“Isn’t that my job?” she asked as he moved towards the coffee pot.
“I’ll get it this once.”
She watched him, trying to figure him out. Then her grin widened. “You are stalling.”
He looked guilty. “Stalling for what?”
“Do you want me to show you how that beast of a machine works?” she asked.
He looked sheepish. “Would you set it up for me?” he asked.
“Sure, you only had to ask.”
“I feel like an idiot not being able to set up a new computer.”
“I think this new company, and everything you achieved before you came back to Bear Bluff, shows you are not an idiot. I’ll set everything up, and download everything you need. You’ll have to write me a list, and then you’ll have to log in with your passwords.”
“Thanks, Amanda. I’ve used a computer before, but it was old and did everything I needed, so I never upgraded. This thing scares me.”
She laughed. “Bring the coffee. I’ll have you up and running in no time.”
Amanda got up and went through to Dylan’s office, which was a mess. The business was so new; he hadn’t had time to straighten everything out. His new desk hadn’t been put together yet, and the new state-of-the-art computer sat on two packing crates. Some secretaries might have found it distressing, but she liked the feel of unorganized chaos.
Dylan and his wife Steph had made her feel welcome, and Amanda had an excited feeling in her stomach, as if she were about to be there at the start of something new and successful.
Amanda figured this could be a job for life, a place where she could make friends and feel part of something bigger than herself, and she planned to do whatever she could to become invaluable.
Unless they find out about my past. She shoved the thought that popped up right to the back of her mind.
Urgh, if only she could forget about it all. She really needed to give herself a break. Young and impressionable, the judge had called her. Not anymore. Older and wiser, that was her new mantra.
***
“OK, let me walk you through this,” Amanda said an hour later after Dylan had told her what he needed installed on the computer. “I’ve done as much as I can. Now you have to go through and fill in your passwords.”
“If I can remember them,” he groaned.
“Well, most of them will have an option to reset. So you’ll just have to go to your email account and change them.”
He came around to stand beside her, leaning over as she showed him what to do. “That’s it?” he asked.
“Pretty much.”
“You are a star,” he said happily. “This new operating system scares the hell out of me. I could just imagine my passwords getting swallowed up in some Internet abyss.”
“You are welcome. Now I should get back to work.” Amanda moved around him, about to head out of Dylan’s office, when she looked up and saw a young red-haired woman in the doorway. “Oh. Do you have an appointment?”
Dylan looked up. “Hi, Tilly, what brings you down here?”
Dylan’s body language seemed stiff, and Amanda wondered what history these two people had. She decided she would stay in the office, unless Dylan asked her to leave. If Tilly was trouble, Amanda was going to do everything in her power to stop that trouble over-spilling into Dylan’s marriage. She liked her new boss and his wife too much for anything to hurt them. Past experience had left her suspicious of people, and it wasn’t going away any time soon.
“I wondered if I could have a word?”
“Sure.” Dylan didn’t ask Amanda to leave, so she turned her back on Tilly, and began to sort through a box of papers, even though she had no idea what they were.
“It’s about Jed. You remember him?”
“Your older brother?” Dylan asked. “Sure. He took my lunch money when I was thirteen.”
“Oh,” Tilly said, her voice dropping. “That wasn’t exactly how I wanted you to remember him.”
“You were poor. If I remember correctly, it was your birthday.”
“It was. He bought me a hot school lunch with dessert.”
“Then he is forgiven. Although if he’d asked me, I would’ve handed it over.”
There was a pause, and Amanda could imagine Tilly blushing at Dylan’s words. “You’ve always been a good friend.” Tilly took a big breath, and spilled out the words she had come there to say. “Which is why I wondered if you would give Jed a job. He’s made some mistakes, but haven’t we all? He needs this. My family needs it.”
Amanda looked over her shoulder at Dylan, wondering what he would say. This was a startup company, and Jed sounded like trouble. Would Dylan risk his reputation on a man who stole lunch money? As a person who had also made a few mistakes herself, Dylan’s decision meant a lot to Amanda. Would he be so forgiving if he found about her past?
“Tilly, I don’t know,” Dylan said, and Amanda felt heat creep across her cheeks. There was her answer, no second chances. “It’s not about the lunch money, but we used to clash.”
“He’s changed, he moved away from the Bluff, went to figure out who he was and where he fit into this world. Not easy when you’re a shif…” She dropped her voice, and Amanda knew she wondered if she had spoken out of turn.
“It’s OK. Amanda knows all about our kind, even if she isn’t one of us herself. She’s Maria Orson’s granddaughter. You know, from over by Pinehill Ridge.”
“Really?” Tilly’s voice brightened. “Your grandma used to bake us cookies, and if ever she had food to spare, she would feed us if we were passing.” Then her voice dropped. “Of course, I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Amanda said, turning around. “She led a good, a full life, and mourned my grandpa terribly when he died. So maybe it’s good they are together now.”
“True.” Tilly looked at Dylan again. “Will you at least think about it?”
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll talk to him about it,” Dylan said.
“Great. Shall I send him in? He’s in the car.” Her face clouded with concern. “Only I didn’t tell him why I was coming here. So…”
Dylan sighed. “Send him in.”
