Page 26 of A Bear's Journey

Chapter Six

Jasper

The moment Olivia’scompanion walked up, Jasper could feel his hackles rise. His bear wanted out, and he had the wild and completely unreasonable urge to throw down right there, right then with the guy who’d taken his mate away from him.

He resisted the urge. It was hard, but he did it.

Instead, after a long, uncertain pause, him and Craig both staring at this guy and the asshole staring right back, he remembered his human manners and spoke up.

“I’m Jasper,” he said. He stood and held his hand out.

“Craig,” said his mate. He also stood.

The both of us could take this guy, no problem, he thought. The uncivilized animal in him wanted to just tackle the guy right there, knock him to the floor and beat the hell out of him.

It was the easiest way to take care of business, after all.

“I’m Olivia’s cousin Austin,” the man said, shaking both their hands.

Oh.

For half a second, Jasper’s mind went totally blank in relief.

Then he grinned so hard he felt like his face might also split into separate pieces. He glanced over at Craig, and realized that the other man was also grinning like an idiot.

“Great!” Craig said.

I can’t believe that didn’t occur to me, Jasper thought.

“I work at the Double Moon, so I thought it could be a fun thing to do on a Saturday,” Austin said. “They usually do a beginner hour starting around now, so you’ve still got your chance to get out there. Assuming you’re not square dance experts already.”

“Definitely not,” said Craig.

Just then, the music stopped. The two musicians put down their instruments and picked up bottles of beer, and the caller’s voice rang out over the barn alone.

“We’re gonna take a quick drink break, and then it’s time for all you new dancers to come on and join us!” he said. He had a gray mustache and a country twang. “In the meantime, buy some drinks and tip the band.”

With a crackle, he put the microphone back in the stand.

Just ask her to dance,Jasper thought. Come on. You’re not in middle school.

“Want to dance?” Craig asked.

“Hey!” said Jasper.

Olivia looked surprised, her cup frozen halfway to her mouth.

“Too late,” Craig told him.

“She has to say yes first,” Jasper pointed out.

“Sure,” Olivia said, her cup still hovering mid-air.

“Ha,” Craig said.

“I could switch off,” Olivia offered.

She didn’t seem like she knew quite what to do with the sudden attention from the two of them.

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