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He wanted, no, needed to know everything about her. His bear felt that it was the only way he could protect her, while the man was just hungry to know more about the woman whose presence made him into a fumbling fool.
    “Does your father still hike?” he asked. Tess shook her head and instantly Jackson knew that he had struck a painful topic. He inched forward as he saw the joy seep from her eyes and be replaced by a deep anguish that shattered his heart. Although Jackson wanted to hug her against him and shield her from whichever memory was inflicting such obvious pain, he remained in his place.
    “No. He passed away a few years ago, a bit before I finished my PhD.”
     
    “I’m sorry,” Jackson said, aching thoughts flooding back to him. It hadn’t been too long since he had lost his father as well. The man, the bear, had been a great source of wisdom and a grounding force in his life. Jackson had never known how much he missed the grouchy old bear before he wasn’t around anymore. “I lost my father some years ago as well. It’s a difficult step to conquer.” His voice was solemn, a certain sense of camaraderie forming between them that he hadn’t noticed before. Tess gripped his shoulder with one hand, squeezing slightly. She was compassionate even when struggling with her own loss, and a hot jolt went through his body when she touched him. All of a sudden every nerve felt alive, and when she withdrew her hand, he was struck by an incredible sense of loss. The bear in him roared with need. She was exactly who he had been looking for – there was little doubt of that.
     
    “I’m sorry for your loss as well, Jackson. But thank you. That’s when I decided to move to California, though. I got a nice offer, even if it had nothing to do with grizzlies. Still, I couldn’t get away from them. I kept doing my research from my free time and publishing papers, which is why they eventually invited me up here. It’s interesting to be in the great outdoors again. It’s so familiar, so much like home. It’s as if I had never left the forests to begin with.” Jackson was glad to see a smile forming at the corners of her lips again. She seemed to hesitate for a second, and Jackson took the moment to take a swig of his drink, welcoming the burning sensation as the liquid went down his throat. It cleared his head a little from the love struck haze he found himself in. Her next words sent him tumbling back into it, though.
    “I was afraid to go somewhere with so much wilderness. I thought it would remind me too much of my father.”
    “So what made it easier on you?” he asked, putting his half empty glass on the small end table.
     
    “The company. I don’t think I could’ve lasted more than a day or two alone, Jackson.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and Jackson felt his heart swelling. Her scent assaulted his senses again, but instead of fighting it, he fell into it headfirst. She was so much his opposite – her liveliness and openness made it seem as if she had been created to smooth out his edges. He smiled, genuine happiness lighting up his features.
    “I’m glad to be of service, Tess. And I’ve enjoyed having you here, despite signs to the contrary. I apologize. I’m a difficult man to get to know.”
    “So tell me something about yourself? Make it easier on me!” Tess said, leaning forward with interest. She was so close that he could just dip forward and she’d be in his arms right away. The mere thought of it set him ablaze.
     
    “Well,” he stammered, trying to think of something to tell her that wouldn’t seem entirely odd. A werebear that lived deep in the midst of a forest and was the Alpha of a major northwestern clan really didn’t have that much going on that wasn’t tied to werebear business. And that, he was afraid, would be something that she wouldn’t be able to handle just yet; no matter how much she loved bears. No, he’d have to take it slow. Give her a chance to like