Ranger Bear (Rogue Bear Series 1) (2 page)

W
hitney stared
into his deep blue eyes and tried to remember why only two minutes ago she had been spit-fire mad. Right now the only thing she could see was a man who just offered to fix the crumbling mess around her. Offered to make something in her life right when everything else had gone to hell.

“You can’t be serious.” She shook her head. Things like this didn’t happen to her.

“Dead serious.” His voice was deep and husky.

She closed the door, shutting the wind outside. He looked relieved. She couldn’t believe she was actually considering this.

“Why?”

“Because Sam made me swear. And I did. I don’t give my word lightly.”

She felt her knees go weak just a little. Kyle towered over her and she was having trouble thinking. His T-shirt stretched over his wide shoulders. It was hard not to reach out and touch the muscles in his arms to see if they were real. He was like a sculpted god. Tall, dark, and athletically built like nothing she had ever seen.

“I’m sure you have better things to do than help me fix this disaster.”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’m on leave until I hear otherwise. My mission is on hold. So, I can stay and help. I’ll stay as long as I can.”

Oh God. Did he just say he would stay?

“Stay here?”

He nodded. “There’s an extra room over the barn, right?”

She tried to take a normal breath. “Yes. It was supposed to be an apartment, but it never really worked out that way. There is a bed though.”

“Good. I’ll stay out there and I’ll put the place back together for you. And whatever else you need.”

It was the way he said the last sentence that made Whitney question her sense of reality. Things like this didn’t happen. Hot guys didn’t show up on her doorstep begging to be her handyman.

He stepped around her, opening the door. “I’ll get my tools and you can tell me where you want me to start.”

“You brought tools?”

His hand was on the doorknob. “I keep them in my Jeep. I should have everything we need.”

“Right now? You’re going to start working on the house now?” She thought everything she said probably sounded absurd. She couldn’t stop repeating herself.

“Yeah. Now.” Kyle was authoritative and firm. “I’ll be back in a second.”

He walked out of the door, not taking no for an answer. It didn’t take long to be around the man to realize he was used to giving orders. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t debate things. The decision was made and he was going to do exactly what he said.

Whitney watched him from the window. She had a feeling Kyle was going to do what he wanted, whether she protested or put up a fight.

T
here was
no way he was leaving. He’d sleep in the yard if he had to. He was used to sleeping out in the desert. A night under the Oregon sky would be fine. He’d be close to Whitney, and suddenly that was the only thing that mattered to him.

He shook his head while he rummaged through the back of the Jeep. Sam was a son of a bitch for sending him out here. He had begged Kyle for his help, when the whole time he was just playing matchmaker.

“Well played, brother,” Kyle mumbled.

He didn’t know what his friend would think if he knew Kyle’s secret. If he knew Whitney had awakened his bear. If he knew he couldn’t leave Oregon until she was his in every way.

He grabbed his toolbox and slammed the door. Projects would be good. Working with his hands would keep his mind off putting them all over her. He needed to give her time. Only, he didn’t know how much his bear would let her have.

He knocked on the door, holding his tool box in one hand.

“You don’t have to knock,” she said, opening the door wide enough for him to walk in the house.

“Where do you want me?”

“Uh..I-I…” Her cheeks turned pink, and he smiled knowing he was the reason.

“What’s first on your list? The leak? The railing?” He could spend weeks here fixing all the things that were wrong with the house. He hadn’t even ventured into the barn yet.

“How about the railing? I know better than to lean on it, but you’re right. If someone leans on it they could fall right off the edge of the cliff.”

“All right. I’ll start there.” He turned for the porch. “Do you have any supplies in the barn? I’m going to need some two by fours.”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. I never go in there.”

Kyle placed his toolbox on the porch. “I’ll go check it out.”

He walked across the yard and driveway. The barn was set back from the house. The doors were jammed shut. He turned to make sure Whitney wasn’t watching, before he used extra bear force to muscle into the building.

It was dark, but Kyle’s eyes adjusted quickly. He pulled the string hanging from the ceiling, lighting a small area of the barn. There were more tools here than he could have imagined. Sam had a small workshop. He smiled, glancing over the collection of table saws.

There wasn’t anything here that would help him with the porch railing though. He needed to make a supply run. He walked back over to the house.

“It looks like I need to buy a few things if I’m going to put the railing back together.”

“There’s a supply store about thirty minutes from here,” Whitney offered.

“Ok. Why don’t you give me the address and I’ll find it? Be back in ninety minutes.”

Whitney reached for the hook next to the door, grabbing a jacket. “Why don’t I ride with you? It will be easier.”

He grinned. “Even better. Come on.”

