Baby Got Bear - Milly Taiden Page 0,3

others. The day is coming when you will be knocked on your ass. I just hope I’m here to see it.”

Sadly, he wasn’t…

Two weeks later, Nick and Sandra had gone out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. On the way home, their truck hit a guardrail and went over the side of the mountain.

The sheriff said it burst into flames on impact. Beau had identified what was left of the burnt-out pickup, his father’s necklace, and his mother’s wedding ring. He’d come home to his little sister and a clan in mourning with a box of ashes and a broken heart, but he’d never forgotten the look in Cleland’s eyes and could never shake the feeling that the alpha had caused the death of his parents.

But I had to move on… Had to lead the clan… Had to take care of Amelia…

Cleland’s tyrannical rule got worse with every passing year. The younger shifters, well, younger for supes, although alphas in their own right, were forced to obey the bureaucratic bullshit as they took their rightful helms of leadership. They knew if Cleland ever got wind of what the others really thought, there would be war.

Some banked on the dwindling number of wolves in Pack Benton. Thought Cleland’s “pure bloodline” rules would somehow change the tide, but it never did. The old alpha had deep pockets and an even deeper well of treachery.

New wolves were always joining from other states, some even from other countries. All highly trained; mostly rogues willing to die for whatever bullshit the alpha had fed them.

War was most definitely not the answer. Hundreds of casualties of all species, no winners, just unneeded bloodshed, would do nothing for anyone. So, Beau went to council meetings, sat in the back, and bit his tongue until he could come up with another answer.

Everyone knew he hated Cleland, but so did they. Why did he have to be the one to figure it all out? What were they all waiting for?

Me to nut up…

So, when Lucy turned up at his front door and asked for a job, Beau was dumbfounded. Enveloped in the sweet scent of orange blossoms and heavenly female musk, it had taken every ounce of his grizzly bear strength not to fall on his knees and beg her to be his.

Before his brain had time to engage, he blurted out, “Why the hell would you want to work here? Your dad owns half the damned state. His horses are renowned. Y’all have a whole damn room just for the trophies and ribbons.” Motioning toward his newly renovated paddocks, he snorted, “We look like Romper Room compared to what’s sitting right out your back door.”

“Well,” she’d faltered nervously, shrugging as she anxiously twirled a silken curl around her finger. “That’s exactly why. Ever want people to see you for more than the leader of the Sampson clan? See you for who you really are? Just for you? Not your name, or your pedigree, or the blood that runs through your veins?”

Knowing exactly where she was coming from, he nodded emphatically. “I do, and you’re hired.”

Head popping up, a breathtaking smile making her even more beautiful, Lucy’s eyes widened to the size of saucers right before she jumped. Springing from her five-foot-five height all the way up to his six-foot-seven, she’d hugged him tightly around the neck.

Lost to the feel of her body against his, Beau’s arms instinctively closed around her waist and pulled her closer. Inhaling deeply, taking in as much of her intoxicating scent as he could, his bear growled for more.

Mine!

The deal was sealed. She was theirs. There was no going back.

And then she pulled away, and it was all Beau could do to keep his bear in check.

Cheeks blushing a gorgeous pink, gaze downturned, Lucy took a quick step backward. Clapping the knuckles of one hand into the palm of the other, she gave a half-hearted chuckle. “Yeah, well, can I start right now?” Eyes shooting up to his, her hands flying out in front of her, she hurried to backpedal. “I mean if you’re serious. If I really have the job.”

Shaking her head in time with the wave of her hands, her words came so quickly, it took Beau a second to catch up. “You don’t have to pay me. I don’t need any special treatment. I’ll be here as soon as the sun comes up and won’t leave until it goes down. I’ll give you a hundred percent and then some. I just