Magnificent Mess (Bears of Beauville #3)

Chapter 1

LAUREL

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

“I think the contractor might have made some mistake,” Sam said haltingly. The papers he held to his chest were detailed blueprints of my dream chalet.

Slow waves of anger washed over me, but I swallowed back my scream. Not Sam’s fault.

“Somebody fucked up big time,” I ground out.

Sam poked at one ceramic shard with his sneaker. The tiles underneath were shattered.

“One of the sinks just fell out and dropped in front of Denny. He swears he wasn’t leaning on it, but even if he were, this shouldn’t have happened.

Pure luck it didn’t land on his feet. He said water started spraying into his face, so he ran to turn it off, but it took him a while to find the main valve.

And since the tiling and sealing weren’t done all the way… ”

Over the three years as my assistant, Sam had developed this cautious, soothing tone of voice I imagined zookeepers might have when dealing with large predators. He desperately tried to keep me calm, but the likelihood of my throwing a tantrum increased when I noticed people expected it.

“I only need a toilet and a sink, Sam.”

Folding and unfolding sheets of paper, he shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Laurel. The damage to the plumbing and flooring is so severe that we don’t dare turn the water on again.

The other appliances have not been installed yet.

The shower stall and bathtub are still wrapped in the garage. And the ensuite isn’t done either.”

“So there’s no bathroom in the house?”

“We’ve been using the portable ones for the workers. But I understand that…”

“Aargh!” I stomped my foot. My sneaker slipped on a piece of broken tile, a god-awful screech cutting through the air.

Sam flinched away from me.

“Sorry, Sam. Not your fault. I’m jetlagged.”

“You’re frustrated and tired. I get it. Could you perhaps stay with the Blacks while I oversee the repairs? Maybe we can get it fixed in a week or so?”

Again, that calming tone! I took a deep breath, pushing my rage down. It warmed my belly.

“Calvin has a new baby. I’d feel like a heel, imposing on them.”

I loved Calvin like a brother, but I had been on tour for more than a year and a half. Acting as a third wheel to a mated couple with a crying baby as background music wasn’t my idea of a vacation.

I’d been looking forward to quality time, dammit, in my new chalet with my state-of-the-art home spa. I had planned to take long walks and then sit in the sauna or soak in the tub with a glass of fine wine… Alone.

I was going to cleanse my mind, absorb the beauty of the mountains, and by the end of the month, I’d write music. Epic, career-rejuvenating music.

Yeah, right.

“There’s that B&B in town,” Sam said hopefully. “Didn’t you stay there the first time you were here? It was okay, wasn’t it?”

Said B&B had Montgomery BigMouth Wolf and his dark and mysterious sidekick, Orson Jordan.

I looked around my gutted bathroom. A small tile peeled from the wall next to the water pipes and fell into a puddle on the floor with a thwack. It broke on impact.

“And the two guest cottages?” I asked uselessly. I knew the answer.

Gazing intently at his hands, Sam rolled the stack of papers into a narrow tube. “The plumbing isn’t done. Which, given the quality of the work here, is probably a good thing. I’d hire someone else for those.”

“You bet we’re firing these idiots. And please, write a scathing review of them online. Use a lot of creative metaphors.”

Sam let out a snicker, and the sound released some of the tension in my gut. Maybe he didn’t completely hate me yet. “Will do.”

“Let’s find someone local to fix this. Ask that guy at the town hall—what’s his name? The one we talked to when I bought the land.”

“Oliver Klondike.”

“That’s the guy. He seemed reasonable. Ask him who he’d recommend. The bears must have someone building their houses and renovating their bathrooms, right?”

“Sure, boss. On it.”

“I don’t mind paying extra for speed. And if they’re good, we let them finish everything.”

Straightening his shoulders, Sam moved toward the door. “Excellent. I’ll book rooms for you and two guys from security at the B&B, then.”

“No. It’s just going to be me.”

Sam paused with his hand on the handle. “But, Laurel…”

“I need a break, Sam. The whole point of my being here in the first place is that I need a fucking break. Book the damned B&B from the roof to the basement, but it’s only going to be me.”

“I recommend security staying in town, at least.”

