Bear the Heat Read online

  

  Maple Grove 1

  Bear the Heat

  When John “Moose” Zitelli discovers that the human who was beaten by a lion shifter and two demons is his mate, he decides to stick around Maple Grove. Moose is glad of his decision when a murder takes place in the sleepy town. Now that Grayson is the new town sheriff, his mate is gonna need all the help he can get to solve the crime. The suspect pool is residents with secrets to hide, but Moose is determined to find the killer and win his mate’s heart.

  Grayson Copache doesn’t want to be the new sheriff, but he promised he’d take over the job. His first day finds him knee-deep in trying to figure out who is vandalizing the town. Then a murder happens and Grayson has no idea who the suspect is. But with the help of his sexy mate, some steamy sex, and a deputy who despises him, Grayson is sure he can crack the case.

  Genres: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 30,313

  BEAR THE HEAT

  Maple Grove 1

  Lynn Hagen

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Bear the Heat

  Copyright © 2019 by Lynn Hagen

  ISBN: 978-1-64243-865-9

  First Publication: June 2019

  Cover design by Emma Nicole

  All art and logo copyright © 2019 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.

  You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

  For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  BEAR THE HEAT

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  BEAR THE HEAT

  Maple Grove 1

  LYNN HAGEN

  Copyright © 2019

  Chapter One

  “You have five seconds to get your hands off my pants before I clobber you.” Grayson Copache glared at Moose as he snatched his jeans from the man’s grip.

  “And you’re being stubborn,” Moose snarled. “I just wanna help.”

  “I don’t need no damn help puttin’ my pants on.”

  Since Grayson had been injured, Moose had been a pain in his ass.

  Moose had insisted on hanging around after that fiasco because Grayson had been beaten to hell, but Grayson had survived worse. He’d tried to kick Moose out a hundred times, but the man was too damn stubborn to leave.

  “Your right arm is broken.” Moose gave the needless reminder. “It’s tough doing things with one good arm. Now let me help you, damn it.”

  Grayson was five seconds away from knocking Moose on his ass. If he could. Even if he hadn’t been injured, Moose was a huge fucker. Grayson was six feet four inches, and Moose towered over him a good three or four inches. The guy was thick, too. As wide as Grayson was.

  He also wanted Moose gone because he was trying his best to come to terms with what he’d seen.

  Shifters and demons? They really existed? If he hadn’t seen it with his own two eyes, he would’ve never believed it. There wasn’t too much that surprised Grayson. Not with the life he’d lived, the marines, and then covert ops. But his mind had been blown when he’d seen Salazar change into a lion, and then Darren shift into a coyote.

  At first he’d thought he’d suffered head trauma as badly as Salazar had beaten him. But Moose had told him the truth, and since then Grayson had been trying to absorb the information that humans weren’t alone on this planet.

  It was a true mind fuck.

  “Fine, but when you fall over, don’t come crying to me.” Moose stomped from the room, and at his height and weight, he made the floor shake.

  “I never asked for your help in the first place!” Grayson yelled after him. “Don’t you have a life to live? Go home and leave me the fuck alone.”

  Grayson wasn’t a man who liked feeling weak. He’d survived the military and black op missions for over twenty years. He considered himself one badass motherfucker, and needing help putting his pants on got on his last nerve.

  Moose returned, cup of coffee in hand. He leaned against the wall since he had to duck to clear the doorway.

  “What do you want?”

  Moose shrugged. “I’m just here in case you fall over and can’t get up.”

  Grayson hid his smile. “Do I look like that commercial to you? I’m forty-one, not ninety-one.”

  Although Grayson was acting like a prick, he really did like Moose’s company, but he’d never tell Moose that. He would also never confess to the attraction he felt toward the big lug.

  Grayson’s life was simple, and he wanted to keep it that way. Besides, admitting his feelings toward another man was what got him divorced in the first place and a pariah among his family. Nothing good ever came out of being completely honest with folks.

  Nothing.

  What had being honest gotten him? A nearly wiped-out bank account in the divorce, his father slamming the door in his face, his mother refusing his calls, and his sister disowning him, as well as his precious dog taken from him in the settlement.

  Patricia had taken Boone, and for that, he’d never forgive her. Who took a man’s dog? A scorned woman.

  Grayson wasn’t really bitter about the divorce. He’d lived a complete lie his entire life, and it had been about time he came forward and told his wife he was attracted to men.

  Too bad she had taken it so badly, but did he really blame her?

  Not in the least.

  But he still wanted his damn dog back.

  He also didn’t want to be attracted to Moose.

