Bear The Flame (Firebear Brides 2) by Anya Nowlan

suds floating on top of the water in the palm of her hand. “Cole and Conrad came to warn me today. They said that if I go home tomorrow, there won’t have to be any more trouble. But if I don’t then all bets are off.”
    “And what are you going to do?” Redmond asked, kissing her neck again and drawing a smile from Rose.
    “I don’t know,” she said honestly.
    “Are you considering leaving?” Redmond asked, sounding a little bit hurt.
    “I don’t want to get you guys into any more trouble than you already have! With the fires, the house, and everything else, I don’t want to be in the way. If you’re leaving anyway then I don’t want to prolong it if it means that someone might get hurt,” she explained, feeling her throat closing up.
    The thought of leaving Redmond behind and going back to Philly made her heart constrict. It sounded simply awful, like something that would take the last bit of fight out of her and leave her as an empty shell. But at the same time, she realized that it was awfully silly of her—she’d known the man for just a few days! She couldn’t possibly be so head over heels for him already, could she?
    “I’m not leaving,” he said stiffly.
    “What? You’re not?” Rose asked, spinning around with his hands still on her arms.
    Redmond grinned and his honey-blond hair fell on his forehead in the most maddening curl, slick and wet. The beads of water shining on his skin made her want to lick them all up and lose herself in trying to trace his tattoos, which were tribal motifs running up both sleeves. She kept her hands mostly to herself though, for the fear of missing whatever he was about to say next. It was hard enough staying focused around him without willingly looking for distractions.
    “No,” he said calmly, keeping eye contact with Rose. “I sort of decided today. Or it got decided for me. In any case, I’m not fighting it. I’m staying here.”
    “And what does that mean?” she asked, holding her breath with anticipation.
    “What do you want it to mean? I don’t think you should go back, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    “You don’t?” she smiled.
    “No. I think you should stay right where you are. I know you have to be hesitant—hell, I would be—but I think about if you give us a chance. We could really figure things out, you know? I think we have a legitimate chance to be happy here, baby.”
    The way he said it seemed to come from deep within him. Those blue eyes that kept sucking her in were shining with sincerity, and that bad boy swagger was swept out with the dirty water, leaving Redmond raw and bare and exposed to Rose. She stared at him in wonder, letting her hands rest on his chest and slowly slink along his shoulders and strong arms.
    Hearing those words from him made her insides twist with excitement and her skin break out in goose bumps despite the hot water. She was hopeful to say nothing else. Still, doubt plagued her and hung over her head like an anvil waiting to fall.
    What if I say yes and then something happens? What if Kenner puts Tiana, Royce, or Redmond in danger? Tiana’s pregnant, I couldn’t live with myself if something were to happen, she thought.
    Obviously she wasn’t hiding it too well, because Redmond’s strong arms scooped her up and planted her firmly on his lap, making the water slosh over the sides. She yelped, but he hushed her with a finger on her lips.
    “No, don’t tell me anything. You take some time to think about it, okay? I know Kenner wants some kind of an answer from you by tomorrow. But understand this—even if you don’t want to stay here with me, I won’t let that fucker do anything to you. That much I promise.”
    She paused, but then nodded slowly. Her heart was beating out of her chest with the mix of emotions, but she kept her mouth shut. No matter what she said, she was sure it would come back to haunt her later and make her wonder if it was the right decision. At least for now, she would