Dare to Bear (Book 1 Trail Guardians Series) Read Online Free Page A

to. She said no one.”
    Mason’s jaw hung open in shock. “And you let her leave? By herself?”
    “You said to find out who she was with. You didn’t say anything about stalling her. What’s got your scruff up, dude?”
    “Forget it,” Mason growled. Then he thought better of his anger, putting himself in check. “For letting her go, you owe me a favor.”
    Quinn let out a world-weary sigh—as if the kid knew the half of beginning of world-weary. “What?”
    “Go ahead on the path. In bear form. When you cross her, transform and act aggressive.”
    “Okay, why?”
    “You don’t get to ask questions.”
    Quinn exhaled. “Do I still get paid for this?”
    “Yes,” Mason muttered.
    “Fine.” Quinn headed for the door. “Anything else I need to know?”
    “Don’t attack. Just make it convincing you might eat her alive.”
    Quinn grinned. “I wish.”
    Mason’s hackles rose, and the bear in him flashed his incisors.
    Quinn raised up his palms. “Just kidding, dude. Dang.”
    “Go do your job.” As he grabbed supplies and stuffed them into an overnight pack they kept handy behind the counter, Mason considered his options.
    It could appear too convenient if he came across her with no reasonable explanation for his sudden presence. He needed an excuse she’d buy, a practical reason he needed to join her on the trail for the duration of her hike.
    That’s why he’d sent Quinn on that task.
    The two of them headed out the door, hot on the heels of Mason’s destiny.
    *
    Ten minutes after Stephanie left the lodge, showered and wonderfully clean, an acute sensation of loneliness crept up on her. She couldn’t pin down the source, except that while in Mason’s company she’d felt alive inside. For the first time in ages, she’d felt beautiful, happy, even a little feisty. Like her inner light had kindled to life again—until the source of the igniting spark went away.
    How could a man she’d met for all of fifteen minutes leave such an indelible impression? Yes, he was tall, gorgeous, and built like a professional wrestler. Sure, he’d seemed to show a sincere interest in her health and wellbeing. Not to mention the undercurrent of attraction and mild flirtation he’d directed at her. But there was something more, something special about him…
    Oh, please . She rolled her eyes at herself, walking the trail, putting inevitable distance between her and the mysterious Mason. Keep dreaming .
    A hot hunk like Mason probably had every female drooling who stopped for supplies at his shop. Why would he give her a second thought?
    She didn’t consider herself particularly memorable. Her ex had confirmed that when he’d posted a picture on Facebook last week with him and another, much skinnier and prettier, woman kayaking on some romantic meandering river together. Her shoulders sagged. Kyle hadn’t wasted any time forgetting all about her and the fact that they should’ve been married by now. It should’ve been her in a kayak beside him—or him hiking the Appalachian Trail with her as his new bride. Her self-esteem hit bottom when she realized her hips probably wouldn’t fit in that teeny tiny kayak.
    Going alone on her own honeymoon vacation sucked. Royally.
    With a heavy sigh, she forced herself forward, determined—maybe a little desperate—to prove she was good enough. Brave enough. Resourceful enough. And fit enough to accomplish anything she set her mind to, including this trail. Her damaged heart had to heal on this journey.
    There would be plenty of time back home to cry, mope, and eventually heal. After she conquered this southern mountainous leg of the trail.
    Then she’d have something interesting, a real accomplishment, to talk about with the next guy she dated. If she bothered to date again. At the moment, she was convinced that men and the institution of marriage were severely overrated.
    Instead of dwelling on matters she had no control over, she pushed the heartache away and