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Hers to Take(3)

By:Elena Aitken


Maybe the job wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I'm fixing your drain, darlin'."

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not your darlin'. And you're not Cranky Carl."

"No." Nash latched on to a wad of hair and sludge in the drain and yanked. "I'm definitely not Carl." He grinned. "And I'm not cranky. But I just fixed your drain." He wiped his hand on a rag and stood.

Damn. The woman was even more impressive when she was directly in front of him. And she was definitely not human. He held out his now clean hand. "Nash North."

Her dark eyes narrowed and she took a moment to look him over. She could have taken all day as far as Nash was concerned. Her gaze felt good. Damn good. Because if she liked what she saw even half as much as he liked the sight of her, it was going to be an interesting summer indeed. Finally, she took his hand.

"Kira Jackson." Her grip was strong, her skin soft, her touch electric. "Where's Carl?"

"Cranky Carl?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I shouldn't have said that." Kira slipped her hand from his and Nash had to fight the instinct to grab it back. "It's just that Carl can be a little … "

"Cranky?"

She tipped her head and for a moment she looked as though she might disagree, but finally she nodded. "Yes. He can be a little cranky from time to time."

"Well then, I guess it's an appropriate nickname," Nash said. "I can't tell you where he is, but I was told that I was hired on because the man before me retired. So perhaps he's a little less cranky now?"

"One can only hope." Kira smiled reluctantly.

"At least for his wife's sake."

"Oh, I can't imagine Carl is married."

"Are you?" The question was out of his mouth so fast, and so smoothly, it clearly took her a second to process it. Nash could see when she did.

Kira shook her head, looked away and took a step to the side. "I don't think so."

"You don't think you're married?"

"Oh, I know I'm not married." Kira spun around, her eyes blazing, making them look even darker than before. "Not that it's any of your business."

He knew he was being forward and presumptuous, but that had never stopped him before. "Mated then?" Nash could have sworn he heard a growl come from deep within her. And in that moment, he knew. A bear. Damn. He should have seen it right away, but there was something about her. Her animal was muted somehow.

"How the … what … you … "




 

 

"Wolf."

"Wolf?" She almost spat out the word. Nash took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You don't have to sound so damned disgusted about it."

"No." Kira shook her head apologetically and closed her eyes for a moment. "That's not what I … sorry … I didn't realize."

And that's what was wrong. She hadn't realized he was a shifter. It was unusual for a shifter not to recognize another. Even a different species. But then again, he hadn't recognized her as a bear. Not right away, anyway.

"Is that going to be a problem?" Nash tilted his head and watched her for a moment while she clearly had an internal battle he didn't understand. "Because, judging by the look on your face … it might be a problem."

"No." Kira shook her head quickly and bit her bottom lip, an action that sent a flash of desire right to his core. Damn. The woman was sexy and had no idea. "It's fine. I was just taken off guard is all."

"Were you?" He took a step toward her. As he expected, she didn't back away. Bears never did. Kira straightened and her deep, dark eyes stared directly into his.

"I was preoccupied was all. I wasn't expecting to walk in here and find a wolf." It wasn't his imagination; there was definitely disdain laced through her voice. "I was coming to deal with a clogged shower and Cranky Carl. I was not expecting you."

Nash took another half step toward her and rubbed the stubble on his chin as he challenged her with, "Well, you got me, babe."

"I'm not your babe."

"Not yet."

"No." She shook her head and stepped toward him, straightening up to her full height. Bear or not, he wanted her. Badly. "This isn't happening." Nash expected her to step closer, closing the gap. In his experience, bears didn't back down. Especially to wolves. Instead, she turned and walked to the door before she looked back at him. "If you plan on keeping your job, this isn't going to happen." Kira gestured between them. "I don't know if you were told, but I'm the manager of this campground and won't tolerate-"

"Me?"

"No." She glared at him. "I won't tolerate your … your … this."