Page 38 of Trusting Her Bear
“Thank you,” she says sweetly, and her happy grin makes leaving the house worth it. For a moment, I forgot all that happened when she was sleeping.
Will she understand what I spent twelve years doing?
Will she hate me?
I killed all kinds of shifters. I didn’t hesitate. My hands didn’t even shake as I took off their heads.
It’s not that I don’t like the lions, but I can smell my mate and see her delicate face.
She is sitting close beside me in the restaurant, her arm brushing against my arm every time she moves, and all I want to do is spread her out on the table and feast—without the audience.
I grit my teeth, my eyes connecting with Lucas, and he grins. Dick. He knows exactly what I am going through.
“Have you decided on the menu?” Steph asks Breeane.
“I have been experimenting with some recipes. I have a list of what I want for certain and another list of maybes. The guys are my taste testers.” Breeane looks at me. “I’ve shared with Quinn, but he says he likes them all, so he’s no help.”
I shrug. “It all tastes good.”
“I don’t cook much,” Steph says, turning toward me, and her leg rubs against mine.
“I don’t care,” I state. “I can, and what I can’t, we can order.”
“My kitchen isn’t big,” she continues.
“Mine isn’t either. We’ll make do,” I reply.
“Okay,” she whispers.
“Are you moving in with him?” Breeane asks.
I glare, her words interrupting the little bubble we were in. The brothers growl at me. “We are taking it a minute at a time,” I say, ignoring them but smoothing out my face. I understand their reaction now. “I want Steph to be comfortable,” I continued softly. I’m glad my mate has a friend who loves and wants to protect her.
“Good,” Breeane says. “Thank you.”
“I heard you had an angry husband come after you today,” Las says.
“Are you okay?” Breeane asks.
It’s my turn to growl. “We are fine.” Nothing is a secret.
“You were there?” Breeane asks Steph.
“Yes, so was Sally.”
“I also heard you hired Sally?” Logan says, smirking.
I sigh. “She was persistent.” I don’t want to think about my new receptionist.
“I bet,” Las mumbles.
“Sally is hilarious,” Breeane says. Las snorts, and I don’t feel bad when I glare at him.
“She seemed nice,” Steph says, and Lucas muffles a laugh.
I open my mouth to direct the conversation another way when I smell the wolves. Fuck.
“Steph,” Ava yells, hurrying over. “How are you?”