Page 85 of Hunny and the Bear

Nessa groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I knew you’d think I was crazy.”

“No, I just … I didn’t expect you to say something like that.” She took a cursory sniff of the air, wondering if she’d be able to scent it as well. Nope. Nothing other than Nessa’s own perfume and the chemicals from the products she’d used recently. “Did you and Murphy touch at all? Like a handshake, a hug? Maybe he got mouthy and you swatted his arm.”

Nessa peeked at her from between her fingers, puzzled, before dropping her hands. “No, there was definitely no touching.”

“Are you sure? It could have been just a brief—”

“No,” Nessa cut in hotly, pursing her lips.

Hunny held up her hands in surrender. “Alright, I’m sorry for pressing the issue.”

Nessa leaned back in her chair, worrying her lower lip. “No,I’msorry. It was rude to cut you off like that.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Hunny assured her.

“I used to be in an abusive relationship,” Nessa blurted out suddenly. Her gaze skittered over Hunny’s head and to the wall behind her. “I-I don’t really want to talk about it, but, um, I haven’t let another man touch me at all since … Yeah, I just haven’t, so I-I would know if one did. That’s what I meant before.”

Hunny’s heart clenched at the admission, even though she’d suspected something similar. “Thank you for telling me that.”Not wanting to leave her friend hanging, she added, “That guy Murphy and Tank met with at your shop? Jason?”

Nessa’s brow furrowed. “Yeah, that guy was a creep.”

Hunny winced. “That creep is my ex.”

“What!” Nessa exclaimed, gasping audibly. “That’s the father of your babies? Oh no, that’s horrible!”

“I know.” Hunny slid her hand over her belly, rubbing it soothingly. “That’s why you needed an escort out to the cabin.”

“I thought you said Murphy was just some crazy billionaire.”

“Well, yes,” Hunny added hastily. “But he’s also trying to protect me. There’s been a bit of drama with Jason lately, and so the guys are being extra cautious on who comes and goes.”

“Oh wow, that’s really scary. I’m glad to see it’s to help protect you. Have you thought about getting a restraining order against Jason?”

Hunny shook her head. “No, it wouldn’t do me any good.”

“I definitely understand that.” Nessa stared at the rabbit shifter with a mixture of astonishment and concern, each emotion ping-ponging across her face, before she eventually asked, “What on Earth did you ever see in him?”

She scrunched her nose in distaste. “I have no idea, honestly.” Looking back on it now, a mating bond was the only true allure, and thankfully, Jason had ended that. It all felt like a bad memory. “Now that I have Henry, I just can’t believe what an idiot I was before. I mean, Jason? He’s so gross.”

“I’ll second that,” Tank grumbled, stepping quietly into the kitchen. Surprised, Nessa jerked in her seat, the scent of her fear filling the kitchen. Tank pretended not to notice, walking over to Hunny and dropping a tender kiss onto the crown of her head. “I miss anything fun?”

Hunny smiled coyly, looking up at her mate and giving Nessa a chance to collect herself. “Just girl talk.”

Tank grunted, giving a brisk nod in Nessa’s direction. “Afternoon Yapper Two.”

Nessa arched her brow. “Yapper Two?”

Hunny raised her hand. “Yapper One present and accounted for.”

Nessa burst into laughter, and the scent of her unease faded just like that. Tank draped his arms over Hunny’s shoulders, hugging her from behind. “I was just going to make some lunch. Jasper won’t be here for another hour—”

A hard knock sounded on the front door.

Hunny tilted her head to the side, staring toward the living room in confusion. “I guess he’s here early.”

“Guess so, the little fucker.” Tank kissed Hunny again before making his way out of the kitchen.

Nessa looked around the room. “So how about a house tour?”

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