Jade Crew: Hunted Bear: Ridgeback Bears, #6

Chapter One

Courtenay

What can I help you with?

The man standing in the hallway with her fidgeted slightly, started to jam his hands in his pockets, then stuck one out at her.

I’m Joel, he said, his voice far firmer than his body language suggested it should have been.

Courtenay, she said slowly, evaluating him. Now what can I do for you, Joel? My patient is in there.

He leaned to the side, looking past her into the recovery room. Whatever he saw, it brought a smile to his lips. I think you have a few more minutes before your attention is truly needed back in there Doc, he said.

The more he spoke to her, the more confident he became. She wondered what had inspired his initial temerity. Joel was a handful of inches taller than her, and she was tall for a woman. He had to be at least three or four inches over six feet, with broad shoulders to match. His jet-black hair merged into the stubble that adorned his face. It wasn’t a meticulously groomed look either, she realized. He just hadn’t shaved.

Either way, it still looks good.

She mentally told herself to stop that. Courtenay Laurel was a Doctor, with a capital D. She hadn’t gone through medical school and residency for nothing. Although her job required a lot from her, she loved it, and she wasn’t going to risk it either. Not even for someone as handsome as Joel was.

What can I do for you then? she repeated for what felt like the tenth time.

Now Joel hesitated again, as if he had something to say, but couldn’t work up the courage to say it.

Do you have a problem somewhere that’s embarrassing to talk about? she asked, trying to push past the block and see what was going on.

To her surprise, Joel laughed, a short bark, as if she had caught him by surprise. No, Doc. Nothing is wrong with me, he said at last. I, uh, just figured that the two of them might want a moment of privacy. She hasn’t been awake the last few times he’s come by.

Courtenay forced herself to restrain from frowning. Although his words seemed truthful, it was also painfully obvious that he wasn’t telling her everything. Why had he been staring at her so intently if all he wanted was to give the couple a minute together? She wasn’t an idiot; she could see how much Corey and Jenny loved each other. Who was she to begrudge them a few minutes to talk softly and lock lips?

And that’s all? she dubiously asked.

Okay, maybe not all, he admitted, stopping short of outright explaining.

Well, what else? she asked, becoming exasperated with him.

Joel hesitated again, but before she could say more he plunged ahead. I wanted to talk to you, as well.

"About what?" she snapped.

About you.

His reply stopped her short. About her? What the hell did he want to know about her? She was boring. A nobody. Oh sure, she was a medical doctor, which was impressive enough in its own way, though she rarely thought of herself like that. So what the hell did he want to talk about? It wasn’t like medicine interested him.

Joel was a shifter. A bear shifter to be exact, and she knew that they rarely cared for their own well-being, because practically any injury they sustained would heal within a matter of minutes, perhaps in an hour or three if it was extremely bad. Hell, just a few weeks back she had pulled a four-inch branch of wood from the shoulder and chest of a bear shifter. It had left a gaping hole, but the shifter had stopped bleeding before she even had it removed, and by the time he had left her office, the wound was mostly closed up.

What about me? This ought to be good.

Joel smiled. Well, for starters, if you really must know, I—

Hey Doc, one of these opened up again! The call came from within the room.

Sorry, just one moment, she told him, spinning on the spot and darting into the room.

Is he trying to flirt with me?

An unexpected shiver of excitement worked its way down her spine as she arrived at the table, tsk-tsking its inhabitant. Jenny, I understand you want to have a little intimate time with this walking colossus, though I cannot for the life of me understand why, but you must take care not to twist. Make him come down to you, she admonished, forcing her patient back into lying prone.

It was my fault, Doc, Corey admitted from the chair next to the table.

I know it’s your fault, she told him, rolling her eyes. So smarten up. Just because she can put up with you doesn’t mean she’s like you. She needs tender love and care to heal from this. The more you try to... to fondle her, the longer it’s going to take her to recover!

Corey’s jaw dropped in surprise. "I was not fondling her, Doctor!" he protested as both Joel and Jenny shook with laughter.

Stop shaking, Courtenay told her patient, fiddling with the open wound to press it closed again.

Sorry, Jenny replied, her eyes still focused on the shifter sitting next to her.

Corey was a bear shifter from the same crew as Joel. They were Jade Crew shifters, and Corey had claimed Jenny as his mate. She had been attacked by another bear shifter, and was lucky to have escaped with her life.

I know you’ve been laid up here for the past three days, but it’s going to be longer if you don’t work with me, she told Jenny, not for the first time.

You told me I could go home today! she exclaimed.

That was before you tore one of these open trying to molest his face with your tongue.

This time it was Corey’s turn to dissolve into a fit of laughter at the reaction from his mate.

Behind her, Courtenay could hear Joel laughing too. In front of her, Jenny could do nothing but blush.

