Page 58 of Protecting Mr. Fine

Not right now.

I stood up and gathered my clothes before making my way to my own bedroom.

It took me hours to fall asleep. For as many years as I’d spent on hyper-alert, I’d never been so tuned in to trying to hear something as I was when I listened for Zane that night.

But he didn’t call.

FIFTEEN

ZANE

When brown bears flash an open-mouth grin, it usually means, ‘‘Let’s play!” But if they happen to spot a tasty snack—for example, a camper’s sausage—that playful expression is just as likely to mean, ‘Get in my mouth!’ Bears are ravenous creatures, and their appetites for their favorite treats are never satisfied.

—Bear Facts for Insomniacs, Episode 7

My hands shook as I turned on the water in the sink and attempted to brush my teeth. I was feeling completely topsy-turvy and out of sorts. We’d agreed to hook up forpractice. Temporarily. But when I’d lain there with my head on Bear’s chest, enjoying the aftermath of our first practice session, suddenly, a tidal wave of doubts had washed over me.

I’d realized he hadn’t said much about what he wanted and what he was okay with. He’dkissedme after I’d suggested the agreement,but he hadn’t actuallysaidmuch of anything. What if… what if he hadn’t felt like he was in a position to say no?

I shook my head at myself in the mirror. No. He definitely wanted it. There was no doubt in my mind he’d been turned on and totally down for the hookup… er,practice. He’d said he wanted a repeat. He’d said… he’d said I was beautiful.

And I’d taken those kind words and run with them. I’d erected beautiful imaginary castles in the air in my mind—happily ever afters in which I had a big grumpy bear looking out for me and I was the center of Ryan Galloway’s world. I’d done the stupid thing where I’d jumped from a one-night hookup to… well, everything dreamy and rainbow-colored.

A fairy tale.

But that wasn’t the way the real world was. In the real world, hookups didn’t have to mean anything. Guys fucked, exchanged happy orgasms, and went their separate ways. They didn’t… necessarily… demand cuddles and beg the other guy to stay all night.

Did they?

Certainly not when they’d just agreed to a temporary agreement of sorts.

So I’d been an adult. I’d done the mature, expected thing. “See you in the morning!” I’d chirped while sauntering off to…

I spit out a mouthful of paste in the sink and closed my eyes with a groan.

Second-guess. Perseverate. Worry. Obsess.

No wonder Bear didn’t push back when I ended the night. No wonder he didn’t beg to stay. I was a child. I had no idea what I was doing.

I was the very definition of awkward, acting like I’d never freaking kissed a man before.

But the reality was, when Bear’s lips brushed against mine, I’d felt like maybe I hadn’t evertrulykissed a man before. Because this was different. Ryan Galloway’s kiss put everyone else’s to shame.

I let out an embarrassing sound, something between a whimperand a frustrated sigh. For a man coming out of a very long dry spell, Bear kissed like a master of seduction.

After rinsing my mouth and washing my face, I opened the bathroom door, half hoping—okay, full hoping—he’d still be waiting in my bed, ready to laugh with me about my silly behavior.

He wasn’t.

I crawled onto the bed and hurled the big duvet back up to cover me. The scent of Bear lingered on the sheets, and I inhaled like a dental junkie on laughing gas.

My phone buzzed on the side table, and I rolled over to grab it.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Bear.

Landry

Do I want Don Angie’s Chrysanthemum Salad or the Peanut Chicken Salad from American Bar?

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