Bears of Burden Complete Series Box Set

by Candace Ayers

  Thorn shot him a look, too. “You cut it out, too.”

  I stepped forward, getting as close as I dared to. “What’s wrong, Hutch? You scared to share this big bar with little old me? It’s interesting, really, what a yellow-bellied coward you are.”

  He shoved his brother out of the way and stepped closer to me. “Not scared, honey. I just choose not to share a room with someone who can’t hold her liquor.”

  “Oh, no? I can’t hold my liquor, and I get messy? Right, I shouldn’t be allowed out in public. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? It would make being a coward a whole heck of a lot easier for you, wouldn’t it, you… you… fudge nugget!”

  “Fudge nugget? Fudge nugget? What the hell’s a—? Georgia should’ve left you hiding in that damn library.”

  Red-faced, I spun around and headed towards the bar. “Thorn, are you keeping me out?”

  He closed his mouth and squeezed my shoulder. “Not a chance. You’re always welcome. Don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Allie threw her arm over my shoulder and glared at her mate. Georgia held up her middle fingers and flipped them all off before following us inside.

  We took the same table as the night before and I made sure to sit with my back to the rest of the bar, in case Hutch didn’t run away with his tail tucked between his legs. Allie sat on one side of me and Georgia the other. The rest of the women, Brandi, Samantha, Marley, and a few others, spread out. They were all staring at me, their eyes wide with shock and impatience.

  Georgia slowly clapped her hands together and blew out a breath. “So, I’m just going to do it. I’m going to ask. What. The hell. Was that?”

  My cheeks burned and I crossed my legs to try to alleviate some of the tension between my thighs. It was miserable, being turned on and turned down by a man who clearly hated me. “He’s a rackafrazzin shizbooger.”

  Allie nodded. “I second that. What happened between the two of you, though?”

  I stared down at my hands and tried to decide how much I should tell them. Not all of it. It was mortifying to be rejected by my own mate. I didn’t ever want to admit that to anyone. “We ran into each other in town one day. There was, um—a moment between us, or at least I thought so. I tried to kiss him and he was repulsed. He’s hated me ever since.”

  Georgia whipped around in her seat and glared. “I’ll rip his tiny little pea brain out of his head and fling it into the river. What the hell is wrong with him? A woman like you hits on a man, that man should fall to his knees. You’re beautiful, and brilliant. He’s a fucking idiot.”

  I couldn’t help laughing. “I guess he’s not into brainy nerds. Usually, I stay out of his way so it’s less awkward, but lately… You guys have made me feel bolder. I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been facing him head on. Maybe a little too head on.”

  7

  Hutch

  My blood pounded through my veins so fast I felt dizzy. The urge to shift and sprint into the woods was definitely there, but I wasn’t a coward.

  Thorn was suddenly in front of me, his hands on my chest as he shoved me. “What the hell was that back there?”

  I shoved him back, instantly feeling like he was the perfect person to release some of my anger and pent-up frustration on. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  His face was a mask of shock. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You’re acting like she’s a fucking princess. You have a mate, Thorn.”

  Thorn’s fist slammed into the side of my face, knocking me back a foot. “Watch what the fuck you say, Hutch. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but it needs to work itself out.”

  I cupped my jaw for a second and then charged at Thorn. I hit him in the chest with my shoulder and we both went down. I got a shot into his side while he tried to lock his arm around my neck. I was bigger than him, I was bigger than all the guys, but Thorn was faster. I hit him again and then felt the air go out of me as he got in his own shot.

  Hands grabbed me and yanked me off of him, but I fought to get back at him. I wanted someone else to feel as miserable as I did.

  Sterling’s voice in my ear finally broke through. “What the fuck, Hutch? Calm your big ass down!”

  Wyatt was on my other side. “Stop fighting us! Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”

  Sam was in front of Thorn, getting pushed around while Thorn fought just as hard to get to me. We were all breathing hard and looking at each other with wild eyes. I knew the urge to shift was strong in all of us. It was more natural to brawl that way.

