Boarlander Silverback (Boarlander Bears #3)(40)

Uncertainty slashed through the green of Bash’s eyes. “For what? I didn’t do nothin’.”

“Untrue. You’ve done plenty, for this crew and for me. Remember when we were talking about you finding a mate, and you were scared you wouldn’t be any good at it?”

“Yeah. I was wrong. I’m f*ckin’ awesome at it. Emerson says so all the time.”

Kirk laughed and nodded his agreement. “Well, I remember when we were talking about that, I knew exactly how you felt. I understood your fear because I was afraid of the same thing—that I wouldn’t be any good at being a mate.”

“That’s stupid,” Bash scoffed. “You’re a smart man, a hard worker, loyal as hell. You don’t let people in easy, but when you do, you dig your heels in and make sure they’re taken care of, no matter what. Ally is lucky, and you’re lucky, too.”

Kirk leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know if I’ll be good at this, but I’m trying. And I’ll keep trying until Ally is happy, like you make Emerson happy. But part of that means sticking around.”

“Sticking around?”

Kirk handed him the envelope, and with a frown marring Bash’s jet-black brows, he opened it. He did a quick count of the twenty dollar bills inside. Bash’s face went slack. “What is this, Kirk?”

“I heard you are the one to go to when we want to invest.”

“You want me to grow your money?”

Kirk clasped his hands together and nodded.

“But I work for the Boarlanders. Kirk, I can take care of you, but not if you’re getting paid by Kong down in Saratoga. I handle finances here, that’s all.”

“So if I stay here, you’ll get me a 401k set up?”

“Yeah.” Bash smiled hopefully. “401k, investments, insurance, child education funds, whatever you want. I can make sure you retire on time with lots to live on. I can take care of you and Ally.” Bash looked down at the envelope in his hands again and clutched it harder. “Stay. Not because of the money, but because it’s where you belong. The other Boarlanders Clinton chased off? They weren’t strong enough for this crew.” Bash sighed. “I don’t want it to feel broken around here again.”

Harrison leaned against the office doorframe. “I second what Bash said. It won’t be the same without you here. Look, I know you have a good job down in Saratoga and a nice setup near town. And I know it’s hard on you finding your place in the pecking order here. But we were royally f*cked at the beginning of the season, and you came in and helped us turn things around. We were limping along, and you propped us up. You and Mason both.”

“What about your interviews?”

“Fuck the interviews, Kirk. You aren’t replaceable, man. I was looking at hiring two loggers to put in the work you do. I don’t like it, hiring new Boarlanders. I’d rather my crew choose to live here. Not for the money or the job stability, but because they fit here. You fit.”

Kirk bit the side of his lip and ducked his gaze to his clasped hands because he’d never heard a better offer than that, nor a better combination of words. You fit.

“Kong won’t want to let me go easy. It’s not his fault. His animal has deep instincts and a small family group. He’ll protect it.”

Harrison inhaled deeply and shifted his weight, kicked the toe of his boot against a loose strip of flooring. “I suppose you’re right. He’ll require his pound of flesh.” The alpha gave him a slow, steady smile. “Good thing I’ve been aching for a brawl.”

“Nah,” Kirk murmured. “This one is my fight.”





Chapter Seventeen


Alison signed her name across another boring report that basically said nothing had happened for yet another day.

People weren’t trying to hurt shifters here, and vice versa. With every day she spent at the post, she realized more that this job was utterly pointless. And apparently Finn felt the same because he was currently standing in front of her cabin throwing rocks at a tree trunk and muttering to himself.

Whatever. If he wasn’t being such a mega-chode all the time, she would’ve cared about going out there and talking him through his pissed-off mood. But truth be told, he’d grown grumpier than Clinton with each passing day, and that was saying something.

This isn’t what she’d imagined having a partner would be like. Undercover, she had to pretend not to know anyone who could be tied to the good side of the law, but when she’d been assigned Finn, she’d stupidly thought it would be like those cop shows on television. The die-hard bond where they would have each other’s backs no matter what. In actuality though, if she was on fire, Finn wouldn’t even bother to piss on her to put her out. Not after she’d thrown her support in for the shifters of Damon’s mountains. He apparently thought her relationship with Kirk was some slight to him, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why. Her falling in love had nothing to do with Finn. Unless…

She stood and opened the door. “Do you have a crush on me?” she asked. It was better to ask direct questions to get a natural reaction.

Finn scrunched up his face and looked honestly disgusted. “Fuck no. You’re too skinny, and you have too many tattoos. You probably have a thousand daddy issues, and I like long-haired brunettes with round asses.” He squared his shoulders to her and hooked his hands on his hips. “Let me put it this way. I would only f*ck you if I was blindfolded, so no, I don’t have a crush on you.”