Page 18 of His Determined Bear

The interior walls were rustic with the use of exposed brick. There was an untraditional mix of cozy soft seating and tables. One long wall was filled with books and a clever sign noting an honor system that if one borrowed a book, one must replace it with another. I had to admit I kind of loved it. The whole vibe was cozy and warm, while the floor-to-ceiling windows at the entrance bathed it in light. It was lit beautifully. I was surprised by the size of the space. From the outside, the cafe appeared to be much smaller, which wasn’t the case at all. I stood there, turning around like a ballerina taking in the eclectic design of the eatery.

When our eyes met again, I didn’t speak, doing my best not to smile when I saw his body tense. Graham scanned the room like he was seeing it for the first time as well. Finally, his gaze landed back on me.

“This is really—” I searched for a word, then settled on, “I like it.”

His eyes lit up as his mouth curved, “Yeah?” he asked as if he really cared about my opinion. “I know just by looking at it, it doesn’t scream we make wedding cakes, but….”

I shook my head, “It has charm… and character.” I nodded towards one of the couches, “I can see myself curled up there with my laptop and headphones. It’s very tranquil and inviting.”

Somehow his beautiful smile grew wider at my compliment. “Thank you. And please feel free to come in anytime and bring your laptop with you. As you can see by the customers here now, others do.” I nodded as if I agreed with his suggestion, even though I knew if I took him up on his offer, I would spend most of the time watching him and getting absolutely no work done.

“If there’s no available space in here, I have an office… I don’t use it very much, and you can borro—” When our eyes caught again, Graham’s mouth snapped shut, and we stared at each other. The air between us crackled, and it took everything in me to fight that attraction and magnetic pull that worked between us.

“I mean uh, I just thought if you… you don’t have to, of course… it just gets busy sometimes,” Graham stammered, his cheekbones slashing with color. Seriously, how could that make him hotter?

He cleared his throat and pressed his lips together, staring straight ahead as if he were trying to collect his thoughts. I shouldn’t find this strange awkwardness between us stupidly hot, but honestly, it was. So I helped him out. “That’s very kind of you, Graham. Thank you for the offer.” I knew I should have left it there, but my mouth seemed to have a mind of its own. “I may just take you up on that. You’re my only friend in town.”

His lips twitched, “We’re friends, huh? Is that what we are?”

I opened my mouth and closed it, probably looking like a fish out of water. I honestly didn’t know what was going on between us and if that was what we were… or what I wanted us to be. “I guess time will tell… besides, I don’t even know if you’ll make a good friend for me.”

“Oh, I can be a lot of things to you.” My eyes widened, and my pulse quickened at the innuendo. That was so… was he flirting with me? Or maybe I’m just reading into it. When I looked up at him and into those beautiful hazel eyes smattered with green color, they were filled with heat, and what I would swear was a promise of something I just might want. But to my dismay, it was gone before I could hold on to it.

Graham held my gaze and took a deep breath before speaking. “We should probably get going,” he said but didn’t move. I wondered if it was because he felt it too… this thing between us. I found myself hoping it wasn’t all in my head but quickly chided myself for even thinking that. Nothing can happen between us, I reminded myself.

I nodded, “Yeah, we should go, even though I’m not exactly sure where we’re going.”

“Remember when I asked you to trust me?” Graham asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Remember when I told you I didn’t know you well enough to trust you?”I snarked right back.

“You could get to know me,” Graham chuckled, still holding me captive with his gaze. “Ask anyone. I’m pretty okay when you get to know me.”

My lip twitched, “Just okay?” I asked, loving this teasing banter between us.

“Well, I’m not one to blow my own horn, but I figure when you get to know me a little better,” Graham shot me a breathtaking smile that made my heart jump and my stomach feel like a hoard of butterflies had just taken up residence. “You can be the judge for yourself.”

I raised my brow, curled in my lips to stifle a smile, and folded my arms across my chest to stop myself from reaching out to touch the stubble on his chiseled jaw. I wonder what that would feel like on my skin. Nope! Nope! Don’t go there. So not going there. I groaned because I went there, and dammit, I knew that thought was going to be on my mind now.

This man was bad for my composure. My equilibrium. An most of all, my sanity.

“I’m a very tough judge to please,” I managed to get out. I considered it a win that I was not drooling on him.

“I think I’m up to the challenge,” Graham said confidently. “Although,” he rubbed his jaw, and my eyes followed the movement, “maybe you’re not such a good judge since you said my brownies were dry.” He glanced towards the display case, then back at me. “ I would offer you a cookie or a slice of cake, but I don’t think my ego could take being accused of serving dry baked goods twice in one week.”

I snorted, “Oh, I think you’re ego will be just fine.”

Graham stepped closer to me and bent down to speak directly into my ear. “Maybe if it gets some stroking from you.” My eyes widened as my sex-starved brain processed his choice of words as he retreated back to his place just mere inches from me. Okay, I hadn’t imagined that one. Stroking, really? Was he trying to give me a heart attack?

Sucking in another unsteady breath, I ran my tongue across my suddenly dry lips. I could feel his eyes following the movement. When I looked up at him, they’d darkened into a sensual stare that promised wicked things. Fuck. That look alone had my skin heating up. I was about to burst into flames if I didn’t do something quick. And how had I forgotten all the people in here who had to be staring at us?

“Cookies,” I blurted.

Graham’s eyebrows shot up, and his eyes danced with humor at my reaction.

I cleared my throat and ignored my definitely red cheeks, “I mean, I’m sure even you can manage not to mess up cookies.”

The rich sound of his deep voice bathed in laughter washed over me. I wanted to hear that sound over and over again on constant replay. It was filled with pure delight.

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