Page 41 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
Barb was definitely in a strange mood today. And what exactly did she mean by, no matter what happens?
The door had barely closed behind Barb when June’s phone rang. Her heart skipped when Stanley’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello?” she answered, turning away from Oli, who was still absorbed in his drawing.
“Hey, June.” Stanley’s voice was softer than usual, almost hesitant. “I hope I’m not calling too early.”
“Not at all,” she said, moving toward the window. “We’ve been up for a while.”
Her voice was calm, but her mind buzzed with the memory of how he’d made love to her in that dream. How it had made her ache with longing to wake up without him there.
“Great.” A pause. “I was wondering if you’d had a chance to think about Herbert. I don’t think his owners are going to claim him. And I know Oli was pretty attached to him. So I wanted to ask you first before I try to re-home him.”
June watched her son at the table, his small fingers carefully coloring Herbert’s cape. “Yes. I’d love to,” she said without giving anything away. If she told Oli before school, there would be no way he’d get through the day without being constantly distracted. “If you are sure.”
“That’s wonderful,” Stanley said, the smile evident in his voice. “Herbert deserves a family of his own. I think he knew it was going to be you guys all along.”
June smiled to herself. “Maybe he did.”
She wanted to tell him she’d dreamed of him. That she was sure Herbert had been meant to bring them together. But this was not the time.
“I could help you set up a hutch,” Stanley offered. “In fact, if you’re free today, I could come by. Build something with Oli. He seemed like he might enjoy a project.”
The idea of Stanley working alongside Oli, building something together, felt right in a way she couldn’t explain.
“That would be...really nice,” she said, surprised by the slight tremor in her voice. “Look forward to it.”
“Great. I can be there around four, if that’s not too early? I’ll bring the supplies and Herbert, of course.”
“Perfect. We’ll be here.” As she hung up the phone, she felt ridiculously happy.
And it was all because of Stanley Thornberg.
Chapter Thirteen – Stanley
Stanley pulled into Barb’s driveway with a soft crunch of gravel, the hutch kit rattling gently in the back of the truck like a nervous passenger.
Only it was the driver who was nervous.
That’s because we’re about to take a risk, a big risk,his bear said, his nervous energy pulsing through their shared body.
But it carries the greatest reward,Stanley replied as he killed the engine.
Ever since Barb’s visit to the pet store, Stanley had been focused on one thing alone. Finding the right time to tell his mate the truth.
As soon as possible,his bear added.
But until he found the right time, he planned to show June how much she meant to him and how great they would be together.
All of them. June, Oli, Stanley…
And me,his bear said happily.
We are one and the same,Stanley told his bear.
I don’t think June is going to see it that way when you shift for the first time,his bear replied.
Yeah, you might be right.But he would not let that distract him from telling her.
