She remembered how her ex-husband, Harlan, had courted her and showered her with sweet words and attention initially. He had shown the same keen interest in her as Nick and Joshua.
Grimacing, she remembered how Harlan had come to the library counter to make an enquiry, and ended up chatting her up. He was attentive, friendly, funny and he knew what to say to draw her out of her shell and put her at ease. It was flattering. Being intensely introverted, she didn't socialize much. She'd had only one boyfriend before Harlan but it wasn't anything serious. She was a romantic at heart, but when it came to relationships, she wasn't experienced or—to be brutally honest, smart. She had been too trusting and she had been taken advantage of.
Harlan was three years younger than her. The age difference wasn't great, but once they were married, she realized that Harlan saw her as nothing more than a sugar momma. She was the one who was expected to hold a steady job and pay all the bills. He didn't pull his weight in the marriage, and spent way more than he earned. And there were periods when he didn't earn at all. He would jump from job to job, and just quit when something wasn't going his way at work. He was an immature, spoiled brat. Too late she realized that she had married a boy, not a man.
Harlan was whiny, lazy and had an inflated sense of entitlement. He didn't know how to take care of anyone but himself. And he felt that Bella, being older and more stable and responsible, should take care of him. He expected her to take care of his needs and wants, but it didn't work both ways. Nope. Bella was expected to be the gift that kept on giving. Except that he didn't treat her like a precious gift at all. He treated her like...dirt.
But still she stuck it out, hoping that he would grow up and change for the better.
Through his long periods of unemployment, she stood by him and supported him. She was just too soft-hearted. But the last straw came when she caught him locking lips with a pretty, young thing. She didn't know if he had taken her to bed, and she didn't care. Enough was enough.
Harlan had been unapologetic, saying it was just a harmless fling. It might be harmless to him, but it had hurt her deeply and shattered her fragile self-esteem. She knew she wasn't young, nubile, svelte and vivacious. She was past thirty, dumpy, bookish and she was more comfortable around books than people.
Even after the end of that short but disastrous marriage, Harlan continued hounding her for money. It had gotten to the point where she had seriously considered calling the police and getting a restraining order.
But in the end, she had decided to just move the hell away from her ex. She didn't like confrontations, and she did want to have a fresh start. A new place, a new job, and hopefully a peaceful life.
When she went online to scour for jobs, she saw that there was an opening for a librarian in a small town called Shadow Point. Incidentally, there was an advertisement for properties for sale in Shadow Point at the corner of the page.
Looking through the properties, she saw a small house that was going for a ridiculously low price.
On that very same night, she applied for the job and put in an offer for the little house.
She got both, the house and the job.
She had come to a new town to get away from her past and her mistake. She would not make the same mistake again. She had to toughen up, smarten up.
Bella jumped when another piece of plaster fell from the ceiling and landed next to her coffee cup.
Without hesitation, she snatched up the business card and her phone.
She shouldn't delay any longer. She had to get all the repairs that her house so badly needed underway before the entire structure caved in on her.
CHAPTER TEN
Bella stared at the three mobile phone numbers printed near the bottom of the business card. Her hand shook slightly but she was determined to dial one of those numbers. Another tile had fallen off while she was in the shower last night. And she had almost lost her foot when she stepped out onto the porch this morning and the wooden decking just gave way.
She had spoken to her next door neighbor, Celia Lee, this morning and mentioned Beck's Builders in passing. Celia was a sweet, elderly lady who lived alone, and she had nothing but praise for Beck's Builders. They had remodeled her kitchen and bedroom, and she was mighty pleased with their work. “You should definitely call them. They're the best,” was Celia's glowing recommendation.
So.
Bella glanced down and decided to call the first number on the card. Taking a deep breath, she gripped her phone tighter to make sure she didn't chicken out. At the very last instant, she changed her mind and dialed the last number.
Her mind whirled as she listened to the ringing tone. Who would answer? Would it be Nick? After all, it was Nick who had given her the card. He was a nice, affable guy, and she would be less nervous talking to him, but she was really kind of hoping…
There was a click and a growled “Hello.”
Bella opened her mouth but she seemed to have momentarily lost her voice. She knew very well who was on the line with her.
And just hearing his voice sent a strange, electrifying tingle down her body.
“J-Joshua...” she stammered.
There was a pause. “Yes. Hi, Bella.”
“Hi. I...”
“Hang on a minute.” The sound of hammering, drilling and male voices faded in the background. “Hey. Sorry, I'm going some place quiet where we can talk—without the guys overhearing every single word,” he huffed.
“They can hear every word?” she spluttered.
“Every. Fucking. Word.” Joshua cursed and said quickly, “Sorry for the language. But yeah, most of the guys I work with are shifters. They see and hear too much, but they talk even more.”
The background noise died suddenly and it became completely silent over the line.
“Hello?” she said uncertainly.
“I'm still here. I just got into my car, so it's quiet now.” Joshua's voice gentled, and his tone became almost tender. “You're not working today?”
“No. It's my off day. I...work in the library.”
