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Sensing he’s criticizing my babies, I frown but keep my mouth shut.
“We were going to meet for dinner to plan the wedding stuff, remember?” Bear says and squats next to us. “That’s where we left off. It’s where we’re picking up now. You can bring them if you want. Or we can go out alone. It’s just what’s happening, so choose a time for me to pick you up.”
“I need to talk to my brother,” I babble, overly nervous now. “I don’t know the answer.”
“What brother?” Bear asks, looking at his phone. “I can call whoever it is right now.”
“Why are you rushing me?”
“It’s been two years.”
Stuck in my spot under his irritated gaze, I blurt out, “Have you told your girlfriend how you’re getting married?”
“No, but she said I should nail things down with you. I don’t think she’ll be surprised.”
“Wasn’t she upset?”
“No, she’s in love with another guy.”
“Oh,” I say and look at Jacinda who smiles when my gaze falls on her. “Can you stay with a babysitter tonight?”
“No.”
“Laszlo and Petra will be there.”
“I have cat?” Hector asks and points at the picture on the phone.
“Yeah, you’ll have two,” Bear says before I can answer.
“You’re going too fast.”
“No,” Bear replies immediately, sounding like the kids. “I’ve waited for two years. Now, you’re back, and I’m making you stick to your deal.”
“As a punishment for leaving?”
“No, as my reward for waiting.”
“You didn’t wait, though. You have a girlfriend.”
“That’s just about my, um,” Bear says, struggling to edit himself in front of the kids. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t think you were coming back. Now, you’re here, and your parents have put you on the auction block. I’m claiming you. It’s done.”
“Auction block?” I scoff. “You’re treating me like cattle.”
Bear leans down until his nose nearly touches mine. I scowl hard at him before realizing he’ll never be intimidated by me.
“I remember how your belly button is an outie,” Bear says in a low, tempting voice. “And how you whimper when I go down on you. I make you come apart, and you feel right to me. That’s why this is happening. It’s not revenge. It’s about me getting what I want.”
“And what about what I want?”
“Don’t you want to live in Banta City?” When I nod, he adds, “At my house, you won’t be under your parents’ constant scrutiny. You’ll live close to Siobhan. Your kids will have their own rooms and all the fun crap they want. Everything will be good.”
“We just have to forget what happened,” I mumble, seeing Ollie’s confused face in my mind.
“No, not forget. Feel free to hate me. I’m still getting what I want. And you’ll get plenty of what you want, too. And they’ll,” Bear says, gesturing at the kids who gasp with approval at being included, “get what they want. Everyone wins.”
I want so badly to use logic against him. Except his plan is the one I hoped for when I learned he was coming over. I’m winning, so why do I feel like a cornered animal ready to gnaw off its paw to escape?
Then, the realization hits me. I don’t actually know Bear O’Malley. I’ve shared my body with him and agreed to be his wife. We’ve spoken on dozens of occasions. He’s my best friend’s brother. Bear’s been a part of my world for as long as I can remember.
