Chance Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire 6) Read Free Page A

handy-man work. That young buck can fix just about anything. And he makes sure to order everything locally to support the small businesses here instead of going direct through his friends, the Silvers, to have supplies delivered. Oh, he could cut out the middle man and save himself money, but he likes to help out where he can. They all do.”
    “All of who?”
    “Him and his buddies, Dalton and Chance. Any time they’re in town, they spend the money they earn as outdoor guides to put back into Galena. We’re lucky they decided to make this their second home. Real friendly bunch. They’ve helped out some of us who struggled this winter. Chance and Dalton even hunted some caribou and brought the meat back for some of our old folks who can’t hunt too easily anymore. Red meat gets scarce around here, you see. The grocery store runs out and jacks up the prices in dark winter when the Silvers can’t bring deliveries in here on account of the blizzards. Those Dawson boys are good hunters, though, some of the best outdoor guides in the whole world and highly sought after, and this winter, they used their skills to keep some of our older folks from going hungry.”
    That niggling guilt was back, as were the questions about everything Uncle Victor had told her in training. Surely, their kind deeds were just a ruse to keep rumors at bay in a town that would come for them with torches and pitch forks if they knew what they really harbored.
    “Miss, are you okay? You look flushed. My offer still stands if you want to warm up in the hardware store. It’s early spring in Alaska, sure, but the snow isn’t done for the year, and if you aren’t from around here, you should know, nights get awful cold awful fast.”
    The rumble of a truck sounded down the street, and a dark-colored Chevy pulled into the gas station. It was him.
    “Uh, I’m fine, thank you. I’ll just fill up with gas and be on my way. Thanks for the chat.” And the ass-load of confusion he’d just dumped onto her. With a stiff wave, Emily backed out of the parking spot and followed the truck into the gas station.
    She could do this. The blond man from the picture had slid out of the truck and was pumping gas. When she pulled up at the other side of the pump, she realized there was only one nozzle so she waited there awkwardly as he stood with his broad back to her, leaning against the side of the truck as he held the lever.
    She opened her mouth to say something, but he turned toward her abruptly, his nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. His eyes were such a cool green, she froze under his attention. Chance Dawson dragged his gaze down the length of her, to her jacket, thighs, hiking boots, then back up, hitting all her curvy spots. Emily’s breath quickened in her chest, and her heart pounded against her sternum, urging her to run.
    Chance straightened and canted his head in a very animal-like way. Eyes locked on hers, he said, “Nice wheels.”
    Emily looked behind her and then gave him a tremulous smile. “Those said wheels are a little low on air.”
    Chance jerked his chin to an air pump. “That machine is a little bastard and takes double the quarters it says, just so you know.”
    “Th-thanks,” she stammered. Shit. She had to get ahold of herself and remember how to seduce a man, and fast. “I like your wheels, too.”
    “Not mine,” he said as the gas pump lever clicked, telling him the tank was full. “It belongs to my cousin. I don’t have much use for a truck yet. Figured I’d top him off while I was in town for borrowing his ride, though.”
    “That’s nice of you,” she gritted out, her head spinning. Why was he acting like a damned saint when he was a devil in disguise?
    Chance grunted, apparently uninterested in her compliments, and handed her the pump, careful to keep the tip pointed away from her. But when she reached for it, her hand brushed his, and a shock zinged up her arm. It was painful, as if she’d punched an electric