Page 8 of Caught Bear Handed (Sawtooth Security #3)

Chapter Seven

Kayla

This was risky, and I should’ve said no. Stayed in the cabin like a good little wolf. But I’d done what I was told so many times—kept quiet, been polite, professional, put my image first, tried to be the bigger person.

It hadn’t worked, so fuck that.

When this protective bear who fought fires to battle boredom said he’d keep me safe, I believed him. Just like I’d believed all those other people who’d wronged me.

It’s different this time , my wolf reassured me. He’s not like them.

More than anything, I wanted to believe that. Not that this crush could go anywhere. My heart just needed to know there were still decent shifters left on this earth.

“It’s really beautiful here,” I said, combating the silence.

That was one thing I noticed about Sawtooth Forest as soon as the dust settled.

The quiet. But this was a different kind of quiet.

Beau had a presence no matter where he went.

His vibration sang. But now, it had gone almost still.

The only movements were his fingers drumming against the steering wheel and the occasional glance at me, like he thought I was made of glass and I could break at any moment.

“I’ve been here for about six months, and it still takes my breath away.”

I waited for him to add more, but he didn’t.

“Where did you live before?”

“I was in the Navy, so I was all over the place. Wherever the assignment took us. But I was born and raised in Wyoming,” he said proudly.

“Is your family still there?” I had so many questions.

“Just my mom.” His whole being lit up. “She wound up leaving our clan and finding a place for us on the outskirts of Yellowstone. There’s a mixed shifter community there.

Ones who didn’t fit in anywhere else. In their human forms, some of them work as park rangers.

Others run restaurants and some of the cabins, kind of like ours. It was a great place to grow up.”

“Would you ever go back there?” It was on the tip of my tongue to ask why they left, but it seemed like their adoptive clan was better than what they had left behind.

He turned to me, his eyes glittering. “To visit, absolutely. But I needed something bigger.”

“You got bored.” I laughed.

“How did you start acting?” he asked.

“My family is all in the business. My mom was an actress when she was young, but then she got into producing. My dad was a director of photography, which is a fancy term for the lead cameraman, but it’s so much more than that.

” I loved explaining the business to people who weren’t familiar with what happened behind the scenes.

“They worked together a lot, and wound up being pretty influential in the industry. So I grew up on set. And I had a bunch of honorary aunties and uncles that worked in all the crafts, and I got a taste of what it really took to bring a story together.”

He grinned at me. “You love it.”

“I do.” I sighed. “I miss it.”

He nodded. “I can tell. You’re struggling in that cabin as much as I am. It’s the reason I decided to take this risk and get you out of there, because people like us aren’t meant to be confined to one life. Not a lot of people understand that. They’re content to bloom where they’re planted.”

“I always thought I was born to become an actress, and maybe I’m right.

” My heart skipped a beat as Beau turned off the main road, onto a dirt path that led to the ranch.

We were really doing this, going on our little adventure outside of the safe confines of the cabin.

Seeing the farm come into view made it real.

“Going on location, the unpredictability, being able to try on a new personality every few months, and then the rush of getting the job.”

He pulled into a spot between two pickup trucks. I was about to protest, saying I thought we’d be alone, but of course there would be people here working. The animals needed care, no matter how complicated my situation was.

“I get it. That’s why I came to work with Sawtooth Security after I left the military. No two jobs will ever be the same.” He put his hand on the door handle. “Ready to do this?”

“Can I ask you a question that might be none of my business?” I was stalling, trying to convince my heart to stop racing.

It wasn’t that we’d catch hell from Beau’s boss. I couldn’t shake the feeling we were being watched. Which was ridiculous.

The next character I played would not have this level of anxiety.

The corner of his mouth curled into a mischievous smile. “Depends on what it is.”

“How old are you?”

He tipped his head back and laughed. “You too, huh? I tried to cover the baby face with a beard.”

“It’s just that you’ve lived this full life, but you look like you’re barely out of college.”

“I’m twenty-eight,” he said. “Can I ask how old you are?”

“Thirty-nine. I can’t believe I’ll be forty next year. I thought by now I’d…” I shook my head.

