What was it about that man that made her want to kiss him one minute and bite him the next? Mack had never been one to bite, but it’s as if he brought the worst out in her—or maybe the best. Kissing and biting blurred together in her mind until they both left her feeling needy.

He popped out of the tree line with an expression full of male arrogance and command, and it irritated her that he was as sexy as this morning. Although now, his hair was damp with sweat rather than water.

She watched as he secured the building and walked to the truck. Yep, his shirt was definitely fine tailored. It moved like a second skin over his body. Heat circled her and settled like a blazing furnace in her core. Every cell on her skin came alive with his presence.

When he opened the door and climbed inside the truck, Mack turned to the window and hoped he wasn’t an observant man. She knew there would be a blush on her cheeks.

“Running from another bee?” He turned the key and when the truck started they took off.

His tease raised her hackles—literally. Her hair rose all over her head. Even the hair on her arms seemed to have a life of its own. “No, I was running from a bear.”

Finn slammed on the breaks and looked at her. “What did you say?”

“I said I was running from a bear. You’re acting all big and scary like you’re going to be able to push me around. I came here to do a job.”

He spun in his seat to look at her. The movement so fast she barely had time to push against her door to make room for him. The man was the size of a large oak tree, and his chest was the width of a hundred-year-old trunk. “Damn it, Mack. I’m not letting you tag my bears for termination.”

She let her shoulders fall forward and a sigh of resignation escaped her lips. “If you’re right and the bear population is not reported correctly, I won’t be tagging for termination, but I still need to tag for observation.”

She swore she heard him growl, but then she’d been hypersensitive about bears all day. It started with the beautiful bear across the lake. She couldn’t get him off her mind.

His voice rumbled out of the silence and startled her. “Tell me about your mom.”

Maybe a change of subject was a good idea but the subject of her mom wasn’t exactly neutral either.

“She’s a piece of work.” When she found out Mack was going to Grayslake, she’d been less than happy. When she heard it was to tag bears, she was downright hostile. But it wasn’t the same hostility Finn showed. Mom didn’t like bears. In fact, she disliked them as much as Mack disliked bees.

“How so?” There was genuine interest in his voice.

“It’s hard to explain, but I’ve always felt like I never really belonged in her world.” Mack twisted in her seat to face Finn. Her earlier agitation was gone. “She had me, but I’m different. I can’t explain why but I am.”

He reached over and grasped her hand. The touch of his palm over hers was like a balm to her wounds, and she wondered if Finn had ever felt different. “She remarried and had two more children—perfect children.”

Finn’s fingers laced with hers and squeezed as if he understood. “She’s crazy if she doesn’t think you’re perfect.” He kept his eyes on the dirt road, but Mack felt the heat of them like they were undressing her despite the fact they weren’t even focused on her. “Look at you.” He took a quick glance in her direction and that familiar zing of awareness zipped through her body. “You’re gorgeous, and although I don’t like what you’re here for, I respect your determination to do your job.”

Mack found herself covering their clasped hands with her free one. It was more like she was clasping his hand in place. She liked the feel of his touch. She liked the comfort it brought her. She liked the way it made her feel inside.

“In all honesty, I don’t like what I’m here for, but you know it’s a necessary evil. Overpopulation causes huge problems. Eventually, the population exceeds its natural food supply, and then the bears start eating each other.” She swore she saw a glint of humor touch his expression.

“I can’t guarantee the bears won’t eat each other.” She could tell he was holding back a laugh. “But if they do, it’s for something other than overpopulation. Now back to your family.”

They broke through the tree line and turned onto the highway heading toward town.

“I’ve got a half-sister and a half brother. Tom is twenty-two, Clarissa is twenty-four, and I’m twenty-six. They both live in Missoula. Tom is studying to be an engineer and Clarissa is an interior designer. What about you?”

“I’m easy. I’ve got one brother named Brix. He’s a twin, and as you already know, he’s a ranger like me.” He turned on to the main street and pulled into the diner parking lot. “How about lunch? It’s Tuesday and Nellie makes the best crapple pies on Tuesday.”

Did he just say crap pies? “Why would I want a crap pie?”

“Cranberry apple—crapple.” The engine silenced and Finn let go of her hand making her feel empty all over, but within seconds he was opening her door and ushering her into the restaurant.

“You two kiss and make up?” Nellie asked the second we entered.

“No kiss, but we made up.” Mack smiled at the salty older woman who seemed to know everyone in town.

“Well, the kiss can come later. You young ones move too fast as it is. In my day—”

Finn cut her off. “In your day, men drove buggies and parents sewed you into your clothes.”

Nellie, cuffed him on the ear, but it was all in play. It was obvious she had a sweet spot in her heart for Finn. “Iced tea with honey for both of you?”

