Page 59 of Protecting the White Bear

Alicia came out of the mostly dug-out snow cave. Since half their heritage was polar bears, she figured this was part of their training. Normally, a mother bear wouldn’t dig a snow cave unless she was about to birth new cubs.

Was she? The instinct had to be so strong that maybe that was the situation. Though Andy hadn’t told her that was the case.

Rob finally joined them and worked on digging out of the cave.

Alicia brought her cubs over to meet Monica and nuzzled her face to show her cubs Monica was safe.

The doorbell rang. Andy glanced in that direction. Then he ran for the back door, but Craig opened it and smiled. “Pizza delivery!”

The cubs headed straight for the house. Alicia hurried to corral them out of the way. Monica smiled, then followed Andy back to the house.

Inside the house, Andy shifted and started pulling on his clothes. “We have to appreciate this now because Craig will be back to making emergency deliveries once the visibility is better and won’t have time for it.”

“I make special deliveries on occasion. Even when I’m working,” Craig said.

Monica shifted inside and hurried to dress.

“Thanks, Bro.”

Craig smiled at Monica. “We were getting pizza anyway and thought you might like one also.”

“Well, we appreciate it,” Monica said.

“You both deserve a hero’s welcome home. I’ve got to get our pizza home, or my mate will be frosted because it’s so cold.”

“Thanks, Craig, for the pizza and the thought. Tell your mate I said hi.” Monica pulled a fuzzy white blanket over her on the couch.

She looked like she belonged there in Andy’s home with him, and he hoped he could convince her to continue seeing him even after the three weeks were up.

“I will. She wants to meet you when you feel up to more company. Later, Bro.” Then Craig headed back to his SUV.

Andy shut and locked the door. “Do you want to eat on the couch or at the table? You look so comfortable there.”

“If you think we won’t make a mess?—”

“I have TV trays for eating.”

“Do you eat in the living room a lot?”

He smiled. “At night. During the day, I eat where I can or take lunch with me.”

“Oh, me too.”

He set up oak TV trays, then brought glasses of ice water and slices of pizza on plates. “Do you want to watch something?”

“Yeah. Whatever you would like. I like lots of stuff.”

He sat down to eat with her and turned on the television. With the fire going, it felt like a fun at-home date.

“This is good,” Monica said, taking a bite of the pizza. “Enjoying it with you while watching TV makes it all the better. The toddlers were so cute when they thought they could have some pizza.”

“Yeah, but Alicia would have had to shift so they could eat as kids. As bears, they would make even more of a mess.”

Monica laughed. “So what shall we watch?”

“How about this story about a couple who are CIA who have retired to raise their two kids and end up back in a CIA operationwith the kids in tow—who have no idea their parents are former operatives.”

“Yes, it sounds perfect.”

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