Hers to Take(23)

"Yeah, there were fish." Conner went to the shared fridge and took a beer without offering Nash one. "And these ones were rotted and disgusting. They weren't in the same spot either. Farther downstream, in a pile by site 36." He cracked the top of his can and swallowed deep. "And they weren't happy about it, either. Have you ever had to deal with a pissed-off guest, Nash? It sucks because all you can do is smile and nod like an idiot and promise you'll look into the problem. You're pretty much a pussy with a-"

"I'd appreciate if you didn't use that kind of language in here, Conner." Kira walked into the kitchen. Nash's dick twitched at the sight of her. "After all," Kira continued as she walked across the room toward Nash, "it's not very respectful toward women, and we all live here."

Conner muttered something under his breath, took another swig of his beer and glared at Kira, who'd come to stand by Nash. "Maybe if you figured out why the fish were dying, I wouldn't have to deal with the problem at all and we wouldn't have pissed-off guests who were pulling up and heading to different campgrounds."




 

 

"They're leaving?" Kira's voice was laced with concern.

"Of course they're leaving," Conner spat. "Why would they stay in a campground that stunk, and was being managed by a woman who was more interested in sneaking off with the maintenance man than running a quality campground where they can spend their family holiday?"

"Okay, that's enough." Nash stepped forward, slightly in front of Kira. He had no doubt that she could take care of herself, none at all, but that wasn't the point. The point was that this asshole was disrespecting his mate and he wasn't going to stand for it.

Mate?

Nash froze, only mildly aware that Conner had stepped up to him.

Holy fuck. Mate?

Where had that come from? He couldn't go around thinking of Kira as a mate. There were so many reasons that was wrong and never going to happen.

But there were also a lot of reasons it was so very right.

Nash shook his head and focused on the little man who'd stepped up, fists clenched, very much in Nash's personal space. He didn't have time for any disruptive thoughts about Kira. He also didn't have time for Conner, who was clearly itching for a fight.

"Back off, little man." Nash kept his voice light and stepped past him to the fridge to get a beer of his own. Not because he wanted one, but he needed something to cool him down and think of anything but what had just happened. Even if it was in his head.

"Want one?" Nash turned to look at Kira with a beer in his hand.

She looked at him strangely, but after a moment shook her head. "No. Thanks." She turned to Conner. "You need to check yourself, Conner. We may be off the clock, but I'm still your boss."

Conner glanced between them, his eyes narrowed in a glare. For a second, Nash thought the man was going to challenge him again, but then he took a step back and swallowed hard. "Okay," he said. It definitely wasn't an apology, but Kira didn't look like she was going to press it. "But take care of the fish thing," Conner added. "Or I'm going to have to tell the head office. I'm sick of dealing with angry guests who think the water is poisoned."

He stomped off like a teenager having a tantrum. Nash half expected to hear a door slam. Not that he cared, but it was good to have him gone. He really didn't need to risk getting into a fistfight and losing his job. Especially not over a guy as weaselly as Conner.

Besides, he had way more important things to think of. Like getting Kira out of there and out to the woods, where they could be alone.



Kira would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about shifting. The truth was that she was terrified. 

Not of the actual shifting part. That she was looking forward to. The way her body would stretch and relax all at the same time. The feeling of nothing between her and the fresh air. The rustle of the wind in her fur. All of it. Never mind the way her mind would relax. All of the pent-up emotion and energy she'd been stuffing down for the last year would melt away. Sex with Nash had helped, but nothing was quite like shifting into her bear to give herself a reset.

Yes, she was definitely looking forward to the shifting part. That wasn't the problem.

The part that she'd been worrying about and stressing over all day was far more complicated.

Distracting herself with work all day hadn't worked, and she'd hoped that when she finally got to see Nash, that just being with him would put her worries at ease. But they'd only increased as she got into the truck next to him and drove to the picnic spot Kira had chosen.

She'd hardly paid any attention on the drive, and it wasn't until she led him down a trail past a thermal hot spot that would lead to the perfect picnic spot that she had in mind, that Nash finally called her on her distraction.