Free Woodcutter Werebear (Saw Bears Book 2) by T. S. Joyce

always been a part of them. She was magnificent. She was commanding every attention he possessed.
    She was everything.
    Her eyes danced to him, and her smile faded, as if she waited for his opinion, and it mattered. As if this would all be ruined if he didn’t approve. Damn Roger for doing that little number to her.
    Reservations out the window, he tugged her onto his lap and hugged her tight, nuzzling her neck. “I’m so damned proud of you, I could die of it,” he whispered against her ear.
    She giggled and slid her arms around her neck. “That was so scary,” she admitted.
    “You were perfect. Your voice is beautiful, Skyler. You’re beautiful.” He cupped her face and searched her striking eyes. His reflection met him in the green color, hopeful looking and open. He smiled just before his lips brushed hers, floored that his bear had stayed settled and quiet all night. That never happened. He didn’t have any doubt in his mind it was because of her. She settled him, made him happy and calm.
    He eased back after a tender kiss and hugged her waist closer as he relaxed into the chair.
    The others settled into easy banter as Brighton strummed a new song.
    Skyler rested her back against his chest and took the last sip of his warm beer. “You want another?”
    “No,” he said, stroking his fingers across her stomach. He loved that she was small compared to him. Not fragile or overly thin, but strong and the perfect height to rest his chin on the top of her head. “I have a one beer limit.”
    She frowned. “Why?”
    “You don’t want to know.”
    Twisting in his lap, she rested her hand on his chest and said, “I want to know everything about you.”
    Kellen sighed, flattered that she cared, but terrified she’d want to draw him into a conversation he wasn’t ready for. “My old man was a boozer. I’ve never had more than a beer at a time as a precaution.”
    “Oh,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I hardly remember him,” he lied.
    Her eyebrows quirked, as if she could hear the fib. Maybe she could. He didn’t know what her senses were capable of.
    Tagan came to warm his hands by the fire while his mate talked to Bruiser. Skyler wiggled out of Kellen’s lap and stood next to his alpha. “Can I talk to you?” she asked.
    “Shoot,” Tagan said in a clipped tone.
    Skyler looked around, then stepped closer to him. Kellen didn’t want to eavesdrop. It wasn’t his way, but he was trapped behind them in the chair, too close to get up without it being obvious, and his hearing was impeccable.
    “Brooke told me what happened to Conner. I’m sorry for your loss and for what you had to do, but I was wondering if his job was available.”
    Tagan jerked his gaze to hers, his face highlighted by the flickering orange glow of the firelight. “You want work as a lumberjack?”
    “I’m not picky about the job. Kellen said I need to earn my own way so I can feel independent again, and I agree with him. When I earned my own income before Roger chose me, I felt stronger. It would make it easier to leave him if I wasn’t dependent on him.”
    “I thought you were planning on leaving tomorrow,” Tagan said low.
    “Well, that’s part of what I wanted to discuss with you. I know this is a risk to you and your people, me being here. If it’s too much, I’ll gladly leave. But if you have an opening on your crew and are fine with me here, I’d work real hard. I’m a fast learner, too, and stronger than I look.”
    “Stronger than you look,” Tagan said, narrowing his eyes. “Because this job isn’t some easy come, easy pay job. It’s hard work from sun up until sundown. It’s physical and dangerous, and the crew depends on each other. One weak link could get my men hurt, or worse. I can’t hire a weak link, you understand?”
    “I understand.” Her voice was soft and defeated as she stared at her shoes.
    Tagan inhaled noisily. A muscle in his jaw ticked as he clenched his teeth.