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Chapter Eighteen

Barrett

Tegan beamed at me from the passenger’s seat of the SUV. It was the first time we were truly alone without the case hanging over our head. We were free.

“You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

“Of course I do.” She laughed and gave her hair a playful flip. “Although I can’t let you get used to me looking like this. It’s not the norm. I’m a ponytail and jeans type of gal.”

“I like those too.” I pressed the button and let the engine purr for a moment before pulling away from the set of Moonlight Mates for the final time. “You were really fucking magical up there today.”

She let out a long, shaky breath. “I was absolutely terrified, like somehow, someone would come out of nowhere and make a fool out of me, or Gideon would pull the final rabbit out of his hat and prove me wrong. But it was so much easier knowing I had you by my side, Barrett. That if anything went wrong, you’d take care of it.”

“You have no idea how many shifters will fight for you because you took down Silverclaw. Hell, you’ll probably never have to buy a beer again.” I chuckled.

“Change beer to caramel lattes and I’m in.”

“You can have whatever you want. Seriously, don’t minimize what you did. Like you said on stage, it won’t bring our land back, but a lot of shifters, including me, will rest a lot easier knowing Silverclaw is rotting in a jail cell.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re the only one who took my claim seriously. Everyone else told me to calm down, and that I was letting my emotions get the best of me because I got fired, while Gideon Silverclaw was out there getting pats on the back for ruining people’s lives. It was maddening, and you’re like a breath of fresh air, Barrett Guardian.” She put her hand over mine and squeezed. “I want to pay you for this job.”

“This has gone way beyond a job, Tegan.”

“I’m not mad about that.” She laughed. “But I like to hold up my end of a bargain. I’ll admit, I was in over my head on this one, but I had to make a bold move. When I called you, I swore to myself I’d find a way to pay for the job if somehow I convinced you to take me on. I won’t go back on that promise just because you gave me the best orgasm of my life.”

I almost crashed the fucking SUV. “I did?”

“Don’t get too full of yourself, bear, but let’s just say you’re pretty good with your hands.” Her hand moved from mine onto my thigh, and we almost got into our second accident in less than a minute. If she got any closer to my cock, I’d pull over and take her on the side of the road…

My bear rumbled loudly inside me, saying everything I couldn’t.

“Maybe we should stop on the way to wherever we’re going and get those condoms,” she suggested.

“Absolutely.” I needed to focus so I could get her home, after a stop at the drugstore, of course. “I have an idea for how you might be able to pay me back.”

Her expression brightened. “Whatever it is, I’m probably in. I seriously hate owing anyone anything.”

“Hear me out before you agree.” It wasn’t a fully formed thought, but I was pretty sure we could make this work. “Why don’t you come work at Sawtooth Security? The reason we were able to solve this case was because of the work that you did—while you worked for Gideon and even when we went back to the office. Not only were you able to get us past Josephine and into the offices, but you stayed levelheaded enough to find those documents, and then deal the lethal blow to Gideon when it mattered most.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“It’s an incredible offer, but I’m afraid I might be a one-hit wonder,” she finally said.

I growled again. “What did I just say about minimalizing your accomplishments? And we’re overdue for an expansion. The reason Bellamy couldn’t be here today was he had to go back to the office. We’ve already got a backlog of work, and we haven’t had the bear power to take everything on?—”

“Because you took my case.”

“You case was personal.” I had no idea how personal it would be. “But now it’s done, and we can help more clients. You have a unique perspective, and you’ll be able to work your magic with clients who don’t connect with us. I need you, Tegan. I want you in my life, I crave you in my bed, and I need you working by my side.”

“When you say it like that, how could I refuse?” She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “It’s an amazing offer, and I’m in. It’s gonna be so much fun to get to work with you and solve cases.”

“They’re not all exciting,” I warned. “Some of them are just security detail. Others are mountains of paperwork. But sometimes, we get to right a wrong and it makes up for all the boring stuff.”

“I don’t think life with you could ever be boring, Barrett.”

“It’s super cute in here,” Tegan said as I led her into my cabin. It felt like a lifetime since I’d been in my home.

“I haven’t changed much since Renee passed.” I said, looking at everything through different eyes. “It always made me feel like I was coming home to her.”

“I love that.” Tegan let go of my hand, doing a sweep of the living room. There were throw blankets and half-finished science projects everywhere. A giant TV and a leather recliner were the only two clues I lived here too. “It’s super cozy, and I can feel her here. I love that you kept it the same.”

She wandered into the kitchen, considering everything. She looked up at me, eyes wide and full of an emotion that I wasn’t prepared for. “Something tells me Renee wasn’t the cook.”

