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“Oh, yum, this is excellent.” Monica licked her fork.

“Rob will wish he had some too. He is a big chocolate fan,” Ben said.

“We should have invited them over,” Monica said.

“Later, when you’re feeling even better.” Andy would love for them all to get together at each family’s home like he knew they wanted to when she felt a hundred percent. He just hoped when they did, they wouldn’t overwhelm her.

15

Monica hoped she had made a good impression on Andy’s family. Since seeing Andy again and working with him on her case, she wanted something more between them. But what if his family worried she would be unhappy about quitting a job she loved? Or moving to a smaller community?

Ben and Andy ate another slice of chocolate cheesecake at the dining room table. She got some milk for all of them and sat back down to finish her first slice.

She’d never been able to work with an FBI agent who was also a polar bear, and what a boon it was to work with a trooper who was one on the case. But they didn’t have an FBI post here, and though Andy could move to Anchorage, she really liked being out here where she could shift more easily. She rarely shifted for that reason.

She certainly didn’t want him to leave his extended family. She could see how close they were.

Ben finally took their dessert dishes into the kitchen, and Andy joined him with the coffee mugs and milk glasses. They cleaned up the kitchen. She felt like a lazy bear, but she neededto rest her back in case they got a lead on the perps, and then they could deal with them more easily.

“I’m going to leave you two to your own devices. Thanks for inviting me to dinner and sharing your cheesecake with me.”

“Thanks for helping me make dinner.” Andy slapped him on the back in a brotherly way.

“I’m glad you stayed and shared it with us. Otherwise, we would have to go out and work off all those calories,” Monica said.

The brothers laughed. She liked their laughter, boisterous and true to heart.

Then Ben said goodnight and left.

“Now what?” She left the couch, pulled Andy into her arms, and kissed his mouth.

“Well, we could work on this case some more.”

“Or we could head to bed.”

“And?” He raised his brows.

“I don’t think I need to explain it further.” She took his hand and led him into the bedroom.

“You don’t. I’m ready for this, uh, if we’re not just going to retire to bed.”

“No way. If we’re going to keep having family gatherings, I have to know how good you are in bed.”

He laughed. “I still worry about your back and hand.”

“It won’t stop me from enjoying this time with you.”

“If you start feeling bad, you tell me.”

In the bedroom, he gently removed her sweater over her bandaged hand and over her head. After having the injuries she did, it sure helped to have a partner who would help remove her clothes!

Besides, he did it in such a sexy way as he caressed her arms before gently pulling her shirt over her head. “I can’t help butwish we’d continued seeing each other since I met you over your flat tire.” He kissed her breastbone, tickling her.

“We lived too far apart.” She licked his cheek.

“We still do.” He kissed her bare shoulder.

It sent a delicious chill up her spine, and she kissed his neck with a soft kiss, breathing in his delightful male scent, a mixture of vanilla soap and spice. His heart was beating harder, just like hers was.