Page 62 of The Bear's Mail Order Mate

Kris.

“What’s wrong?” he asked urgently, holding her against him where she belonged. The warmth of his body instantly calmed the storm raging inside her.

She raised her face to meet his worried gaze. “I overheard your conversation with Dante,” she admitted, heart squeezing at the raw pain flashing briefly across Kris’s face.

He immediately cupped her face so tenderly that tears stung her eyes. “Cassia, I would never give you up. Not for him, not for anyone. We’re mates. Soulmates…you know that, right?”

She took a steadying breath, drawing strength from his unwavering gaze. “I know. And that’s why I laid a trap for Dante and his ego.”

Kris frowned slightly, confusion mixing with cautious hope. “What do you mean?”

Cassia reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone with trembling fingers. “He followed me, and I recorded our conversation.” She held his gaze and let out a long, shuddering breath. “He admitted he would use his influence and lie to destroy this restaurant’s reputation if you didn’t leave me. It’s all here, Kris.”

His expression shifted rapidly from shock to disbelief and finally fierce admiration. He listened closely as she pressed play, Dante’s cold, arrogant threats echoing clearly from the speaker.

“You recorded him?” Kris asked with a small laugh. “You are a smart woman, Cassia.”

Cassia nodded firmly, feeling lighter than she had in years. “I couldn’t let him hurt you, hurt your family. I won’t let him control our lives.”

Kris smiled with pride, and he leaned in, capturing her lips in a sweet, tender kiss. “You’re incredible, Cassia.”

“Just protecting what I love,” she whispered, resting her head on his chest.

“And what do you plan to do with that recording?” he asked quietly.

Cassia’s lips curved in a triumphant smile. “I could upload it online. Let everyone see the fraud he really is.”

He cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her face up to his. “Or?”

Cassia considered this for a long moment. She had it in her power to destroy Dante, just as he had thought to destroy them. “Or...I could give him a chance to leave quietly. Stop threatening us. Stop interfering with our lives.”

Kris studied her face, his dark eyes searching hers. “You’d do that? After everything he’s done?”

She nodded slowly. “Not for him. For us. I don’t want his shadow hanging over our opening night. I don’t want to think about him ever again.” She took a deep breath. “But he needs to understand there are consequences if he tries anything else.”

Kris’s lips curved into a slow smile that made her heart flutter. “Have I mentioned lately how remarkable you are?”

“Not in the last hour,” she teased.

His large hand enveloped hers, thumb stroking her palm. “You’re remarkable, Cassia Harper.” And then he lowered his head and kissed her.

And what a kiss it was. Tender, passionate, filled with promise. Cassia melted against him, her worries momentarily forgotten. When they finally pulled apart, she was more certain than ever that this was the right move. A way to get rid of Dante for good.

They walked back into the dining room together, shoulders brushing. Dante was already seated at his table again, looking entirely too pleased with himself as he swirled the wine in his glass.

Cassia approached with Kris at her side, her spine straight as steel. “Dante,” she said quietly. “A word outside, please?”

Dante’s eyes flitted between them, his smug expression faltering slightly at their united front. For a heartbeat, he hesitated, then recovered with practiced ease, setting down his wine glass with deliberate slowness. “Do you interrupt all your guests while they are eating?” he asked smoothly.

“Only the ones who try to ruin us,” Cassia replied, her tone equally smooth.

“Have you been a naughty boy again, Dante?” Molly asked as she set her fork down on her plate. “I wondered why you were so insistent on coming here when you had treated Cassia so abominably.”

“You can hear for yourself,” Cassia said, with a smile, not wanting the other guests to overhear.

“Cassia,” Dante hissed as she took her phone out of her pocket and pressed play. He paled as he heard himself start speaking. “I don’t think we need to share our private conversation.”

“That is exactly what I will do if you ever threaten us again,” Cassia said, placing a hand on the back of his chair and squeezing it tightly as she fought to keep her composure.

---