Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance by Alana Hart, Sophia Barron
Authors: Alana Hart, Sophia Barron
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when her eyes met his. The dimpled grin and twinkling blue eyes peering back over his shoulder suggested he didn’t mind her ogling him in the least.
Damn, this day was shaping up to be more than its share of interesting for sure.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Aria settled gingerly onto the bench in the breakfast nook. The nook was the furthest they could get from the playpen in front of the fireplace. At least the furthest without leaving the house altogether. After the evening they’d had, Aria wasn’t willing to do that. But she didn’t want to disturb the sleeping babe, either. From the way the other three slunk through the kitchen to join her, she figured the last thing they wanted to deal with was an upset cub again.
“So, who wants to start explaining first.” Aria scooted down the bench, closer to the bay window so Ben could settle in beside her. She met his eyes , then glanced at Gran and Delilah in turn. Three averted gazes and shamed faces sent her stomach plummeting to her feet.
“Seriously? Nobody.” Aria stroked the satin-smooth tabletop gently, struggling to keep her voice low and even. She met everyone’s eyes in turn again, silently demanding answers, information, hell any damn thing they were willing to toss her way. “Fine, I’ll start.” Aria shrugged, then shifted a bit on the hardwood bench as she gathered her thoughts. There was probably a best way to go about confronting these people she loved, but damn it, answers overrode hurt feelings as far as Aria was concerned. “Delilah, why do you have a murderous magical door hidden in your shop? And why did it try to kill me and Faith?”
“I wouldn’t say the door was trying to ‘kill’ you.” Delilah’s reply was soft and slow. From the look on her face, the wheels were spinning. Finally, the witch was actually considering the situation.
Ben’s low rumbly growl sent chills down Aria’s arms. His sharp gaze bored into the witch, challenging that statement. “I can smell a lie, Del. And you’re skirting the line.” Silver swirled through the brilliant blue of his gaze. Delilah’s hasty nod and hands up, palm out gesture must have been enough to ease Ben’s mind, because the silver faded to blue and the growl cut off abruptly. “What’s the issue then? We need to know everything to keep Aria and Faith safe.”
Del nodded once, then shook her head vigorously before nodding once more. Her wide eyes and pursed lips suggested she was seriously conflicted.
“I know, Ben.” Del’s voice was soft. “But there are some confidences I cannot break. Surely you, of all people understand that.” Her sharp gaze begged for understanding. .
Aria certainly sympathized. But confidences surely weren’t worth losing a life over. “Del, either you’re going to tell me what I need to know, or I’m going back there to find out for myself.” Aria half rose from the bench and pushed gently against Ben’s bulky shoulder. He leaned into her hand, eyes flashing silver and mouth frowning.
“You know that’s not an option,” Ben’s voice rumbled. Aria’s stomach did flips; nervous, flirty , flips. Fuck that.
“Ben, the day you walked out on me and Faith is the day you gave up the right to have any say in my life.” She refused to feel bad despite his wide eyes and shocked look. He shifted in his seat, raising her hopes that he would let her leave without clambering over top of him. Her hopes were firmly dashed when his look shifted, firmed up, and he settled deeper onto the bench.
“Do you have to have this conversation now?” Gran’s voice was tight with tension. Her eyes darted between Aria and Ben, looking for something. From the disappointed slump of her shoulders, whatever she was seeking was nowhere in sight.
“No. What I need to be doing right now is destroying that damn door and every fucking thing behind it before it hurts my baby.” Aria’s whisper was low and raspy, almost a growl. Damn, I sound
Damn, this day was shaping up to be more than its share of interesting for sure.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Aria settled gingerly onto the bench in the breakfast nook. The nook was the furthest they could get from the playpen in front of the fireplace. At least the furthest without leaving the house altogether. After the evening they’d had, Aria wasn’t willing to do that. But she didn’t want to disturb the sleeping babe, either. From the way the other three slunk through the kitchen to join her, she figured the last thing they wanted to deal with was an upset cub again.
“So, who wants to start explaining first.” Aria scooted down the bench, closer to the bay window so Ben could settle in beside her. She met his eyes , then glanced at Gran and Delilah in turn. Three averted gazes and shamed faces sent her stomach plummeting to her feet.
“Seriously? Nobody.” Aria stroked the satin-smooth tabletop gently, struggling to keep her voice low and even. She met everyone’s eyes in turn again, silently demanding answers, information, hell any damn thing they were willing to toss her way. “Fine, I’ll start.” Aria shrugged, then shifted a bit on the hardwood bench as she gathered her thoughts. There was probably a best way to go about confronting these people she loved, but damn it, answers overrode hurt feelings as far as Aria was concerned. “Delilah, why do you have a murderous magical door hidden in your shop? And why did it try to kill me and Faith?”
“I wouldn’t say the door was trying to ‘kill’ you.” Delilah’s reply was soft and slow. From the look on her face, the wheels were spinning. Finally, the witch was actually considering the situation.
Ben’s low rumbly growl sent chills down Aria’s arms. His sharp gaze bored into the witch, challenging that statement. “I can smell a lie, Del. And you’re skirting the line.” Silver swirled through the brilliant blue of his gaze. Delilah’s hasty nod and hands up, palm out gesture must have been enough to ease Ben’s mind, because the silver faded to blue and the growl cut off abruptly. “What’s the issue then? We need to know everything to keep Aria and Faith safe.”
Del nodded once, then shook her head vigorously before nodding once more. Her wide eyes and pursed lips suggested she was seriously conflicted.
“I know, Ben.” Del’s voice was soft. “But there are some confidences I cannot break. Surely you, of all people understand that.” Her sharp gaze begged for understanding. .
Aria certainly sympathized. But confidences surely weren’t worth losing a life over. “Del, either you’re going to tell me what I need to know, or I’m going back there to find out for myself.” Aria half rose from the bench and pushed gently against Ben’s bulky shoulder. He leaned into her hand, eyes flashing silver and mouth frowning.
“You know that’s not an option,” Ben’s voice rumbled. Aria’s stomach did flips; nervous, flirty , flips. Fuck that.
“Ben, the day you walked out on me and Faith is the day you gave up the right to have any say in my life.” She refused to feel bad despite his wide eyes and shocked look. He shifted in his seat, raising her hopes that he would let her leave without clambering over top of him. Her hopes were firmly dashed when his look shifted, firmed up, and he settled deeper onto the bench.
“Do you have to have this conversation now?” Gran’s voice was tight with tension. Her eyes darted between Aria and Ben, looking for something. From the disappointed slump of her shoulders, whatever she was seeking was nowhere in sight.
“No. What I need to be doing right now is destroying that damn door and every fucking thing behind it before it hurts my baby.” Aria’s whisper was low and raspy, almost a growl. Damn, I sound
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