Uh-huh. Like she forgot stuff. What was she playing at? Bear scrutinized her.
Lucas settled his feet. “The DEA looked at us—tried to take us apart. We’re good, but they froze our accounts for a while, and we’ve had to make do.”
“Are the accounts still frozen?” Bear asked.
“Yep,” Lucas said.
That was unfortunate. Who did they know who could take care of the DEA problem? There had to be somebody with clout. Yet he hated owing favors. “Are the Coven Nine Enforcers still in town?” Bear asked.
Lucas looked toward Nessa.
“She’s okay. No secrets,” Bear said easily. He turned toward her. “I can just ask you. Are your Coven Nine Enforcers still in Seattle?” The enforcers worked only for the Council of the Coven Nine and weren’t attached to the Irish Guard, the witch main police force. The enforcers had been undercover as members of the Titan’s MC, trying to find the manufacturer of Apollo.
She cleared her throat. “No. They’re in Dublin helping the Council to rebuild. One of the enforcers actually blew up your rival MC.”
Bear blinked. He’d wanted to blow up Titans of Fire for a decade. His mouth turned down. He’d missed the fun. “It was Daire.”
“Nay. Adam.” Nessa grinned. “Seemed expedient to him.”
That made sense. Daire was all temper, and Adam more seasoned. “It did take care of the problem.” Bear smiled. “So Apollo is no longer on the streets.”
Nessa frowned. “Wrong.”
That was not what he wanted to hear. “Who’s distributing the drug now?”
“We don’t know yet,” Lucas said. “For this brief time, can we just have a good night? You’re back.” He clapped Bear on the arm. “It’s been lonely without you.”
“Agreed.” Bear could worry about the business tomorrow. Tonight, it was time for fun. He looked over Nessa’s prim suit. All it was missing was a pillbox hat. Yet with her hair down and a lovely flush over her face, she looked stunning. Her rosy lips didn’t hurt her appeal, either. “Wanna go to a party?”
“No.” She tapped her high heel.
The woman hadn’t even taken those off while healing him? His grin even felt determined. Oh, there was no way the witch was getting out of his hands until he figured her out. Figured her game. Plus, he owed her. So, he’d take care of the asshole who’d put a bounty on her head. No way was she getting kidnapped on his watch. “I pay my debts, darlin’.”
“You’re not in debt to me.” She glanced at Lucas and then back to Bear. “Plus, I haven’t done that much.”
Translation: he wasn’t completely healed. Yeah, he already knew that. But for the first time in too long, he could see clearly and his body didn’t feel three billion years old. Apparently, she didn’t want Lucas to know her skill. That was fine with Bear. He liked being on the inside of her little world. “You’re staying tonight, so accustom yourself to that fact right now.”
Fire flared in her stunning eyes.
He held up a hand. “I’ll put you up in a nice hotel, if you want. Room to yourself.” The bounty hunter was just off lickin’ his wounds; he’d be back at some point for her. “But until I figure out who’s after you, you’re staying.” The idea of mating her was certainly interesting but was never gonna happen. Not with a witch. Yet it was fun to mess with her. “Plus, what about your plan?”
“I believe it might have been ill-conceived.” She straightened her jacket. “Yet we should still talk it out.” Her slim shoulders steeled beneath the jacket. “I suppose I could attend your party.”
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. “Is there anything I should know? Somebody is after us?”
“No. Her,” Bear said. “The stiff out front was a bounty hunter. We need to find out who’s looking for her.” He settled, his mind finally clicking into gear. Man, it felt good to think clearly again. “Nessa? Do you have any idea who’s after you?” Yeah, he should’ve asked that earlier. But he’d been too busy kissing her.
“No.” She swallowed, moving the very fine line of her throat. “I don’t.”
Bear cocked his head to the side. Was she lying? If so, she was damn good at it. He surveyed her, head to toe. All lady, all prim and proper. She wasn’t lying. “I’m gonna help you find out.”
She threw out her hands in protest. “I donna’ need help.”