He held the door and watched her climb in the Jeep.

“Which way?” he asked.

Whitney pointed once they rolled past the mailbox. “Turn here and then in another mile make a right.”

He nodded. “Got it.”

He reached for the radio, turning the volume up slightly.

“So, you’re a Ranger and a handyman?”

Kyle tried to remember the last time he had fixed something that wasn’t related to a mission. He had been in Razastan for two years. Two weeks back on US soil wasn’t enough to make him feel like a normal guy. Just driving the Jeep felt foreign to him.

“Natural knack with my hands.” He smiled at her.

“Hmm.” She crossed her arms and stared out of the window.

The rain had let up to a drizzle.

“Why do you live all the way out here by yourself?” he asked. He knew he hadn’t seen another house since they pulled out of the driveway.

“I don’t. I’m just getting it ready to sell.” She paused. “It was a family summer home. Sam and I inherited it. But now that he’s gone, I know it’s too much for me to keep on my own. You’ve seen the place.”

“But do you want to sell it?” Kyle turned when Whitney pointed to the next street.

“No. I love it. But it’s too much house. And the barn. And I’m…” She trailed off.

“You’re what?”

“Single.” She huffed. “At least with Sam he could help, but he’s been wherever you’ve been for two years. And now he’s not coming back.” She fidgeted with the seatbelt. “I kept thinking he’d come back and fix everything.”

There were a hundred things running through his head. He wanted to tell her he could put the house back together for her. She could keep it with his help. She wouldn’t have to worry anymore. But he realized how fucking absurd it sounded.

“It’s right over there.” She directed him to a hardware store on the side of the road.

“This place?” It looked like a warehouse.

“Yep. Lumber. Pipes. And I think they have vegetables in the back.” She laughed, jumping from the Jeep. “Come on.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He never noticed a woman fitting into a pair of jeans like that before. Her hips were round and her thighs were poured into that denim like nothing he’d ever seen. He licked his lips, and followed her into the hardware store.

S
he could feel
his eyes on her ass. She knew he was watching her, stealing glimpses when she turned, observing her movements like one of his targets. The problem was it made her pulse race. Her core tighten in quick snaps. And her skin heat with an invisible fever. God, she hoped it was invisible.

She knew what he was. He was just like Sam. A risk taker. A loner. He was a Ranger. She didn’t think they were made any other way. He was the kind of man she needed to stay far away from.

He scowled at the stacks of lumber.

“They don’t have the length I need. I’ll just get a bigger piece and cut it down.” He lifted one of the boards as if it weighed the same as a Popsicle stick and threw it on his shoulder.

Whitney had to keep from dropping her jaw.

“What else is on your list?” he asked.

She tried to think about all of the projects, but she couldn’t stop staring at the way his muscles tightened where his arm met his shoulder. Good lord the man was ripped.

“The gate latch,” she suggested.

“Oh right.” He walked over to the hardware section.

The board balanced on the ridge of his shoulder while he stooped to select a latch for the gate.

“I think this will work.” He held one up for her to inspect.

She nodded, realizing she would probably agree to anything he suggested. She thought it was because she had been cooped up too long in the house by herself. Maybe it was because his voice got under skin. It was low and firm. Rough and seductive.

“Let’s get these and then I can come back tomorrow for the rest of the things you need.”

“Tomorrow?” She looked at him. She didn’t know how long he was going to stay. And when he mentioned staying in the barn apartment she just went with it.

“I told you. I’m going to get the house fixed for you.” He looked at her over his shoulder. “And anything else you need.”

Kyle took the items to the register and reached for his wallet.

“Oh no. You can’t pay for that.” Whitney tried to stop him. She had an account set up for the house repairs. There was less than a thousand dollars in it, but she could afford a latch and some lumber.

“I insist. It’s part of the service.”

“No. I can take care of it.” She fished in her bag for her debit card. It was in there somewhere.

He shoved a credit card in the clerk’s hand before she could stop him again.

She huffed. “Really? You won’t let me pay for it?”

The kid at the register handed Kyle a receipt as he threw the wood over his shoulder, turning for the door.

“I told you I’m here to take care of things. A promise is a promise.”

“But it feels like charity. I don’t want to be your charity case.”

She raced after him as he loaded the purchases into the back of his Jeep.

“I can respect that.” He was actually considering her dilemma. She was surprised. “How about this? You could make dinner tonight.”

“Do you know about the fire? The restaurant? Is that why you’re asking?” The mist was turning to rain.

