Undercover Eagle Read online

  “You might not have to,” Leona told him cryptically.

  He glanced over his shoulder as he walked to the door and pulled it open. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  Leona tilted her head to one side and studied him. “All I know is, if someone deserves to meet their mate, it is the guy who runs the best hiking store in Bear Creek.”

  “The only hiking store,” Liam reminded her.

  “Who’s counting?” Leona gave him a quick wave, and he waved back before closing the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, he turned right and headed up the street toward the sheriff’s office.

  Sheriff Brad had been good to him. As the brother of a convicted drug smuggler, Liam’s arrival in town could have been a disaster. However, Brad and the rest of the town had given him a chance to prove his own worth, rather than judging him on his brother’s behavior. They had come into the store and bought their hiking equipment from him, and showed no suspicions that Liam might be a bad apple too. Now Liam wanted to give something back, hence his intention to join the mountain rescue team.

  If they’d have him.

  Liam looked across the street. There were already a couple of people milling around outside the sheriff’s office. He studied them carefully while pretending to adjust the strap on his pack. A couple of people he recognized, they had been in his store, but there were also some unfamiliar faces. Nerves rattled his usual calm demeanor. What if they turned him down?

  I’m an eagle shifter.Why wouldn’t they want me? Eyes in the sky, that’s what his pitch centered around. Eyes in the sky, he repeated to himself and crossed the street.

  “Hi there, Liam.” Jacob, the local mountain ranger, stood outside with another man, whom Liam hadn’t met before.

  “Hi, Jacob. Good to see you.” Liam fixed a smile on his face. “I was hoping to join the mountain rescue team.” His mentally prepared pitch seemed to evaporate as the guy next to Jacob scrutinized him.

  “Are you the brother of the drug dealer?” the man asked. He had the good looks of a movie star, coupled with the ruggedness of a mountain bear.

  “I am.” Liam nodded. “Just because we’re family, doesn’t mean we are the same.”

  “Took some guts to come to town with that hanging over you,” Jacob said supportively.

  “I did it for my mom, she put up the money for the store.” Liam cast a look over his shoulder, but the store was out of sight.

  “I’m Carter Eden.” A hand was thrust his way, and Liam took hold of it. If that was some kind of test, he’d passed.

  “Oh, I’ve seen your movies. Space Monkeys. One and two. The first one is my favorite.” Liam shook Carter’s hand and resisted the urge to ask for an autograph.

  “Thanks, Liam. I’ve heard good things about you. Why not come over for a beer sometime?” Carter’s invite was appreciated. Maybe Liam would fit in here just fine. Although he didn’t plan to stay in Bear Creek forever. He’d given up a good career to move to town. Liam had been completely honest when he said he’d taken on the store to save his mom from financial ruin.

  “Bear Creek Honey Beer, of course,” Jacob said with a grin.

  “Of course. What other beer is there?” Carter turned and looked into the sheriff’s office. “Looks as if we’re about to get started.”

  “Good to have you with us, Liam.” Jacob slapped him on the back and went inside, where another five or six guys were waiting, including Brad.

  “I want to give something back,” Liam said and was about to follow Jacob when a strange prickling along the hairs of his neck made him stop.

  “OK?” Carter asked from inside. “Have you changed your mind?”

  “No.” Liam shook his head and rubbed his neck with the palm of his hand. “I feel…” How did he feel? As if he were coming down with the flu. His body ached, an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach leaving him feeling lightheaded.

  “Maybe you should sit this one out?” Jacob asked, coming back out of the sheriff’s office.

  “No, I’ll be fine.” Liam gripped the doorframe and heaved himself inside, with some effort. His body wanted to run off in another direction, and it took all his willpower not to let that happen.

  “Right, thanks for coming,” Brad was saying. “I can see we have a new face. Good to see you, Liam.”

  Liam lifted his hand and waved. He tried to concentrate on Brad’s words, but it wasn’t easy. Something was crawling around in his brain and it was getting worse.

