Page 43 of A Bear's Secret

“You’re okay,” he said. He reached over and took her small hand in his big one, and Sloane could feel warmth and comfort radiating through him as he laced his fingers through hers.

Something else, too.

“Yeah,” she said, looking out the windshield.

Then she turned to look at Austin, his face still lined with worry, and she realized something.

“You’re worried about Trevor,” she said.

“Yeah,” Austin nodded.

“What’ll happen to him?” she asked, softly.

“I don’t know,” said Austin.

“Has this ever happened before?”

“Not that I know of,” Austin said. “Though it’s not like I can really ask. Bears and wolves aren’t supposed to be...”

He trailed off.

“Lovers?” Sloane asked.

“Yeah,” Austin said, softly. Then he looked over at her. “I’ve never admitted that before.”

Sloane just squeezed his hand.

“Are you still leaving in the morning?” he asked.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “Will Barb mind if I stay another day? I’d like to sort some things out.”

“I think that’ll be fine,” Austin said.

When they parked back at the ranch, the porch light was still on, and Sloane could see Barb in the living room, watching a black-and-white movie.

Before they got out, she scooted over to Austin, and before he could do anything, she kissed him very softly on the cheek, afraid that her heart might beat clear out of her chest.

“We’ll figure out how to help Trevor,” she said.

“We?”

“If you’ll have me.”

Austin smiled.

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