  The red haze that I’d been in finally started to fade and I stopped fighting. What the hell was I doing? Attacking Thorn just because he was being nice to my mate? I should be grateful for that, because, god knew, I wasn’t being nice to her.

  Thorn seemed to deflate too and just tossed me a sad look. “Brother, what’s going on with you?”

  I shrugged out of their hold and ran my hands down my face. I could already feel a bruise forming on my jaw, but it’d heal itself just as fast. Hearing him call me brother took whatever wind I had left in my sails right out. “I can’t explain it right now.”

  I couldn’t. They’d never understand, and if Thorn hit me for being an asshole to him, I couldn’t imagine what he’d feel like doing if he found out how I was treating Veronica. No, he wouldn’t understand. None of them would.

  “Are you okay?”

  And now they were concerned for me. I didn’t deserve their concern. “Fuck. I’m fine. I’ve got to go.”

  I walked away, ignoring their calls and got on my bike. Without waiting around to see if I could catch another glimpse of her, I headed towards my shop.

  That’s where I’d been going the night before when I ran into Maggie and let things get carried away. I should’ve shut her down. I wasn’t the least bit interested, but women had been the one little sliver of my life that was fun. Only, it didn’t exactly feel like fun anymore. Not since meeting Veronica. Thank god Maggie had been understanding.

  I pulled behind the shop that had my name on the front, and let myself into my office through the back door. I sat down at my worn desk and just let myself be welcomed by the silence.

  It wasn’t every day the shop was so quiet. Most of the time, it was abuzz with tools, cars, and motorcycles. I owned the only mechanic shop in Burden. The only one within sixty miles. While it should’ve been easier to run, it still wasn’t. There wasn’t a day that went by when there wasn’t someone or something that needed me. It was stress. Pure stress. I was a bear. I was meant to run in the wild, not sort through paperwork and figure out how to calculate my own quarterly taxes.

  It put bread on the table, though, and that’s what really counted. It was something I had to do. I’d been supporting my family since I was fourteen, when I first started working at the shop, back when it was owned by Jimmy Finnegan. I’d never lost focus of that responsibility. If I didn’t do a good job, my family didn’t eat.

  My shoulder muscles were tight and I rolled them, trying to alleviate some of the tension. It was something that never went away, though. The stress and tension ate at me.

  Now, there was even more eating at me. Even in the sanctuary of my office, where I was usually too stressed about work to worry about anything else, Veronica was poking her head in. And her sexy little black lace pantied ass, and her perky little titties. Fuck!

  I sighed and scooted away from my desk. Paperwork could wait. There was a car that I knew one of my guys hadn’t finished. I’d work on it until I was too exhausted to think and then I’d go home.

  That was my life.

  I tried not to think too much about it as I rolled up my sleeves and lifted the hood of a late model Ford. It had a cracked head and needed a lot of little repairs. It’d bring in a hefty paycheck for the shop. That was what I had to focus on.

  I worked at the shop until the car was finished and it was nearly three am. I was dirty and tired, and all I wanted to do was climb into my bed and sleep for a few
hours before waking up and doing it all over again.

  Barely able to keep my eyes open, I decided it was safer to walk home. I crossed the street and headed towards my house, only to be surprised by the lone figure walking ahead of me.

  I knew immediately it was Veronica. Maybe I should head to the river and drown myself. I had the worst luck.

  I watched her walk. I watched as she slowed down until she was barely moving. I started to worry that something might be wrong and continued to watch from a distance. Finally, she veered off to the right and headed away from her house.

  Swearing, I made the decision to follow her. The crime rate in Burden was basically non-existent, so she didn’t truly need my protection, but something compelled me to make sure she remained safe.