Tilly left. Amanda collected the coffee cups and asked, “Want more coffee?”
“I think I’m going to need it, Amanda. Thanks. And thanks for hanging around. Last thing I need is people gossiping about me and Tilly talking alone.”
Amanda raised an eyebrow and then left the office, heading for the coffee pot and wondering if she would get any of her work done today. Looking out of the window, she watched as Tilly spoke to one of the biggest, broadest men she had ever seen. He was a good six foot five, and his shoulders were so well muscled she wondered where he found shirts to fit.
Trying not to let herself be seen, she watched as Tilly spoke to Jed. At least she presumed this was Jed. They had the same red hair, although Jed’s was darker, a rich auburn that was unfashionably long, nearly down to his shoulders. Right now, he was raking his hand through his hair and shaking his head, looking reluctant to come inside.
His eyes flicked to the door and then back to Tilly, and Amanda held her breath, wondering if he was going to bolt. Then Tilly placed her hand on Jed’s arm, and whatever she said to him worked. He nodded and then headed for the office, a resigned look on his face.
Amanda waited for him to come in, aiming to offer him coffee, only he didn’t appear. Intrigued, she wondered if he had changed his mind, maybe shifted into a bear or whatever animal he was, and headed off into the mountains. She wouldn’t blame him if he did; there were many times when she wished she had the ability to run free on four legs.
However, when she walked to the door and looked out, there he was, resting his hand on the dry stone wall, looking weak and confused. His hand rubbed the back of his neck until he sensed her watching, and his eyes lifted off the floor to lock with hers.
In that moment she knew. She had heard her grandma talk about this exact moment
—when shifters saw their mates for the first time. But she had never expected to experience it.
Not least with a man who might be more trouble than she was.
Chapter Two – Jed
He didn’t want to be here. At least those were his thoughts—until he got that feeling. It started deep down inside him, and then spread out, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. A shiver down his spine made him stop and rest on the wall, to regain his composure. It scared him, because it made him feel weak. This couldn’t be happening now. He needed this job, and the job in question meant he needed to be strong.
Maybe he should have realized sooner what was wrong with him. But he didn’t. Not until she stood before him, framed by the doorway.
Confident. That was Jed, in everything he did. Or at least that was the persona he portrayed, through necessity rather than choice. There were times when he was younger, when the only way he could survive was to intimidate others.
As he looked into her face and saw the connection between them, he wasn’t sure if all the months he had traveled, trying to find out exactly who he was, deep down, had been wasted. The old Jed Creswell tried to fight his way to the surface, the Jed who would do anything to keep those he loved safe. The Jed who would steal or fight for whatever his family needed.
“Dylan’s in his office waiting for you,” she said, backing away.
He hesitated, knocked off guard. Jed had seen the way her eyes widened, the way she had acknowledged him. She knew he was her mate, and yet here she was trying to gloss over it, pushing it away, just as she was trying to push him away.
Shoving himself off the wall, he composed himself. His sister, Tilly, had come here to ask Dylan for a job for Jed, a job he desperately needed, even if it meant swallowing his pride to get it. Before he had seen this woman, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to keep himself together if Dylan came over all… boss-like. However, if his mate worked here, he was going to do his damnedest to get this job.
Whatever it takes, his bear assured him.
Even if it means groveling on the floor? Jed asked, entering the office where she was talking with Dylan. They stood close together, too close for Jed’s liking, and he had to keep a tight control on his temper.
He sighed, willing himself to keep it together. He had worked hard to undo what all the years of fighting and bullying as a kid had made him. Was this new Jed going to disappear overnight? All for a woman, a woman he wanted to protect. A woman he wanted to claim.
“Jed, sorry, Amanda is just trying to set up my new computer for me. I can build a house, but I’m no good with Windows.” Dylan smiled, and Jed acknowledged he was trying to put him at ease, to break down the barrier Jed put up between himself and anything that threatened him.
Amanda is not a threat, his bear told him firmly.
Only to my heart, Jed answered. His bear guffawed, making Jed sigh inwardly. You are so totally cool. We’d best introduce you after she’s fallen in love with me.
I have patience, his bear answered. And I’m going to need it if you don’t stop standing here like a fool. Speak.
Speak. What should he say? His mind was so caught up with thoughts of Amanda, and mates, and bear cubs, he knew if he opened his mouth, nothing sensible would come out. A fear built up inside him: she would see him as a jerk, he had to say something, anything.
“How are you, Dylan?” Like he cared?
Dylan frowned a little and looked at Amanda. Which Jed hated. Was Dylan going to poison her against Jed? His fists tightened into balls.
Calm down. Breathe, his bear said. You are overreacting.
Jed breathed in, centering his thoughts on Dylan and the job he needed, and then exhaling very slowly through his mouth.
“Everything OK?” Dylan asked warily.
“Fine. I’m just not feeling myself right now.” He needed a chair. The scent of Amanda had reached his nostrils, and was threatening to short-circuit his brain even further.
“Amanda, would you step out for a moment, please?” Dylan asked.
“No. I’m fine,” Jed said recovering himself. “I don’t want to interrupt you two.”
