He nodded.
“No comment, huh?”I teased.
“I have plenty of comments, but we’re on assignment, and the last thing I want is to be distracted while we’re bringing these bastards down.”There was a hint of a growl to his voice.“Someday…”
He didn’t finish his thought.
“Someday what?”I asked.
“Nothing.”
It wasn’t nothing.I squeezed my eyes closed but all I could picture was the muscular bear in his towel.This time, we were in the middle of what on TV they’d referred to as Red Heaven, and I had my hand on top of his, urging him to let go of that towel and follow me into one of the private nooks where I’d lick all the moisture from his body…
I took a deep breath, desperately trying to ground myself in the reality of the situation.We were on an undercover mission, not a joy ride to the sex club.A musky scent permeated my nostrils, and I opened my eyes to see Beau’s knuckles tighten on the steering wheel, like we were sharing the same fantasy.
Focus.I was already rattled, and this wig cap was making me overheat.It didn’t take me long to forget the uncomfortable realities of being in character.
“Whoa.”I’d seen The Stepchild on TV, and of course, listened to the Sawtooth Security crew repeatedly warn me about how absolutely huge this party was, but I’d completely failed to imagine the actual scope of this production.
I’d been picturing backyard potluck.Maybe a quaint gathering on a town green.Ha.This was like a festival.Complete with a Ferris wheel and a giant outdoor stage.
I let out a low whistle.“Sawtooth Forest knows how to party.”
“We do,” Beau said proudly.“This is a great community.It wasn’t always like this.The wolf pack are more like phoenixes, and they rose from the ashes.They’d been divided into haves and have-nots, and the good guys were able to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.Look how they’ve brought everyone together.”
“It looks magical.”And intimidating.But I didn’t want Beau to think I was having doubts.I wanted to bust these bad guys more than anything.
You want your life back?my wolf asked.
I glanced over at Beau, who was smiling hopefully—and a little apprehensively.
“Ready to introduce yourself to Sawtooth Forest as my girlfriend Gina?”he asked.
I swallowed hard and nodded.“Will I run into any of your exes?”
It took him a moment to shake his head.“Haven’t been serious with anyone since I got here.”
“Let me rephrase that.What about people you’ve brought to Red Heaven?”
“They know the rules of the game.”His voice was full rumble, but he didn’t wait for me to answer before he got out of the truck.Before I had a chance to move, he was on the passenger’s side, opening my door.
“So Beau the boyfriend is a gentleman,” I teased as I slid out of the cab and took his free hand.He’d tucked his crock pot full of chili under his other arm.
“In the streets,” he said.“All bear in the places it counts most.”
My lips parted, but people were already calling to him, and he waved.No doubt this bear was an extrovert, because his energy had changed.
Which made me wonder if I was the only one in full character today.We’d worked hard on my story and the origin story of our relationship.It was always assumed that Beau would simply be Beau.He had to be in order for us to pull this off.
But I was already seeing a different side of him.
Once we were out of the parking lot, I started to get the lay of the land.There were rows of tents set up like a farmer’s market and picnic tables in between.Most were full with families and friends, everyone with heaping plates.
Trucks and smoking grills lined the perimeter, and people carried more food in the silver catering trays to the tents.
Beau furrowed his brow as he took in the scene and then headed with purpose to the tent marked with the Sawtooth Volunteer Firefighters’ logo.
“Hey!There he is!Back from his big job.”Two guys that I was pretty sure were wolf shifters greeted Beau at the firefighters’ tent with those complicated man handshakes.Others were behind the table, overseeing the distribution of food.“And you didn’t come alone.”
