Bearly Begun (BBW/Bearshifter Romance) (Bachelor Bears of Yakima Ridge Book 1) by Isadora Montrose Read Free Book Online Page A

guardian. Just a girl really. And given that the three of them were still living in a one-bedroom apartment, and she was still sleeping on the couch, she had made a great many sacrifices to be their surrogate mother.
    She was looking a little less ground down now that she could share her load with him, but maybe that was because the longer he was around her the less it mattered what she looked like. She was so clearly good all the way through, and whatever hormones or pheromones or scent she gave off had him harder than hell by day and by night.
    He had responded instantly to her and his attraction was only increasing every time he saw her. He thought it went both ways, but it was hard to be sure when all their conversations were conducted in front of two little pitchers.
    * * *
    “Dude, I’m hungry,” complained Hunter.
    “Hold that timber steady, son,” Len said as he tacked a two by four in place on the work bench.
    “Dude,” persisted Hunter with a whine this time. “I’m hungry.”
    Len put his nail gun neatly in his tool box. He closed the lid and latched it. He stood to his full six five and stretched his arms over his head and rolled his shoulders and eased out his neck. Then he looked sternly down at the blond boy sassing him. He waited until Hunter looked down before he spoke.
    “I thought we had a deal. You can call me Mr. Benoit, or sir, or Boss, but nothing disrespectful. Now, I’ll hear your apology, son.”
    “I’m sorry I was disrespectful.” Hunter paused, “Boss.”
    Len nodded and turned away. “We’ll get the boards cut for tomorrow, clean up, and then we’ll eat.” He waited patiently for Hunter’s reply.
    “Yes, Boss,” the boy said cheerfully. He sounded like any normal pre-adolescent. Len marveled again at this kid’s constant testing of boundaries, and the evident relief that followed his discovery that Len’s rules didn’t buckle.
    Joe came home to find the kitchen full of steam and his brother and the two little thieves eating spaghetti and meatballs.
    “Hey, everyone,” he said dropping his tool chest on the floor. He hung his gimme hat on a peg and went to the sink for a wash and a drink of water.
    “Hi, Mr. Joe,” sang out Cord. “There’s plenty of spaghetti left.” He jumped up and ran to the stove. “I’ll get you some.”
    Joe met Len’s amused eyes with his own. “Hey, bro,” Len said. “Hunter?”
    “Hello, Mr. Joe,” said Hunter petulantly.
    Cord brought a plate heaped high with food to the table and carefully set it at Joe’s place. He went to the fridge and brought out a beer and put it beside Joe’s place.
    “Thank you,” said Joe. “What did you boys do today?”
    “I swept up the living room and made sure all the screws were tight,” Cord told him importantly. “If you leave anything on the subfloor the hardwood won’t lay right.”
    “He knows that, dummy.”
    “He asked me,” protested Cord.
    “Dinner’s over, Hunter,” said Len. “Clear your place.”
    Hunter looked at his half-eaten plate in horror. “I’m not done,” he protested clutching the sides.
    “Then you can finish it on the floor,” said Len firmly. “You are finished at this table.” He pointed to Tracker’s empty bowl.
    Hunter’s pride fought with his belly and he dragged himself over to the bowl and sat with his back to the table to finish his plate.
    What was with the kid today? thought Len. Both boys had seemed settled into their new routine. They weren’t exactly much help yet. Couldn’t expect that from a pair of youngsters who had spent their childhoods watching TV.
    But they were learning and their manners and attitude had generally improved. It had been a couple of weeks since they had bickered at the table. Sometimes they were even rather charming. But not today.
    This was one of Erin’s late shifts. Once she had realized that the boys were safe with Len she had explained that she could work twelve hour days for better pay if she did deliveries