“I should have been more careful. Then she wouldn’t have caught me,”Codysaid.
“What’s done is done. Go back to the B & B and talk to her. Make her understand that your bear isn’t something to be afraid of,”Macksaid.
“I can’t,”Codysaid.
“Whynot?”
“The last time I chased after a woman, she ripped out my heart. You remember Natalie? It was a total disaster. Letting her go is the right thing to do. She’ll go back to her life and move on,”Codysaid.
“What does your bear think about her?” Mackasked.
“He’s pissed. He thinks she’sourmate.”
“And you don’tthinkso?”
“I don’t know. I’ll admit, there’s a strong attraction between us. But if she is my mate, wouldn’t I feel a punch in the gut or something?” Codyasked.
“The best way I can describe it is that when you find your mate, you will do anything to protect her. You’ll think about her all the time and feel like you’re going to die without her. Do you feel like that?” Mackasked.
“I would protect her with my life and I do think about her all the time. But I don’t think I’m going to die without her,”Codysaid.
His bear snarled with disapproval and clawed at his chest. He made a fist and slapped it against his breastbone.Knock itoff,bear.
“I take it your bear disagrees with your assessment?” Mack archedabrow.
“He’s pissed, but I don’t know how I’ll be able to make it work between us. She’s in a really bad place in her life right now. I don’t even know if she’s capable of having a relationship,”Codysaid.
“You never know until you try,” Mack said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to make things work with Madison, and now lookatus.”
“She really makes you happy, doesn’t she?” Codyasked.
“More than I could ever explain,” Mack said. “I thought my life was complete before I met her, but I was wrong. She’s my fated mate. I can’t imagine lifewithouther.”
“You’re aluckyman.”
“You could be too. But you’ll never know if you don’t head back over there and try,”Macksaid.
“Madison said she’d talk to her,”Codysaid.
“In that case, give her a few minutes to work her magic. If anyone can explain what it feels like to find out that your lover’s also a huge bear, it’sMadison.”
“I suppose,”Codysaid.
“Trust me on this. That woman has a way of running circles around me if I try to argue with her. Abby will come around,”Macksaid.
“I hope so, because if she doesn’t, I think my bear’s going to gut me from theinsideout.”
* * *
Abby stuffedthe last sweater into her luggage. The debate raging in her mind was giving her a headache. The rational side of her knew that packing up and getting the hell out of there made the most sense. But the side of her that loved sleeping in Cody’s arms nagged at her. What if she stayed? She didn’t understand the bear thing at all, but in her heart, she knew he’d never intentionallyhurther.
A knock sounded on the door. Her spine went rigid. Was he back? She didn’t want to see him again. Even if by some miracle she could get past the fact that he’d lied to her about who he was—no—whathe was, she’d never be able to see herself with awerebear.
“Who is it?” shecalled.
“It’s Madison. Can Icomein?”
Abby walked to the door. She opened it a crack to confirm that only Madison stood out in the hallway. She opened the door to letherin.
