Page 14 of Hers

“I hide a key under a wheel in case I get stuck like I am now.” Slater straightened, holding up a car key.

Sammy shook her head. “This is an expensive sport car, and you have a key so easy access?”

“The car is insured, and when you’re a shifter you need a backup.” Slater went to the boot and opened it. He pulled out black tracksuit pants and a white top.

“When you go back in the restaurant won’t they notice you’re not wearing the same clothes?”

Slater leaned down and put the key back. “Yes, but no one will say anything to me because I’m the boss.”

They walked back to the restaurant’s back door. Sammy waited for him to say something more. When he didn’t, she smiled up at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow at Sandy’s wedding.” She turned to walk to the bus stop when he tapped her back.

“Wait. Please wait. Can I give you a lift home? I’ll just pop in and grab my wallet and car keys, and before you say it, I don’t want people to know I have a spare key on my car, so I’ll get my ones in my office.”

Sammy studied him. She felt comfortable with him now, and she’d loved seeing him in bear form. Also, she had come all this way to see him and accept his apologies and apologize herself, even if she’d run scared when she’d seen him arguing and towering over his head chef. Not everyone was Greg, she reminded herself.

“Okay. I’ll wait right here while you go get what you need and do what you have to do.”

Her heart melted as Slater’s eyes shone, and his smile took her breath away. “Give me five or so minutes.” He opened the door, and Sammy let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She could do this.

****

Slater went straight to Richard his head chef and told him he wouldn’t be back tonight, and he was in charge and lock-up was his. Slater grabbed what he needed from his office, eager to get back to Sammy and the second chance she’d given him. He wouldn’t stuff this one up.

He couldn’t believe Sammy had come to see him, and she’d come to apologize. Slater had almost lost himself in a shift when she’d seen him arguing with Richard and run off. His bear was on edge already from going so long without seeing Sammy and angry with him for what he’d said.

Slater’s bear was content and happy at the moment thanks to Sammy’s affection when she’d come back after he’d lost it over her leaving. Slater knew he would have to talk to Sammy in the car, because as good as he was, he couldn’t watch everything he did around her forever, and he didn’t feel he should pretend to be someone he wasn’t.

Opening the back door again, he saw Sammy stood by it playing a game on her phone. Upon seeing him she put her phone in her pocket and walked towards his car. Slater reached for her hand and held it in his as they walked to the car.

Clicking the button for the locks, he opened the door for Sammy and shut it once she was in. He then walked around to his own side, got in and started the car and drove in the direction to Sammy’s house.

After a couple of minutes’ silence he sighed. “You’re my mate. I want you more than I’ve wanted anything in my life. I look forward to spending time with you, and I’m enjoying working on our bond and getting to know each other. But I can’t walk on eggshells around you all the time. It’s no way to live.”

He stopped at a traffic light and grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles before letting it go and taking off at the green light. “I’m not Greg. I would never hurt you in a physical way. I’d love to say I would never do anything that would hurt you because as much as I’d like to say that, I won’t. I don’t know what stupid thing that could come out of my mouth and offend you, or I can’t guarantee I won’t embarrass you, or something that I think is right might upset you. I think differently from you. If you don’t tell me what I do wrong I can’t fix anything or explain.”

Slater growled because he felt like he was saying it all wrong. Scrubbing his hand over his face he turned towards Sammy’s street. “Look, what I’m trying to say is that Brock and I will make mistakes. I’m sure you’ll make mistakes. I can’t never be angry again and never yell. Sometimes I need to let off steam. I should be more mindful of what you went through and that. Crap! I’m stuffing this up. What I’m trying to say is you have to have faith in me, in Brock, in us, and not give up on us over everything. I’m in it, I mean Brock and I are in it, for the forever kind of relationship.”

Sammy sat quiet in the seat for the last bit of the drive. When he parked out the front of her house, she turned to him. “You’re right. I really am sorry for overreacting over your yelling when you tried to teach me to drive and running from you earlier at work. I said I would give this relationship a real try. I want a loving forever like what Susie and Sandy have. I deserve that. If you’re willing to talk and communicate, then I’m willing to really try. After Sandy’s wedding we’ll go out together on real nighttime dates, to the movies and out to restaurants. No running when something I don’t like happens. I want to get back to being more the old me, the one before Greg. I know I will never be all the old me, because I’ve learned and grown, and what happened has affected everything I do, but I need to move forward.”

Slater stared at Sammy, proud of her. He hadn’t wanted everything she’d just said. All he’d really wanted was a commitment that she would give them a proper chance and stop running at anything that didn’t go her way.

“Thank you. I don’t need all that at once or ever. I’m happy with just you. Not the old you, but the you that you want to be.” He leaned over and brushed his lips over hers. “Go get some sleep. I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow.”

He watched her as she opened her car door and walked up to her front door and got inside. Slater sat in the car hoping that this would all work because after tonight his bear was totally in love with her. He didn’t even have to ask Brock to know that he was already falling for her. The way he talked about her this week had confirmed it. Slater knew when Sammy gave him the chance to get to know her, he would fall, too.

Chapter Four

The park was packed full of people sitting and standing as they watched the strange ceremony. Sandy looked gorgeous in a white flowing gown. Her large bouquet hid her enormous baby belly. Susie stood beside Sammy. Jane stood on Sammy’s other side, and Gwen stood next to Jane.

Poor Susie looked massive. She’d waddled down the aisle on Sandy’s brother Philip’s arm. Susie looked like all you had to do was touch her and one of her babies would pop out. Brian and Blake sat in the front row on the edge of their seats like they were ready to catch Susie if she fell or run to her if she started to go into labor, which could happen.

The celebrant now sat at a table with the marriage certificate. Jake was to become her husband in the eyes of most humans and the government, and Zack was to be Sandy’s secret husband, the one of the heart.

Sandy hadn’t really been keen on the whole wedding thing until her father had found out she was pregnant, and he’d wanted her married. Sammy remembered that night because she’d been called around to help drink as Sandy couldn’t. Sandy had moaned and groaned about what she would do, and she had no idea how it would be done without hurting one of her men’s feeling. Zack had come in and interrupted their girls’ night by saying he would be the husband of the heart. Plus, he said it would be fun to piss his mother off. Sammy had thought Zack was a bit nasty to do stuff like that to his mother, but after meeting Adelea and watching her now as she sat rigid in her seat looking like a child who didn’t get her way as Sandy signed her name next to Jake’s, Sammy didn’t feel bad for her at all.

The music started, and everyone stood as Sandy got up with the help of Zack and Jake. The celebrant announced everything done, and the bride, grooms, and bridal party would go off for photos now, the reception hall would be open, and they could all start making their way over to the venue now.

John came and took her hand, and they followed Susie as she waddled after the bride. When they were in the cars Susie turned to her. “I really wish Sandy had organized this wedding earlier. I must look like a whale.”

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