Page 2 of Bearly Mine
Sunlight trickled through the trees that surrounded the highway. If I weren’t in shifter territory, I would probably enjoy the drive. Instead, my eyes darted from side to side, on the constant lookout for animals. The last thing I wanted to do was hit a shifter. Every time the road curved, causing my view to be blocked by the forest, my muscles tightened and I gripped the steering wheel harder.
I considered turning the radio on, but decided I didn’t want the distraction. With the more direct route, I should arrive at my interview early enough to do some mindfulness exercises and ease the tension building in my body.
After driving for an hour, I had settled in a bit, having seen no sign of wildlife, shifter or otherwise. Then my car started to sputter and slow, and I only just managed to steer it onto the shoulder of the road before it died. I turned my key, but the car just coughed and refused to start up again.
Grabbing my phone, I checked the map to see how far from the nearest town I was, but quickly realized there was no signal. I rested my forehead against the steering wheel and closed my eyes, letting my breath out in a rush. So much for my interview.
Maddie wasn’t expecting me back until late, so it was unlikely anyone would look for me anytime soon. And except for the construction guy, no one knew I had detoured through ShifterAlley. I needed to start walking and hope my phone would pick up a signal before too long.
A knock on my window caused me to jump, and my gaze flew to a man peering through the glass. His brown hair was short, and his shoulders were broad. Stubble just shy of a beard covered the lower half of his face, emphasizing his sharp cheekbones. His eyes were a piercing gray. And he was shirtless.
My eyes drank in the powerful body. He was large, well over six feet tall, with muscles that looked more like he achieved them from work than a gym, and smooth, tan skin. A smattering of hair covered his chest. I looked down and realized he was fully naked. My jaw dropped and heat bloomed across my cheeks. The sound of his throat clearing had my gaze snapping up to meet his.
“Pop the hood.” His words were brief, his deep voice smooth and rich. He walked to the front of the car, waiting patiently for me as I fumbled with the latch. He lifted the hood, disappearing from view.
I mouthed a swear word as I fanned myself. Were all shifters this hot? And did they all walk around naked? They must not, or more women would drive through Shifter Alley hoping to catch a glimpse.
I should be nervous, with a shifter only feet away, but I wasn’t. Something about his presence soothed my nerves. I felt safe. Which was crazy. I was alone with a naked man capable of turning into a wild animal, far from human civilization.
TWO
Dean
My bear rippled beneath the surface, fighting to get out as I leaned over the engine. Something about the woman called to him. And me. The urge to protect her was strong. I couldn’t get the scent of her from where she sat closed up in the vehicle, but I was certain she was human. Her shock at my nudity was too obvious.
I tried to focus on the car’s engine, but the image of her large green eyes filled my mind. Her blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders in loose curls, and her delicate features flushed prettily when she realized I caught her staring.
A rumble moved through my chest, and my nails lengthened into claws. I fisted my hands, letting the bite of the claws digging into my palms bring me back to the moment. My bear receded, though grumpy about it, and I regained control. The cuts would heal quickly enough, with my shifter healing.
After a quick look under the hood, I closed it. I walked to the side of the car and motioned for her to open her window. She shook her head and said, “It’s broken.”
My shifter hearing allowed me to hear her clearly, even through the window. “Just like your engine.”
Her shoulders slumped. “What’s wrong with it?”
“What isn’t wrong is the better question. I’m surprised you didn’t break down sooner.” I crossed my arms, noticing how her gaze followed my movements, her tongue darting out to lick her lower lip. My bear had me standing up straighter, as if wanting to show off my physique to her. “Looks like it was being held together by luck alone.”
“Which clearly ran out on me. And at the worst possible time.” She tipped her head back against her seat, and my eyes followed the line of her throat to where the vee of her blouse granted me a slight hint of cleavage, causing my bear to let out a low purr. Luckily, she couldn’t hear it. “Do I have far to walk before getting a signal on my phone?”
“About five miles.”
“Guess I’d better start walking.” She grimaced. “Definitely going to miss my job interview.”
“I can give you a ride.” The offer left my mouth before I even thought about it. “You headed to Dryston?”
She nodded slowly. “I am. But I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” I shrugged. “Besides, you’d be lucky to find anyone willing to come this far into Shifter Alley to pick you up. Unless you want to pay a premium.”
From the state of her car, I doubted that was an option for her, and the slump of her shoulders confirmed it. Taking pity on her, I continued, “I have a buddy who might get your car running again. He can look at it while I run you out to your interview.”
“That’s really kind of you.” She sighed. “If you’re sure it’s not a problem?”
“It’s not.” I had planned to spend the afternoon running around in bear form, but that could wait. Something my bear surprisingly agreed with. “You can stay here while I go get my truck.”
She looked around, her brows lowering as she realized I didn’t have a vehicle there. “Oh. Do you live nearby? How did you find me?”
“I was out for a run when I heard your car struggling. But my place isn’t far. I’ll be back soon.”
