Commander Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Bear Patrol Book 1) by Scarlett Grove Page B

crystal water that stretched out below the lodge. It was a perfect romantic spot for their first date, and Rollo congratulated himself for his excellent planning.
    Zoe looked down at her menu as if deep in thought over appetizers. She’d painted her nails the same color as her lips and the sight of her put together like this was a stark contrast from the way she had dressed the day before. But Zoe in coveralls was no less sexy than Zoe in a skintight jaguar print dress, black heels, and red nail polish. He appreciated the contrast because it made him feel like he understood her that much more.
    “You said something about rock lobster,” Zoe said, still looking at her menu.
    “It’s a Shane Keenan specialty,” Rollo said.
    “Who is Shane Keenan?”
    “That’s right, you’ve been out of the country a long time. But his show was still on TV when you were in high school.”
    “I didn’t watch TV when I was in high school,” Zoe said, finally looking up at him.
    “What did you do in high school?” he asked in a low, gravelly voice.
    “Get into trouble mostly. Cut class. Spin doughnuts in the parking lot. Make fun of cheerleaders. That kind of thing,” she said, throwing her black hair over her shoulder.
    “Sounds like you were quite the hellraiser,” he said, looking her intently in the eye to avoid staring at her magnificent cleavage.
    “I still am, officer,” she said.
    Rollo knew she was teasing him. She had to know he was onto her. There was just too much evidence to ignore. The faint scent of his mate at the scene. A large cat paw print. And then to top it off, her obvious obsession with Louis the Fifteenth secret compartment chests. It was all adding up and not looking very good for his little kitty. But what was he going to do about it?
    Zoe was his mate and therefore he knew she had to be a good person. He could feel the real warmth of her heart deep below all of her sexy bravado. There had to be a reason she had done it. If she just wanted the money, why come to Fate Mountain? Why take an internship with Angus? Why make herself known at all?
    “I’m sure we can do something to make sure you behave,” he growled.
    “And what makes you think you can do that?” she asked, her green eyes sparking in the golden light of sunset.
    “Have you two decided?” the waitress asked walking up to the table. “Or do you need another minute?”
    “I’ll have a glass of Chardonnay and the rock lobster,” Zoe said, handing her menu to the waitress.
    “I’ll have the same,” Rollo said.
    The waitress walked away, and they both watched her until their eyes snapped back and locked on each other again.
    “I’m an officer of the law, Ms. Bright,” he said.
    “Have I done something wrong?” she taunted.
    Her teasing was getting under his skin, and his face would have been flaming red with embarrassment if there weren’t a tablecloth hiding the massive erection he was packing between his legs.
    He gulped, considering what to say next. This game of cat and mouse was more intoxicating than he had anticipated. He wanted to take the handcuffs from his SUV and tie her up somewhere until she told him the truth. Or until she screamed his name with mind blowing pleasure. Whichever came first. He wasn’t sure which one he wanted more.
    The waitress walked up to the table and set two glasses of Chardonnay in front of the couple and walked away.
    “We’ll soon find out,” Rollo said, taking a sip of his wine.
    She smiled, lifting the wineglass to her lips and taking a sip. She was a clever little kitty, and he knew that she would slip from his grasp at the soonest possibility. He had to pin her down and find out what she knew. It was the only way he could protect her. There had to be something else going on besides greed and lust for money. He was going to get to the bottom of it.
    “How long have you been in law enforcement?” Zoe asked, changing the subject as she gazed out the window at the setting sun.
    “I