That brogue just got sexier and sexier. “That’s too bad,” he said cheerfully. “If you didn’t want help, you shouldn’t have kissed me like that.”
Her blush deepened.
Lucas groaned and headed for the door. “I can see you’re just as smooth as ever with the ladies.”
“I do have a gift,” Bear said amiably, reaching for Nessa’s hand. When she tried to tug free, he just held on tighter. Man, she was fun to play with. He’d like to muss her all up—see that mass of dark hair spread out over a pillow. Or his lap. “Has it stopped raining?”
“Yeah. I have a four-wheeler around the corner but no top on it yet.” Lucas grinned. “Had to cut the engine to sneak up on the cabin. Didn’t know it was you.”
“You did a good job,” Bear said, all but dragging Nessa onto the porch.
“I’m not sure—” she started.
He stopped and looked at her shoes. Man, he’d love to see her in nothing but those dangerous spikes. “You’re right.” Leaning in, he lifted her against him. “Those things will stick in the mud.”
She yelped and slapped a hand against his chest. “What in the world are you doing?”
“Walking.” Bear ignored the curious look on his buddy’s face as he strode down the worn steps for the trail. Man, she felt good in his arms. Almost too good.
Lucas followed behind. “You forgot shoes.”
Bear looked down at the mud covering his feet. “Well, shit.”
Chapter 5
Nessa settled on Bear’s lap on the four-wheeler. The thing definitely had four wheels. The seats were leather, the engine quiet, and the mud—everywhere. His big frame encircled her, keeping her easily in place as Lucas drove much too quickly down an incredibly dark trail. “Don’t you need shoes?” she asked, trying not to curl right into Bear’s hard body. His muscle mass was already increasing to normal, but he had a long way to go internally.
“I have boots at the club,” he said, his breath hot on her ear. “They’re probably still where I left them.”
She swallowed.
The night air whipped at them, but his body gave off enough warmth that she barely felt the chill. He tugged her closer, giving her no choice but to be right where she really wanted to be. She settled her face against his neck and let her body relax into his hold.
“There you go,” he rumbled, tucking her more safely against him.
This was insane. She’d heard rumors that Bear was crazy—yet she hadn’t seen that in him. And while he seemed to take his time, he was more deliberate than slow. How many people had he charmed with his easygoing facade? Did it really hide a killer? She stiffened.
“Relax, baby,” he whispered, his big hand spread across her back. “You’re safe.”
She barely stopped herself from scoffing. Safe? Yeah, right. Not. Not even close. He had no clue. “Thanks,” she whispered back.
What would it be like to really belong with a male like him—if he was a good guy? He didn’t kiss like a good guy, and that’s why the kiss had been so incredible.
Lights soon came into view. She turned her face just enough to see the back of Bear’s sprawling clubhouse and garage. “I’ve never been to a motorcycle gang party,” she said. Was her outfit all right?
“Club. Motorcycle club,” Bear said, sitting straighter. “We’ll grab my boots and then head to the party. Drop us by the office, Lucas.”
Lucas nodded, yet another male of few words. He whipped the vehicle around the side of the building, and they landed on wet pavement. “There you go.”
Bear stood, still holding her.
She looked around. Big garage doors took up nearly a
block, while the wide-open windows of a clubhouse showed a party in full force: dancing bodies, loud music, and the smell of tequila. “Oh my.”
Bear chuckled and moved toward a man-sized door that he nudged open with his hip. He set her down gently inside. “Give me a sec to wash off my feet with the hose. I’ll be right back.”
She found herself inside a room smelling of dust and paper. Fumbling for the light switch, she gasped when her fingers flicked it on and the area was illuminated. Papers, manila envelopes, and file folders covered every surface. A desk seemed to take up the far wall, with a couple of mismatched chairs stuck around it. A fan spun in the corner, and papers on top of a battered metal file cabinet ruffled from its wind. Even the floor was covered in loose papers.
Bear ambled inside.
She moved to calm him. “I think you’ve been robbed.”