“Be settled down? Have the two point five kids and a white picket fence?” He gave me a look that said bullshit as I nodded. “We just talked about how we’re not those people. You’d be miserable in that life. Come on. Let’s try on something new.”

He got out of the truck, and it took me a moment to get my body to move. After a deep breath, inhaling the musky ranch scent to soothe my wolf, I joined him in the parking lot.

He’s not that much younger than you , my wolf said. And he’s more of a man than the last five you dated put together.

She had a point. But just because this bear understood me didn’t mean this was anything more than an assignment for him.

My wolf wasn’t so sure. He said you’re his celebrity crush.

We walked side by side through the dusty parking lot to the barn. His fingers slipped between mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. Shockwaves raced through my system on contact with his rough, strong hand. He tightened his grip, a silent confirmation that he felt it too.

My heart was still racing when we found a man in a cowboy hat inside the barn. Immediately, my wolf recognized one of her own.

“Holy shit, you’re Kayla Mitchell.” His smile was as wide as the brim of his hat as he approached and held out his hand.

“I’ve never had to sign an NDA for a customer before, but now it makes sense.

Still can’t believe we have a celebrity here.

I mean, Ameila stops by sometimes, but she’s pack.

It’s different. My mate and I never miss an episode of The Wolf’s Moon .

I’m Shea Lowe. I run the Forever Home ranch with my mate, Delaney.

She’s out taking care of the smaller animals right now, but I know she’d love to meet you. ”

I wasn’t ready to let go of Beau’s hand to accept Shea’s handshake, but I’d never let a fan down.

You can hold on to this bear any time you need , my wolf reminded me.

My heart stuttered at the mention of Amelia. We were deep in this now, but I had to hope that Shea understood the NDA meant he couldn’t tell Amelia he saw me.

“Thanks so much for having us. I’m so glad you love the show.” It would never feel anything but surreal that people actually watched what we created, no matter how long I had been acting. “I’m looking forward to the ride.”

Shea cocked a brow. “Do you have any experience?”

I nodded. “A little bit.”

He motioned for us to follow him. “I prepared Millie, one of our gentler mares, for you, just in case this was your first time riding. Beau, I’ve got Magnum ready for you. He’s been looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Excellent,” Beau said. “Best horse I’ve ever ridden.”

“And Millie and Magnum are compatible with each other?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t think so, but they’re great friends,” Shea said as he walked. “They both came to us from breeding situations. Used up and thrown away when they were no longer useful. Now they have a chance to be horses, not machines.”

A noise rumbled in my throat that made both men turn to look at me. It was close to the same one I’d made when I’d realized what had happened in that van. I hated that the event of that day insisted on lingering in my body, making me ready to attack.

“Sorry,” I said. “I just get really mad when I hear about animals who don’t have a voice getting treated like crap.”

“Never apologize for being a good shifter,” Beau said.

“Damn straight. That story should piss you off. We’re the lucky ones,” Shea said.

“We can speak up. Most of the time. Our pack has seen some dark days, but we were able to turn things around, and now it’s my responsibility to pay it forward.

Don’t know how long you’re sticking around Sawtooth Forest, but you’d probably love to meet the ladies who work at the pet rescue division of Forever Home.

They’ve got fire in their bellies too. Are you coming to the Fourth of July picnic?

I hear Amelia’s in town too, so you’d have one familiar face there.

” Shea bumped Beau’s arm. “And this guy will be there with the fire department.”

I looked at Beau, not sure how to answer it. Shea didn’t know why I was in Sawtooth Forest, and probably assumed the NDA was simply because I was a public figure.

But Shea Lowe was all wolf, and he picked up on the weirdness. “Is there something going on with the cookout?”

Beau shook his head. “We’re not sure of Kayla’s schedule yet.”

Shea nodded. “Understandable. I’m sure it’s crazy hectic and changes at a moment’s notice.”

“Sometimes.” This was a terrible idea. Even with the NDA, there would be no way to pretend this conversation never happened. We never should have broken the rules and come here.

Shea’s expression grew inquisitive as he opened the barn gate. “Are you here to research a new role? I know, you probably can’t tell me.”

I looked at Beau. “I want to tell him the truth.”

I expected him to protest, but instead, he gave a nod.

“What would we even call this?” I asked. “It’s not exactly witness protection.”