Page 219 of The Defiant Curse

Gene went there.

“So, find you. I support you in this journey. We want you to be happy and alive. That’s all we want. Don’t feel like you have to come back before you’re ready. That’s between you and your boss. Oh, wait. You’re the boss. That’s a lucky break for you. I am about to ask mine for a BIG FAT PAYRAISE since I’m taking over running her division while she’s banging my husband in Scotland…”

She laughed.

How could she not?

Gene was goddamn amusing.

“I think she might approve that raise if you manage to run that division and not let Alex do anything stupid. That’s the hardest part of my job.”

They both laughed.

Why?

Ethan had pretty much said that, but Corbin was involved with that scenario. She hadn’t worked with Corbin long enough to see the pure, unadulterated clusterfuck he could get himself into.

“Well, I’ll make that happen, Boss.”

She appreciated him, and that.

“Thanks for all you do, Gene. I miss you, Huggy-Bear. I really do. I miss that face of yours.”

Well, the feeling was mutual.

For.

Sure.

“I mean, bears are amazing, so yeah, I’m not shocked. I’d miss me, too. All this fabulousness in one gay bear…how do you beat that?”

She snorted.

“So modest too. That’s perfect to run my division. Run it like you stole it.”

Well, that was the plan. Now, he pointed one thing out.

“I’m a Blackhawk. I don’t need modesty. I’m amazing by proxy.”

Yeah, he was.

That was for sure.

Gene was to the point. In case she needed to hear it, here it was.

“Just let Ethan take care of you, and we’ll hold down the fort, so to speak. Life will go on, but not if you’re out of ours, Kitten. Heal up, have some fun, and don’t stress it. We’ll see you for the wedding.”

She couldn’t wait.

Really, she did miss all of them.

“I love you, Gene. I love that you came into our life, and you’ve been nothing but a good, decent man who always had my back. I love that I can always count on you to protect me and be there.”

The big, older bear softened. How could he not after that? Elizabeth loved with her whole heart, and this was just proof of it.

“And I love you, Elizabeth. Have fun, and tell the ghosts I said hey! Because you’re insane to run there, Boo. That proves you need time off.”

She found that outrageously funny because he was absolutely right.