He drove down one dirt road and then another before the tires hit pavement. She was pissed. Livid. Frustrated with her brother. Angry at the world for taking him. Kyle could see it. He could smell it. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

Her emotions were in her eyes. The same emotions he pushed down every day.

He hit the steering wheel with his fist. He was angry too. He watched his best friend die. He couldn’t get there in time. He should have been able to save him. He was a fucking bear. What was the point of having strength and power if he couldn’t save Sam from that explosion?

He pulled up to the hardware store and grabbed the list he had scribbled. He wasn’t going to let Whitney pay for any of it. He was going to make sure the house was perfect. Every nail. Every crack. Every seam would be perfect for her. Because when he had to leave again, he had to know she would be safe and protected.

* * *

Kyle looked up from the bathtub. Whitney was holding a glass of ice water in his direction.

“Thought you might need a break.” She placed the glass on the counter.

“Thanks.” He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “I should have the leak fixed for you once this caulking dries.” He stepped out of the tub.

“So my shower was the culprit?”

He nodded, chugging the water. “Yep. The water was seeping between the tiles. But I’ve re-grouted the entire wall and this will seal it.”

She twisted her lips against her teeth. Holy hell. She had no idea how that made his cock jerk to life. He would have taken a step back, but the bathroom was small and there wasn’t anywhere to turn.

“That’s a relief.” She smiled.

He was glad that when he returned from the hardware store she seemed less angry. He had found her wrapping up the meeting with the realtor. He wanted to ask what the verdict was on the listing, but he knew it wasn’t any of his damn business.

The realtor had left her with a folder and a stack of business cards. Kyle couldn’t imagine this place ending up in someone else’s hands. He would do whatever he could to help her keep it. He just didn’t know how he would convince her yet.

“Hey, I’m going to the grocery store. I might be gone awhile. Any requests?”

“Surprise me.” He winked. He knew he was flirting, but his damn bear was getting impatient. He wanted to lure her in. He wanted to touch her. He wanted her in his bed.

“Oh, all right.” She wiggled past the grout bucket. “Be back soon.”

Kyle turned back to the tub. “Work,” he growled. “Just fucking work.”

* * *

That night he ate quickly, praising Whitney’s cooking before running for the barn. She had brought out another bottle of wine, but he turned down the glass she offered. He would wait until she fell asleep before he headed back to the house for a shower.

Being around her was killing him. It was torture to know his mate was right in front of him, but he couldn’t take her. He couldn’t make her his.

He needed a side project. Something to keep his hands busy. Otherwise they were going to end up on her.

The workshop in the barn was well equipped with tools. He rummaged through the supplies, examining a stack of teak wood stashed under a cabinet. He held one of the pieces between his hands. It was good wood. The veins of the cut would make a nice piece of furniture.

He turned to the saw and came up with a plan. This would be perfect. He drew out a plan and got to work.

A few hours later he climbed the stairs to the apartment. The wind had picked up and Kyle looked out the window, waiting for Whitney’s bedroom light to go black. The branches around him swayed. Finally, the light went out. He picked up his shaving kit and made the trek across the yard.

This was the way it had to be for now. He let himself in the house, listening for any sounds that Whitney might be awake.

He walked to the bathroom, locked the door behind him, and started the shower. He tried to ignore the fact that one story up his mate was sleeping in her bed. The woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with was up there. Only she didn’t know it. And if she did, she might hate him for it.