“I know. Staci told me. Jax and Serena are sleeping in today, and Marcus has given Jax the whole week off, but I know Jax will come rushing down to the work site tomorrow. He just can't relax when he knows we have a deadline to beat,” Joshua said conversationally.
“You're close to your brothers,” she murmured.
“Yes. We're tight. You...have family?”
Bella swallowed. “No. I'm divorced, and my parents have passed.”
“I'm sorry.”
Bella shook her head, then realized he couldn't see her. Clearing her throat, she said, “Um, well, I called you because I would like to request a price quote from Beck's Builders. I was thinking...”
“I'll come by your house later this afternoon,” Joshua said immediately. “
“That's great. I...I'll see you later then.”
“Yeah,” he said gruffly, but she could hear the smile in his voice. “And...thanks—for calling...” Me.
“Beck's Builders.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Joshua stopped his car in front of Bella's house and snapped off his seat belt. Nick and Damien were already out of the car and sprinting up the front steps to her house.
Joshua slammed his car door shut with more force than necessary. Nick and Damien had overheard him telling Marcus that he was going down to take a look at Bella's house this afternoon, and they had eagerly offered to accompany him.
When he said no, their superior shifter hearing suddenly seemed to fail them. They gleefully yanked his car doors open and jumped in just as he was driving off.
“Shock and awe!” Damien had pumped his fist in the air and hooted.
That earned him a slap upside the head from Nick. “We're not going to shock and awe her. We're here to charm and win her,” Nick said with a wink.
“Ooh, the charm offensive.” Damien whistled. “Who can resist that?”
/> And so here they all were. All prepared to charm the pants off Bella.
Joshua had to force his raging bear down at the thought of any other male seeing Bella with her pants off. His bear was a literal animal. And it was very tense and touchy at the moment.
“Dingdong!” Damien hollered as he banged on her front door. Apparently her doorbell wasn't working.
Joshua saw Nick run a hand quickly through his short, blond hair and straighten his shirt. Nick was certainly on the charm offensive here. He'd said so himself. He was here to charm and win.
Joshua realized he was snarling just as the door opened.
“Oh, hi.” Bella's eyes widened at the sight of the three of them crowding at her front door. “I wasn't expecting so many of you...I thought only...” Her gaze flitted to Joshua and she smiled.
It was a smile just for him.
But no one noticed that. Not even Bella.
“The more the merrier, right?” Damien gave a courtly bow. “Damien Ken at your service, M'am!”
Bella smiled and threw the door wide open. “Come on in. Thanks for coming out to...take a look at my humble abode. It's more a shack than a house right now.” She winced and sighed. “But I hope to make it a home.”
Damien and Nick cheerfully trooped into the house, and Joshua brought up the rear. Bella was walking ahead of their ragtag group, showing them the small kitchen and opening the room doors for them.
Joshua tore his eyes away from her amazing, curvy body and passed a critical eye over every corner of the house. He wanted her to have a safe, comfortable place to live in. And as she said, this place did not look homely and comfortable right now.
But more importantly, it didn't look safe to him. Something might fall on her head as she walked through the house, and her doors and windows could easily be broken and busted wide open.
She was just a sitting target for a home invasion, an armed robbery, a burglary in bright daylight.
Joshua's head was beginning to pound at the dangers he saw lurking in very corner of her house. If she got hurt…
His bear swiped furiously at his chest. Get her away now!
Joshua muttered a vicious oath when he jiggled her bedroom door handle and it came off in his hand. There was no time to lose. He needed to get to work on her house right now.
“Bella,” he said, cutting Nick off. Nick was babbling and rambling on about the flooring and the paintwork. He was focusing on minute, ridiculous details when there were more urgent matters at stake.
Joshua shook his head. There were much more critical matters at hand right now. Her safety was his priority. Coming in a close second was her comfort.
“Listen, Bella. I'll get my toolbox from the car, and I'm fixing the locks on your doors right now,” he said. “You...”
“Wait, she hasn't given us the job,” Damien interjected. “Has she?” He frowned, looking a little confused. “Did I miss something?”
“It doesn't matter if she gives us the job or not,” Joshua bit out, heading for the door. “I'm fixing her goddamn house right now.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bella ran after Joshua as he marched to his SUV and popped the trunk. “Joshua, wait! I haven't asked...”
“If you're asking about the price, I'm doing this free of charge. Why didn't you fix your locks when you moved into the house?” His voice rose. “That's the first thing you should do, Bella!”
She gasped as he rounded on her. His dark eyes burned into hers, and the heat and force of his boiling emotions slammed into her like a wave. He was angry, but behind his anger, was...something more. Something deep and real.
Bella stumbled back a step. “I was meaning to, but...this is a safe neighborhood...I latch the door and put a chair up against it...” She kicked her chin up abruptly and folded her arms across her chest. “Why am I defending myself to you? This is none of your business. And I...”
“This is my business,” Joshua snapped, pushing past her. “You—are my business.”
