Page 33 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
It was not her imagination.
It was not wishful thinking.
No, when he was close, it was as if every atom in her body reached out toward him. The hairs on her arms stood on end, and she felt the same strange sensation she’d had last night as she stood on the porch drinking whiskey.
Had he been out there in the darkness? Watching, waiting for the right time to tell her they were mates?
“How’s Herbert doing?” she asked, finally needing to fill the silence that stretched between them. “Has someone claimed him yet?”
Stanley glanced up, his eyes meeting hers briefly before returning to his coffee. “Not yet. It’s like he simply appeared out of thin air in Mrs. Abernathy’s backyard.”
“Oh.” The word escaped her before she could stop it. Had fate sent the white bunny just so they could meet?
Goodness, she was starting to lose her grip on reality.
Stanley set his spoon down with a gentle clink. “You and Oli could give him one, you know. A home.”
The offer hung between them, simple and sincere. And Oli had made it blatantly clear he would love Herbert as a pet. And then there was the feeling that she owed Herbert a home for bringing Stanley into her life.
But then there was the reality of her situation. She was living with her aunt, her funds were dwindling, and there seemed to be no sign of a job coming her way anytime soon.
“I’m not sure how long we’ll be in Bear Creek,” she said, hating the words even as she spoke them. “I’ve retrained as a therapist, but I’m still looking for a new job. One that gives me the flexibility Oli needs. I have no idea where that might take us.”
Stanley let out a long breath as if he’d been punched in the gut. “I didn’t know this wasn’t a permanent move for you.”
“I’m hoping it is,” she replied. “Oli loves it here. And so do I…” She paused. “But beggars can’t be choosers. Until I gain some real-world experience, I have to keep my options open.”
“That makes sense,” he said, stirring his coffee once more, though the sugar had long since dissolved. “You need to do what’s best for you and Oli.”
The warmth in his eyes had faded, just enough to sting. Just enough to make her want to reach across the table and take back her words, to tell him she’d figure something out, that she would stay.
But she didn’t. She couldn’t. Not when everything was so uncertain.
Not when she wasn’t even sure what they shared was more than a fleeting feeling.
Barb’s warning echoed in her head, a persistent whisper she couldn’t silence.If you were his mate, he’d have claimed you by now.The words had burrowed under her skin since that night in the kitchen, impossible to extract.
Maybe Barb was right. Maybe this was just kindness. The same gentle compassion Stanley showed to every lost creature that found its way to his door. Maybe he was only offering what he could, and she was foolish to want more, to read meaning into every look, every smile, every careful word.
She lifted her coffee to her lips, using the mug as a shield. And then, she caught him looking at her.
Not a casual glance, but something deeper. His eyes darkened, fixed on her face with an intensity that made her skin flush hot. He wasn’t just seeing her. He was seeing into her, through every defense, every careful wall she’d constructed. The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with something she couldn’t name but felt in every cell of her body.
June forgot to breathe. Forgot the coffee halfway to her lips. Forgot Barb’s warnings and her own doubts.
That look wasn’t nothing. It wasn’t casual interest or friendly concern. It wasn’t indifference.
It was hunger. Recognition. Something primal and knowing that made her heart slam against her ribs.
But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. Stanley blinked and glanced away, reaching for his napkin with a slightly unsteady hand.
“The farmer’s market is great on Saturday mornings,” he said, his voice deliberately light as he changed the subject. “Not too crowded before nine. They have a section with local honey that Oli might find interesting. The beekeeper brings an observation hive sometimes.”
June set her mug down, struggling to reconcile the moment that had just passed with this sudden shift to safer ground. She nodded, gathering herself.
“That sounds nice,” she managed. “Oli’s been wanting to explore more of the town.”
“The museum is good, too,” Stanley continued. “I’m sure Oli would find it interesting.”
