Free Mine to Bear: Icy Cap Den #2 (Alaskan Den Men) by Jennifer Hilt Page A

earlier, most of Icy Cap had left. Gary remained. To be honest, he was an excellent taxidermist. His smell and remote location weren’t much of an issue. He worked alone, and express shipping facilitated his work.
    Gary shifted his weight. He didn’t think I was good enough for Trudy. He was right. “Do you need anything from your toolbox, Trudy?”
    “Hand me the needle-nose pliers, please,” she said.
    The vamp bowed his head slightly. “Maxim Gorsky, at your service. Call me Max.” The bow was a bit much for the twenty-first century. Max was a ringer for a Russian prince. Hell, he probably was one back in the day. The Russians were quick to stake first and ask questions later.
    The cold pouring off Max had nothing to do with the room’s temperature. Vamps are cold-blooded creatures, so he needed the space heater. Unfortunately, it made the rest of us sweat.
    The vamp wasn’t bothered by my outstretched hand. I doubted he would take it, but I was more than a little curious as to his strength. Vamps get stronger as they get older. I bet he wasn’t much more than a hundred years old. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wonder whether I could take him in a fight. My instinct to fight a predator like the vampire was strong. And his interest in Trudy only made that instinct stronger.
    “My brother hired Fly By Night Contracting Services based on your excellent record,” I said.
    “He was right.”
    “I’m not my brother.” I lowered my voice although I didn’t care if Trudy heard me. “Stick to the job you’re being paid for, bloodsucker.”
    Small crinkles at the corners of his eyes appeared—the equivalent of vamp amusement. He smiled, giving me some fang. “Or what? Everyone knows your bear spirit slumbers inside you. Maybe you don’t even have a bear spirit at all. Maybe you are just a human.” He spat the last part.
    Max viewed humans the way I viewed office temps. The comparison wasn’t flattering to either of us.
    “I don’t care what you and that freaky ghoul get up to in your free time, but stay away from Trudy.”
    “Or what?” He handed me his clipboard and pen. It was a requisition for more wiring.
    Vamps are excellent at subtext. They’ll calmly discuss the most mundane things while plotting your doom.
    “Do not threaten a vamp,” he said. “Sunlight is the only threat we know. Shifters come and go. She’s not your mate. She’s better off without you sniffing around her.”
    I wanted to separate his head from his body. Instead my growl surprised us both. “Stick to the job you were hired to do.”
    With one more look at Trudy’s shapely backside, I headed to my office.
    “We were doing just fine before you Barlows showed up.” Gary hurried to catch up with me. He stunk like rotten fish.
    “What’s the matter with you?” I flicked the light on in the office without asking him in. He followed me anyway. Ghouls are such drama nerds.
    “Do you know how long Trudy pined for you after you left the last time? Keep in mind that’s coming from a ghoul. She built a life here. Now you show back up and expect everything to be like before. What’s going to happen when you leave again? How can you just keep hurting her?”
    On a good day I didn’t like my faults pointed out. On a day when I’d seen a vamp eyeing my lover and now was being lectured by a ghoul, I was not in the mood.
    “Trudy said the vamp is your friend. Make sure he stays away from her.”
    Gary wiped his nose on his sleeve. His chronic sinusitis wasn’t endearing either. His watery eyes didn’t meet mine.
    I rummaged around in my desk drawer. “Why is he sizing her up?” I didn’t need anything in particular, but Gary grossed me out.
    “Maxim doesn’t . . . He wouldn’t.”
    “He’s a vamp. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
    Gary shuffled out.
    I’m sure that in his mind, his hanging around Icy Cap meant Trudy would eventually fall in love with him. She might someday. But not while