  But damn it, the guy looked sexy as fuck leaning there, his eyes riveted to Grayson. He felt the heat of that stare down to his cock. Moose was damn near seven feet tall, muscles as far as the eye could see, and he was gorgeous. Grayson needed to stop staring at his bulging arms, because all he thought about was Moose tackling him to the floor and…

  “Some privacy?”

  Moose snorted. “I’ve seen you naked. You trying to get some pants on doesn’t faze me.”

  Grayson stormed over to Moose, shoved at the big lug until the guy was in the hallway, and then slammed the bedroom door in his face, while praying Moose hadn’t seen his half-hard dick beneath his boxers.

  He took in a few deep breaths as he sat on the bed, tossing his jeans aside as he
waited for his cock to soften. Thankfully it did as he thought about his divorce.

  The one good thing that had come out of all of this was his daughter, Alisha.

  She had a good soul and hadn’t turned her back on her old man. Even Alisha’s husband supported Grayson. Too bad they lived so far away.

  Grayson got up and opened his door. As he suspected, Moose was on the other side.

  “I was just listening for your fall.” Moose’s bearded grin stole Grayson’s breath. It was a smile wet dreams were made of. He wanted to yank Moose into his arms and kiss that damn grin right off his face.

  “Sorry to disappoint you.” Grayson decided to leave his pants on the bed. It wasn’t as though he was going anywhere, and as Moose had pointed out, the guy had seen him naked, so there was no use trying to cover himself.

  Grayson brushed past Moose, their arms touching. Just as before, whenever their bodies came into contact, a strange electrical spark shot through him. It was like brushing past a live wire. His body tingled and his cock jerked as though it was ready to play.

  That feeling faded when he passed through the living room and stared at the spot where he’d been tied up a little over a week ago. The memory didn’t stir fear in him.

  It stirred an abundance of anger.

  When Salazar Defranco had first shown up at Grayson’s farmhouse, Grayson had tried to help the naked bastard, but the lion shifter had proven that a cold black heart beat in his chest.

  “Do you need me to run into town for anything?” Moose followed right behind him.

  Grayson sighed. In truth, it was hard work staying angry at the guy. Moose had been nothing but kind and helpful to him, even if Grayson had tried to kick Moose out a hundred times.

  If Grayson’s face hadn’t been jacked up, he would have suggested some burgers at the local diner. He didn’t even care that his arm was in a cast. He didn’t want anyone seeing his face and asking questions he couldn’t answer.

  “Nah, I’m just gonna throw some burgers on the grill.”

  “I’m a master at grilling,” Moose offered.

  “Can you be a master at sitting in a lawn chair quietly?” When Moose didn’t answer, Grayson turned and saw the hurt in the guy’s eyes.

  Great. Now he felt guilty for hurting Moose’s feelings.

  “Sorry, I’m just not used to being so helpless. It’s got me all riled up.” He moved toward Moose and stopped a foot away. Grayson didn’t trust himself any closer because, every time he was near the guy, he wanted to touch him. “I don’t mean to be an ass.”

  Moose raised his hand, as if he wanted to touch Grayson’s face, then let it drop. “You’re entitled to be grumpy after what you’ve been through. If you ask me, you’re doing better than I thought you would.”

  That was another thing about Moose. The man was too damn nice. “Fine, grab the meat from the fridge and bring it outside while I light the grill,” Grayson said.

  The midafternoon sun was out, baking Grayson as he fired up his grill. All it had taken was a turn of the knob. No real work there. He just wanted to get out of the house and away from Moose, but the guy was ever present.

  He stepped outside with a tray of meat, a spatula, and some seasonings. If Grayson wasn’t fighting his attraction, Moose would be real handy to have around.

  Maybe that was what Grayson should do. Hire Moose as his handyman. The guy was a natural when it came to clearing heavy debris outside the house, fixing things, and he wasn’t a half-bad cook.

  It wasn’t as if Grayson could send Moose home. He’d tried countless times, and Moose had ignored him every single time.

  “I tell you what,” Grayson said when Moose joined him. “How about I hire you?”

  Moose smirked. “To do what, take your bullshit with a grain of salt?”

  Grayson narrowed his eyes. “I haven’t been that bad.”

  “A growling mama bear would’ve been more pleasant to deal with.” Moose set the tray down on the patio table. “So what do you want to hire me for?” He bounced his brows. “That kind of work will cost you extra.”

  Grayson hated the fact that he blushed at Moose’s innuendo. In truth, he hadn’t had sex in over five years. He’d been too busy beating himself up about coming out. Grayson should have just kept his big mouth shut.

