Soldier Bear: Glowstone Guardians Bear Shifter Romance, #3

By Jodi Hawkins

The only thing standing in the way of their future is his past.

He's dangerous, but irresistible.
Rachel Carver's just barely getting by, working two jobs trying to make it in the tiny resort town serving Glowstone Shifter Park. When she meets mysterious, sexy shifter Renato she realizes just how much more a life filled with love can offer, but a terrifying threat stands between them. He needs her help, but what can she do against something a werebear can't defeat alone?

She's what he's missing. Now he needs to defend her.
Bear shifter and ex-soldier Renato Alduino wants nothing more than to put his past behind him after his last deployment ended in disaster, but out of the darkness of the life he left behind comes a threat he thought long dead. When he finds his mate in curvy redhead Rachel, he remembers that some things are worth fighting for, but this isn't a battle he can win on his own.

The third book in the Glowstone Guardians series is sexy, steamy and packed with danger and desire!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jodi Hawkins
• Release date: Jan 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536583328

Book preview

1

Rachel Carver glanced up from her espresso machine and sighed. The line of cups with misspelled names stretched on forever, and the line of customers was almost out the door as well. It was going to be another one of those days.

Christmas was just around the corner, but she still hadn’t heard from her boss on whether she would get any time off. Not that it mattered much; she couldn’t afford to leave town regardless and her family was states away.

Hey, Rachel. Look alive, whispered her coworker Christie. Daniel’s coming.

Rachel’s shoulders tensed involuntarily. Daniel was the manager of the coffee shop, and he set off every alarm she had. The man was short, sweaty and had the world’s grossest goatee. His eyes were like two pissholes in the snow, and they were always roaming where they weren’t wanted.. He was the kind of guy that if he bought you a drink in a club, you’d accidentally spill it in case he’d slipped something in it. Not that she’d been in any clubs since she’d moved to Blue Peaks.

Hello, girls, Daniel said in his oily voice. He looked everywhere but their faces, and Christie crossed her arms over her chest. Looks like we’re a little behind, hmm?

Rachel opened her mouth to answer, but Christie beat her to it. We’ve only got one machine running right now, Daniel. I told you that number two wasn’t making pressure any more, and you didn’t call in the repair guy. Christie tilted her head at the man and raised her eyebrows. Rachel’s doing a hell of a good job keeping up as it is.

Sounds like we don’t need both of you today, then, said Daniel. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off, Christie. Once we get the second machine fixed, maybe then I’ll have you back on the schedule.

Christie’s face reddened. There’s still a lot to do around here, though! I’ve been helping Jenny and Kyle with food, and sorting out Rachel’s orders, and—

I’m sure they’ll be fine. Go home. Don’t bother coming in until I call.

Christie stared at him a moment, and then stormed past and into the back. Good on you for not crying in front of this asshole, Rachel thought. She’d learned a long time ago to celebrate small victories. She mouthed the words I’m sorry at Christie when she turned to look back.

Daniel turned his attention to her. Those drinks won’t make themselves, Rachel. He turned and disappeared back into his office.

Rachel cursed to herself. Now she’d have to do her own organizing and grinding, on top of pulling the shots and steaming milk. I swear to God, if I didn’t need this job… But she did.

She’d come to Blue Peaks at the start of winter season, with the idea that she’d make some money and try to settle in. The resort town was beautiful, and she wanted to create a life for herself here. She’d imagined hiking in the summer, snowshoeing in the winter: basically the outdoor fantasy life. Things hadn’t been quite as easy as she hoped. Finding a place to stay had been almost impossible, so she’d wound up taking a job at a restaurant because the job included guaranteed accommodation at the attached hotel. After her room’s rent came out of her paycheck, she had basically nothing left to live on, so she’d taken this job at the coffee shop. She lived on tips and ramen, and it was starting to wear on her. She’d sold her car two months ago, telling herself she didn’t need it in the small town anyway, but the money was long spent. Her savings were gone and she’d been making the minimum payment on her credit card. Rachel feared she was in trouble.

No time to worry about that now, though. She grabbed up the next cup and read the order, then the name. Renato. The employees had a game they played, where they intentionally misspelled the customer’s names, then competed over who had done the best job of it. Stuff like changing Michael to Mykle or Jennifer to Genuphr. She smiled to herself and started trying to figure out how to properly spell this customer’s name.

Long black to go for Renato, she called out, setting the drink out.

Before she had a chance to turn away, the serving counter was blocked completely by the largest man she’d ever seen. Thanks, he said, with a voice deep and smooth, like whiskey poured over ice. She looked up at him, way up. He had to be six and a half feet tall. He was broad and stood square-shouldered with a straight back; no slouching up to the counter for this guy. She had to tilt her neck up to take him in. Short, neat black hair framed a clean-shaven, olive face, with green eyes and a strong, pronounced jaw. His lips curved up in a small smile and she couldn’t help but return it. Oh my God, now that’s a man.

You’re welcome, she said. It was the automatic response to a customer, but this time she meant it. His voice made her want to keep him talking. He had done something to her insides with a single word, and oh my, it was delicious. Is that, uh, the right way to spell your name?