Okay, you’re not leaving for a little bit, but in a few hours you’re going home. I’ll give you a supply of bandages. Change them twice a day, okay? She directed her comment, and her glare, at Corey. To her surprise the shifter returned the look with utmost seriousness. He nodded, his hand reaching out protectively to keep Jenny from turning in the bed.

Understood, Doc.

She stood up, moving to the nearby sink to wash her hands.

Thank you, Doc, for taking good care of her.

Corey had left Jenny’s side for a moment, coming up to speak with her privately while the water was running. She didn’t reply, nodding instead.

By the way, Miss Laurel?

She sensed that whatever he was going to say next wasn’t about Jenny, so she met his eyes.

Yes? she asked, curious as to where he was going with it.

I know this isn’t really my place to say, but just trust me when I say it can come out of nowhere.

What can come out of nowhere? she replied in confusion.

Love, he said cryptically, before turning and going back to Jenny’s side before she could respond.

Unsure of what the heck he was talking about, she made her way out of the room, leaving the two of them to be with each other. She would check back in a few hours, change the bandages once more for them, and then Jenny would head home. In the meantime, Courtenay was sure that she had plenty of paperwork to catch up on, let alone any patients requesting her services.

Hi.

She jumped. The voice had come just as she walked out of the room. Standing there against the wall was Joel, arms crossed, forearm muscles bulging. The rest of his plaid button-down shirt was clearly filled out. She could see the outline of his shoulders as he pushed off from the wall, standing up straight in front of her.

Hello again, she replied, moving to go around him. She half-expected Joel to move into her path, forcing her to stay around and talk to him. At first she was annoyed, but then when he didn’t, Courtenay realized she had actually hoped he was going to do that.

What is going on with me?

Her spirits soared as he fell into step next to her, however, clearly intent on accompanying her. Curious as to his intentions, she didn’t shove him away. After all, her office was only about forty feet down the hall. It wasn’t like she was going somewhere secret.

Where you going? she asked, looking askance at him.

We never got to finish our conversation earlier, he replied. I thought that’s where we were going now.

It was obvious that he didn’t truly think that’s where they were going, but she had to admire his persistence—and the ice blue tint of his eyes. She tried not to allow herself to stare, lest he catch on that she thought he was cute.

And so what if he does? Wasn’t Corey just saying that love can come at you unexpectedly?

She snorted at the ridiculous idea that she and Joel were suddenly in love. The pair had met less than half an hour ago, and she didn’t know the first thing about him.

What’s your last name? she heard a voice that sounded suspiciously like her own asking in response to her internal objection. Well, now she was going to find out more about him.

Murray, he responded. What’s your middle name?

Courtenay was taken aback. Why do you want to know my middle name? That seems like an odd first question.

Well, I already know your first and your last. So it only seemed fair to ask for your middle name next.

She blushed red, realizing that her name was displayed on the name tag she was wearing. Of course he wouldn’t need to ask for either.

Jean, she said. Courtenay Jean Laurel. Are you happy now?

Very, he replied calmly.

Much to her irritation he didn’t let her little outburst get to her. Courtenay wasn’t sure she could have replied so calmly if their positions were reversed, which only heightened her current mood.

Are you from Genesis Valley originally? he asked as she finally reached her office door, sliding it open and going inside.

No, she said, expecting it to be left at that. She had a job to do, and as steamy as he was, Courtenay wasn’t one to let pleasure come before business. It just wasn’t who she was.

Of course, she had to admit that talking with Joel was entertaining, despite the front she’d been putting up. His entire demeanor seemed calm and organized, as if he knew exactly who he was and wasn’t afraid to put himself out there for her to see. Even as the thought occurred to her, Courtenay knew that was exactly what was happening. Joel wasn’t going to back down unless she told him to. And she wasn’t sure she had the steel in her spine to do so.

You do. The problem is—besides him interfering with work—you can’t come up with a single reason not to talk to him. He’s gorgeous, seems smart enough, and is confident without being arrogant.

He was gorgeous. Even now, as he turned to close the door she caught herself staring at his butt. It looked fabulous in the jeans he was wearing.

Shit, look away! Did he see me?

Courtenay wasn’t sure, but even if she hadn’t just been caught staring at his ass, it had been far too close a call. The fact that she was most likely turning a fun shade of red at the moment didn’t help the issue one bit. She needed to stay in control more, guiding the situation and conversation how she wanted, not just succumbing to the current and letting herself go where it took her.

So, Joel Murray. You followed me down the hall into my office. You even closed the door. You ask questions about me. She sat back into her office chair. He didn’t wait to be waved to a chair on his side; he just took the one that seemed to suit his fancy.

Yes, he replied, again with that same sort of confidence.

Why?

There was no hesitation