He looked around and frowned. “Robbed? What do you mean?”
She paused. “Well, this room.” She swept her hand out at the complete disaster. “Somebody tossed the place.”
Bear grinned. “Nope. This is exactly how I left it.”
Horror. True and real horror filled her. “Who-why?”
He moved into the corner and kicked some temporary file boxes out of his way. “It’s organized. I can find anything.” He reached down for a pair of huge black boots to pull onto his feet.
This was beyond terrible. Dust filled her nose, and she gave a delicate sneeze.
“Bless you.”
“Thank you.” Her hands fluttered, actually fluttered, with the need to organize the space. This was insane. She calmed herself. Wait a minute. This might be a godsend. “You know, I find myself at loose ends right now.”
He turned. “You’re not on the Council anymore?”
“Did I not mention that fact?” she asked, trying to appear innocent.
“No. No, you didn’t.” He crossed his arms, looking more than a little dangerous. “Why would anybody give up a seat on the Council of the Coven Nine?”
When only telling half a story, it was imperative to use as much truth as possible. “Well, to be honest, I was just put on the Council during the turmoil, to observe Peter Gallagher. It was a temporary assignment.”
Bear breathed out. “Was it, now?” His eyes glittered.
“Aye.” She cleared her throat. Gallagher had put a death sentence on Bear’s sister’s head while also expunging the Council of pretty much all the other council members. “As you know, he was up to no good.” Now that he was dead, the Council had been set to rights, with the correct members back on. “I am no longer needed on the Council.”
“Who put you in place?” Bear asked, his lips thinning.
No need to lie. Not really. Okay, kind of. “Vivienne Northcutt,” Nessa whispered. Vivienne had led the Council for centuries until Peter had her removed. Now she was back in place. She was also Simone’s mother, and she apparently didn’t want Bear in her daughter’s life.
“That fucking figures. She gets fired, but only after she appoints people to spy for her.” Bear shook his head. “How my sister came from that woman, I will never know.”
Nessa frowned. Simone was just as brilliant and ambitious as her mother. “Your sister is a lot like her mother.”
Bear growled.
Nessa held up a hand. “Vivienne was trying to protect the Council and the witch nation. Even you can see that.”
He shrugged.
“You’ll recall that I voted against your sister being put to death.” Of course, she’d lost the vote. But now Simone had been cleared of any wrongdoing, the death sentence had been lifted, and she was back on the Council.
“I know,” Bear said grimly. “That’s why you’re still allowed in my territory.”
“I thought it was the kiss,” Nessa blurted out. Bollocks. Why had she said that?
He moved toward her. “That, too.”
She backed up until her hip hit the door. “Bear?”
“Why you?” he asked quietly. “On the Council. Why you?”
She couldn’t breathe. “My uncle is friends with Vivienne, and I have experience with bookkeeping. I’m methodical.” Talk about downplaying her skills. “Viv trusts me, so I was a good choice.”
“And you look all innocent and sweet, so you’d definitely fool many a man,” Bear said.
She had to get him off that topic. “I have an idea.”
“Do you?” he asked, continuing forward until his boots touched her shoes. “Your ideas are intriguing, that’s for damn sure. What are you thinking now?”
She plastered on her most sincere smile. “How about you hire me to organize this place?”
His head jerked, and panic lit his eyes. “Organize? What? I mean, why? It is organized.”
She reached for him, setting her hands on his hard abs. “Bear, this place kills me.” Truth. All truth this time. “I’ll have nightmares forever about it. Please. Hire me to organize it.” She meant the words, she really did. However, she’d also be able to go through his files and papers. Maybe find evidence. “Please.”
He looked around, his shoulders tense. “I don’t know.”
“While I’m doing that, while I have a purpose here, I can continue to heal you.” She tried not to sneeze again. “You need to be healed.”
“That’s blackmail,” he said, admiration lighting his eyes to bourbon.
Whatever worked. “All right.”