“And force them to camp out here without running water and a toilet?” I gestured at the mess on the floor with both hands.

“You should reconsider. Remember that time at the Frankfurt airport when someone shared a pic of you? It took barely ten minutes for a mob to form.”

“That was an international airport with a bazillion strangers. This is Beauville. The bears don’t want attention any more than I do. Book hotel rooms in Green Peaks for all of you. Get yourself a nice suite with a hot tub.”

“It’s a two-hour drive, Laurel.” But he already looked resigned. Sam knew I was determined to get my way. Worst case, he’d get the satisfaction of saying “I told you so” again. He seemed to enjoy it when that happened.

“I’m going to take the risk. I want to be left in peace.”

As much peace as I could have in Montgomery’s house.

The last time I stayed there, I had been all over the place, full of anxious energy from the tour and rattled by what was happening to Calvin.

On top of that, Jordy, with that weird, enigmatic vibe surrounding his massive body, had me squirming.

And even Monty was hot as hell when he shut up for a second.

Those round muscles and twinkling brown eyes—I got why some omegas chased after bear shifters.

I had felt this little tickle in my belly every time I bumped into one of them in the narrow halls of the B&B.

Well, I was safe from that now, at least. My libido was as good as dead.

I barely masturbated anymore. “You have extraordinarily high stress levels, Laurel, you shy away from human connection, you’re terrified of intimacy, and you approach everyone with suspicion…

” I could hear my therapist’s bored voice in my head like a recording.

The poor guy was tired of going through the same bullshit with me over and over without any progress.

After the chunky investment I’d made into my mental health, I was just as cranky and anxious as when we’d started. Knowing what was wrong with me was one thing… Fixing it? A whole ’nother beast to tackle.

That was why I’d bought the land in Beauville. The mountains would heal me. Eventually. Once I had a home here with a flushable toilet.

Ugh.

I left Sam to his own devices and went to repack my luggage. My brand-new hiking clothes, comfy hoodies, pajamas, and two pairs of jeans—I wouldn’t need much.

Only one week at the B&B. Just one extra week of sleeping in a strange bed at a place that wasn’t home.

It wouldn’t be too bad. I could go on hikes, read, and listen to music while staring at the mountaintops from the balcony. The small top-floor room I’d stayed in last time was a far cry from the “suite” Monty called it, but the view was spectacular.

Monty and Jordy would surely be too busy with the pub to bug me.

Not that Jordy had ever said more than two words to me.

And even though Monty was a talker, if I was clear with him that I wanted to be left alone, he’d listen.

I hoped. He wouldn’t trail two steps behind me, day in and day out, like my security would.

When I emerged from my would-be bedroom with a suitcase for one week, I was determined to make the best out of this debacle.

“I’ve booked the B&B,” Sam said when I met him in the living room. “They’ll be ready for you. Mr. Wolf sounded excited to be of service.”

“Excited, huh?” Oh Lord.

“I made it clear you need complete privacy. It’s low season now, so he assured me there won’t be any other guests on the property. Are you sure you don’t want any of the guys to stay with you?”

“I’m sure.”

“Okay, then.” Sam let out a long sigh. “I’ll sort out the contractor and leave for Green Peaks with the rest of the team tonight.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you want to have a look around the construction before you go?”

“Yes. Give me a tour.”

I left the luggage in the living room and went with Sam to check on the progress on the guest cottages.

The squat log buildings truly belonged in the forest—they looked as if they had grown from the ground like mushrooms. One of them already had the roof covered with succulents and grass.

The chalet was bigger with a large glass front that reflected the trees and mountaintops.

Aside from some landscaping touches and clearing out what was left from the construction material, the place looked finished.

When I imagined the piles of planks gone and greenery growing, it looked like a fucking fairytale.

It had stopped raining, and the sun peeked out between dark-gray clouds.

I carefully trod on the newly laid turf and took in the brilliant fall colors.

Most of the forest was pine, but the few maple trees and birches covered the ground with dark red and bright yellow leaves.

I pulled in a deep breath, the scent of rain and earth filling my lungs.

Yeah. It would be okay.

I had no chalet to hibernate in, but neither did I have any flights booked, meetings, or interviews to suffer through.

The B&B would do fine.