Page 18 of Stout Bear

“I’ve been busy with the water situation,” Max said. “And the festival preparations.”

“A mate is more important than that,” Quinn insisted. “We’ve been waiting for you kids to find your matches for years!” Joyful laughter emerged on the line. “Finally, we’ll have grandchildren! When do we get to meet her?”

“She’ll… she’ll be at the festival.”

A swirl of embarrassment passed through him. Though awkward, he felt relieved at the changed subject. Max reiterated that everything was under control, then ended the call. He set the phone aside, mind swirling. The BioClean system had to work. He’d gambled everything on Flint Calder’s promises.

Chapter

Nineteen

Laney parkedin the nearly empty lot, noticing a sign on the door that said the brewery opened in forty-five minutes. She grabbed her test kit from the passenger seat, heart fluttering with anticipation. She felt nervous. She didn’t want to have to deliver the news that Max had been scammed.

Laney took a deep breath, steadying her nerves before approaching the entrance. Max opened the door the moment Laney knocked, ushering her through the taproom with a relieved expression. They stepped into the brewing room that smelled of hops and freshly sanitized floors. The hum of machinery echoed through the stainless-steel tanks.

“Thanks for coming,” Max said. “A BioClean tech was already by to test the water this morning. But I wanted you to verify before I start brewing again.”

She noticed how eager he seemed, hoping she’d validate his purchase. A sense of dread sank in her gut. Laney followed Max across the brewing floor to a sleek filtration apparatus with the BioClean logo. She circled the canisters, inspecting the digital gauges and connectors.

Max pointed to an open booklet on a stainless-steel table. “This is the user’s manual.”

Laney picked up the manual, flipping through pages that detailed the setup and operating parameters. Diagrams depicted water flow, microbial breakdown processes, and recommended maintenance schedules. The pages were glossy, filled with confident branding and testimonial quotes.

“Everything seems consistent with advanced filtration methods, at least on paper,” Laney said.

A cautious optimism rose, though she remained wary until she tested actual water samples. Laney crouched beside a newly installed outflow valve, carefully filling several vials with the freshly filtered water. Max stood nearby, arms folded, observing every move.

Her pulse quickened as she set out her testing kit. She reminded herself to remain objective. Laney dipped testing strips into the vials, comparing each to a color reference chart. Relief washed over her. “They’re coming out clean,” Laney said, looking up at Max.

A beaming smile lit up his face. “Really?”

“I’m not picking up any chemical signatures,” Laney said.

“Thank you,” Max said, his voice thick with gratitude. Max abruptly pulled Laney into a tight hug.

She stiffened at first, then relaxed against him, her heart pounding. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her. Laney nestled against his chest, keenly aware of how his considerable height towered over her petite frame. His muscled body pressed against her cheek.

Her inner fox yipped and pawed within. The animal instinct surged through her veins like wildfire, drowning out her rational thoughts, whispering that this man belonged to her. Laney's fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt, bunching it slightly as a newfound boldness seized her.

Before she could stop herself, she impulsively reached up, her fingers sliding along the warm skin of his neck. She tugged Max down to her level. Their eyes met for a breathless moment. His widened in surprise. She pressed her lips against his in a kiss far more passionate than she'd intended.

The contact sent electric currents racing through her body, starting at her lips and radiating outward until even her fingertips tingled. His mouth was warm and unexpectedly soft against hers. Time seemed to suspend around them, the brewery's mechanical hums fading into silence as her entire world narrowed to the point where their lips connected.

For three exquisite heartbeats, she lost herself completely in the sensation, tasting the faint sweetness of his mouth. Then, awareness crashed back like ice water. What had she done?

Shocked at her own boldness, Laney abruptly broke the kiss, stumbling back a half-step. Her face blazed with heat that spread down her neck to her collarbone, every inch of exposed skin burning with mortification. Her lips still tingled from the contact. She pressed her fingertips against her mouth, as if to hide the evidence of what had just happened.

Max stood motionless, his expression caught between astonishment and hunger. Her stomach fluttered with embarrassment. His breath came unsteadily, chest rising and falling with rapid movements. The silence between them stretched taut.

The sharp sound of the brewery's door swinging open shattered the moment as staff members arrived for their shift. Their voices and footsteps echoed through the space, a jarring return to reality. A subtle flush crept across Max's cheekbones, but it was nothing compared to the inferno raging through Laney's body.

She felt exposed, as if everyone who entered could somehow see what had just happened between them. She fought the urge to flee, her knees weak and her thoughts scattered. She wiped suddenly damp hands on her jeans.

“That was... the best kiss I’ve ever had. The best feeling I’ve ever had,” Max said.

Laney swallowed a lump in her throat. “We’re… just excited about the water quality. I need to go... I’ll see you at the festival,” Laney said, forcing a neutral tone.

Her fox howled for more, but she feared inevitable rejection when he learned the truth. Max tried to close the distance, but Laney stepped back. She gathered her test kit and stuffed it into her bag. Pain gnawed at her, hating herself for rejecting him when all she wanted was to be with him. She couldn’t handle exposing her half-shifter status or the fib on her dating profile right now.

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