Bear With Me (Choose the Bear #2)

Chapter 1

Barrett

I look up from the pile of paperwork on my desk and stare out the window.

The leaves on the trees are just now giving the hint of autumn.

I crane my neck to see a sliver of Ravenhart Mountain.

My older brother had won the coin toss when we first opened our business.

His office has the best view of the mountain.

Turning back to the documents I still have to read and sign, I allow an annoyed sigh escape my lips.

“You heard?”

I look up to see my brother, Bernie, leaning on my door frame with a scowl.

“No, what?”

“Bill is retiring and selling his business. And as soon as possible. We are in need of a new landscaping company.”

“Ah, shit, really? Who is he selling it to?”

Bernie shrugs.

“Beth?” I call out to our secretary.

Bernie rolls his eyes and points to my desk.

“We have intercoms for a reason.”

“Yeah, boss?” Beth asks, poking her head in.

“My annoying brother here just told me Bill is no longer in the landscaping business. We are going to need a list of landscaping companies in the area to look into,” I say, catching my brother’s eye and quickly add, “Please. Thank you.”

“No problem. Is it okay if that is a Monday project? I am supposed to leave early and take the missus to Branwen Beach for her birthday.”

“Yes, of course Beth. Tell Talula happy birthday from us,” Bernie says before I respond.

He turns to me as she says goodbye for the day.

“We could just use whoever Bill sells the business to? I doubt he’d sell it to someone not up to snuff.”

“You really want to risk such an important business relationship with an assumption?”

Once again, Bernie rolls his eyes at me and grumbles, “Whatever, fine. But I am going to make sure Beth finds out the new owner’s info.”

“You want to help me with this paperwork?” I ask, shooting my brother a smirk.

“Nope!”

He beelines it out of my office. I knew that question would get him out of my hair.

Rubbing my eyes, I get back to the forms. Our company, Bruin Brothers Construction, has been very successful since we started it over a decade ago. But I hate all the paperwork.

Nose to the grind, I don’t notice the sun setting outside until Bernie raps loudly on my office door.

“Dude, we have to go. Aren’t you done?”

“One second.”

“Okay, but I’m blaming you if Calissa is pissy because we are late for dinner.”

“Fine, but I’ll let her know how many times you interrupted my work today.”

Bernie laughs and heads out to close up our office. I finish the last of my Friday paperwork and follow him out the door.

* * *

“I see you eyeing my mashed potatoes, little brother. Want seconds?” my sister, Calissa, gestures to her husband to pass me the serving bowl.

“Yes, you know I do. Just like how Mom used to make them.”

Arlo passes me the bowl and I scoop out another heaping pile of delicious sour cream and bacon mashed potatoes onto my plate.

“I promise to give your future wife the recipe,” she teases, which makes me guffaw.

“Been there, did that, got the shitty shirt. No thanks.”

Calissa rolls her eyes at me. That’s been the theme with my siblings today.

“That was ten years ago. You don’t know what the future brings.”

I swallow a large mouthful of potatoes and say, “No, but I know I am terrible with women. And one doesn’t need to be married to be happy. It’s only been a few years since you were living the happy loner mountain life before this guy came crashing into your world.”

Both Bernie and my brother-in-law laugh, with Arlo adding, “Literally.”

“And if I remember correctly, you and Bernie here used to needle me about getting out into the world and moving closer to society. Right?” my sister retorts.

I answer her by dramatically stuffing more delicious potatoes into my mouth.

Arlo changes the conversation to some town gossip he learned at his barbershop.

He always has the best local stories, since people often have diarrhea of the mouth while he cuts their hair.

Bernie and I have been running our construction company in Corvid Valley for around a dozen years now, but there’s no way I know even half the people who Arlo knows.

“Save some room for dessert,” my sister says when there’s a pause in the conversation. “I made my salted honey pie.”

“Dang, Cal, are you trying to beef us up?” Bernie cracks.

“Give me a break. This meal is nothing for the average bear shifter,” she says, throwing an eye roll in his direction.

I am full to the gills, but I will never say no to my sister’s incredible pie.

With a mouthful of salted honey goodness, Bernie says, “Will this recipe be given to Barrett’s future wife as well?”

Shooting him a glare, I say, “Maybe it’ll be given to your future wife, big brother.”

“I sure hope so!” he says, sitting back and rubbing his stomach.

After dinner, we watch a Natalia Rose movie in Calissa and Arlo’s living room before heading home. I am still uncomfortably full, so I tell Bernie I am going to walk off the meal.

“Just stay off the road so that you don’t freak anyone out,” he warns me, before driving off.

I watch him pull away, then shift into my bear-form and take off into the woods to head home.