  I kept a distance between us and stuck to the shadows as I followed. Just as I was struck by the chilling thought that maybe she was headed to some dude’s house for a sleazy, late night hook-up, she turned down the path to the library. I watched as she looked around before unlocking the door and then creeping in.

  My pulse skyrocketed and I made an impulse choice that I knew I would probably regret. I quickly crossed the street and slipped in the still unlocked door behind her.

  8

  Veronica

  I should’ve locked the door behind me, gul durnit. I chastised myself for my disregard for basic safety. Foolish.

  Instead of taking that simple precaution, I was hiding under my desk with a hardback copy of a popular erotic novel. I’d slipped in on my way home from the bar to grab a couple of spicy new books that I hadn’t read yet—the kind that I was too shy to just walk out of the library with in broad daylight. Although, maybe that was changing too, because I’d openly suggested different novels to the women tonight at dinner.

  I’d been all smiles heading home and then even happier when I changed my mind and detoured towards the library. I had the perfect novel that I knew Georgia would love. It wasn’t library policy, but I was going to sneak it out to her. Lately, I was rebelling left and right.

  I’d thought I felt someone watching me, but I hadn’t seen anyone. Then, I’d heard the door open behind me. Someone had followed me inside a dark, empty building at after three in the morning.

  My mind was in a vortex of panic. I’d been attacked once before in Dallas while coming back from visiting my family. I’d thought I was going to lose my virginity that way, terrified and against my will, in a dirty alley between a deli and a drycleaners. Fortunately, someone came along and screamed at the man on top of me and I’d ended up being a victim only of robbery, instead of rape. I didn’t know if I’d be as lucky a second time.

  I heard my office door creak open and I held my breath. I was going to die. I was going to be raped and then die. My heart beat such a painful rhythm in my chest, I thought it was possible that I’d have a heart attack before anything else happened.

  Footsteps rounded my desk and I took a pro-active approach. I used all of my might to swing the book into my attacker’s shins and then I scrambled out as fast as I could. I didn’t even make it out from under the desk all the way before a massive arm scooped me up and jerked me against a solid chest.

  I tried to scream, but he slapped his hand over my mouth.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? Stop freaking out!”

  Hutch. I went limp in his arms and was starting to think I was in the clear when a nasty thought occurred to me. He wouldn’t kill me, would he? My body stiffened right back up and what had been a fantasy of mine—me, Hutch, alone in the dark, abandoned library—was officially becoming a nightmare.

  “What are you doing hiding under your desk in the middle of the night?”

  As soon as his arm loosened, I broke free and turned to face him while backing away. “What are you doing attacking a woman in the dark in the middle of the night? Did you come to kill me?”

  “Kill y—what? You thought I was going to attack you?” He looked incredulous.

  “I didn’t hear you come inside. You snuck in behind me in the dark.” I stepped towards the door. “How would I know if you were or were not here to attack me?”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m not a monster. I don’t kill people, and I wouldn’t hurt you.”

  I snorted. “You sure about that?”

  He took a step towards me and grimaced when I backed away again. “Veronica.”

  A shiver went down my back, and it was not from fear. Hearing him say my name in that low, husky growl of his did something to my insides. Immediately, my body responded and I cursed it. “I’m going to get what I need and go. You should leave, too.”

  He sniffed the air and growled low in his throat. “Jesus, Veronica.”

  I rushed towards the door and squeaked as his arm locked around me again and his mouth was suddenly hot against my ear. His rough breath sent my hair flying forward and his words were barely more than a growl. “Don’t run from me. Don’t do it. You have no idea what it does to me.”

  My heart raced for a completely different reason. Wetness pooled at my core and I let out a breathy sound that should’ve been embarrassing. “Let me go.”

  Hutch’s arm tightened, pulling my body flush against his. His huge erection dug into my back and he dragged his teeth down my neck. “This is what you wanted, though. I remember how you clung to me that day I caught you, the way your little body writhed against mine as you tried to kiss me.”