“If you’re sure, you seemed a little…”
“Surprised,” Jed said. “But I have it under control now.”
His eyes flicked to Amanda briefly, but she avoided looking at him, trying to pretend he wasn’t there. It confirmed his suspicions. Not only did she know he was her mate, but she was desperately trying to pretend it wasn’t true. But why? Did she know about his past? Was that it? She didn’t want anything to do with a man like him. Well, he wasn’t a man like he used to be, and the only way he could see of proving that to her was to get this job. It would give him a chance to be around her without having to stalk her.
His bear was good at stalking, but his mate was not the same as a nice juicy rabbit.
“Great.” Dylan didn’t convey any confidence in his voice.
“I’m sorry. Just seems a bit weird, being back in Bear Bluff and seeing you.” His eyes flicked nervously to Amanda again.
“Oh, I understand.” Dylan’s voice changed, and he hid a smile. “I think I understand completely.”
“Do you?” Jed asked.
Amanda looked up. “I am in the room.”
“So you know?” Dylan asked her, surprised. “You know Jed is your mate?”
“No. I figured I am his mate. It doesn’t work both ways. I’m not the same as you, remember.” She walked around the desk and headed for the door, carefully avoiding getting too close to Jed. “I didn’t come to Bear Bluff to find a husband, I came to start a new life. So if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go and do my job.”
Jed shook his head. “What did you tell her?”
“About what? About you?” Dylan asked. “Nothing. Except that you stole my lunch money.”
“Great,” Jed said.
Dylan came around his desk and stood next to Jed. “Listen. Don’t take it personally, but this might not be all about you.”
“What does that mean?” Jed asked. He didn’t need cryptic clues, or to play mind games. All he wanted was his mate, in his bed. And a job. He made himself relax. He could not let himself get distracted, he needed this job, now more than ever.
“It means, you need to give Amanda some time, and some space. It’s easy for you, you know she’s the one. But she doesn’t have that same connection. You are going to have to let her get to know you, and then ask her on a date. You play the long game.”
Once Jed had claimed Amanda, they would be together for the rest of their lives. Dylan was right; he didn’t want to frighten her away. “You’re right. I need to find out what she likes, what makes her tick.”
“And I can help you with that.” Dylan held out his hand. “Congratulations, you are the newest employee of Bear Bluff Construction.”
“You are sure?” Jed asked, surprised at not having to at least pitch himself as a good employee.
“I wasn’t. But I am now. You have something big to focus on, something important to succeed for. I know you are going to work your bear butt off for me.”
Jed groaned inwardly at the bear-butt innuendo, although his inner bear chuckled at the joke. They both knew Dylan was right. He was going to do whatever it took to win Amanda over.
“So when do I start?” Jed asked, shaking Dylan’s hand.
“Right now. In fact, I have a house that needs renovating over on the north side of town. It’s a quiet spot, I haven’t had time to go over there and itemize what I need, so why don’t you do that for me?”
“Sure.” Jed turned on his heel, heading for the door.
“And take Amanda with you.”
Jed nodded, trying not to look too excited about spending time with Amanda. He had to play it cool. He had to get this right.
Or risk losing his mate forever.
Chapter Three – Amanda
“Dylan wants me to go with you?” Amanda asked Jed, he’d gone out to say goodbye to Til
ly, and now he was back in her office, standing in front of her, distracting her from her work—for all the wrong reasons.
His size would be intimidating, but he was trying his hardest not to let that happen. She could see it in the way he was leaning back, just a little, so as not to crowd her, and the way he kept assessing whether he was invading her personal space. Jed, this great big giant of a man, could not be more courteous towards her if he tried, despite the turmoil crossing his face, reminding her how much of a struggle it was to keep himself under control.
She was his kryptonite. Maybe to some other women, that might be seductive in itself, to have power over a beast of a man like this. However, Amanda didn’t want that kind of power, none of it. All she craved was a place to live, peacefully, with no trouble. Looking at Jed, she was sure, underneath the hard toned abs, there was trouble simmering just below the surface.
“Yes. He wants us to go over to the north side of town and begin to itemize the materials he needs to order before we can begin work on the property he is renovating.” Jed kept his voice even.
“And why do I have to go? It’s not exactly in my job description,” she asked curtly. “And I have a full inbox of paperwork to deal with.” She pointed to her desk, to reinforce the point: to try to show him she wasn’t just making this up, that she genuinely was too busy to leave the office.
“You two still here?” Dylan asked, coming out of his office.
“I was just telling Jed how busy I am.”
“That can wait.” Her boss pointed to her inbox. “I need you to go with Jed. I was going to go over there myself, but now you’ve set up my computer, my time would be better spent here. Since we now have our first official member of our workforce.”
“What if you need me? With the computer?” she asked, knowing it was useless. Her temper was flaring; she was being railroaded into spending time with Jed. Against her will.
“I’ll call you,” Dylan said.
“But...” She really should just give it up, she was sounding like a petulant child, and that wasn’t her. It never had been, and she was damn sure she wasn’t going to allow a man to make her into one.
Return to Bear Bluff Complete Series Page 10
