Reining It In (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 6)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Greta

“THE GIRLS ARE COMING over tomorrow.”

Bear finished his beer and crushed the can with his hand. “Does that mean Meg and Bristol will make dinner?”

I laughed and grabbed our empty plates. “More than likely, yes.” I set them in the sink and started the water.

It had been two days since I had coffee with Luna and Birdie, and I couldn’t get what Birdie had told me about her parents out of my head.

Two weeks, and they got married.

God damn that was crazy.

“Mama,” Bear called.

I turned and pasted a smile on my lips. “Yeah?”

“I asked if you wanted help?”

I shook my head and turned back to the sink. “I can handle this.”

I heard his chair scrap across the floor, and then, his arms were around me. “Something is going on in that head of yours.”

Shit. “Just the usual. Work, the cousins, the aunts, Luna being a traitor, the price of butter. The list of things in my head is endless.”

Thank God all of those things were in my head, but none of them were actually worrying me. Not like Bear was.

“And?” he drawled.

“There is no and. That’s all. Just the usual crazy,” I insisted.

He reached for the faucet and turned off the water.

“I remember what happened the last time you turned off the water when I was trying to wash the dishes.”

Bear chuckled and turned me in his arms. “First, we need to talk.”

“Isn’t that what we are doing right now?”

Bear reached up and brushed my hair behind my ear. “Tell me what is bothering you, mama. You know whatever it is, I’ll fix.”

I wanted to tell him I loved him, and he needed to say it back to me. Was he going to be able to fix it if he didn’t love me back? “What is bothering you?” I countered.

“The fact I can’t find Leonard Conner Luther,” he replied simply.

Well, I guess he wasn’t sweating about loving me. “I can’t really help with that. I’ve talked to everyone at the clinic multiple times, and none of them have a clue as to where he could be.”

“I know, mama. I just gotta wait.” He chuckled. “Something I am not the greatest at. I need to solve this case so I can get onto my next one.”

“Of course,” I whispered. “I’m sure Ransom would understand if you had to leave.”

“I’m good for a couple more weeks before I need to pick up a job. I may not be in Colorado a lot of the time, but I still need money to pay the bills there.”

Colorado. That was his home, and that was why I wasn’t going to tell him that I loved him.

Rockton was my home, and he was leaving in two weeks, whether or not he found Dr. Douche.

“Any idea of where you’ll go?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Wherever the next bad guy runs off to.”

“I should get the dishes done and get to bed. I think Luna said Meg plans on being here with donuts so I’m sure they’ll be here by nine.” I tried to turn back to the sink, and Bear wrapped his arms around me.

“Something is wrong, Greta,” he whispered. “You’re pulling away from me, and I don’t know why.”

“I’m trying to do the dishes, Bear. Nothing is going on,” I insisted.

He quirked his eyebrow.

I stared back at him and pursed my lips.

“Mama,” he growled.

“Bear.”

“What is weighing you down?”

That was a loaded question, and he was the answer. “Nothing.”

“Greta.”

“It’s you!” I blurted. “You are the thing that is on my mind and weighing me down.”

“Me?” he asked softly.

I pushed against his chest, and he stepped to the side. He didn’t try to stop me. “Yes, you, Bear.”

“What did I do?” he asked.

I opened the fridge and grabbed a wine cooler. I twisted off the top and tossed it in the garbage, downing half of the drink before I turned back to face Bear. A little liquid courage never hurt.

“You came rolling into town like a knight in shining armor with the promise that you were going to figure out who was killing the club girls. You were going to save the day.”

“You’re mad because I haven’t figure out where Conner is?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not at all. What I’m mad about is the fact you rolled into to town looking like a god of the forest, rescued me from Dr. Douche, made me fall in love with you, and now, you’re leaving.”

My rant was out of my mouth before I could even think about it.

What I would give to have an actual filter.

Bear stared at me but didn’t say anything.

“Gah!” I screamed. “Forget I ever said anything. What I feel has not and never will matter.” I gulped down the rest of the wine cooler and tossed the bottle in the garbage. “I’m going to bed.” I turned on my heel, but Bear caught my arm.

“Hold up, mama. You can’t just lay all of that on me and take off.”

“I said to just forget I said anything, Bear.” I tried to tug my arm from him, but he wouldn’t let me go.

“We’re going over everything you just said, word by word.” He moved to stand in front of me and crossed his arms over his chest.

Oh. Great.

“I came rolling into town because Ransom asked me for help. I’ve never wanted anyone to think that I’m some hero that everyone needs to know and love. I am more than okay with being the guy who catches the criminals and lets the bail bondsman take credit for it. I would fucking prefer it that way.”

I waved my hand. “Fine, whatever. I believe you.”

He growled but continued on. “And I don’t get why you’re mad that I saved you from that psycho. Did you want to die or something?”

I didn’t actually have an issue with him saving me. “No. I was just ranting, and I’m not mad about you being the hero. Someone has to be.”

He stepped closer to me and hooked his finger under my chin. He tipped my head back, and my eyes connected with his. “You love me, mama?”

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t lie to him. I could do a lot of things but lying about that wasn’t one of them. “Yes,” I whispered.

“And you’re mad about that?”

“Only if you don’t love me back.” God, why can’t I have a filter? “But you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m a big girl and don’t need to be loved.” I cringed and shut my mouth. That was more than enough.

“You love me but don’t need me to love you back because you’re a big girl?” he repeated.

“Yes.”