  “Room for one more?” a woman’s voice called from the door, hitting him full force in the solar plexus.

  “Hey, Beverly, I didn’t know you were interested in mountain rescue.” Brad raised his eyebrow at her.

  “I’ve decided to give something back to the community.” Beverly smiled brightly and took Liam’s breath away.

  “Are you sure you are OK?” Jacob asked with some concern.

  “Yes.” With a tremendous effort, Liam straightened up and took a deep breath.

  Along with everyone else in the room, his eyes fixed on the young woman who entered. She was dressed in hiking gear, with a pack slung casually over one shoulder. Her long brown hair was swept up into a ponytail that bounced as she walked.

  “Brad. I figured it was time you guys had a woman’s input. So here I am.” She held up her hands to show off her body, and Liam’s knees were tempted to buckle under the enormity of his sudden realization.

  He was staring at his mate. A quick glance around the room told him everyone was staring at his mate. His eagle stretched his wings and flexed his talons, ready to defend their mate’s honor. Or virtue. Or just any damn thing she needed him to defend.

  However, Beverly seemed more than capable of defending herself, especially when a ripple of voices circled the room. She cocked her head to one side, making her ponytail swish. But before she could speak, Brad interrupted.

  “We’d be happy for you to join the team. I’m sure everyone agrees with me when I say anyone is welcome.” Brad stared the others down, defying them to speak out against Beverly.

  Liam frowned and leaned over to whisper in Jacob’s ear. “Why don’t they want a woman on the team?”

  Jacob looked at him sharply and kept his voice low as he replied, “It’s not because she’s a woman.”

  “Then what?” Liam shrugged.

  Carter leaned right over to hiss in his ear. “She’s not a shifter. And I don’t think she knows about them. And sometimes, in the course of a rescue, we have to use our other sides.”

  “Oh.” That made perfect sense. Shifters were not out in this town or any town.

  “The Bear Creek Mountain Rescue team often has to use their special abilities in certain situations. Which means one of us has to sit her down and have that talk with her.” Jacob looked as if this was one job he would not be volunteering for.

  “I’ll do it,” Liam said without thinking.

  “You?” Jacob’s eyes narrowed and then widened. “Ah, crap. So that’s what’s wrong with you.”

  “What’s wrong with Liam?” Carter asked loudly and stared at Liam, as did everyone else in the room.

  “Is there a reason Liam shouldn’t be here?” a frustrated sheriff asked.

  “None whatsoever.” Jacob crossed his hands over each other as if he were cutting the air. “Absolutely none.”

  Beverly turned around and studied the three men closely. Her eyes lingered on Liam for a fraction of a second longer than the others before she sighed and turned away.

  Damn it, had he blown his chances with his mate on their first meeting? Or would he convince her he was the only man who could truly make her happy?

  Yeah, not only did he have to explain to her what shifters were, he then had to convince her they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together. When he decided to join mountain rescue, he hadn’t expected his life to change so abruptly.

  “Right, Beverly, Liam, I have some forms for you to fill out and then we’ll get out of here. The weather is perf
ect, and a hike up the mountain is just what we all need to get acquainted.” Brad looked from Beverly to Liam. “This way.”

  Jacob patted Liam on the shoulder. “You are going to have your hands full with Beverly, Liam. But her heart is in the right place.”

  “What does that mean?” Liam asked.

  “I’ll let you figure that out all on your own.” Jacob grinned as Liam walked across to the desk where Beverly was bent over, her cargo pants stretched across her curvy bottom. Immediately, Liam jerked his head up. This was going to be harder than he thought.

  Chapter Three – Beverly

  Beverly read through the form Brad handed her and then filled it out, while keeping her attention off the new guy in town. Why hadn’t she met him yet? She certainly didn’t recall him visiting the grocery store.

  A sideways glance showed him to be tall, with strong, lean thighs encased in jeans. His chest was broad, but not as heavily muscled as most of the men in Bear Creek. She looked away and swung her ponytail around to fall in front of her face as he turned his pale amber eyes on her. This was not why she was here.

