Boarlander Bash Bear 2(12)

Women swarmed around him like bees on a hive, but he couldn’t look less interested if he tried. He wore a slight frown in his dark eyebrows, and his eyes had lightened from forest green to a blazing lime green that made her heart stutter in her chest. His jet-black hair was messy on top, and his facial scruff trimmed short. His gray T-shirt was tight through the chest and shoulders, and there was a dark spot across the front, as though someone had spilled on him. He leaned forward to listen to one of the ladies beside him, but when she yelled something against his ear, he winced like it hurt and clenched his jaw so hard a muscle twitched there.

She’d never seen a more stunning man in her life.

“Bash,” she said at normal volume, just to experiment.

Bash’s gaze collided with hers instantly, and his lips transformed into a breathtaking smile.

“’Scuse me, ladies,” he murmured as he detached from three sets of claws and made his way to her.

Emerson’s heart drummed hard enough to rattle her chest as he approached.

“Hey,” she said when he squared up to her.

His hands slid onto her waist, and he pulled her in for a hug. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

She closed her eyes and hugged his neck. “You, too.” She meant that with her whole heart. “Thank you for the barbecue.”

He eased back, blazing eyes eager. “Did you like the present?”

“I freaking loved it! So, I was thinking—”

“Time’s up,” a brunette in bright red lipstick announced, pulling on Bash’s arm.

He gritted his teeth and let off a low growl. The woman must not have noticed because she kept tugging at his bicep, but Emerson was close enough to feel the vibration on the air. She rested her hand on his chest, and the sound settled. “It’s okay. This is what you’re here for. I’ll ask you my question later.”

Bash pulled his arm out of the woman’s grasp and cupped the back of Emerson’s neck. For a brilliant, heart-pounding moment, she thought he was going to kiss her, but he lowered his lips beside her ear instead. “This isn’t like I thought it would be.”

“What do you mean?” she asked breathlessly.

His chest heaved under her palms. “I thought I would be happier on the hunt, but I just want to hang out with you.” His lips brushed her ear, and she went weak against him, leaning heavily. “Layla, I choose her,” he said to the blond bartender trying to keep up with everyone’s drink orders.

“Finally,” Layla called with a wink. “Anyone else?”

“Me!” several woman around them said, raising their hands.

“Just her,” Bash said with a hard look for the brunette pawing at his arm again. He swung his gaze back to Emerson. “Ask me quick.”

“Oh! Uh, I was wondering if maybe after this you wanted to come over and have some of the barbecue you got me.”

His face went completely slack so she backpedaled. “If not, it’s no big deal.”

“No, no! I want that,” he said as he was dragged away. “It’s a date. A friend-date. Willa,” he called across the bar. He twitched his head toward Emerson.

“I’m on it!” Willa yelled, and when Emerson looked up, the tiny red-head was crawling down the bar top on her hands and knees, pushing two sloshing shot glasses across the shiny surface in front of her. She was getting nowhere fast.

With a laugh, Emerson waved to Bash, then snaked her way through the crowd toward the bar to make Willa’s apparent job as bodyguard a little easier.

“Oh, my God,” Willa groaned as Emerson reached her. “This is crazy. Who knew dangling a set of bear balls in front of the groupies would result in pussypalooza. Look at these crazies.” Willa leaned back on the bar top, her legs folded under her as she looked exhausted and downed another shot of orange juice. “No offense.”

Emerson snorted, took the offered shot of whiskey out of her hand, and downed it. “None taken. This is my first time here, and I just came because Bash invited me.”

“Yeah, come on bear-tamer. Bash said you’re some kind of recluse and in need of friends.” When Willa slid off the counter, her black miniskirt hiked up, exposing some purple striped cotton panties. She didn’t look embarrassed, though. Instead she gave a statuesque, sandy-haired man up near the stage a wink as she straightened her skirt back into place and murmured, “The trick to getting a hot man to bone you is granny panties and glasses.”

Okay then.

Following along closely, she nearly bumped into the back of Willa when she stopped in front of a pair of oversize tables with a group of people sitting around them. The speaker was turned off on this side of the stage, so it was quieter here, and one by one, Willa introduced Emerson to her Gray Back Crew. Emerson shook all their hands and committed their names to memory. Creed, Gia, Jason, Georgia, Matt, and some of the bears were back at the Grayland Mobile Park. Damon and Clara had a kiddo with a bedtime, and Beaston and Aviana were due any day now. Willa leaned closer and called over the music, “You’ll have to meet Bash’s Boarlanders later. Clinton pitched a huge fit when he found out about this, and he and Harrison bled the shit out of each other, so Audrey is back at the trailer park cleaning up the mess, and Mason and Kirk are in no-man’s land.” Willa pointed her wormy nails to where Bash was talking to a couple of titans with solemn looks on their faces. “They’re trying to keep order so Bash can meet everyone, but I’m calling it now. There is no way he will meet everyone tonight.”