"Sure you can, but if you're doing me a favor, I'm doing one right back."
She looked around the horrible office. "You're doing me a favor by letting me fix this place. If it can be fixed."
He tugged on her hair until she concentrated on him. "It's not the same, and you know it. That's part one of the deal. Agree."
Part one? Well, it would get her what she wanted, but if Bear was to be healed, he had to remain there. So he wouldn't be able to track down the people behind her attempted kidnapping. "All right."
"You sure you don't know who's after you?" he asked.
"Nope," she lied. There was no need to blend lives, now was there? That was the key to undercover work. "What's part two of the deal?"
"Your mating proposal, of course."
Was he just messing with her? Something about him seemed to be making fun of her. She sighed. "The reasons I gave for us to mate are still valid. I might gain fire, and you'd gain more time with me to heal." Not once in her life had she expected to mate for love. From day one, from her first training session, she'd known it'd be either part of a mission or some sort of treaty. Yet lately, she'd wondered. While serving on the Council, she'd seen so many happily mated couples. Real couples in real love.
Was it possible?
"I guess that would give us time to get to know each other," he said easily.
She didn't react. Oh, how many people in the world would look beyond his simple and grumpy facade? Though his body was relaxed, tension rolled off him. Though his tone was easy, it held a slight edge. Though his spectacular honey-brown eyes were calm, they were also sharp. Incredibly sharp. She gave him a shy smile. "I guess that would work." Two could play at this game.
"Wouldn't it, though?" he asked thoughtfully. His chin lifted. "I need to tell you, baby. I'm fine with a couple of secrets or a little intrigue, but you lie to me and you'll be sorry. Tell me you get me."
"Of course," she said, moving away from the door. "I've always found lying to be a waste of time." Until it wasn't.
"Uh-huh." He pulled open the door. "Let's get a move on."
She looked toward the boisterous party. "I don't do well in groups." A true fact, unfortunately. Being raised by her eccentric uncle had been exciting but a little lonely. "I never know what to say."
Bear slipped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her into his heat. "I just don't talk. People seem okay with that."
People were afraid of the big bear. She straightened her shoulders. "All right. Let's do this party."
He chuckled and steered her toward the wide double doors. The second he opened them, heat rushed through. "Bear." More than one guy shouted his name, and he was ripped away for hugs and claps on the back. He turned, and she waved him off.
"I'm fine," she mouthed, looking around the room. A huge bar took up one wall and a large television set another. Couches had been pushed to the side to make room for dancing. She studied the multitude of bodies: many bear shifters and just as many humans. From her research, she knew that the Grizzly MC only let bear shifters be members. Apparently, they partied with humans-mainly female humans with incredibly tight jeans and low-cut midriff tops. "I am not appropriately dressed," she muttered.
"I don't know about that." Lucas moved in from her right and handed her a beer.
She took a drink and smiled, grateful for a friendly face. Ugh, she hated beer. "Thank you so much."
He walked around her, checking her out.
What in the world? She waited until he'd returned to her front. Bear's second-in-command had thick brown hair and warm brown eyes. His face was rugged, but not as rugged as Bear's. And he was almost the same size as Bear-large and broad. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Helping you," he said simply. "Give me the jacket."
Her mouth gaped open. "Excuse me?"
"You wanna fit in?" he asked.
She looked around to see more than a couple of young females giving her hard looks. Yet a few of the men were checking her out. Sigh. She so did not have time for this. Bear was over at the bar with several members in black motorcycle jackets. He nodded at her, his eyebrows up.
She nodded back. She was just fine.
He grinned.
"Nessa?" Lucas asked.
All right. She could do this. It was just another undercover op. "Fine." Handing him her beer, she unbuttoned her jacket and pulled it off.
Lucas whistled. "All right."
She looked down at her pristine white silk shirt. "What?"
He grinned and set their beers down on a nearby table. "Give me a sec." His thick fingers tucked into her ribs, and he tugged the shirt free of her skirt. Then he unbuttoned the bottom buttons and tied the silk with a firm knot. "There we go."