Page 59 of The Bear's Second Chance Mate
Stanley moved closer, pretending to check the ripeness of nearby clusters. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but his shifter hearing caught most of their conversation.
“I can see why,” Barb replied as she straightened up and put her hand on the small of her back. “But I always thought youwould go off and explore the world. It’s all you used to talk about.”
There was a pause. Then Hugo said quietly, “I did, with Leanne.”
“Your mate,” Barb said.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Hugo turned to face Barb. “And if I am honest, I didn’t even know I had.”
“I thought you felt something for me once,” Barb said, her voice stripped of its usual sharpness.
His father’s response was gentle. “I cared about you. I still do. But the moment I saw Leanne...well, you know how it is.”
Stanley glanced up to see Barb’s eyes drift toward where he stood with June, who had appeared at his side with a basket of freshly picked grapes. Barb’s expression softened, a new understanding dawning in her eyes.
“Now I do,” she said simply.
“June and Stanley?” Hugo asked.
Barb shifted her weight and sighed. “Yes. Now I can see I read more into our relationship than I should have . I’m just happy June has found a man who will stand by her and who will love Oli as his own.”
“He does,” Hugo said with a smile.
“So, do we get to taste the wine, too?” Barb asked as she went back to picking the grapes.
“Oh, yes. I have a special bottle picked out for this evening, when all the work is done,” Hugo said.
“It had better be special if I have to work all day for a glass,” Barb said in return.
“You have not changed a bit, Barb,” Hugo said.
“I’m not sure that is a good thing,” Barb replied wryly.
“It is,” Hugo said. “I have missed you.”
“Yeah, I missed you, too,” Barb said.
Happy ending!his bear said.
Thank goodness,Stanley replied.
June nudged his shoulder. “You’re staring. Is everything okay?”
Stanley nodded, unable to stop the smile spreading across his face. “Everything’s perfect.”
He leaned in and kissed her, drawing her into his arms. The sensation of her body against his sent a rush of pleasure through him, and she melted into him, her lips soft and yielding.
When they parted, June’s cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes bright. “What was that for?”
“Because I can,” Stanley whispered, still holding her close. “Because you’re mine.”
Chapter Twenty – June
June traced the rim of her wineglass with her fingertip, watching the liquid catch the light. It had been a long day of backbreaking work, and her muscles ached from harvesting the grapes. But it was a good ache.
And now, sitting here with a glass of wine in her hand and Stanley beside her as the sun set behind the mountains, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this kind of peace. The kind that settled deep in her bones and made her forget to worry about what came next.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Stanley murmured, his voice a warm rumble beside her.
