Page 1 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

1

Preston

The front desk phone is ringing.

InTwin Falls Mountain Retreat, that’s an event. I stare at it in disgust. There’s no caller ID on this old relic, but I know who it is. Gritting my teeth, I snatch it up.

“…Uh, helloo?” a voice says after a few seconds. A voice that’s dripping with sarcasm.

I clench my jaw, my bad mood plunging into an abyss of fury.

“What is it, Clay?” I demand of my irritating-as-shit younger brother.

Clay launches a dramatic sigh into the receiver. “What is it? Lemme see. How many times have I asked you—no,beggedyou—to say some goddamn thing when you answer the phone? Evenhellowould be a big improvement on this fucking creepy silence.”

I give a rumble of annoyance. “And I’ve told you, it’s not necessary. Someone wants to talk, they talk.”

“Can’t you just pretend to be civil? Be good to get some paying guests here.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” I growl.

“Neither of us did, bro,” Clay retorts.

My beast’s fur prickles my skin. All it wants is to be out in the wilderness, running and snapping up small animals in its jaws, not cooped up in this hotel lobby all day. Holding the fort while my little brother goes on his extended honeymoon.

“You calling to say you’re on your way back here?” I demand.

“Ahh, the doc says I need another week at least,” Clay mumbles.

“What!?” I roar.

“It’s a complex injury, Preston. It’s not gonna heal overnight.”

I clench my jaw so hard, my teeth squeak. Clay had a skydiving accident three weeks ago and fractured his coccyx. A bad injury for a human, but shifters heal fast, and he’s already delayed his return date once. I’m pretty darn sure it’s because he can’t tear himself and his new bride, Lola, away from their dream honeymoon. I glance around the dark, stuffy lobby that has recently become my home. Guess I can’t blame him.

“Better be the last time,” I grunt.

“Any guests in the diary?” Clay asks.

“Ten,” I reply. And I’m so mad about it that I don’t even get any pleasure out of the shocked silence that follows.

Takes a hell of a lot to shock my brother into silence. He’s always done the talking for the both of us. He’s three years younger, but he actually started talking before I did. Guess that’s why I’m so taciturn.

“That’s… that’s great,” he sputters. “Staying how long?”

“Three nights.”

“Full rate?”

“Yup.”

“That’ll be good money, bro. We’ll be able to get some new carpets put in…”

While Clay drones on about the potential renovations for this old dump, I drift off, wondering just how the heck I’m gonna deal with ten guests.

“Huh?” I grunt, realizing that Clay has stopped talking.

“I said, are you all ready for them?”

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