  Heat scorched my cheeks and embarrassment won out over desire in that moment. I jerked away from him and through my office doorway. Without any fanfare, I grabbed at the stack of books that I’d left on the circulation desk and didn’t stop until I was at the front door.

  I waited there for him and sighed in annoyance as he took his time coming over. “Tonight would be nice, Hutch.”

  He tilted his head to the side and stared at me. “What’s your issue?”

  I shifted the books from one arm to the other and frowned at him. He was hot as hell and I wanted to jump his bones, but he was annoying. “You’re my issue, you big… butt face. You’re a fartknocker and I don’t want to have to look at your stupid mug anymore tonight. So, hurry up. Get out of here. I want to go home.”

  He looked even more confused, but at least he stepped out of the building. “Fartknocker? What the hell’s a fartknocker?”

  I locked the door behind us and shifted the books again. “Goodbye, Hutch.”

  I looked both ways down the tiny street and then crossed it before I realized that Hutch was still beside me. I dared a side glance at him and raised my eyebrows. “What?”

  “We’re both going in the same direction.” He reached over and took my books from me. His eyes widened as the title on top of the pile caught his attention. “Spankings, Sundaes, and Strippers?”

  “Give those back!”

  He spun away from me and continued to read off the smutty titles. “These books are in the Burden Public Library?”

  I tried to reach around him but he spun away again. I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled. “Hutch! Stop it. Those are a private collection.”

  He spun into me and the books went flying to the sidewalk as he caught me before I could fall. Chest to chest, our faces inches apart as he stooped slightly, our breath mingled. With his huge, strong arms completely wrapped around me, I felt my defenses crumbling. Not that I had much in the way of defenses, but still.

  “Your private collection?”

  My cheeks burned and I was thankful it was dark out. “Yes… maybe.”

  His eyes flashed from honey brown to gold. His thick lashes fluttered as he looked down at my lips. He wore his golden blonde hair short, and it looked so soft to the touch that I wanted to run my fingers through it.

  I felt like I was melting into him. For every soft inch of me there were twice as many hard inches of him. From knees to chest, we were pressed against each other. God, he was beautiful that close. A rough dusting of golden scruff covered the lower half of his ruddy, tanned face and I wan
ted to feel it against my skin. I wanted to wake up with evidence of it on my sensitive skin.

  “You’re different lately.”

  I swallowed and nodded. “I’m not hiding anymore.”

  “Why not?”

  I pushed away from him and straightened my dress. “Because you’re not worth it. If you’re happier not seeing me, maybe you should hide. I’m over you. I’m ready to have some fun.”

  9

  Veronica

  “And if I don’t want to hide from you?” He grabbed me again and pulled me back into his chest.

  I pressed my hands against his chest and shook my head. “Too bad. You’ve treated me like doo-doo. I’m not interested in you anymore.”

  Lies. Lies. Lies. My body was screaming for him and I was pretty sure he knew it. Still, I pushed him away and bent down to collect my books. My heart was once again pounding in my chest. I didn’t even know what I was doing. Punishing him? Punishing myself? Running scared? I had no clue. I just knew that he’d shunned me for months. Longer. He knew I was his mate and yet he’d flirted around town with other women while I hid in the shadows, unable to give my virginity away because the thought of another man touching me made me sick to my stomach.

  It was so painful, and I was angry. Sweet, docile, easily manipulated Veronica was angry as hell. I grabbed the last book and jammed it in his direction when I stood up. “You show up out of nowhere and try to touch me like you have some rights to me or something. Like I’m somehow yours. Well, newsflash, you big nincompoop, I’m not. I’m not yours. So, don’t put your hands on me like I am. Don’t touch me at all.”

  He growled and grabbed the books from me. “I’m walking you home.”

  I released a bitter laugh and walked ahead of him. My heels made loud clicking sounds that annoyed me so I reached down and yanked them off before continuing my angry march.

  I looked back at Hutch and shook my head.