Page 20 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

I wasn’t used to feeling powerless. But with her, that’s all I ever felt.

Powerless to make her stay.

Powerless to figure out why she ran.

Powerless to stop wanting her.

It was like trying to navigate a storm with no compass, and every step I took only left me more lost.

But still, I couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, one day she’d stop running.

“No, Mama! I want Danny! Pick me up, Danny, please,” Rosie Posie yelled from the back seat.

At least somebody liked me.

“I got her,” I said, waiting for Avery to nod her okay before I unbuckled the little imp.

God, she was adorable. Her face scrunched up at the fat snowflakes falling from the sky.

“She’s heavy,” Avery protested, but I just chuckled.

“I’ll come back for the bags,” I murmured, and Avery bit her bottom lip and nodded.

But before we got to the front door, Max was there, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry Av, Rosie, but Penny isn’t feeling well,” he said, and damn, but he looked bad.

“Is she sick? Oh my God, I have to see her,” Avery replied, obviously worried about her best friend.

“No, sorry, Av. She doesn’t want you or Rosie to see her like this. Her head’s in the toilet, and well, Mrs. O’Hare is mopping the kitchen after she caught a whiff of some raw chicken and just went straight up Exorcist on the place,” Max explained, shaking his head, and turning a little green himself.

“Oh God. Is she sure? I mean, I am a nurse?—”

“I know that. Thing is, well, this isn’t how I was planning on telling anyone,” Max mumbled, and stepped further out onto the porch.

“Maximillian Leeds, if you don’t tell me what is going on with my best friend, I swear to all that is holy I will end you,” Avery snarled at the man, completely unfazed by his natural Alpha dominance.

Just one more reason the woman was hot as fuck. I mean, if Jersey Devils didn’t make her afraid, my Bear would be a piece of cake for her.

“I’m gonna set Rosie down,” I murmured.

“Okay. Rosie, you stay close,” Avery told her, but didn’t break eye contact with Max.

“Can I play with the snow?” Rosie asked, and I nodded, figuring it was okay.

“You see, uh, Sugarplum doesn’t know yet, but well, she’s expecting,” Max stage whispered.

“Oh my fuck, you knocked her up!” Avery hissed.

“I mean, it was a mutual knocking of certain, um, parts,” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ew. I do not need to know that. Okay, so she’s pukey. I get it,” Avery said, and smiled while her eyes filled with tears.

“Congratulations! You’re gonna be a great dad,” I said, extending my hand.

“Dad? Shit. I’m gonna be a dad!” Max whisper-screamed and turned around so fast he spun on some snow and fell right on his ass.

“Uh, you alright?”

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