  She focused on the form in front of her, noting down her name, age, and home address, together with any skills she could bring to the team. Beverly paused. What exactly could she bring to the team?

  Next to her, the new guy was busy scribbling away, his list of suitable attributes long and detailed.

  Beverly placed her pen down and sighed loudly. Who was she fooling, she didn’t fit in here, and it wasn’t just because she was a woman. “I think I made a mistake.”

  “Why?” the new guy asked, his eyes soft and sorrowful as they looked at her.

  “I don’t have anything to offer.” She stood up and searched the room for Brad, who was talking to Jacob and Carter.

  “I think you do.”

  “You don’t know me.” She looked down at the form. “Ogling men and asking for their phone number isn’t a quality they are interested in.”

  “What do you do?” the guy asked. “As a job?”

  “My dad owns the local grocery store. I know, thrilling, isn’t it?” Beverly gave him a lopsided smile.

  “I run the local hiking store.” He held out his hand. “Liam.”

  “Beverly.” She slipped her hand into his and a warmth flooded her veins. “I haven’t seen you around.”

  “I’ve been keeping a low profile after the drug incident.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, are you related to Mike?”

  “He’s my brother.” Liam looked at her form. “You have good communication skills.”

  “Do I?” she asked breathlessly.

  He pointed at the pen. “Write it down.”

  “Oh, yes.” Beverly cursed her own stupidity, Liam was being nice, and she had interpreted it as him trying to get into her pants. She scribbled down good communication skills.

  “What else?” His arm brushed hers and a build-up of static crackled through the air.

  “Let’s see. I’m good with figures. Not relevant, really.”

  “It could be. Write it down.” She did as he said.

  “I know CPR.” Beverly wrote that and added good at organization, plus taking and giving orders.

  “How are you two doing?” Brad asked, making them both jump.

  “I’m done.” Liam passed the form to Brad, who glanced at it quickly. “Great, how about you, Beverly?”

  “I feel lacking.” Beverly didn’t want to be a burden to the team.

  Brad picked up her application form. “An eagerness to learn and help others is the main criteria for the team. That and being available at short notice.”

  “That I can do.” Beverly picked up her backpack, which she’d placed on the floor while she wrote out the form.

  “Right, maybe you two should stick together today, since both of you are newbies.” Brad gave Liam a questioning look.

  “Sure, if that’s OK with you, Beverly?” Liam looked visibly nervous. Had these guys warned him she was a man-eater? Or a wannabe man-eater.

  “It is, as long as you are comfortable with me being by your side.” Beverly smiled sweetly, while Liam blushed and Brad turned away, a big smile on his face. “Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something?”

  “I’d be honored to stick with you today.” Liam shook his head. “Wow, that didn’t come out right. What I meant was…”

  “I get it.” Beverly fiddled with the strap of her pack, thinking more and more that this was the worst idea. “Let’s listen to what Brad has to say.”

  Brad had everyone’s attention as he explained what they were going to do. “Spring is nearly in full swing. You all know what we face each year on the mountain. And I don’t mean tourists.”

  A ripple of laughter filled the room. “Bears after the first honey,” someone said.

  “I know all the best places,” Carter replied, putting his hand in the air.

  “What does he mean?” Beverly asked Liam.

  “I have no idea. Don’t you know everyone better than me?” Liam shrugged.

  “I know Carter lived on the mountain for some time before he met Caroline.” Beverly decided it was time to ask Liam if he was romantically entangled with anyone. There was no way she wanted to become embroiled in a domestic argument between him and his significant other. She’d already checked his ring finger and found it naked. She smirked, it wasn’t the only part of Liam she would like to see naked.

  And there you go again, Beverly told herself. This is about the mountain rescue team, not getting a man. But if the two went together, who was she to complain?

