Bear Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire #2)(4)

“Sir, I’m just here to photograph grizzlies, not to make friends or have campfire singalongs. I’m comfortable with quiet.”

Lennard inhaled deeply and nodded his head. “I bet you are. You’d have to be to travel on your own like you do.”

The remark wasn’t meant to offend, but pain slashed through her middle. If Lennard knew why she traveled as much as she did, he wouldn’t be looking at her with his bright blue eyes all full of respect. He’d think her weak for running from her demons. She liked the old man, though, and wouldn’t blur his opinion by explaining why she preferred the quiet.

Likely, she and Jenner would get along just fine.





Chapter Two


Chance and Dalton had relaxed around her almost immediately and were now sitting on the big couch of the great room with their feet on the table, beers in hand, as they watched sports re-runs while Lennard was cooking something delicious smelling over the stove in the kitchen.

“You sure you don’t want us to turn the channel to a reality show or something?” Dalton asked through a grin. “Billion dollar weddings or a cat show or something.”

Lena snorted at the tease and muttered, “Fuck you.”

Chance laughed and turned up the volume to better hear the sports announcer while Lena curled her feet under her on the dark leather reclining chair and went back to sketching ideal shots she wanted to take. It was silly since she knew as well as anyone that when she was in the moment, shooting pictures, a shot never went according to plan. And sometimes a money shot was one she would’ve never imagined. But this, sketching and planning, was tradition before a big shoot. It settled her mind and her nerves and allowed her to focus on the task at hand more easily.

Biting her bottom lip, she frowned as she erased the odd angled eyes of the grizzly she’d drawn. Satisfied after drawing them back, she twisted in her comfortable chair and asked for the fifth time, “Lennard, are you sure you don’t want any help in there. I really don’t mind.”

“Yeah, make me a sandwich,” Dalton said through a teasing grin.

She smiled and rolled her wrist, lifting her middle finger with a flourish before she went back to sketching. The little crap-starter was just trying to get under her skin, but if she’d learned anything hanging around mostly men in her profession, it was that when the teasing started, it was a sign of acceptance.

“No, you relax Lena,” Lennard called over his shoulder. “Usually I’m cooking for a lot more people, so this is an easy meal.”

Lena smiled to herself and pulled a blanket from the arm of the chair. She was already showered for the night and in a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a long-sleeved shirt. It was July, but it was cold at night in this high-ceiling lodge. Thankfully, Lennard had sent her an extensive list of clothing she would need for a guided tour, so she’d come prepared.

The front door blasted open, and a mountain of a man ducked under the frame. When his striking blue eyes landed on her, Lena froze. His dark hair was cut short on the sides, but he wore it longer on top, and his jaw was hidden by a beard as black as pitch, making the vivid sky-color of his eyes even brighter. His nose was straight and his jawline strong, his cheekbones sharp. He looked like some wild animal, the way he straightened his spine slowly until he was at his full imposing height. Lifting his chin, he looked down at where she sat in the chair and dragged his gaze to the sketchpad in her lap, then back to her eyes.

Holy hell, they didn’t make them like this back home. Rugged, burly mountain man almost as tall as the bear skin rug under her chair, and oh Mylanta, the green sweater he wore was like a second skin, allowing her a peek at his defined chest and abs. He shrugged his arms until the open front of his jacket hid his body from her, and his eyes narrowed as if he didn’t appreciate her attention.

“Jenner, meet your new client,” Lennard said blandly from the kitchen.

Jenner jerked his gaze to Lennard and waited a few seconds too long with his response to be polite. “Where’s the rest of them?”

“The rest of who?” Lena asked, pushing the blanket to the side and standing up to her full, not-so-imposing height.

“Your team.”

She arched her eyebrows and shrugged. “No team.”

Jenner gritted his teeth. “The men you’ve come with.”

Dalton chuckled and sang low, “Here we go.”

Lena stifled a curse. “No men, Mr. Silver. Just me.”

“And what are you wanting to do? Please God tell me it’s a fishing excursion.”

“You can call it that. We’ll be going to the rivers at least, but I’m here for the bears.”

“Bears,” Jenner repeated softly, eyes going hard as ice.

“Brown bears to be exact.”

“They aren’t in season. Sorry.”

“Oh, I want to shoot them, but not with a gun. I’m a photographer.”

Jenner let off a huffed, humorless laugh and shook his head. “Uh-uh. Hell no. Lennard, I’m not doing it.”

“Now Jenner, she is an important client for us.”

Jenner approached her slow but spoke to Lennard. “I don’t care who the f*ck she is. I’m not taking her out there. Not to photograph grizzlies. You want to go fishing, you let me know. Otherwise, pick Chance or Dalton for your death wish.”