Page 48 of The Bear's Fated Mate
She fought a sigh and instead pasted on a big smile. “It’s a fantastic party. I’m so happy for your brother.Brothers—” She twisted to include James in her comment as he twirled past, Kaylee on his arm. The two of them were spinning faster than was probably safe in the crowded space.
Cooper settled in the chair beside her, his gaze on the dance floor. “They’ve been very fortunate. It’s been a good year.”
The music thumped on, and Amber pressed her heels against the ground to keep from tapping in time. Then she reconsidered because this was potentially the perfect opportunity for her to take a stand.
To somehow let Cooper Borealis know that, while she was only human, and yes, his secretary, surely there wassomeway they could work around those technical difficulties because he really was the most attractive man she’d ever seen in her life.
But more than that, he did something to her heart. Inside, where that connection to family and friends longed to be filled. Cooper’s gentleness called to her, and while it might not be the easiest relationship to figure out, she thought it would be worth it.
Amber took a deep breath, screwed up her courage, and then turned to blurt out, “Would you like to dance?”
She was talking to empty air.
Silently—impossibly silent considering the size of the man—he’d risen from her side and was already a dozen paces across the room. His broad shoulders swayed slowly, the lazy animal flair of his bear showing up in his human stride.
Sexy man. Annoying, frustrating, irritating, sexy man.
Every time she worked up the courage to say something, it was as if his radar pinged and he disappeared. It wasn’t right.
It was frustrating as hell.
Amber Myawayan folded her arms over her chest and examined the room more thoroughly. There were wolves and bears and cougars and bobcats, some in their shifted forms and some dressed to the teeth as humans. All of them celebrating. All of them enjoying life to the fullest.
Now on the far side of the gymnasium, shoulders pressed against the wall, Cooper stared into space. Frustration in his expression, his shoulders drooped. The farthest thing from a man filled with delight and happiness.
Hewashappy for his brothers, but the same way she felt a missing piece inside while watching her friends find lovers to share their days and nights with, Cooper had to be hurting. Had to be lonely.
That was when Amber came to the sudden and wonderful realization that she didn’t need to be afraid anymore. If this was meant to be, then there was plenty of opportunity for her to turn the tables on her gallant bear.
Plenty of people who would help her as well…
After two years in the north, she’d learned that, as well. Maybe it wasn’t the way things were done in the human world, but she was obviously working with different dynamics when it came to shifters, and especially polar bear shifters.
Amber rose to her feet, straightened her skirt, and stepped carefully across the gymnasium floor to where another powerhouse sat.
Grandma Laureen was out on the dance floor with Alex, so Amber slid into the empty seat beside the family patriarch, turning to him as nonchalantly as possible. Her heart pounded even as she offered a shy smile.
Grandfather Giles raised a brow, his grin slowly widening as he examined her face. “Hello, Amber. You look as if there’s something on your mind.”
It was her last chance to turn back, to pretend as if this wasn’t why she’d made her way over here, but she wanted Cooper far too much to lie. Human or not, job complications or not, theybothdeserved to be happy. They both deserved to see if being together would help them find that happiness.
She gathered her courage then boldly answered. “There’s something I would very much like your help with.”
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