Page 18 of Cowboy Bear’s Hope (Motley Crewd Shifters #3)

A few days later.

“Did I mention how good you look, Avery? Every day this week, you’ve arrived on time, no complaining about your car, and girl, you are practically glowing,” Casey remarked during our morning coffee break.

We were sneaking it in the back of the gym, avoiding a certain assistant principal who seemed to be extra attentive this week.

“ Oh stahp ,” I said with an exaggerated eye roll.

“Seriously, what’s your secret? And does it have anything to do with that super huge, super-hot guy who’s been picking you up after work?”

“Dante? Yeah, I would have to say it has everything to do with him,” I confessed, and grinned.

“I knew it! Where did you even find him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m from the city. I only moved up here to take care of my Gramps, and it was like culture shock. I mean who even knew they had cowboys in New Jersey?”

“Oh, well, yeah. We got ‘em, for sure.” I giggled.

“Do tell. I mean, I was that little girl who used to read books and dreamed of having puppies, ponies, and unicorns, which somehow turned into wolves and dragons, too. But anyway, I wanna know more about the cowboy stuff. Does he wear that sexy AF hat all the time ?” Casey wagged her eyebrows up and down and I almost choked on the sip I’d just taken.

“I hope you mean does he wear that hat when he’s working, cause I am not talking about smexy times with you,” I said, but the fact was she had me pegged. Or rather, Dante sure as hell did.

And yes, I got him to wear a hat once or twice in bed.

And another time against the wall.

“Judging from the fact your face is now two shades of crimson, I think I’m right about the hat,” she said, eyeing me conspiratorially.

Lucky guess.

Normally, this was stuff I’d confide to Penny, but since she was being all Miss Judgy Pants, I was currently down a best friend.

Sure, the initial sting from our disagreement had faded, but I wasn’t ready to forgive her just yet. Soon. But not just yet.

Anyway, Casey was sweet and a good work friend.

“Nope. My lips are sealed about me and Dante. What about you? Seeing anyone?”

“Me? Nah. Okay, if you aren’t going to let me live vicariously through you, let’s change the subject,” Casey said and nodded.

“Oh, I almost forgot. How’s Rosie doing in Miss Dembeck’s class? I heard after yesterday’s minor squabble they’re bringing that little boy’s parents in this morning,” Casey said, and I frowned.

My pulse started to race as I processed what Casey was saying. Fear for Rosie was at the forefront of all my other emotions.

“What squabble? And what parents?” I asked as I started to walk towards the gym doors.

I had my cell phone in my hand and was already texting Dante before I knew what was happening. Something felt wrong. My chest was so tight it was hard to breathe.

“Dammit. I knew assistant creep didn’t tell you! Apparently, Rosie had an altercation with a classmate, and Mr. Dryden said he was going to alert you and the other parents about the issue. I just assumed the meeting was for later,” Casey said, sorrow and sympathy clear in her tone.

“Rosalie!” I yelled and moved faster.

She was being led from the principal’s office and to a private room used primarily to conduct interviews.

She was too far away to hear me, but the woman leading her to the room stilled for a moment then ushered Rosie inside.

What the actual fuck?

Fury filled me, but as I reached for the doors, my boss grabbed my arm.

“Nurse Brown, what are you doing?” Principal Jefferson asked, and her eyes were pointed with anger.

“You can’t interrupt an interview with Child Services,” she hissed.

“What? Who is that person? Is she from Child Services? What is she doing with my Rosie?” I asked, fear holding me tight in its taloned grip.

“There you are, Nurse Brown. I guess you decided not to join us for the meeting this morning to discuss Rosalind’s latest behavior,” Mr. Dryden tsked.

“You lying, delusional motherfucker. You never told me a goddamn thing about any meeting. Now I demand to know what is going on!” I said, angrier than I’d ever been in my whole life.

Fear for my daughter stopped me when I would’ve throat punched the lying douchebag. I turned my attention to the principal.

“I want Rosalie. Now!”

“Mr. Dryden? Didn’t you say you’d been in deep discussions with Avery about Rosalie’s behavior and that she was fine with you taking charge of it now?” Principal Jefferson asked him.

“What? He never told me a thing and no way would I allow him to be in charge of anything having to do with my daughter!”

“Avery, why don’t we discuss this inside my office,” Mr. Dryden said, leering at me.

I shivered with disgust. Something about this creep made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Principal Jefferson, I don’t know what he told you, but none of it is true. Now, I demand to see my daughter right now.”

“Avery!” I whipped my head and saw Dante jogging down the corridor straight towards me.

“Dante,” I said his name, turning in time to be caught by him.

“Rosie? