Bucking Bear (Pounding Hearts 3)

I interrupt with a big grin. “Mind blowing sex?”

She whispers, “Stop! Someone is going to think…”

“What, that you’re my girl? I seem to remember marking you on that amazing brea—”

“One more word and I will so not let you do that again!” she whisper hisses.

I grin. “I seem to remember as soon as I touch you close to anywhere fun you don’t have much care in what I do.”

“Shush. I am being serious… Do you really consider me your girl?”

“Of course.”

She sits back with a big smile on her face. “Oh.”

“So what about Friday?”

“When do you want to go?”

“Whenever you two are ready.”

“Hope has school in the morning. How about noonish?”

Nodding my head, I say, “That sounds good to me.”

We finish dinner and I talk her into walking me out to the Escalade.

She stands on the walkway in front of my SUV as I wrap my arms around her. She is much taller this way but still shorter than I am. I kiss her mouth tenderly as I feel her arms wrap around my neck. She doesn’t instigate the passion I can feel us both holding back, but it is quite evident that we are both want the same thing.

When I pull back, I kiss her on the forehead and hold her tight for a moment.

“Call me tonight if you get bored, or I will call you tomorrow,” I say.

“Okay,” She smiles at me.

Turning away, she starts for the door. I can’t help that my hand reaches out quickly and gooses her asscheek. Damn, that thing is firm and sexy.

“Eeek!” she blurts out and turns to face me.

“Did you just pinch my butt?”

“Yep.”

Rolling her eyes, she turns back around and wiggles it really hard as she walks inside. I can’t help but watch her walk the entire time. She has one fine ass.

Chapter Nine

Grace

Less than a week.

I’ve known Max for less than a week, but already I’m falling hard for him.

If I had a choice, if things would have worked out any differently, I would have waited a long time before introducing him to Hope. I’ve never introduced her to any of the guys I’ve dated before. Not just because they were mostly losers who didn’t deserve to meet her, but because there’s this real fear that she’ll grow attached, that in the end she’ll get hurt. As her mother I feel like I need to be shielding her from the hurts of this world for as long as I can, not bringing them to her door.

Watching Max with her, following her around the zoo and swinging her up, sitting her on his shoulders so she can see over the crowds is both elating and terrifying—and it’s not because he’s so tall. There’s this ease to him when he’s interacting with her, as if it just comes natural. As if he really cares.

She insists on holding his hand and tugs him around, pointing out all of her favorite animals. And she’s just jabbering away, telling him things like how hippos can’t swim, they can’t even float, and he’s listening, absorbing every word.