Grizzly - Bundle Parts 1-3 (8 page)

Once I’d randomly decided on one, I whirled around only to find that Officer Rotan’s gaze had been squarely planted on my assets. I blushed, pretended to not notice and went about playing a few practice shots.

Inside, my heartrate jumped.

He really was attracted to me?!

Was this a good idea? I didn’t want to make the mistake of leading him on? Whether or not I found him attractive was not the point. Besides, I was utterly besotted with Abe.

“Officer Rotan, may I ask what your first name is?” I asked.

“Jason. My first name is Jason.” He answered quickly.

“Is it okay for me to call you by your first name?”

He grinned, “Yes, it is. But when I’m in uniform, missy – its
Officer Rotan
, got it?”

I giggled, “Got it. Let’s hope we never have any sort of official business ever again, Jason.”

“Good girl. I think you and I both know that ass-hat at your gym needed to be put in his place. But I’ll never publicly condone violence. Understood?” He winked at me, the silent understanding passing between us.

My acknowledging smile must have been as wide as the
Grand Canyon
since he looked pretty charmed at my response.

“Understood, Officer Rotan.” I said, unable to help myself. There was something so thrilling about being put in one’s place by a sexy man in uniform who served in the capacity of law enforcement. No matter how minor or gentle.

It turned me on and I was completely guilty of imagining him putting me in my place in all sorts of ways. That is, until I heard an,
ahem
from behind me. An,
ahem
with a voice I recognized a hundred and ten percent. A voice like caramel and bacon wrapped together and then smoked for a perfect finish.

Abe!

How in the world was Abe here?!

I whirled around to find him with
Officer Biggs
and a couple of other burly-sized men that made me look like
Tinkerbell
. For some reason or the other, everyone looked amused and seemed to be on the inside of a joke that I was desperately on the outside of.

“Abe?” I said as if he were some sort of apparition.

“Yes, Cassidy. I’m joining the guys for some beer and pool. What brings you here?”

I must have looked crimson as the other men seemed to know to give us some privacy. They moved on and started chatting with Officer Rotan, um – Jason.

“I love this place, I come here pretty often actually.” I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “I have a weekly appointment in the neighborhood. I come here afterwards to have a few drinks and go home. Ran into Officer Rotan. He invited me to play some pool.” I gestured over my shoulder towards the cluster of burly men discussing beer and pool as far as I could tell.

Part of me wanted to share with him. To let him know why I was there, but another part of me that was still too embarrassed to admit that I needed therapy, didn’t want to divulge this important aspect about myself. Not just yet.

He was studying my face again. In that way that made me suddenly feel as if I have no clothing on and I’m standing in public, in nothing but my knickers. I felt naked. Like he could hear my thoughts, what I was hiding from him.

But I didn’t notice any disapproval on his face.

“What are the chances…” He said, seemingly under his breath, almost as if he forgot I was listening and could hear him.

“Right? I was sitting over there and noticed Officer Rotan, Jason – playing pool. So, he invited me over. As it so happens, I really like playing pool.” I shared.

“Good, in one sense, it makes me feel better to know you’re here. I’m happy to see you of course. In another, I’m kind of… Kind of.” He said, stopping short, as if he was about to reveal too much.

“Kind of, what?” I asked, confused.

What exactly was he getting at?!

“Sorry, I’m just being silly.” He said, something inside him relenting.

Was he jealous? Jealous of Officer Rotan and I playing pool?

He captured my eyes again, the beseeching behind his eyes almost hypnotizing. I sucked in a deep breath knowing he’d always be able to capture me with his keen and appraising gazes. It was almost animalistic. Very primal. Raw and powerful. Beautiful in a masculine way.

As if on instinct, he reached out for my elbow to guide me, while turning me away from the group of men that we were now both rubbing elbows with.

He was jealous…
Then he said it so softly, confirming my guess. I thought I would melt like a pat of butter. He was already showing some possessiveness over me and it hadn’t even been a week.

“I’m kind of jealous, Cass.”