“You’d be right. Maybe we can get some stuff delivered, and I’ll make dinner for you.”

Tegan closed her eyes, and a low moan that made my cock twitch escaped from her lips. “I would love that so much. I’ve had nothing but takeout and catering since I became a Beastlerette?—”

“A what?”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s what they called the contestants on the show. And we were competing for the Moonlight Beast.”

“Have you gotten the need to be on a reality show out of your system? I hear you have an offer from your favorite.”

“A week ago, if The Real Werewives called, I would have been all over it. But now.” She grabbed my shirt and pulled me in closer to her. “I’ve found a hot bear and I want to stick around for a while.”

“Yeah?” I liked the sound of that.

“But I still want to go to Red Heaven,” she added.

“We will.” I rumbled. My bear was ready to rip her clothes off at the thought. “So now we’ll be working together, and we’re together, and you probably need some place to live. I still have the lease on that cabin, but it’s a little far…” I was nervous at this next thought. It was a huge leap, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I wanted this. “My daughter’s usually here, and I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s really amazing. Smartest person I ever met. Won’t eat my cooking unless I threaten to ground her though…she’d live off frozen waffles if I let her?—”

Tegan interrupted me with a kiss. “Barrett. Where are you going with this?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to stay here.”

“Oh.”

Fuck. “That’s not the answer I was expecting.”

“It came out all wrong. Let me try again.” She took a deep breath, steeling herself between me and the counter. “You’ve literally changed my life, and in a few short days, I can’t even imagine what it would be like without you in it. This room is totally yours…but the rest of the house is still all Renee. Your heart is still in pieces over losing her. Are you ready for this?”

“I don’t know, but opportunities like this don’t come when you’re ready. They come when they’re right. And this feels right, Tegan. I want you here. In my life.”

“What about Natalie?”

I sighed. “I’ll talk to her before she comes home.”

“Barrett. Let’s not commit to forever. Let’s just do what gives us this tingly feeling in our bellies as long as it lasts.”

“You make me feel things in places that aren’t my belly.” I chuckled, brushing my lips against her cheek. There was no way she wouldn’t feel me getting hard. “I’m a bear, Tegan. Forever is what we do.”

“I like that.” She sighed.

I caught her lips in a kiss. It was only supposed to be quick, but my bear took over. We knew exactly why she had reservations about the long haul. Hell, I did too. But it wasn’t just that she’d given me tingly feelings in my belly.

This woman had somehow made me feel alive again. I hadn’t really lost Renee. She’d always be with me, but this was a new, exciting chapter. I lifted Tegan onto the counter, and pushed her legs open. She wrapped them around me, caging me in. Our kisses were growing more intense, and the first meal she was gonna have served in this kitchen was me.

“Sweet moon…Dad?”

I jumped away from Tegan, shocked by the sound of Natalie’s voice. “Hey sweetie, what are you doing here?”

Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. “I had a long weekend, and talked to Uncle Bellamy about helping me arrange a surprise trip…but I guess you’re the one who’s full of surprises.”

“I can explain everything.”

“I would’ve warned her, boss, but I had no idea this was what you were up to,” Bellamy added.

“You don’t need to. I get it. And it’s about time you start dating.” Natalie came into the kitchen, circling the island, her lips parting as her gaze landed on Tegan. “Wait a minute. Are you the Runaway Beastlerette?”

Tegan’s brows shot up. “Is that what they were calling me?”

“Yeah. Not that I blamed you. I wouldn’t have married Gideon, either.” Natalie made a disgusted face.

“Have you seen today’s press conference yet?” Tegan asked.

“No, I fell asleep the minute the plane took off. What happened?” Natalie asked.

“Hold up. How do you know what a Beastlerette is?”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Dad, everyone watches the show. It’s such a trainwreck—sorry. But we were all rooting for the Beastlerettes this season to revolt against Gideon. He’s a not a wolf—he’s a weasel shifter. Wait. No way. Dad, are you the one who abducted Tegan from the wedding?”

I nodded. This was not going how I expected it at all. Somehow, it was much better. “That was me, bearnapping the Runaway Beastlerette.”

“No way. That’s so cool. I have to go tell everyone right now. I think I just became the coolest kid at space school.” She took off in the direction of her bedroom.

“Are you staying for dinner?” I asked Bellamy.

“Absolutely.” He pulled a chair onto the other side of the island. “Good thing we got here when we did. I take it you’ve had the talk with Nat before she left for school.”

“It’s space school,” I reminded him.

Tegan pushed against my chest. “You don’t think a smart, beautiful girl like that isn’t turning the head of every nerd enrolled there?”

“She better not be.” I growled and helped Tegan down from the island. “Welcome to the family.”