He leaned into her. “Here’s the deal. You heal me, I’ll hire you to destroy my nice system here, and you let me go after whoever put a bounty on your head.”
What? She released his abs. “I can take care of myself.” Didn’t he see her beat up the bounty hunter earlier? Sure, Bear had jumped in, but she’d been doing fine. “I can fight.”
“Sure you can, but if you’re doing me a favor, I’m doing one right back.”
She looked around the horrible office. “You’re doing me a favor by letting me fix this place. If it can be fixed.”
He tugged on her hair until she concentrated on him. “It’s not the same, and you know it. That’s part one of the deal. Agree.”
Part one? Well, it would get her what she wanted, but if Bear was to be healed, he had to remain there. So he wouldn’t be able to track down the people behind her attempted kidnapping. “All right.”
“You sure you don’t know who’s after you?” he asked.
“Nope,” she lied. There was no need to blend lives, now was there? That was the key to undercover work. “What’s part two of the deal?”
“Your mating proposal, of course.”
Was he just messing with her? Something about him seemed to be making fun of her. She sighed. “The reasons I gave for us to mate are still valid. I might gain fire, and you’d gain more time with me to heal.” Not once in her life had she expected to mate for love. From day one, from her first training session, she’d known it’d be either part of a mission or some sort of treaty. Yet lately, she’d wondered. While serving on the Council, she’d seen so many happily mated couples. Real couples in real love.
Was it possible?
“I guess that would give us time to get to know each other,” he said easily.
She didn’t react. Oh, how many people in the world would look beyond his simple and grumpy facade? Though his body was relaxed, tension rolled off him. Though his tone was easy, it held a slight edge. Though his spectacular honey-brown eyes were calm, they were also sharp. Incredibly sharp. She gave him a shy smile. “I guess that would work.” Two could play at this game.
“Wouldn’t it, though?” he asked thoughtfully. His chin lifted. “I need to tell you, baby. I’m fine with a couple of secrets or a little intrigue, but you lie to me and you’ll be sorry. Tell me you get me.”
“Of course,” she said, moving away from the door. “I’ve always found lying to be a waste of time.” Until it wasn’t.
“Uh-huh.” He pulled open the door. “Let’s get a move on.”
She looked toward the bo
isterous party. “I don’t do well in groups.” A true fact, unfortunately. Being raised by her eccentric uncle had been exciting but a little lonely. “I never know what to say.”
Bear slipped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her into his heat. “I just don’t talk. People seem okay with that.”
People were afraid of the big bear. She straightened her shoulders. “All right. Let’s do this party.”
He chuckled and steered her toward the wide double doors. The second he opened them, heat rushed through. “Bear.” More than one guy shouted his name, and he was ripped away for hugs and claps on the back. He turned, and she waved him off.
“I’m fine,” she mouthed, looking around the room. A huge bar took up one wall and a large television set another. Couches had been pushed to the side to make room for dancing. She studied the multitude of bodies: many bear shifters and just as many humans. From her research, she knew that the Grizzly MC only let bear shifters be members. Apparently, they partied with humans—mainly female humans with incredibly tight jeans and low-cut midriff tops. “I am not appropriately dressed,” she muttered.
“I don’t know about that.” Lucas moved in from her right and handed her a beer.
She took a drink and smiled, grateful for a friendly face. Ugh, she hated beer. “Thank you so much.”
He walked around her, checking her out.
What in the world? She waited until he’d returned to her front. Bear’s second-in-command had thick brown hair and warm brown eyes. His face was rugged, but not as rugged as Bear’s. And he was almost the same size as Bear—large and broad. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Helping you,” he said simply. “Give me the jacket.”
Her mouth gaped open. “Excuse me?”
“You wanna fit in?” he asked.
She looked around to see more than a couple of young females giving her hard looks. Yet a few of the men were checking her out. Sigh. She so did not have time for this. Bear was over at the bar with several members in black motorcycle jackets. He nodded at her, his eyebrows up.
She nodded back. She was just fine.
He grinned.
“Nessa?” Lucas asked.