  “I mean those who come to the mountain to plunder it for its wildlife and other assets. Although we are here to aid hikers, and anyone else who gets into trouble on the mountain. As we walk the ridges and climb the peaks, I urge you all to be on the lookout for signs of theft and damage.”

  “You mean those bastards who try to steal the eggs from nesting birds?” An old-timer shouted out with vehemence.

  “Exactly.” Brad pressed his lips together. “I did not mean that as a pun.” A small rumble of laughter broke out all the same. “We have to take it seriously. Anyone who comes here to steal from nature deserves to feel the full force of the law.” Brad pointed at his chest. “I aim to protect and serve all facets of our town and our mountain.”

  “As the local ranger, I appreciate everything you do to support the mountain and its wildlife, which has become increasingly under threat, not from our town, but some of the surrounding towns.” Jacob looked around the room.“The tourist trade is up, which is great for the town’s economy, but not always for the wildlife.”

  Liam shuffled nervously and looked down at his feet. Beverly put her hand on his lower arm, surprised when he jumped as if she had burned him. “Sorry.”

  “It’s OK. I still feel guilty about my brother.”

  “You didn’t know what he was doing. So don’t put the blame on yourself.” Beverly was all for accepting the consequences of her own actions, but life was too short to send yourself on a guilt trip because of what others did. Family or no family.

  “I’d like to make up for it. If I can.” Liam’s honesty and determination shone through his clouded expression, stirring up new emotions for Beverly. He was a good guy. The kind of guy a girl could settle down with. If settling down was her thing.

  Beverly’s words from last night came back to her. Liam was everything she was determined to stay away from, a small-town store owner. Sure, he was sexy as hell, but not with the added element of danger she was drawn to. He wasn’t sex-on-legs. He didn’t hint at a simmering passion kept hidden from everyone but those closest to him.

  “Beverly.” Liam’s gentle voice broke through her thoughts and she started guiltily.

  “Yes.”

  “We’re leaving. Want to ride with me?” Liam asked.

  “Ride?” Beverly was confused.

  “We’re going up to the higher slopes.” Jacob joined the conversation. “Why don’t the four
of us take my truck?”

  “Sure.” Liam looked expectantly at Beverly. “If that’s OK with you?”

  “You don’t have to ask my permission,” Beverly said hotly.

  “I wasn’t.” Liam frowned at her sharp words. “Brad suggested we stay together, that’s all.”

  She blushed, swung around and stalked to the door to hide her embarrassment. Jumping to conclusions, as always! “Come on then, slowpokes, let’s get going.”

  The three men followed her outside, where she paused and breathed in the cool spring air. Spring was her favorite season, with the promise of new life, new beginnings. If only she could start again, live a life that was not so set in the ordinary. Her life promised nothing but dullness until she became too mired down in stock orders and staff emergencies to care. Until she became her father.

  “Penny for them,” Carter said from beside her as Jacob, with Liam by his side, led them to his truck.

  “It’s all right for you, you escaped small-town life. Although why you came back, I don’t understand.” Beverly gazed at the mountains.

  “I like small-town life.”Carter studied her closely. “What’s wrong? You look so glum. Wasn’t joining the mountain rescue team your idea?”

  “It was my idea. I want to help people, I want to do something with my life other than…the small stuff.” Beverly was complaining to a movie star.

  “Sometimes it’s the small stuff that matters,” Carter said cryptically.

  “Don’t you miss it?” Beverly asked. “Seeing new places, meeting new people.”

  “Home is where my heart is.” Carter stopped, and she turned to face him. “Beverly, let me give you a piece of advice.”

  “Go on.”

  “You know my story, you know I came back to Bear Creek to hide away from who I thought I was.” Carter looked over her shoulder and into the distance. “It took the love of a woman to bring me back, to bring me to my senses.”

  “Good for you.” She patted his shoulder, her voice laced with sarcasm.

  “What I’m trying to say is that I would not trade that love for anything. Not for red carpet ceremonies, movie deals, money.”