Page 41 of Sweet Heart for the Bear

“What’s his name?” he asks, voice deadly calm.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

He huffs a breath, shaking his head. “We’ll agree to disagree.”

He leans in, eyes locked on mine, voice dropping to a gravelly whisper:

“But let’s set the record straight, Carina.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’m sorry, Horace, for bringing my baggage into this and ruining dinner?—”

“Hey, you didn’t ruin anything. You couldn’t if you tried. Not with me.”

He grips the back of my chair, caging me in.

“Now, I’m telling you up front, I’m not a smooth talker, but Carina, believe me when I say you are a fucking knockout.”

His gaze drags over me, slow and deliberate.

“There is not one thing wrong with your body. Not. One. Damn. Thing. You’re so hot, Sweetheart. So damn pretty.”

He smirks and shakes his head like looking at me is doing things to him and I feel my entire body clench at his words.

“And if anyone has a problem with that?”

His voice drops even lower.

“They can talk to me—ifthey have the balls.”

A loudhaescapes my lips, and heat floods my cheeks—and my panties.

Oh, I am in so much trouble.

His finger on my chin turns into his entire hand. He touches my face, his eyes darken and then, he’s cupping my neck and dragging me close to him.

“I didn’t plan for our first kiss to be in front of an audience,” he whispers, his nose nuzzling mine.

I have no response. I can hardly breathe, I am so turned on.

Horace is so close now, and he really is going to kiss me if the intent glittering in his dark orbs means anything.

“Come here,” he growls and then his lips claim mine—and I am a goner.

Swoon. Mega swoon.

Chapter14

Horace

She is the one.

Not in themaybesense. Not in thewow, I really like hersense.

No. Carina isit.

My fated mate.

I guess that time I saw her in the pizzeria I was either too stunned or my senses dulled by the fragrant aroma in the air to pick up on it.

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