Bear to the Rescue (Bear Claw Security Book 3) (7 page)

Even if a tiny, obnoxious part of her thrilled at the thought of it.

“
S
o it was completely trashed
?” Cage asked, looking serious.

“Yeah,” Bronson said, getting angry just at the thought of it. “Really trashed. In a personal way, too, you know? Like, stuff everywhere, underwear cut up.” He leaned back on his chair and ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. “Had even written slurs on the wall in lipstick.”

Cage shook his head. “So she’s into something bad, then?”

“She thinks she just pissed off the wrong people,” Bronson said, looking past Cage and out the window that overlooked the land around them. He loved living upstate, with the huge forests and small towns surrounded by green landscape. “She went after some revenge porn hackers a little while ago.”

Cage narrowed his eyes. “And she knew this when she started here?”

“Well, I’m sure in her line of work she pisses off a lot of people,” Bronson said. “So yeah, she knew, but she didn’t know they were after her. Still doesn’t. It could be anyone.”

“Have we had her working on anything that could draw this kind of attention?”

Bronson shook his head. “She’s been mostly working on small cases. She finishes them super quickly.” He couldn’t help admiring her for that. “But she has the Salazar job that she’s been working since she’s been here, off and on. I think maybe there could be someone there against it.”

“Maybe,” Cage said, running his hand over the five o’clock stubble on his chin. “Anyway, you’re the boss. What do you think we should do next?”

“From here on out?” Bronson asked. “I don’t know. Just keep an eye on her. And of course, you’ll be with Carrie all the time.”

“Ha-ha, of course,” Cage said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, regardless of who’s around.”

“Good,” Bronson said. “Because I’m not happy putting anyone at risk by keeping Regan here, but we can’t just send her out there with people after her.”

“I know,” Cage said. “I like that about you. But what about you? I’m a little worried about how this is going to affect you.”

“What do you mean?” Bronson asked.

“Herc said you were keeping her at your place,” Cage said.

“So?”

“So you never take women to your place,” Cage said.

“I took Carrie.”

“With me. She’s family. But I mean when you date, which is rare, I know you don’t take them home.”

Bronson went quiet. “Regan’s different.”

Cage’s lips flattened into a line. “She’s your mate, isn’t she? I saw the way you were looking at her when you two came in this morning. You took her, didn’t you?”

Bronson shook his head wildly. “No, no, no. I mean, we did stuff. I didn’t claim her. She doesn’t want that.”

Cage sat up a little, surprised. “She doesn’t want you? Bullshit.”

Bronson’s eyes widened at his partner’s swearing. It was part of his MC background but didn’t come out unless he was genuinely surprised or upset. “That’s what she says. It’s not just me, though. She said she doesn’t want a bear for a mate in general.”

“But she’s a bear, right?” Cage scratched his head. “I don’t know, man. Sometimes I think women don’t know what they want. Or act like they don’t until they’re sure. Still, I don’t think Regan’s the type that would mess around with you. Do you know why she doesn’t want a mate?”

Bronson shrugged. “I mean, I’m guessing it’s the usual reason. Stupid parents that couldn’t work it out. Or some dude that walked out on her. She could have lots of reasons.”

“Well, if this goes on, you’ll have time to figure them out.” Cage shook his head. “I wish I had some good advice. You encouraged me with Carrie, but I’ve only ever wanted one woman and I don’t know anything about other ones.” He grinned. “And I’m not sure Limes would be any better if he were here.”

“I don’t need help winning my mate,” Bronson said. “But I may need help protecting her. She doesn’t want the police at her apartment. I may need you and Herc to go over there and go through things. When she’s ready.”

“Why no police?”

Bronson sighed. “It’s just… they were in a lot of her private things. And let’s be honest. What are they going to do other than make a report?”

“Yeah, if the police could do more than that, we wouldn’t have half our jobs.”

“Right,” Bronson said. “When it comes to stalkers, they can’t do anything until it’s basically too late. That’s where we come in.” He leaned forward on his desk, suddenly tired. “Still, it’s a whole new ball game when it’s someone you care about.”

“So you care about her, then,” Cage said. “I mean, I thought there was something between you two, even with all the fighting. But it’s just…”

“What is it?” Bronson asked, not liking his friend’s hesitancy.

