Page 35 of Hers

“I think I need to find myself someone from the Bear family.”

Sammy giggled, surprisingly enjoying herself.

When the salad was finished, she helped make some desserts. As she put caramel on the puffs, Brock’s arms circled her waist.

“Did you forget about me, angel?”

He nipped her neck, and she shivered messing up the puff. She turned and looked up at him. Something looked different. Before he’d been on edge and nagging her to find out things she wanted left alone.

“No. I was just enjoying myself with Gretel and Lena.” She searched his eyes and could see his bear prancing back and forth, but he didn’t seem frustrated, more like impatient. “Are you okay?”

Brock nodded, leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, lingering a moment. “Yes. You almost done? Our afternoon dinner is ready.”

Sammy grinned. “Yeah, be out soon.” She watched as he strolled out. Sammy couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

She turned back to finish the last couple of puffs to see Lena staring at her. “What did you do to him? Usually he only wears black, and he always has a five o’clock shadow. He just turned into—”

“Yeah, I know.” Sammy didn’t need Lena to finish. She knew how good Brock looked.

“No wonder you were late. He cleans up good,” Gretel whispered. “He’s never come to one of my dinners looking like that. If he would have, I would have made Albert invite him around a lot more.”

“Muummm!” Lena yelled.

“I’m old, not dead, sweetheart.”

Sammy felt her cheeks heat, and she laughed so hard she cried. She really liked Gretel and Lena. “Thank you.”

“What are you thanking us for?” Lena asked.

“I haven’t felt this light-hearted in months. You remind me of how I used to be with my mother. We bantered back and forth, and I could tell her anything. Thank you for the wonderful time.”

Gretel and Lena came and hugged her. Sammy cried hard as she soaked up the love. They patted her on the back.

“We did nothing. You were just so easy to get on with. We will definitely be doing this again. I had fun.”

Gretel chuckled. “See, you just got a massive compliment. Lena had fun with you. She wants to have a play date. She’s really picky with who she likes.”

“Really, Mum.” Lena rolled her eyes heavenward.

Sammy smiled. She knew she’d just found some great new friends.

****

Slater was unsure what to expect after Brock called him and told him what was going down. He was pissed at Brock for using Sammy as bait to help get people to talk.

Walking into the barbeque he was unsure of what to expect. Slater knew most of the people in Brock and Jake’s precinct, but there was a huge number of humans he didn’t know at the party.

Slater couldn’t see Sammy anywhere. He scanned the party until he gave up on finding her outside and thought he’d give inside a go. The lounge room was a no go, but in the kitchen, he found his mate hugging two women and crying.

He cleared his throat and took a deep breath that came out on a snarl at the smell of Sammy.That fuckwit. Sammy’s emotions were everywhere, and she wasn’t ready for what Brock was about to do to her.

Pissed off he snapped, “What’s going on?”

Sammy detangled herself from the two women, one he remembered as Brock’s captain’s wife. “Slater, what are you doing here? I thought you had to work as you had two sick chefs.”

He stalked her, his bear going crazy at her sad emotions. “I decided to take it off to make you happy.” Sammy didn’t need to know the real reason right now. He needed to get her out of here before anything happened.

Sammy came to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks.”

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