Chapter Thirteen
Greta
I WAS DEAD.
“Later,” I called to Genie. “I finished filing the invoices from today and I started the report.”
“Thanks,” Genie called. “I’m not going to let you go back to be a vet tech if you keep this up,” she joked.
I smiled wide and fixed my ponytail. “I’m good with whatever as long as I get to play with the puppies.” I raised my head in goodbye and walked out the front door.
I had managed to work eight hours each day for the past three days, but as soon as my butt hit the seat in Easy’s truck, I was going to pass out. My eyes scanned the parking lot but didn’t see Easy’s truck.
“That’s weird,” I whispered.
A car honked behind me, and I jumped. My heart raced, and I turned on my heel ready to yell at whoever scared me.
“Get in the truck, mama,” Bear called. The sight of his black Bronco was more than welcome.
A smile spread across my lips. “What the hell are you doing here?” I laughed.
I rounded the front of the Bronco and hopped into the passenger seat.
“Ransom and I started searching for Leonard in Preston, and I figured I could pick you up from work,” he explained.
I fastened my seat belt and slumped into my seat. “Take me home, lumberjack. I am so glad that tomorrow is Saturday.”
He pulled out of the parking lot but didn’t head in the direction of my house.
“You hungry?”
I was starving, but I honestly just wanted to go home. Each day I was getting better, but I was still dead tired at the end of my shifts. “I am, but I can find something for us to eat at the house.”
Bear shook his head. “I already called in our order. We’ll pick it up and take it back to your place.”
We turned the corner, and I knew right where we were headed. “China Den?” I guessed.
“Ransom told me they have the best dumplings and eggrolls in a three-state radius.”
That might be a bit of a stretch, but their food really was amazing.
Bear ran into the restaurant to grab our order, then we headed back to my place.
“Any leads on Dr. Lu?” I asked when we turned onto my road.
Bear shook his head. “Not a sign of him. He could be moving around and that is why we can’t find him, but we don’t know what else we can be doing. We put word out to both towns to be on the lookout for him and the club is keeping an eye on places he might be in Rockton.”
This was so damn frustrating. How was this guy able to stay one step ahead of Bear and Ransom? Hell, even the club. While Ransom and Bear had experience looking for people, the club had the advantage of knowing the area like the back of their hand.
Still, nothing.
Bear pulled into my driveway and killed the engine in front of the garage. I reached for my door handle, but Bear grabbed my hand.
“Mama,” he called.
I turned and looked up at him. “Yeah?”
“We’re gonna catch him,” he promised for the umpteenth time.
“I know you will, lumberjack.” I stared at his lips, willing him to move closer to me but he didn’t.
It had been four days since Bear and I had taken a quick bath where he had kissed my stomach, but he hadn’t touched me since.
And man did I want him to touch me.
In every other aspect of my life, I was outgoing and took what I wanted.
Bear’s kiss was something I wanted more than anything, but I wanted him to be the one to give it to me. I didn’t want to take something he maybe didn’t want to give me.
Sure, he was attentive and made sure I was okay all the time, but I needed more.
I needed him. All of him.
“You want to eat dinner in bed or at the table?”
I bit my bottom lip. “Living room?” I suggested. I would have loved to eat in bed, but I knew that Bear wasn’t comfortable there.
“Deal, mama.” He let go of my hand and I jumped down from the truck.
He grabbed the Chinese and opened the front door.
We fell into our new routine, just as we had the past three nights.
I always ran upstairs quickly to change while Bear did a quick check of the house and started figuring out dinner. At least tonight, that was taken care of.
I padded down the stairs in a pair of gray sweats and pink fuzzy socks on my feet.
“Fuzzy socks?” Bear laughed.
I lifted my foot and wiggled my toes. “Don’t be jealous. If you really want, I can try to find a pair in your size.”
Bear laughed and pulled the last container out of the bag. “I don’t think they make fuzzy socks in a size fourteen.”
“Probably not,” I muttered. Though, I was going to look. It had become a little goal of mine to see Bear in anything I thought would look ridiculous.
Pink fuzzy socks totally made the list.
I grabbed plates from the cabinet and loaded mine up with a little bit of everything.
“Do you care what we watch?” I asked when I grabbed the remote and set my plate on the coffee table.
Bear shrugged. “Whatever you want, mama.”
I couldn’t tell you how many times Bear had said those words to me. Probably the same number of times he had told me he was going to find Dr. Lu.
“Beauty and the Beast or Grease?” Genie had listened to both soundtracks at work today, and all of the songs were playing in my head.
Bear wrinkled his nose. “You shouldn’t have given me options, mama.”
I guess he was right. I didn’t know any man who would actually want to watch either movie. “How about Top Gun?” More manly and it was a movie I liked also.
Bear grabbed a fork and followed me into the living room. He sat down on the couch next to me and nodded to the TV. “Fire it up, mama. I haven’t seen Top Gun since I was a kid.” He kicked up his feet on the coffee table and balanced his plate on his hand.
I may not have Bear’s kisses and caresses yet, but I did have his time.
For now, that was good enough.