Page 45 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
“Mom!” Oli’s voice called from the garden. “Herbert is doing binkies! Come see!”
The moment broke. June stepped back, a flush on her cheeks. “I should…”
“Go,” Stanley said, understanding in his voice. “It’s okay.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Until tomorrow, then.”
“Until tomorrow,” he echoed, the promise in those words hanging in the air between them.
He watched her walk back to Oli. Taking his heart and his hope with her.
Chapter Fourteen – June
“Mommy, do you think Herbert can see the stars from his hutch?” Oli asked, his face pressed against the cool glass of his window. He was supposed to be in bed five minutes ago, but the excitement of the day still buzzed through him like electricity.
“I think he’s probably more interested in his hay right now,” she said, crossing the room to stand beside him. “Remember what Stanley said about rabbits being most active at dawn and dusk?”
Oli nodded solemnly, his breath fogging the window as he stared out at the shadowy garden. “I can just see his hutch. Do you think he’s afraid of the dark? Do you think he needs a nightlight?”
June placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Not at all. Rabbits are used to living outside. And he knows he’s safe. Stanley built that hutch perfectly, and you put in all his favorite things. Herbert’s probably having sweet rabbit dreams right now.”
“About what?” Oli asked, his voice small as he continued to stare out into the darkness.
“Hmm.” June pretended to consider this seriously. “Carrots. Fresh spring grass. Maybe about his new friend, who gave him the softest bedding in Bear Creek.”
That earned her a smile, just a flicker in the moonlight, but enough. She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Come on, bedtime for real now. Herbert will still be there in the morning.” She let her hand drop from his shoulder and took a step toward the bed.
Oli lingered a moment longer, then turned and ran to his bed and jumped under the covers. June tucked the covers around him, making sure they weren’t too tight, just the way he liked them. He reached for Professor Fuzzy, his well-worn teddy bear, and went through his nightly ritual. Three pats on the bear’s head. Two kisses on its nose. One whispered secret in its ear that June pretended not to hear.
“Goodnight, my brave explorer,” she whispered, brushing his hair back from his forehead.
“Night, Mom,” he murmured, eyes already drifting closed.
June backed away slowly, pulling the door until it was exactly four inches ajar.Not too open, not too closed. Just right.She stood there for a moment, watching the rise and fall of his chest, marveling at how peaceful he looked. How at home.
In the quiet of the hallway, her mind drifted back to earlier that evening. Stanley was standing in the driveway, the porch light catching in his eyes as he’d leaned toward her. The way her heart had hammered against her ribs when she’d felt his breath on her cheek. How desperately she’d wanted him to close that final distance between them.
And he would have if Oli hadn’t called out.
June touched her fingers to her lips, imagining the almost-kiss that had left her dizzy with wanting. There had been something in Stanley’s eyes, something deep and knowing that had reached inside her and touched a place she’d kept carefully guarded.
She made her way downstairs, her thoughts still tangled in the memory of Stanley’s nearness. Without realizing it, she began to hum, a soft, meandering tune she didn’t recognize but somehow knew.
“Well, well,” Barb’s voice cut through her reverie.
June looked up to find her aunt leaning against the kitchen doorway, an empty mug dangling from her fingers and one eyebrow raised in unmistakable amusement.
“What?” June asked, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.
Barb said nothing, just held her gaze with a look that spoke volumes.You know, and I know you know.
June couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. She didn’t say it out loud; she didn’t need to. Stanley was her mate. How else could she explain the way she felt when she was near him? The instant connection, the soul-deep recognition, the sense of rightness that settled over her whenever he was close.
She moved to the sink and began rinsing the dinner dishes, trying to appear casual despite the warmth flooding through her at the mere thought of him.
“Go,” Barb said simply, placing her mug in the sink.
