Page 25 of Guard Bear
"But that was fifty years ago," someone protested.
"Ideas don't always die with the people who hold them," Joy said quietly.
Heath stepped forward again. "Whatever the connection, we focus on the present. The Security Initiative provides round-the-clock coverage. Every business, every property gets protection."
The logistics discussion that followed felt almost mundane after the morning's revelations. Patrol schedules. Phone trees. Emergency procedures. Necessary details that couldn't capture the fear in the room.
Andre found himself tracking Joy as people began to leave. She moved between groups, listening to worries, offering quiet reassurance. When Ellen Cooper grabbed her arm, voice high with panic, Joy's response was calm and steady.
People filed out slowly, reluctant to leave the safety of numbers. Andre helped fold chairs, keeping busy while the room emptied. Joy lingered too, part of the last small group near the door.
When only a handful remained, she approached him. The air between them shifted, charged with awareness.
"Andre." Just his name, but softer than her public voice. He set down the chair he'd been holding. Her guard had lowered, vulnerability showing in the set of her shoulders.
"I should have taken this more seriously from the beginning." The words came out quiet but firm. Her hand touched his arm briefly. "Could you come over to my place tonight? We could talk about the security initiative."
His bear surged with hope. She was inviting him in. Trusting him despite everything. "Of course. What time?"
"Six? I’ll make you dinner. My mom brought me steaks, and I’ve been itching to grill.”
"I’ll be there.”
She nodded, fingers sliding away. The loss of contact ached. She turned to go, pausing at the door to look back. Their eyes held for a moment before she disappeared.
Andre stood in the emptying hall. Six o'clock. Nearly seven hours to wait. The morning sun streaming through the windows seemed to mock his impatience.
"You heading out?" Heath asked, passing Joy on his way back in from the parking lot.
"In a minute." Andre grabbed another stack of chairs, needing the physical task.
"My niece Joy is a smart one. Sees patterns others miss."
Andre nearly dropped the chair he was holding. Niece? Of course. The way Joy had hugged Valeria when she’d walked in. They were cousins. Andre forced himself to stay cool. His boss was his mate’s uncle… And he wasn’t showing any sign that heknew about their match on mate.com. Andre wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
"She shouldn't have to deal with this,” Andre muttered, his face heating.
"None of them should." Heath's voice carried weight—professional responsibility and family protection combined. "That's why we're here."
They finished in silence. When the last chair was stacked, Andre headed for his truck. Nearly seven hours until he could see Joy again. His bear counted every minute.
Chapter
Eleven
Joy liftedthe grill grate with her tongs, arranging the glowing coals beneath. The familiar ritual steadied her nerves. Six o'clock. Andre would arrive any minute, and her mountain lion hadn't stopped pacing since she'd invited him at the community center.
Smoke curled up from the grill, carrying the sharp scent of mesquite. She'd marinated the steaks in lime juice, cumin, and fresh cilantro—Maria's carne asada recipe passed down from her own mother. The meat glistened with oil and spices, ready for the heat.
Tires crunched on the gravel. Through the trees, she glimpsed Andre's truck. He climbed out carrying a covered pie plate in one hand and a jug in the other.
"Right on time." Joy kept her voice steady, though her pulse thundered.
"I brought dessert." Andre held up the pie, color rising in his neck. "Apple pie from the Honeycrisps I bought when I interviewed Ash and Eliana.”
The sweet-tart scent of baked apples and cinnamon made her mouth water. The crust gleamed golden, with neat crimping and decorative vents. "You made this today?"
"After the meeting." His jaw tightened. "Needed to do something while processing everything. Kept thinking about standing in that burned orchard with them, hearing what they went through."
