her skin felt as soft as it looked, smooth and silky against my work-roughened hands, which traveled down, under her shucked up shirt, trailing the path of her spine until they found the flare of hips, the waistband of her jeans hanging loosely.
I thumbed the area above the curve of her ass, the warmth of her skin tantalizing, calling to me. I had found my mate! Exaltation thrummed through me—I was complete now!
I heard a clattering from the kitchen, the sound of a pan being dropped. It sounded far away, in a distant world, but Amy jumped, her hands freezing in place on my back.
She pulled away, creating an inch of space that I instantly despised. Hated. I wanted her lips again, I wanted to drown in her. Her skin, her taste—her.
I tugged her to me, but she resisted, her eyes growing wide, the fogginess of lust clearing.
“What?” she whispered, looking around in confusion, then back at me.
If I thought I had fallen before, I had been mistaken. When she looked at me now, it was her eyes that nearly stopped my heart. They were big, framed with thick, black lashes. A deep brown, that might have been considered dull by some, and I would have called them delusional fools, for they pulled me in, soothing and caressing me, the warm depths promising lingering nights of heat and passion.
But they were also filled with confusion, and…something else? Something she was trying to hide. She was scared? Of me? Her mate?
“I won’t hurt you.” I tried not to growl, but it was hard with my bear so close to the surface, and the words came out sounding a little gruff.
She flinched, the reaction almost imperceptible.
I changed my mind, she looked terrified. And determined.
Well, so was I.
I let her push away, creating a little more space between us, though my bear roared his disapproval loudly.
Let me handle this… I warned him, clamping him down.
She cleared her throat, obviously searching for something to say. “I—I don’t know what happened…” Her words trailed off as she raised her hands in between us, creating a barrier. “I don’t usually— I’ve never—”
“Me either,” I replied, and to stave off the need to pull her back to me, I shoved my hands in my pockets. “What I mean is, I don’t go around ravishing women on a daily basis.”
“Ravishing?” The corner of her mouth twitched in a smile. “That’s a strange turn of phrase, but it certainly fits what happened.”
Part and parcel of being nearly one hundred years old and a voracious reader, I thought silently, grinning at her. “You’re different. What that was, how we felt—”
“How we felt?”
Shit. She didn’t know about the bond, or the mating urge. I wracked my mind, trying to come up with something plausible. I couldn’t exactly shift in the middle of town to show her, and if I started spouting off about being a bear shifter, she would sign me up for the nearest loony bin! “Well, I’m guessing you felt it, too?” I tried for a sheepish look, scuffing my feet on the floor.
“I don’t know what I felt, or what that was, but…it can’t happen again. I’m sorry. It just can’t.” She stuck her chin out, folding her arms across her chest as she stared at me.
The urge to drag her to me, knowing that I could wipe away all her resistance with a single kiss, a single touch, beat at me. But I wasn’t an animal, not completely anyway. “Why not? I’m not that bad. I clean. I can cook, to a degree, though my mom would probably disagree on that one. I’m not that hard on the eyes, or so I’ve been told. I’m single. I don’t cheat, I don’t smell bad, and I’ve got a good job.”
Another flinch. Bingo! So…the job?
“I know, I know. I just
—” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Look, I’ve just got to town, just got this job, and—,” her eyes darted around the room as she searched for what I knew to be an excuse, “—there are things you don’t know about me.”
“So? I’d like to get to know—”
“Well, I wouldn’t. I’m a private person, and I don’t have time for…” She circled a finger between us.
Ouch! Shut down. But I could tell that she wasn’t being completely honest, if she had felt even half of what I had felt. Her eyes were guarded, reminding me a little of a cornered animal, one that was licking its wounds. But what the hell had happened to her? I wasn’t the sheriff for nothing. Protect and Serve were in my blood. I should have been born a bloodhound, not a bear, my mom always used to joke. Once I latched onto an idea, I was ruthless in not letting it go. Time for a little detecting, I mentally rubbed my hands together.
“Okay,” I replied, backing away. I held my hands up, trying for a contrite expression. “My bad. I must have gotten the wrong impression.”
There! A flash of disappointment in her eyes, wiped away in seconds.
“But I would like to get to know you, as friends maybe?” I added, mentally kicking my bear back as he tried to rush to the surface.
What do you want me to do? Drag her off to a cave?
He stopped the incessant battering, cocking his big head in thought.
That was a joke! We can’t do that. Let me handle it. There’s something else going on here…
He eventually nodded, sinking back onto his haunches in truce.
She was still looking at me, and I wondered what she could see in my face. I was keeping my expression carefully friendly and open, while inside, I pleaded with her to give me a chance.
She sighed, obviously coming to a decision. “I suppose the sheriff is a good friend to have.”
I mentally slapped a high-five, giving her what I hoped was a friendly smile. And not the crazy-ass grin that wanted to spread across my face. I felt like I had just won the jackpot! “I am. A good friend to have, that is. So, I’ll see you around town then?” Small steps…
