Ranger Bear (Rogue Bear Series 1) by Meredith Clarke, Ally Summers Page B

anything.”
    “I doubt Sam took it that seriously.”
    Sam’s instructions were clear. Kyle would never forget the look in his eyes or what he said. His family was in Kyle’s hands now. It appeared that meant Whitney.
    She put her hands on her hips. “I’m fine. Really.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Really? Your steps are falling apart. You got locked out of your gate. If you lean over that porch railing you’ll fall down a hundred foot cliff. You’ve got a leak in the hallway and…”
    “Ok. Stop. I know the house is falling apart, but that’s not your responsibility.”
    He looked in her eyes. “It is now.”

4
    Whitney
    W hitney stared into his deep blue eyes and tried to remember why only two minutes ago she had been spit-fire mad. Right now the only thing she could see was a man who just offered to fix the crumbling mess around her. Offered to make something in her life right when everything else had gone to hell.
    “You can’t be serious.” She shook her head. Things like this didn’t happen to her.
    “Dead serious.” His voice was deep and husky.
    She closed the door, shutting the wind outside. He looked relieved. She couldn’t believe she was actually considering this.
    “Why?”
    “Because Sam made me swear. And I did. I don’t give my word lightly.”
    She felt her knees go weak just a little. Kyle towered over her and she was having trouble thinking. His T-shirt stretched over his wide shoulders. It was hard not to reach out and touch the muscles in his arms to see if they were real. He was like a sculpted god. Tall, dark, and athletically built like nothing she had ever seen.
    “I’m sure you have better things to do than help me fix this disaster.”
    He shook his head. “Nope. I’m on leave until I hear otherwise. My mission is on hold. So, I can stay and help. I’ll stay as long as I can.”
    Oh God. Did he just say he would stay?
    “Stay here?”
    He nodded. “There’s an extra room over the barn, right?”
    She tried to take a normal breath. “Yes. It was supposed to be an apartment, but it never really worked out that way. There is a bed though.”
    “Good. I’ll stay out there and I’ll put the place back together for you. And whatever else you need.”
    It was the way he said the last sentence that made Whitney question her sense of reality. Things like this didn’t happen. Hot guys didn’t show up on her doorstep begging to be her handyman.
    He stepped around her, opening the door. “I’ll get my tools and you can tell me where you want me to start.”
    “You brought tools?”
    His hand was on the doorknob. “I keep them in my Jeep. I should have everything we need.”
    “Right now? You’re going to start working on the house now?” She thought everything she said probably sounded absurd. She couldn’t stop repeating herself.
    “Yeah. Now.” Kyle was authoritative and firm. “I’ll be back in a second.”
    He walked out of the door, not taking no for an answer. It didn’t take long to be around the man to realize he was used to giving orders. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t debate things. The decision was made and he was going to do exactly what he said.
    Whitney watched him from the window. She had a feeling Kyle was going to do what he wanted, whether she protested or put up a fight.

5
    Kyle
    T here was no way he was leaving. He’d sleep in the yard if he had to. He was used to sleeping out in the desert. A night under the Oregon sky would be fine. He’d be close to Whitney, and suddenly that was the only thing that mattered to him.
    He shook his head while he rummaged through the back of the Jeep. Sam was a son of a bitch for sending him out here. He had begged Kyle for his help, when the whole time he was just playing matchmaker.
    “Well played, brother,” Kyle mumbled.
    He didn’t know what his friend would think if he knew Kyle’s secret. If he knew Whitney had awakened his bear. If he knew he couldn’t leave Oregon until she was his in