“Abe, there’s no reason to be jealous, I promise.” I said. “I might be a torrid flirt from time to time… I admit. But deep down, I’m a loyal type of woman. You’ll learn that about me…”

Okay, so I was sorta telling a tiny, white lie.

But it was true. For the most part. I’d just always had this secret fantasy. Of two men. Two lovers. But exclusive.

And besides, even if there was a physical draw to Officer Rotan, something deeper was already invested between Abe and myself. Even if only mere days had passed.

And that was the moment. Right then and there that I realized my feelings were already inclined to be exclusive with him. Which was as much a self-revelation to myself as it was, to him.

He kissed the top of my head. An endearing gesture that showed more than I had hoped. It was sweet, possessive, and respectful. Meant to make any onlookers know straight-up,
I care about this woman. She’s mine.

And it felt amazing…

Yet again, Abe had taken all the words right out of my head and mouth.

I was stunned, happy and mute.

No one, not anyone, in the world could do this to me.

The funny irony of it all was that he hadn’t a clue yet. We didn’t know one another well enough for this to be its own form of consolation. Something that I wished he knew already. All in good time, all in good time.

Chapter Ten

(( 10 ))

ABE

Running into Cassidy at
Biddy’s
was not only a surprise, but her reaction to our run-in was a welcome sign that she was equally as interested in me as I was in her. I just needed to get the edit off my desk and in her hands, have the editing business aside and allow for things to take their natural course.

Watching her interact with the guys had been insightful, but hard. Although she had a little sister way about her, chumming it up and keeping it light, I could tell she probably didn’t realize what a flirt she came across as.

Which had my inner bear silently snorting, huffing and puffing with jealousy, possessiveness and protectiveness.

Which I’d kept at bay the best I could. But I was pretty certain she was seeing right through it.

As the night proceeded, I saw Officer Rotan’s eyes graze her body plenty of times while we all played pool. Each and every time, my inner bear just wanted to smack his head right off his body. It’d been a long time since I’d felt like this. As if I had a right to. Because I didn’t. She wasn’t technically my mate, yet.

And I’d seen the spark between them too.

Which hurt my heart and my ego.

Was she just playing me? Was what I felt between us the other night, real?

All my old insecurities came roaring out and I found myself feeling like how I often had around my ex-wife. Towards the end of our marriage, she’d boldly and blatantly flirted with other men while in my presence, which had done its fair share of damage to my sense of manhood and pride.

A bear shifter’s pride is nothing to fool around with and I’d hated her for it.

So, I sat through the grueling evening, doing my best to keep the two situations separated in my head and heart.

I was just getting to know Cass. We were not anything to compare against a dying marriage, and I was damned if I’d sit passively by, watching another man and bear shifter make his interest in her known.

There was civility, bear politics and social propriety to consider after all.

I finally found the courage to ask her to come outside and get some fresh air. It was now or never. I’d say what I needed to say and it would be what it would be.

“Cass? Care to join me outside?” I asked when a moment of privacy arose.

Her smile in response to my request, would have lit up the world if needed, which made my heart lurch in excitement.

“Sure Abe, that sounds nice. I’m a bit warm. I could use some fresh air.” She said, fanning herself with her hands, pretending it was too warm.

As we walked out to the back patio area, I grazed her back with my fingertips and gently push-led her while walking behind her. Sort of a reverse cowgirl, only with a light touch.

Just as I’d expected, we fell into pace within that short distance and the electric chemistry between us damned well shocked my fingertips. When she turned around to face me, I was stunned as she lifted herself up on her toes, pulled my jaw forward, wrapping her hand around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss.

Hot damn!

Her lips were warm, the musky heat of want and need laced them with her sweet desire and I was consumed in a nanosecond flat. She pressed herself up close to me, the contour of her body meeting the contours of mine as if they were made for it.

I was instantly rock-hard for her, my manhood wanting her immediately.