He ushered her into the passenger side, before sliding behind the wheel. “No. I don’t know what you’re talking about. But if you don’t cook…”

“No. No, it’s not that.” His eyes were on her and she had this sudden urge to tell him everything that happened to her in the past month, but that was crazy. He didn’t need to hear about the restaurant. “I’d love to make dinner for you. I can do that.”

“Then we have a deal?”

She nodded, but she had this sneaking suspicion she had just been lured into agreeing with him.

K
yle had been working
on the railing for the past few hours. It was starting to get dark and the storm had kicked up off the ocean. That was the best and worst part of the house. It sat on the edge of the cliff, giving you the feeling that you were floating right over the sea.

Whitney peaked out of the door.

“Any chance you’re ready for dinner?”

He stood back to look at the rail. “Yeah. I need some of these pieces to set. I can take a break.”

He followed her in the house, and she was aware of his eyes on her again.

“Is there somewhere I could wash up?” He held up his hands.

Whitney pointed the long hallway that ran the length of the house. “There’s a bathroom on the right.”

“Be right back.”

It felt strange waiting for him in the kitchen as if she was getting ready to start a blind date. But Kyle wasn’t her date. He was a friend of Sam’s. He was here to repay her brother for something. Something he wouldn’t share with her.

She fastened a corkscrew to the top of a bottle of wine. She debated whether to open it, but she decided one glass wouldn’t hurt either one of them.

“Here let me get that.” Kyle’s hands wrapped around her, taking the bottle from her. Her breath seized when his skin drifted over hers. The edges of his hands were rough and warm.

“Thanks.” She watched as he eased the cork from the bottle. “I hope you like salmon and sautéed veggies.”

His eyes lit up. “You don’t know how good that sounds.”

He sat at the table, and she placed a plate in front of him.

“No salmon where you were?” She sat across from him, depositing the wine on the table.

He reached for the bottle and poured a glass for each of them. The slow glug sound of the wine echoed in the glasses.

“No. I’m used to eating a lot of MREs. Not the best tasting meal. That’s for sure. I stopped thinking about food.”

“Oh, are those things that Sam used to take camping?”

“Probably so.” He stuffed the salmon into his mouth, grinning as he chewed. “This is the best meal I’ve had in years.”

Whitney blushed. “No need to exaggerate.”

He shook his head. “I’m not. I’m serious. I forgot how much I missed food. Real food. This is delicious.”

Whitney blushed. “It’s nice to cook again.”

“You don’t cook much by yourself?” He stopped eating and focused on her.

“No. I used to, but ever since I’ve been here I’ve lived on canned soup and sandwiches.” She swore she wasn’t going to get into it, but she could feel herself lowering the wall.

“You sound like a bachelor.” He held up his wine glass.

She laughed. “I guess so.” She swallowed a bite of the salmon. “How long have you been back in the US?”

“Only two weeks.” He took a big gulp of wine and she watched as he swallowed. The muscles in his neck were smooth and firm.

“Did you go see your family?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

She stared at him. “What have you been doing for two weeks?”

He loaded his fork with vegetables. “I had to do some in-processing. Debriefing. I can’t really share the details. Once that was complete I came straight here.”

“Oh.” She saw the look in his eye. The blue hues darkened.

“How long is your leave?”

“I’m waiting on my next set of orders.” His eyes lifted to hers, and she felt her knees tremble. It was as if he could look right into her thoughts. “But I’ll make sure you have everything you need before I go. I can work quickly.”

“If you need to go see your family, you should do that. I’ll be fine. The porch is enough. More than enough. Now I don’t have to worry about anyone toppling over. I’m sure Sam would agree your free of your promise now.”

“No. I need to be here.”

It was the way he said it, that made her heart stop. His words were powerful and confident.

“Thank you for dinner.” He stood to clear the table. “Let me help you clean up.”

She sat while he shuttled the plates from the table to the sink.

“Are you real?” she blurted the question.

He turned toward her. “What do you mean?” He refilled her glass.

“You fix things and clean the kitchen?” She giggled, inhaling half of the second glass of wine faster than she intended. She had to admit it was starting to feel like a blind date after all.

“It’s a nice reminder.” He wedged the plates in the dishwasher.

“Reminder of what?”

“Of what I’m fighting for.” He threw a kitchen towel over his shoulder.

“And what’s that?” She knew his tone had changed. She knew the atmosphere was thick. She knew she was drawing emotion from him, but she couldn’t stop.

“Normal.” He leaned against the counter. His arms crossed, forcing his sleeves to widen against the strain of his biceps.

“Normal,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “This. Late dinners with wine on rainy nights by the ocean. It’s something worth fighting for.”

Whitney swallowed another sip, knowing it wasn’t the wine setting her blood on fire. It was him.