“It’s just that… I don’t know. You know you’re my closest friend, right?”

“Yeah,” Bronson said, not getting where this was going.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Cage said, sitting back in his chair. “You deserve someone great, you know? You’re one of the best men I know.”

“Who’s the best?” Bronson teased. “Hercules?”

“He’s up there,” Cage said with a grin. “But seriously, I don’t want to see you get messed up. If a girl doesn’t want commitment, there isn’t a lot that can change that.”

“I know,” Bronson said. “But what am I supposed to do? She’s my mate.”

“Yeah,” Cage said. “I don’t know. I should tell you the one who is your mate won’t push you away, but I waited so many years for the one I wanted that I can’t really say that. All I can say is if she’s the one, it’ll be worth it. But that won’t make it any easier to watch.”

“Hey, if it gets hard, just remember all the times I’ve fucked up on you,” Bronson said.

“You’ve never fucked up on me,” Cage said seriously, folding his arms. “And I seriously just want you to be happy. So she’s going to keep staying with you, then? Because she could come stay with me and Carrie. I’m worried with you together, you might just get more confused.”

“Hell no,” Bronson said. “Haven’t you been listening? She’s my mate. I’m not letting anyone else protect her.”

“But if she doesn’t feel that way, maybe it’s not true,” Cage said. “Look, every time you two come together, you’re going to get more serious. And then if she still can’t get over her shit, you’re going to be broken. And you’re a seriously good dude, Bron. You don’t need that.”

Bronson pursed his lips. “I have to see what happens, Cage. I have to see where this goes.”

Cage threw up his hands. “I know. I don’t know why I’m even interfering. What do I know?” He shook his head. “You’re just a good friend, and I want to be one to you.”

“You can’t protect me from this,” Bronson said. “All you can do is be there if you have to pick up the pieces. But if she’s my mate, I have to try fighting for her.”

Cage sighed in resignation. “I get you, bro. But I’m just saying be careful.”

“It’s like Robin Hood said,” Bronson retorted. “Faint heart never won fair lady.”

“Yeah, well faint heart never got himself crushed,” Cage muttered.

Bronson stood, reaching out a hand to jerk Cage up with him. He pulled him into his shoulder and gave him a one-armed hug. “You’re a good friend, Cage, for worrying about me.”

“I can’t help it,” Cage said, exhaling. “You’re a good person and you let yourself get hurt too much. I know what happened with your family. Maybe I’m the only one who knows, but I do. I don’t want to see you get used again.”

Bronson felt ice wash over him at the thought of it. “I know. I know, man. That sucked. But sometimes you have to let someone show you who they are so you know how to deal with them afterward. What they did gave me all the reason to run and never come back. But remember, part of the reason I left was to have the chance to choose a mate, on my own terms. And if I walk away when I finally feel like I have that in front of me, just because it seems difficult, then it’s like I gave that up for nothing.”

“I get it,” Cage said. “Well, you know Herc and I are here for whatever you need. And Limes will be back soon, not that it helps.”

“Hey, I still like having another hacker around, to look into things from that side. But yeah, I don’t expect some big emotional support.”

Cage laughed hard at that. “Good. Now let’s go find the girls and order brunch.”

“Yeah, I could use brunch,” Bronson said. “So the Regan thing, I’m just planning to stay close by and wait and see what they do. That cool with you?”

“Yeah,” Cage said. “That’s cool with me.”

“Good,” Bronson squeezed his friend’s shoulder. He didn’t like remembering, but it was good to be reminded of how he’d been hurt before. It kept him aware that there were some things worth being hurt for and some things where all you could do is run.

Things with Regan so far had gone better than he’d hoped, if he thought about how she’d scowled at him when first meeting him. She’d told him from the start she didn’t want him and then ended up begging him for sex. And then, when her house had been ransacked, she’d run to him. Held him. Been close to him.

She’d even trusted him, in a way, by telling him about not wanting a mate or commitment. Hopefully, being together would make her continue to trust him even more.

He had to hope.

Hope was a funny thing. It did uncomfortable things to his chest and made him willing to put himself out in ways he knew were dangerous. But it also made him look forward to the future in a way he hadn’t for a long while.

