Guardian Bears: Lucas Read Free Page B

her ground, and when he didn't do anything else, she examined him.
    "If I'm too scary for you, you're not going to like the other guys any better," he told her as she fetched an icepack from her freezer and offered it to him with shaking hands. "We're all big, rough-looking guys. Goes with the bodyguard territory."
    She seemed flustered by that, her hands twitching as she fidgeted. Someone had scared her, scared her badly. To his surprise, Lucas found that he wanted to find whoever that was and break them.
    God damn it, she's just a client, he told himself. Why am I taking it personally?
    "Look, okay, whatever. We can sort out who you do want protecting you tomorrow," he said, pushing his feelings aside. "Right now, though, you're stuck with me. I'll keep you safe tonight, and tomorrow you can try and find someone you'll be more comfortable with."
    The look on her face was confused, torn between anger and relief. She didn't want to be alone with her fears, that was certain, but she wasn't happy that he was staying either. Tough. If nothing else, she was a client, and the Guardian Bears agency had a reputation to maintain. He wouldn't risk leaving her undefended for the night – if something happened to her, it would look bad.
    At least that was the excuse he gave himself, and what he'd tell Marcus and Karl the next day. But some part of him didn't think he'd be able to leave her, even if she wasn't a client. He needed to know she was safe.

3
    T he next morning , Emily woke to find that Lucas was already up and moving. He'd made himself comfortable in her small living room, sleeping on the floor on cushions pulled from the sofa. By the time she stepped out of the shower, he'd tidied it away neatly and everything was in its place.
    "Good morning," she said timidly. His eye was already healing, but it was still surrounded by a big black bruise. He looked up from his phone, intense eyes glowering at her as she approached.
    In the morning light he looked a little less threatening, or perhaps it was just that she knew he wasn't here to hurt her. Even if she didn't trust his words, he'd had as many opportunities as he needed last night. But the angry look in his eyes was still enough to send a chill through her.
    He filled the small kitchen space of the apartment, his huge size dominating it. Just his presence in her temporary home made her feel trapped and helpless, and she didn't know what to do about that.
    "Morning," he said, gruff voice grating. He raised a glass of orange juice as if in salute and took a deep sip.
    Emily looked away nervously, looking for something to do, something to distract her from his presence. That was impossible in the small space, and anyway, her mother had drilled some lessons in too deep for her to forget them. She couldn't have a guest and not feed him.
    "Would you like some breakfast?" she asked as she made her way to the fridge, wondering if she had enough food to sate this monster's appetite. He grunted something that she took to be agreement.
    Fortunately, she had plenty of eggs and some bacon, and that was enough to make a simple omelet. She busied herself with that task, and it steadied her nerves to have something to do. After a restless night full of bad dreams, it was good to have something she could focus on that she could do well.
    Neither of them spoke while she worked. Eventually, though, the distraction was out of the way and they both sat at her small kitchen table, eating. Lucas' bulk loomed over her, and she tensed, sure that he was going to start up the uncomfortable conversation again. But no, he dove into the food, eating with a relish that she couldn't help but appreciate.
    It was only when he was done with breakfast that he looked up at her again.
    "So now what?" His voice was still a rough grumble.
    She looked into his eyes, expecting to see annoyance. And it was there, but so was something else.
    "I don't know," she admitted. He sighed, standing from the table and taking