  Then you would’ve continued to live a lie.

  “A handyman,” Grayson said. “You’re already doing the work.”

  “You can pay me with room and board.” Moose patted his muscled abdomen. “I can eat enough to break someone’s bank account.”

  Grayson had no doubt about that. He’d seen Moose eat enough for five men. He’d already planned on putting three burgers on the grill for the guy.

  Moose had one hell of a sweet tooth, too. He’d never seen anyone eat a whole box of sweet rolls before. Not in one sitting. The guy should be as big as a house by now with the way he shoveled in the calories.

  “Deal,” Grayson said. “Now I can order you around and you have to listen to me.”

  “I already listen to you,” Moose pointed out. “What’s gonna be different from that?”

  “You’re too damn agreeable,” Grayson muttered.

  “I’m just all gooey and soft on the inside.” Moose was so close to Grayson’s ear that Grayson felt the man’s breath skittering across his lobe. He swallowed as he forced himself not to jerk away.

  “I just bet you are.” Had he said that out loud? Grayson made a beeline for the kitchen, refusing to look over his shoulder as he heard a deep booming chuckle floating behind him.

  * * * *

  Moose wasn’t trying to be pushy. He could tell Grayson was agitated, and he wasn’t trying to add to his mate’s problems. In fact, Moose was trying to alleviate some of them.

  If only Grayson would stop being so stubborn and prideful.

  As soon as Grayson went inside the house, Moose tossed the raw patties onto the grill. All five of them. The meat sizzled when it touched the hot grates, and Moose’s hunger intensified. Grilled food was his favorite.

  Along with sweets. Moose could never get enough sweets.

  When Grayson didn’t return, Moose headed inside to see what the guy was up to. If he planned on running away all day, Grayson had another think coming.

  Moose wasn’t going to be pushy, but he wasn’t going to allow his mate to dodge him, either.

  He found Grayson in his bedroom, struggling to get his jeans on. Before Moose could help, the human fell over and would have hit the floor if Moose hadn’t caught him.

  Without asking, he lowered to his knee and helped his mate slide them on, Grayson using his right hand to grip Moose’s shoulder and steady himself.

  “I could’ve done this myself,” Grayson groused.

  “While giving yourself a concussion,” Moose replied. “I mean, if you’re into hurting yourself, I’ll leave you be.”

  “Very funny,” Grayson said.

  Moose kept the moan trapped in his throat. Not only was his mate touching him, but his cock was right there in front of him, and he was dying to free the flesh and suck it into his mouth.

  “Gonna just kneel there like you’re proposing?” Grayson asked.

  Moose grinned. “Grayson Copache, will you be my boss?”

  That got a chuckle out of the guy.

  “Yes!” He said it exuberantly. It was the first time he’d played along when Moose teased him, and Moose liked his mate’s enthusiasm, even if it was about being his boss.

  “Here you go.” He pulled Grayson’s pants all the way up, yanked the zipper up, and snapped the button. “You’re all covered now.”

  Grayson sniffed the air. “Are the burgers burning?”

  “Shit!” Moose ran from the room and headed outside. He smelled the meat overcooking and quickly turned the burgers.

  Grayson joined him, two bottles of beer in one hand. He handed one to Moose before taking a seat on one of the lawn chairs. “Now this is what summer is supposed to be like.”

/>   Moose twisted the cap off and took a long swallow of the cold brew. He could drink them all day and not get drunk, but he did enjoy the flavor.

  He also enjoyed checking Grayson out as he worked the grill. His mate was muscled, with black hair that had a touch of gray at his temples. He also had the most amazing gray eyes Moose had ever seen.

  There was a lot of “gray” when thinking of his mate.

  Grayson had gray hair and gray eyes. Moose thought that funny.

  “What’re you smiling about?” Grayson asked.

  “My stupid thoughts,” Moose admitted. “And about how I’m gonna smash this food when it’s done.”

  Grayson swallowed some of his beer. “You need to smash your way to the grocery store afterward. We’re running low on supplies.”

  Finally, after over a week, Grayson was finally accepting that Moose wasn’t going anywhere and would hopefully stop trying to kick him out.

  There was no way in hell Moose would have left his mate, let alone left him so helpless—whether Grayson wanted to admit he needed help or not.

  “Just make me a list.” Moose whistled while he worked, careful not to overcook the meat. There were fries in the freezer that Moose could put in the air fryer when the burgers were close to being done.

  That sounded like the perfect lunch.

  The only thing that would have made it better was if Grayson had bent over the table and offered himself as dessert.

  A guy can dream.