Bear Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire #2)(10)

Lena’s smile fell from her face, and her heart stopped as he lowered that brilliant gaze to her lips again. He was only inches away, and now she couldn’t breathe. He leaned forward, so near she could feel his warmth as he ran his big hands up her legs. Squeezing gently at the tops of her thighs, he eased forward until his lips were at her ear. “It’ll complicate your feelings, Lena.”

Then he stood and carried his empty plate and coffee mug toward the lodge, leaving her staring after him and feeling utterly touched. Body touched, heart touched, soul touched, and now her breath came back ragged.

Jenner Silver was a complete stranger, but she’d never wanted to be kissed by a man so badly.

And from the swell of his cheeks that said he was smiling as he walked away, Jenner knew it, too.

****

Dalton Dawson was a flirt. Lena had spent the day fishing and hiking the nearby trails with the Dawson cousins because Jenner had done his damndest to avoid her. Now it was late in the evening, and Dalton had taken on the personal challenge of teaching Lena how to tie flies so when she returned, she could fly-fish with her own lures. At least, that’s what he’d told her, but right now, he was leaning over her shoulder from behind, arms wrapped around her, fingers on hers as he showed her the knots.

Lena had swatted him away about a dozen times today, but at this point, it was downright funny, and she was pretty sure he was paying attention to her because he found her amusing and easy to tease. He reminded her of Adam. That thought washed sadness and joy through her all at once. She closed her eyes and smiled at the memory of his face. Adam had been her best friend growing up, and Dalton’s fun-loving personality had given her a precious moment. It had been a long time since thoughts of Adam had made her happy.

“Ow,” she muttered as she stared down at the swelling red dot on her thumb where the tiny hook had pricked her.

“Well, you have to pay attention, girl. Stop falling in love with me and focus,” Dalton teased.

“Aw, piss off,” she said, shoving him with a laugh. “I’m married.”

Dalton jolted upward, spine straight as a rod, and Chance dropped the magazine he was reading from the leather couch near them. “You are?”

“To my work.”

“Ha!” Chance said, jamming a finger at Dalton. “You should see your face right now.”

Jenner strode through the front door and halted when his eyes landed on her. He dragged that sexy blue-flame gaze to Dalton and narrowed his eyes.

“He’s aliiiive,” Chance sang in a monster voice.

Something unfathomable sparked in the air between Jenner and Dalton for just an instant before the giant strode into the kitchen with his boots echoing across the wooden floors. “I’ve been packing.”

“I think she should ride Hatchet,” Dalton said, the tease melting from his voice.

“She’ll be fine on Gunner.”

“Gunner’s too wild,” Dalton argued.

“Uh, I’m experienced with horses,” she said, frowning her disapproval at Dalton. “This isn’t my first trail ride.”

Dalton crossed his arms over his chest. “Gunner’s young, and he’s only been doing this two seasons.”

“My tour, my choice. She’ll be fine,” Jenner gritted out, his back to them as he pulled the refrigerator door open.

“Yeah, but—”

“Careful, dog,” Jenner murmured low, twisting to give Dalton a lethal look over his shoulder. “Hatchet runs at the first scent of bears. Gunner will get her where we need to go. She can handle him.”

Dog? Lena was glad Jenner had more faith in her abilities than Dalton did, but the name he’d called him didn’t make any sense. She didn’t know whether to thank Jenner for sticking up for her or reprimand him for being rude to the guide gone rigid beside her. Best not to do either because from the way Dalton huffed a humorless laugh and met Jenner’s terrifying gaze, she didn’t understand the dynamics here.

“Dalton,” Chance said, warning in his deep timbre. “Back off this one. Jenner’s right.”

Something heavy was in the air, pressing against her shoulders, lifting the fine hairs on her body. There was another moment of silence before Dalton dropped his gaze and nodded slightly. He ghosted her a glance, but his eyes looked strange. They looked lighter, more caramel than dark chocolate, and she blinked hard to clear her vision. But when she opened her eyes again, he was already striding toward the hallway.

“Night,” he called behind him. And then his door shut a little too soundly.

She opened her mouth to ask what had just happened, but Jenner beat her to it. “You hungry?” he asked gruffly. “I’m making a grilled cheese. I can make one for you while I’m at it.”

“And me,” Chance said, turning the page of his magazine and leaning back into the couch with his feet propped up on the table, like Jenner and Dalton having dominance battles was a daily occurrence.

“Uh, sure. I’ll take one, too.” Hell no, she wasn’t going to turn down a sexy-as-hell man cooking for her. Even if he was just being polite.

Lena set her half-finished fly on the table and trotted into the kitchen, slipping and sliding across the polished floors in her warm socks. “Where’s Lennard?” she asked as Jenner shoved a loaf of bread toward her.