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

shouldn’t have broken in and you had a right to do what you did,” he said with a shrug, taking a turn onto the frontage road that led to the freeway. Trees flew by the truck as they went.
    “Then why did you look so pissed last night?” she asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    “If you think I was so justified, why did you look ready to kill me?”
    “I wasn’t ready to kill you,” Limes said, sounding grumpy and perplexed. “Why on earth would you think that?”
    “The way you looked down at me when I was on the ground.”
    Limes let out a breath and leaned on one arm, resting his other hand on the wheel as he took the entrance onto the freeway. “I wasn’t mad that you hit me. I was mad that you’d roll over and just take it.”
    “Take what?” she asked, offended.
    “Someone hurting you or robbing you,” he said. “You should always fight.”
    “Easy for you to say,” she grumped. “I bet you never met someone you couldn’t take.”
    He grinned, but as usual, it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
    “For a girl, it can be dangerous to fight. Sometimes it’s better to just go along with it, see if they can leave you alone.”
    He shrugged. “So you’d have just let me rape you?”
    Her eyes went wide. “What?! No.”
    “You said you wouldn’t fight me.”
    “I thought you wanted to rob me. Or kill me. I didn’t think there was anything I could do about it, either. My umbrella attack failed, and you were clearly faster and stronger. What should I have done?”
    “I don’t know,” he said, looking agitated as he rubbed his head. “Ugh, I hate thinking about it. From now on, I’ll take care of it so you don’t have to worry.”
    “As long as you’re working for me, you mean,” she said, irritated by the turn of the conversation.
    She wasn’t working with Limes, so there was no point feeling warmed by the conversation or his protectiveness. He was the opposite of what would make her feel safe.
    She wouldn’t work with him.
    Not unless he was the last bodyguard on earth.
    She’d have to convince Bronson to take her on after all.
    They pulled up in front of Bear Claw Security, and this time, Limes came around to her door and opened it, putting up a hand to help her out. She took it, stepping down, glad for at least one decent moment between them before they didn’t have to see each other again.
    Then she marched in front of him, ready to get rid of him for good.
    She ignored the little pang she felt at the thought and headed straight for the elevator.
    Going up.

4
    L imes stared down at the woman in the elevator next to him. She looked determinedly forward, her chin thrust out, her arms crossed, her eyes avoiding his.
    But there were signs of nervousness. Her hands as they twisted together. The way she almost picked at her cuticles but resisted. She was probably a reformed nail biter.
    That was kind of cute, too.
    He resisted the urge to put his hand over his face. What was wrong with him? He’d never reacted like this to a woman before. And he’d thought when he did, maybe it’d be someone like him. Edgy, involved in the tech world. Something like that.
    Not her.
    But even now, he was building his case for Bronson, building an airtight set of reasons he should be allowed to work the case. He knew all Bronson’s secrets. He could use blackmail if needed.
    Yes, this would work.
    He didn’t know exactly why he was being so stubborn about this, but he wanted it. And what Limes wanted, he generally got.
    Bronson was waiting in the front office, talking to Carrie as Jamie stormed in, looking ruffled as she pushed the door shut behind her, ignoring Limes as he came in behind.
    She jerked a thumb in Limes’s direction and put a hand on her hip. “I can’t work with that . Him.”
    Bronson’s kind blue eyes widened slightly, and he ran a hand through his thick blond hair. He looked at Limes over Jamie’s shoulder, and Limes shrugged like he didn’t know what was going