Nick and Damien gaped at him as he set his big toolbox down beside the front door and knelt to inspect the handle and the lock. The two men glanced at each other and shrugged.
“Eh, Josh...” Damien began. “I don't think we've gotten the homeowner's consent to do anything...”
Joshua didn't even look up. He had his screwdriver to the door and was busy tightening the shaky handle.
“If she doesn't like it, she can go call the Sheriff,” Joshua answered tersely. “But even the Sheriff can't stop me from fixing her locks. I'm getting it done, with or without her consent.”
Bella blinked. What! He actually had the gall...!
“You...you have no right...” she sputtered, her temper rising.
Joshua's only response was to lift those broad shoulders in a shrug.
Nick and Damien frowned at Joshua but they didn't stop him. “Are you two going to just stand there?” Joshua murmured. “You know I'm right. Her locks aren't working. She lives alone.”
Damien glanced at her and gave a sheepish smile. Then he grabbed a hammer and some nuts and bolts from Joshua's toolbox. “I'll do her back door,” he muttered over his shoulder as he scooted off.
Nick came up to her and said with a sigh, “Josh is right. You do need to get your locks fixed, Bella.”
“He could have asked first,” she said hotly, still seething.
“He could have,” Nick conceded. “But...”
“You're wasting time,” Josh said to Nick, not taking his eyes off his work. He turned his head to the side and addressed Bella without looking at her. “Anyway, we're not asking you to pay for this.”
Bella whirled round. “I will pay you for your work,” she said, glaring at the back of his head.
“Pieces of your ceiling are raining down in your bedroom,” Joshua continued as he hammered something into place. “Don't sleep in your bedroom tonight.”
Bella bit back a sharp retort. She wanted to tell him that it wasn't his business where she slept at night. But he was right. Her ceiling was flaking and crumbling, and a piece of plaster had fallen onto her bed last night.
“You don't have to tell me what to do. Who are you to tell me where to sleep?” she fumed.
Joshua put down his hammer and rose to his full height. Towering over her, he said in a low voice, “I won't ever tell you what to do, Bella. But I will stop you from doing something that will put you in danger. Even if you don't want me to.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Joshua stared into her flashing gray eyes and resisted the urge to grab her. Bella stood her ground and stared right back at him, her chest rising and falling with her harsh breathing. Gone was the shy, reserved woman he saw at his brother's wedding last night. Under that demure, quiet demeanor was a hot-blooded, passionate woman. And damn, he seemed to know just how to push her buttons.
Beneath her anger he saw her roiling, simmering desire and hunger. She was angry and aroused, and she was leaning ever so slightly towards, not away from him.
She wanted to touch him. Her hands were trembling at her sides and she had to clench them into fists to stop herself from pressing against his chest.
He was right about her. She built a tough, cool outer shell around herself, but her center was molten fire. There was passion and fire in her eyes and her hot, little body was quivering with both rage and lust.
“Bella...” he growled.
She took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes for a moment. “You got the job,” she whispered at last and stepped away.
Joshua reached for her but she twisted away with a wince. “What?”
“I'd like Beck's Builders to do up my house,” she said in a clearer, stronger voice. “I'd be grateful if you could quote me a good price for the job. I can't afford...”
“We'll give you our best price,” Nick said, looking from Joshua to her. His blue eyes narrowed as he studied them both intently and suspiciously. But Nick was careful not
to let his suspicion and unhappiness show. Replacing his frown with a pleasant smile, Nick ushered Bella to the dining table and said, “Let's sit down and discuss the details. I'll go through exactly what we'll do and you can let me know your budget...”
Bella nodded and released the breath she had been holding. “Yes. Thank you. Let's do that.”
Joshua watched them sit down at the dining table with a pen and some paper. Nick began to talk and gesture animatedly as he explained the work that needed to be done to her house. He couldn't see Bella's expression but her back was ramrod straight. She murmured and nodded once or twice.
Grinding his teeth, Joshua tried to concentrate on repairing the lock on her front door. But his eyes kept darting to her. He found himself staring at the tendrils of auburn hair that clung to her nape. She had her red curls piled high on her head and she was wearing a flowing cotton dress that molded to her generous, womanly figure.
Joshua glared at Nick. The guy seemed to be enjoying himself in her company, chatting, joking and laughing with her. Joshua watched him like a hawk, but Nick's eyes never wandered lower. He kept his gaze on Bella's face and didn't feast his eyes on her delectable bosom. Good for him. Joshua would hate to go bear on Nick and gouge out his eyes.
Nick stood up and shook Bella's hand just as Damien came bounding out from the back of the house. “All done,” Damien announced. “You can sleep like a baby tonight, Bella. I guarantee that no one will be able to break your locks.”
Joshua checked his own work and nodded in satisfaction. Yep, these locks were solid.
“But of course, someone could still smash her windows unless we put grills on them,” Damien deadpanned.
Joshua saw both Damien and Nick watching his reaction closely. Damien was testing him. The sly bugger had said that just to provoke him.
Brash Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 3) Page 3
