Bear-ly A Hero (Bear Claw Security 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

on.
    “Maybe we should go talk,” Bronson said, looking down at the steaming female in front of him.
    Limes could see her neck was red. He grinned.
    And then Carrie, who was sitting behind the desk, burst out laughing. Limes looked over to see she was holding her stomach and fighting back tears she was laughing so hard.
    “What?” he asked flatly, narrowing his eyes on her, until he felt a hand push him back and looked up to see Cage, standing protectively between him and the desk.
    “Don’t glare at my mate,” Cage warned, looking serious as usual when it came to anything involving Carrie. The two were a classic—nay, cheesy—love story, being in love with each other since they were kids.
    “She called him… that ,” Carrie said, bursting out laughing. “Did you see his face?” She wiped tears. “Oh, Limes, it’s so good to see you get your comeuppance.”
    He glared at her in confusion. He thought he and Carrie got along fine.
    Cage let out a sigh and went over to his mate.
    Jamie seemed completely lost in the situation, and Bronson was just taking it all in, the way he always did.
    Like he was separate from the situation, lording over them all.
    Limes walked around Jamie and took Bronson by the arm, dragging him toward the glass doors that led to the back offices. “Come on. We gotta talk.”
    Bronson started to protest but then just gave Cage a shrug and pulled out of Limes’s grip to follow.
    That was fine.
    “What has gotten into you?” Bronson asked, staring at Limes as he walked into Bronson’s office and sat down in Bronson’s chair. He spun around, looking at the killer view, and then glared up at him.
    “I want this job,” Limes said. “You give it to me or I quit.”
    “You can’t quit.” Bronson scoffed. “You’re the best.” He folded his arms, looking uncharacteristically concerned. “You’re our friend, and we need you.” He sat on the windowsill and let out a sigh. “I don’t get it. You didn’t want the job yesterday. Swore you wouldn’t take it.”
    Limes flattened his lips into a line. “I changed my mind.”
    Bronson’s eyes flicked out to the lobby, as if searching for Jamie, and even though Limes knew she wasn’t visible from here, he felt a visceral, jealous reaction. He started slightly in the chair, and Bronson’s eyes went to him.
    Damn , he thought as the corners of Bronson’s mouth tilted up in a sneaky grin.
    “You like her,” Bronson said, as astonished as he seemed pleased.
    “No,” Limes said, fighting that possibility in his own mind as much as he fought it coming from Bronson’s mouth. “No, that’s not it.”
    “Then why?”
    Limes leaned back in the chair and kicked his legs up on Bronson’s desk, ignoring his glare. “Maybe I’m bored. Maybe I should do some fieldwork.”
    “Yeah, do something with all that mass,” Bronson said, gesturing in the area of Limes.
    “It’s not my fault. I have a big appetite. And I don’t have much to do but work out.”
    Bronson looked closer at him. “Do you…?” He stood and walked forward, and Limes glared. “Do you have a black eye?” He put his hands on the desk. “Just what the hell happened?”
    “She hit me.”
    “She hit you?”
    “With an umbrella,” Limes said. “With admirable strength. What wasn’t admirable, however, was the way she curled up and surrendered right after.”
    “Damn,” Bronson whispered.
    “Yeah. So I want to protect her,” Limes said, matter-of-fact.
    “You like her,” Bronson said with the tone of a kid teasing another on the playground.
    Limes gave him a scowl. “Do not.”
    “Is she your mate?”
    “No,” Limes snapped. “I don’t believe in fated mates. You know that.” But even as he said it, he felt the word “mate” echo inside him in a way that felt meaningful.
    Dammit.
    “Bingo,” Bronson said. “Well, it makes sense. You’ve never been particularly protective before.”
    Limes folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. “I stand up