Page 25 of Riding With the Grizzly

“Oh, this can’t be happening,” I groan as I rush to gather up all of my papers. “I’m going to be so late.”

“I figured,” Jude says behind me and I yelp, spinning around to face him.

For such a big man, he moves so quietly. He’s always sneaking up on me when I’m lost in thought.

“I can be ready in five,” I tell him and he smiles.

“I can wait.”

My heart races at the look that he gives me. Even after five years, this man can still turn me on with just a glance.

“Astrid will be here soon,” I remind him as I race around my home office, stuffing the papers in my bag.

“I know. Caden and the kids are coming with her.”

“I knew he wasn’t going to be able to stay away from her all night,” I say with a laugh.

“I don’t blame him. I couldn’t stay away from you either.”

“Aww.”

He grins, smacking my ass as I walk out of the office ahead of him. I giggle, hurrying down the hallway and upstairs.

Tonight is our fifth anniversary and we're going out to celebrate. Astrid and Caden are going to be babysitting for us. We take turns doing that for each other every time we want a date night. On top of that, Astrid and I have play dates a few times a week whenever our schedules line up.

I rush into the shower and rinse off. I've been teaching all day. I started teaching kindergarten five years ago and I love it. When I first left college, I thought that I would want to teach high school-aged kids, but I fell in love with teaching younger kids. They're all so eager to learn, all so happy to see me every day.

I towel off and pull on a dark purple dress. I wrap my hair up in a French twist and put some mascara on, studying my reflection in the mirror.

I’m still me, still curvy, though having our two kids has given me even more curves. Our kids, Rhett and Rory, are four and three respectively. They’re both amazing, so smart and sweet.

They’re bear shifters like their dad and it’s so cute to see them shift into their little cubs. Jude has been working with them on that for the last few months and now they’re really good at it. Controlling when they shift on the other hand has been a bit of a struggle, but I’m sure that they’ll get the hang of it soon.

I smooth a loose strand of my hair back behind my ear and put some lipstick on. Then I’m turning and making my way downstairs.

“You look…” Jude trails off as I stop on the bottom step.

“Good?” I supply. “Beautiful, gorgeous, hot.”

“All of the above,” he says, pulling me into his arms.

He goes to kiss my lips, sees the lipstick, and kisses my cheek instead.

“That lipstick won’t stop me all night,” he whispers in my ear and I grin.

“I hope so.”

He gives me a heated look and I return it. I’m close to asking him to cancel dinner and take me back upstairs, but before I can, a knock sounds at the door.

“That must be Astrid,” I say and Jude nods, stepping back to answer the door.

“Hey! Happy anniversary!” She says as she comes in the door.

Her kids come bouncing in behind her and I smile at them. Soon Rhett and Rory come running into the room to greet their friends.

"Hey, man," Caden greets Jude, and I smile, waving at him as I grab my purse.

“We should be back in a few hours,” I tell them and Astrid grins.

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