He took a deep breath. “See—”
“Honor.” Bear rounded a corner with Nessa on one side and Flynn the other. “There’s something wrong with Nessa. Or one of the babies.”
Honor freed her hands. “What?”
Nessa shook her head, and her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders. “He’s being silly. There’s nothing wrong. I was just really tired and slipped on the muddy walk.” Mud covered her right leg. “Honest. Nothing is wrong.”
Bear yanked her up against his side, his honey-brown eyes flashing wildly. “Check. Her. Out.”
“Sure.” Honor moved toward them, right by Sam, and placed both hands on Nessa’s belly. Then she closed her eyes and just felt. Slow and smooth, not causing any disturbances. Three essences, all content. She leaned back. “Nessa and the babies are fine. The witch is going to be a handful, just by the way.”
Bear beamed and then frowned. Nessa rolled her eyes.
Flynn visibly relaxed and shook his head.
“You okay, Flynn?” Sam asked, gazing at the dragon shifter.
“Yep. Took a fall, rolled, and am fine now. No worries,” Flynn said, still eyeing Nessa with concern. “Maybe we should just put bubble wrap all around her.”
Bear looked at him and then at Nessa. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“No,” Nessa exploded, fire billowing down her arms.
“Fine,” Bear said just as Flynn stepped back, nodding wildly.
Sam took Honor into his arms again. “As I was saying—”
“Hey, Honor. I was thinking you could start reading women before I date them.” Garrett loped from the food tent with a huge sandwich in his hands.
“That’s it,” Sam bellowed, causing everyone to stop in place. “That is completely it. I wanted this to be private, but no. You bears are just too…involved.” He grasped her arms, his grip firm as his green gaze landed on her with possession and intent. “I love you. Needed to say it. Will probably never have another chance since everyone is determined to get your attention, but I realized I hadn’t told you.” He settled. “I love you.”
Everything she’d ever be burst wide open inside her.
Garrett rolled his eyes and moved back toward the food tent.
Bear drew Nessa away. “Man. Those hybrids sure get emotional sometimes. Geez.” They kept walking with Flynn right behind them, his hands out as if he needed to be ready to catch Nessa in case she fell.
The group working on the deck cast Sam sympathetic glances and moved away toward the beer tent.
Honor smiled, her life complete. “I love you too. Have since the first time you kissed me, I think.”
He kissed her again, pouring everything into it that she’d ever want or need. They were both breathing heavily when he lifted his head. “So. Want to live here for a while, cover Garrett’s back, and shrink the heads of a bunch of crazy grizzly bears? I’ll build you a bigger cabin and an office space far away from that cabin.”
If her heart got any fuller, it’d burst. “Yeah. I want that.” She’d planned to create her own clinic to help people, and this was even better. She leaned up and kissed his chin. “So long as we’re together.”
“We will be.” His green gaze, as usual, was focused directly on her. “I always knew if I did the best I could, I’d get to keep my Honor.”
Please read on for a snippet of GARRETT’S DESTINY, the next exciting Dark Protectors novel!
Garrett Kayrs settled his bulk in the booth, reaching for a glass of beer from the iced pitcher on the table. Raucous laughter poured through the diner as motorcycle clubs converged on the way to a festival. Not one he and his brothers were attending, but they were along for the first part of the ride.
“Would you stop frowning?” Sam Kyllwood snapped from across the booth, his green eyes irritated.
“I’m not,” Garrett growled, frowning.
Honor Kyllwood, Sam’s mate, slapped him on the arm. They’d been mated for more than three years, and she was definitely one of the best-natured people Garrett had ever met. “You two behave. Garrett, I’m sure you’ll find somebody to play with when we get to the symposium, and Sam, give him a break. It’s the first time in years when we’ve gone on a ride and he hasn’t had a date on the back of his bike. He’s lonely.”
Sam grimaced. “The last female he dated tried to rob you—at knifepoint.”
Honor chortled. “Yeah, but I kicked her ass. Those training sessions have gone well.”
Garrett hid his grin. Plus, she was correct. He’d been searching for the right female to ride behind him for years—had been consumed by the quest—yet he hadn’t found her. She was supposed to be dangerous, even deadly, and would probably try to kill him. All he knew was that she was a buxom immortal, maybe a shifter or a witch who would try to take him out. Perhaps she was a demoness. Either way, it was time to get on with it. For now, he had a job to do. After lunch.
The door opened and a vision walked in. Well, more like the girl next door. A human one. She wore a frilly green blouse, white capri jeans, and sexy tan wedges that showed off her pink toenails. A laptop bag looked heavy over her fragile shoulder. Her auburn hair curled down her back, and an air of pure irritation surrounded her.
Looking like an indignant kitten, she stomped right into the middle of the diner without seeming to realize she’d walked into a den of wolves.
The man behind her definitely noticed. He was young, with slick brown hair, pressed beige-colored pants, and thousand-dollar loafers on his feet. He looked around at the various motorcycle club members sitting in different areas of the diner, all hungry, all possibly dangerous. “Let’s get out of here,” he muttered.
The kitten turned, her hands going to her waist. “You just don’t understand.” She leaned toward him, anger turning her peaches and cream complexion into cherry-blossom pink. “The answer was no.” She swept out her arms. “The answer is no.” She clapped her hands. “The answer will always and forever, until the time of the rapture, be no.” She threw her arms up. Then she shook her head. “I quit.”
The man reared back. “You don’t even have proper documentation. You can’t quit.”
“I just did,” she said with a sigh. “Right now, I’m out. I’m not finding what I need in this job, anyway.” She nodded, her shoulders stiff in the flimsy blouse. “I’ll send your father a nice email later today tendering my resignation. Tell him I’m grateful he gave me a chance, but life is too short to waste time.” She turned away from him.