Page 30 of His Determined Bear

“Tomorrow,” I murmured. “Although I guess I should say in a couple of hours?”

“Too long,” he replied.

I pushed him away before I was tempted to invite him back inside or follow him home.

“Text me when you get home,” I said and then nearly cringed when I realized that sounded very much like what a boyfriend might say.

“I will,” he said as if it was perfectly normal for me to have asked. He stepped back and put me down. I felt the loss immediately. Not his heat or his touch, but him. “I’ll wait for you to get inside.”

I laughed, “You do remember I’m at home, right? Nothing is going to happen to me.”

He shrugged, “Humor me, please? Let me know you’re safe and inside.”

“How will you know, though? I have to go around back,” I reminded him. “You wouldn’t know when I’m inside.”

“I’ll know.”

“How about I sneak to the front door and wave?” I didn’t add that I wanted to see him.

“I’ll wait for you right here.” It sounded almost like a vow.

I hurried towards the guest suite and made my way through the main house. I had almost reached the front door when I heard a sound behind me and froze.

“Please let it be my imagination,” I muttered.

“It’s not,” Aaron said in a hushed voice that might as well have been a scream at that moment.

“I—we,” I groaned, “One second.”

I rushed over to the main door and opened it quietly. I had a feeling Graham would wait there until I came out.

I waved, and he smiled when he saw me before finally getting into his car. I stayed there watching him until he drove away and stalled for time.

“You’re going to have to turn around at some point.” Aaron’s voice was hushed but loud enough for me to hear.

I finally shut and locked the door, then turned around slowly, leaning against it.

“Please don’t tell mom about Graham and me.” I wasn’t ashamed of what happened, but I needed to figure out some things before my mom weighed in. “You know she’ll immediately hear wedding bells, and this is just fun.” Why did those words taste bitter coming out of my mouth?

Aaron studied me for a moment, the lamp from the living room the only illumination, but it felt like he could still see too much.

“I won’t say anything… I didn’t see anything,” Aaron said.

Why didn’t that make me feel better? Fuck I didn’t even know what I wanted.

Yeah, I do. Him. I want him.

Chapter 11

Graham

I’d woken up really early in a great mood. Heck, I probably looked like a crazy person because I swear I hadn’t stopped smiling. But then I had way too much energy, and my kitchen had borne the brunt of it.

You definitely went overboard on the baking. I glanced at the cinnamon rolls. Would it be weird to take them over to Cooper? I had mentioned it last night, after all.He thought I had to open the café this morning, and I hadn’t corrected him. I didn’t want to put pressure on him on our first date, and especially under Aaron and Kelly’s nose.

I smiled when I thought of last night. Maybe I was being overly optimistic, but I couldn’t stop thinking about when my mate asked if I would text him when I got home. I had, and we’d ended up texting until he must have fallen asleep.

Still maybe showing up… should I text first? Technically I could go over there to see Aaron. But maybe I should wait a little longer before going over. I blew out a breath, stop overthinking Graham.

---