Regan, with her jade eyes and sassy mouth, was his mate. He just had to make her see it.

R
egan worked
at the front desk for the rest of the day, listening to Carrie talk to clients over the phone or with Hercules during downtime. Bear Claw Security had only been around a few years and hadn’t been actively marketing in that time. They operated largely by word of mouth, and since they were most useful to those in the shifter community, that made sense.

That’s how Regan had heard of them, before Limes offered her a job there.

As it neared closing time, she looked up at the clock to see they’d been working since past five. She yawned and stretched and shut down what she was working on just as Bronson and Cage walked out from the back offices, locking up behind them.

“Get lots of work done?” Carrie asked Cage, walking up to hug her mate. They were so cute together, like they were caught in a permanent honeymoon phase.

A tiny part of Regan pricked up in jealousy. The same part that had imagined a life with Bronson when she’d seen his wonderful, homey house.

But that wasn’t the Regan she was now. The one who worked all the time and wouldn’t let a man hurt her again. The one who was never going to be left in a lurch because she was never going to allow a man to put her there.

Even if he had devastating blue eyes and a movie star smile. Bronson put out an arm for her, expecting her to take it. She wanted to. A part of her did. But the other part…

“You don’t honestly think I’m going to walk out like that, do you?” she asked sardonically.

Bronson laughed and dropped his arm as Hercules looked nervously between them. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Hercules sighed. “You guys get anything done while I was out here?”

“Yup,” Bronson said. “You?”

“Nope,” Hercules said. “Not that I mind hanging with the ladies, but when are you going to send me out on a real job?”

“Hey, I’m offended,” Carrie said.

“I’m not,” Regan said with a smile. “With all those muscles, he really should be out crushing something.”

She saw Bronson prickle in jealousy and kind of liked the feeling. “But we did enjoy spending time with him today.”

A slight blush spread over Hercules’s face, and he stood abruptly. “I’m going to pack up for the day… if we’re done.”

“We are,” Bronson said. “And, Herc, we’ll have something for you soon, okay?”

Hercules nodded and disappeared into the back to get his stuff.

“I’m taking Regan down,” Bronson said. “You two wait and go out with Hercules. No one else should be in any danger, but just in case, strength in numbers.”

Cage nodded. “Just in case.”

“So you two still think it’s the revenge porn dudes?” Regan asked.

Bronson nodded. “Could be. Or could be someone trying to sabotage the Salazar project you’re working on. Regardless, right now, they’ve been operating too far in the shadows to really know. I mean, we can’t track them from just hiding in the garage or tearing up some clothing.”

“I know,” she said.

“I’m sending Hercules over after work to look for fingerprints. I’m already pretty sure they’re aren’t any, but just in case. Is that all right?” Bronson asked.

“Yeah,” she said, hating the whole situation. She didn’t want someone going through her things, but at the same time, they weren’t her things anymore. Just piles of trash. “It’s fine.”

“Okay,” Bronson said, pulling out a Post-it note and writing her address on it. “Give this to Herc.” He handed it to Cage. “Tell him it’s his first real job.”

“Okay,” Cage said. “If he finds anything, should I have him give you a call?”

“Of course,” Bronson said. “And if I don’t answer, I’ll get back to him.”

“Great,” Cage said. “And, Bronson?”

“Yeah?”

“If you two want to come over and spend time with me and Carrie, you are welcome anytime.”

Bronson flashed his friend a smile. “Thanks, buddy.”

Regan could just picture that, too. Her and Bronson over at Cage and Carrie’s, playing a game together or just talking or just eating. In the image, she was sitting next to Bronson and it was warm and her hand was on his large knee…

She shook her head and walked in front of Bronson, reaching for the door. She was crazy. Her head was doing funny things. Her bear was just too into the sex that Bronson could give her.

She could see why her mom had been so easily tricked by a bear shifter. They had an animal magnetism that was impossible to resist.

But resist she would.

“Come on,” she said to Bronson. “I’m hungry.”

Bronson followed, but not before a wink at his friends that had her tightening her hands into fists. Not because she was angry about it, but because she didn’t know how she was going to deal with his playful nature once they were alone again.