Page 16 of Bear

“It seems Mama Shelby has you figured out, brother, and she ain’t buyin’ what you’re sellin’.”

“I like her already,” Alexandra put in with Brewer’s arm draped around her shoulders. “Most of these boys just run their mouths, Shelby. They don’t mean anything by it. Brewer might get a bit heated once in a while but you just leave him to me. I’ll take care of him.”

She cupped Brewer’s chin and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He smiled softly and murmured in appreciation, brushing a kiss in response to her temple. Brewer looked just as intimidating as Bear - broad in the shoulders, a peek of tattoo ink at the collar of his t-shirt, with the bearing of a man who was used to being obeyed when he gave an order. And yet he had only a gentle touch and soft words for Alexandra.

“How are you holdin’ up?” Bear asked, his voice pitched low enough for my ears alone. “They can be a handful if you’re not used to it.”

I glanced up at him and found his dark brown eyes studying me. I could tell how much these people meant to him. They were comfortable around each other, like one big family. I envied him a little for it. I had no siblings. My mother left my father when I was a baby, and men had passed through the house at a rapid rate, but no one ever stuck around for long. As soon as I had turned eighteen, I’d moved in with Justin, hoping that maybe we could create a family of our own.

“I think they’re wonderful,” I said.

Bear smiled so big that his eyes crinkled at the corners. Maisie raised her arm, waving her little hand at him.

“Hello to you, too, Little Miss Bright Eyes,” he said.

As Bear reached for Maisie, his gaze shifted up to meet mine, silently asking permission. I handed her over, making sure her blanket stayed tucked around her head to keep the sun off.

Maisie squealed with delight. When Bear pressed a loud, smacking kiss to her cheek, she smiled and made a string of nonsense happy noises. As I watched them together, it dawned on me that this man had already given my daughter more time, attention, and love than her own father ever did.

Before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and placed my hand against Bear’s cheek, brushing my thumb over the bruises along his jawline, now faded to a dull yellow and greenish-blue.

Bear stopped and glanced at me in surprise. It had been an intimate, affectionate gesture - touching him like that. My body and my heart were running away with me, leaving my logic behind. I wanted him. I wanted him so much that it scared me and I didn’t know what to do about it.

Slowly, I began to withdraw my hand but Bear wrapped his fingers around my wrist. Holding my gaze, he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. The heat of his lips sent goosebumps rippling up my skin. My stomach flip-flopped, and my skin felt hot and tight with the need to be touched.Everywhere.

Diablo balled up a napkin and lobbed it at Bear’s head.

“Get a room!”

Bear took a swipe at him, caught Diablo around the throat with one arm, and put him in a headlock. Maisie remained cradled in his other arm, making a string of happy noises.

“President,” Bear said, nodding at Brewer. “Looks like we lost the mouthy Prospect.”

“That’s too bad,” Brewer replied, playing along. “What do you want to do with his body?”

“I was thinking we could tie him up and leave him in the desert for the coyotes.”

“Hey!” Diablo protested.

“Sounds good to me,” Brewer said.

“I’ll help,” Mack said.

“Me, too,” Rooster chimed in.

“Let’s consult with the princess first,” Bear said, turning to Maisie. “What do you think, little one? Should we have mercy and let him live?”

Maisie blew a raspberry.

“That settles it. You’re officially a dead man, Prospect.”

***

For the past hour, Maisie had been draped over Bear’s shoulder, fast asleep. The picnic was drawing to a close as the sun began to slip toward the horizon. I knew we needed to start heading home, but part of me dreaded tearing myself away from this. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed hard enough to make my cheeks ache and my ribs hurt. I’d been so isolated with Justin, laser-focused on trying to make our relationship work until I’d lost sight of everything else. But today, I felt like I’d become part of a family. Just for a little while.

When I stifled a yawn though, Bear noticed. He placed his large hand against the back of my neck, his thumb nestled at the hollow beneath my ear.

“Let me take you home,” he said softly.

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