As our lips, tongues and body swirled, laying claim to one another, I damned well completely forgot what it was I needed to say to her. I somehow managed to get my thoughts and feelings back to their center. To be coherent and take control, although I loved that she’d initiated and hadn’t waited.

“Cass,” I said breathlessly, “There’s some things I need to tell you…”

Her hot, soft, curvy body was murdering my attention span, doing wicked things to my manhood, and seducing me as fast as I’d ever been seduced.

“Yes, Abe.” She answered, equally as breathless. “What is it?”

I managed to ever-so-gently distance her a bit from my body frame, while steadying her on her feet at the same time. So much for worrying about her innocent flirting with Officer Rotan. I’d address it another time. What I had to say was more important.

I sucked in a deep breath and blurted it out. “I’m divorced and I’m a shifter.”

She tilted her head as if part of what I said wasn’t news to her. Then she tilted it again as if she didn’t comprehend or understand what I meant about being a shifter. The confused look on her face was as adorable as anything I’d ever witnessed.

We stood staring at one another for a moment. She seemed speechless, but eventually found her voice.

“I know Abe, Charlene told me you were recently divorced. Thank you for letting me know…”

I let out a sigh of relief. That was good, it hadn’t occurred to me that Charlene might have shared that tidbit about me with her.

“And the part about me being a shifter…” I asked softly, my entire body acquiescing to the awkwardness of the confession.

She bit her lip, “Oh come on Abe, please don’t tease me. That’s just not nice…”

She didn’t believe me. That I was a shifter.

I didn’t know what to say or do, so I blurted it out again, “No, really Cass – this ain’t something I would joke around about. I’m a shifter. A bear shifter to be exact. Grizzly. I’m from the
Yellowstone Park
region. I figured it would be best to tell you sooner than later, before we got too much more involved.”

I hoped the further explanation would help her get the idea that I was serious and not chiding her or playing pretend.

She suddenly put her hands on her hips, looking as if she was somewhat hurt and angry.

“Did Charlene put you up to this? Cuz if she did, I’m gonna kill her. It ain’t funny, I like you Abe. Like, I really like you…”

I was too stunned to react appropriately, which only made it worse. “What?!”

And then her fuse lit, her face horrified, ashamed and embarrassed all at the same time.

“Of course! I mean, why wouldn’t the overweight, plus-sized writer not want a shifter man, she makes her living writing about them, right?!” She said, smacking her head as if she’d been insulted.

My eyes must have been as big as moons and the look on my face more horrified than I knew, because the next thing I knew, I was being slapped hard, in the face. Exactly at the same time as when Officer Rotan stepped outside to check on whether we wanted to join and play the next game of pool.

And that was when all hell and hilarity broke loose.

Officer Rotan did one complete roundabout, shaking his head at the commotion. Cass looked as if she wanted to fall right through to the middle of Earth and well, I just stood there somehow managing to hold my pride in my hands, demolished as it was.

At some point, all three of us registered the same thing. All the crazy, complex emotions and energy just swirling into the perfect storm of lust, attraction, misunderstood remarks and bear jealousy.

It was too late, Officer Rotan was well aware of the pistol that was Cass and he called her out on it.

“Cass, my dear – what is it with you and decking men? Do I need to take you in to the station, again?”

Red didn’t even begin to explain how embarrassed her color was. She looked down at her toes and muttered in response.

“He said he was a bear shifter and I told him it wasn’t funny to say things like that.”

Officer Rotan and I exchanged knowing looks between one another. It was hard not to laugh, although we both dared not to. It was only kind. Fair. Necessary.

“Abe, are you messing with Cass’s mind?”

“No, officer. I’m not. It’s the truth, I’m a shifter. I’ve been meaning to tell her…” I started, but didn’t get to finish cuz Cass full on lost it at that point.

“What in the ever-living-fuck did Charlene put you up to?!” She said, her voice raising in a calm fury that genuinely concerned me.

“Nothing! I swear. It’s the truth Cass, I’m telling you now so as to not be getting involved with you and not doing right by you. I needed you to know sooner than later.” I said, desperate for her to believe me.