“Mack likes her drink with mostly honey and a little tea,” he teased. “I’ll take mine with less because I’m super sweet on my own.”

Again, Nellie cuffed the side of his head. “If that were true you wouldn’t need any sweetener.” Nellie turned to Mack. “Watch this one. He’s a bear of a man. A teddy bear that is.”

Nellie walked away and Mack asked, “Where are your parents?”

“They’re around. They like to travel.”

“I’m more of a home body myself. I have a feeling that once I find the place I belong, I’ll never want to leave it.” She played with her napkin, tearing it into strips and then shreds.

Nellie dropped off the tea and took their orders for fish and chips and a slice of crapple pie.

“I have a feeling you’re going to find your place soon, Mackenzie. Real soon.”

* * *

The next morning Mack got up early hoping she could see the tawny brown bear that consumed her thoughts. Last night she’d loaded her tranquilizer and tagging guns with all red tags. She wouldn’t be tagging green for open season. She couldn’t do it, but she could tag for observation and that beautiful burnished bear she saw by the lake would be a perfect one to start with.

She had selfish reasons she couldn’t explain. She wanted to track him to know where he was at all times.

Once she’d eaten a hearty breakfast, she set off on a walk around the lake. She hoped the bear would be outside of the private property lines, which by her maps started at the edge of the forest. That meant anything close to the water was free game.

She watched the ground for paw prints and droppings. Not all bears shit in the woods. As she neared the other side, proof of life began to show in increasing numbers. Along the muddy shores were lots of animal prints that Mack recognized. There were wolves and deer and smaller critters, and there was definitely a bear. Sadly, the big creature wasn’t around. She sat on a rock at the edge of the water thinking about what she would have done had he been there.

Then she didn’t have to think at all. Next to her, lumbering on all fours, he approached her. She froze in place. He was a magnificent brown bear, and her mind raced to process the steps she should take.

Don’t run.

Try to retreat slowly.

Climb a tree if you can.

Use pepper spray, which she didn’t have, but she did have a tranquilizer gun in her back pocket, and she did have the tagging gun, which looked more like a stapler than a gun.

Not feeling any threat from the animal, she sat still and silent. Her heart beat so loud she was sure she’d wake the late sleepers at the inn across the lake.

The animal took her in. He rocked back and forth on his front paws as if he were as conflicted as she was. He started to rise to two legs but didn’t. It was as if he knew that would be considered aggressive. His eyes searched hers for something.

Mack should have been terrified, but she wasn’t. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. Endorphins popped from her pores, but fear never manifested.

She sat as still as the glassy surface of the lake. The bear stepped forward one enormous paw after another until he stood in front of her.

She itched to reach out and touch his fur. Instead, she curled her fingers into fists and pressed them to her thighs.

The bear glanced down and it was as if he read her thoughts. His snout pushed at her hand until she relaxed and her palm sat on top of his head.

Did she dare speak? Could she not? She’d never been this close to a bear and this one seemed to connect with her on some deep level. She was hoping it wasn’t too deep, like internal-organ deep, when he decided he’d had enough.

“You are glorious,” her voice was barely above a whisper. Her fingers brushed around his ears, and it was like he leaned in to feel her touch. “Amazing. If I were a bear, you’d be the one for me.” Was it her imagination or did the big beasts chest expand?

Her next thought twisted her gut. She had him here in her hands. It would be easy to tranquilize him and tag him. It’s what she wanted, but could she bring herself to do it? Once it was done, she knew he’d never approach her again.

Mack warred within herself for the answer and finally responsibility won. She was here to do a job and in doing that job, she’d be able to keep tabs on the beast.

She found a place around his ear that when scratched made him close his eyes and let out a soft moan. Seeing an opportunity that would never present itself again, she reached for the tranquilizer gun and pressed it into his neck before she shot.

The bear’s eyes opened in shock. He reared up on his hind legs and staggered back. The darts she was using were potent, quick acting and short term. They could fell an elephant.

Mack scrambled back, hoping the bear would succumb to the drug before he attacked. Attack her he would. She could see the anger and betrayal in his eyes. Just as he showed his teeth and a roar filled the silent morning air, he dropped like a rock to the ground.

She had about fifteen minutes before the drug made its way through his body, so she worked fast. She pulled the red tag from her pocket and loaded the gun. On the edge of his ear she snapped it into place and just before she turned to leave, she wrapped her arms around his furry neck and squeezed.

Mack rushed back to the bed and breakfast. She looked over her shoulder to find the bear walking like a drunk into the forest.

It was time to meet Finn, so she hopped into her truck and headed to the station. The whole way she chastised herself for being so stupid. What was she thinking?