The big man turned the cup in his hand and glanced at it. Yes it is, he said. It’s pretty straightforward, really.

She laughed. Not around here, it isn’t. I’ve never met anyone with that name before, Rachel said. It suits you. She winced inside. I’m sure this guy really cares about what you think of his name.

I’ve always thought so, he said. Now his smile was full and genuine. What’s your name? She glanced down at her nametag, and he shook his head. That’s not an introduction, that’s a label.

Now that was nice to hear. She hated the nametag; it forced a casual familiarity that she wasn’t comfortable with. Rachel Carver. Nice to meet you. She stuck her hand out across the serving table.

Likewise. His hand touched hers and everything froze for a second. Something like electricity passed from him to her, or was it from her to him? Both? Warmth, no, heat spread through her body in an instant, all of it coming from him, racing through her like a wildfire. Her thoughts burned away to nothing and then flared into life again, all in a split second. Then he released her hand and she looked up. His eyes were shining, almost glowing green, and his eyes were wide in shock.

What just happened? Something magical had come over her. She blinked; the world was the same, but somehow she felt like she’d glimpsed something more, like peeking behind the curtains at the theatre.

Are you all right? Renato’s voice was low, but she could see that he’d experienced something too, and by the look on his face, he didn’t know what to make of it either.

I think so. She wasn’t hurt, or injured, but whatever had happened, she wasn’t the same as she had been ten seconds ago. Inside her the memory of his heat still warmed her, pooling low in her body and making her intensely aware of certain very private places. What—

Rachel? Are you on a break? Daniel’s nasal voice carried across the shop from his office door. The sweaty little shit liked to sit at his desk and watch the security cameras. Just one more thing to hate about him.

No, Daniel. Sorry. Fuck you, Daniel, she thought. She wished she could say it out loud, but she needed this job. She looked up at Renato. His eyes transfixed her, and she wanted to ask him a thousand questions.

Instead, he asked her a single one. What time are you finished here?

I’ve got an hour left, she whispered.

He nodded. Look for me. Then he disappeared with his coffee, leaving her feeling suddenly half-empty. Had he just been hitting on her? Was that all this was? No way. It didn’t matter. She wanted, no, needed to see him again. Whatever had passed between them was more than just a touch. If animal magnetism existed, he was its living embodiment.

She turned back to the coffee machine and started on the next drink. Renato had taken a seat in the shop and was sipping his coffee slowly. When she glanced up at him, he was looking back at her. A warm smile crossed his face. Sudden images passed through her mind: Renato kissing her in the snow, her body melting against his, their skin burning up as they—

Jesus. She had to get herself under control. Rachel buried herself in her work, making the next five drinks, looking up only to grab the next cup and read its order. She let herself settle into the routine, but behind it all was Renato, waiting for her.

When she looked up again Renato was still there. His coffee was long finished. She smiled mischievously and grabbed a cup from the stack.

Long black to stay for Renato. She watched him get up, unfolding from the chair and rising to his full height. Christ, they grow them big wherever he’s from. The cup disappeared into his gigantic hand, and Rachel had a sudden image of him cupping her face and leaning down to kiss her. Don’t blush. Don’t blush. She blushed.

Thanks, Rachel. He looked over to where Daniel was glaring at her. I hope this doesn’t cause you a problem.

It won’t, she said. She almost believed it was true. But now you owe me a coffee.

The big man raised an eyebrow. I’m probably not the kind of guy you want to date.

Her brain fell out of gear, and she blinked for a second or two. "Uh, well, it doesn’t have to be a date, exactly?" Yes, it does, shrieked the voice in her head. Maybe we can just, you know, hang around? Be friends? She tilted her chin. "You do owe me a coffee."

His smile was slow to come, but there it was, genuine and warm. I always pay my debts. He took his cup and returned to his table.

Rachel turned back to her machine with a smile. The drink orders were still piling up but she was light-hearted. She kind of maybe had a sort-of date with the hottest guy she’d ever seen. She didn’t care that Daniel was glaring at her, arms crossed, his squinty eyes staring her down.

She put her head down and powered through the backlog of drink orders, smiling and calling out names rapid-fire. The last hour of her shift passed by in a flash. When her relief showed up, she passed off her station and scanned the cafe. There he was: still at his table, fingers laced and expression calm. He was so big, and so still. What the heck does a guy like that do for a living? Probably wrestles bears on mountains.

Before you go, Rachel. Daniel’s annoying voice stopped her while she was putting on her jacket. She sighed quietly. Time to pay the piper.

What’s up, Daniel. She kept her tone flat. The angry part of her wanted to snap at him, to tell him her shift was done and she was leaving. The smart part of her kept that to herself.

You gave out a free drink today. That’s technically theft. Daniel’s arms were crossed, and his smile was hard.

Actually, you didn’t let me have my break, and I’m supposed to get a coffee with my break, so I didn’t steal anything. What a little shit he is.

Daniel stared at her. She got the sense he was trying to be intimidating, but it wasn’t working for him. I’ll let it slide this once.

"Thanks so much," she said through clenched teeth.

Only because I wouldn’t want to have to fire you and Christie in the same day.

Rachel stared at him, trying not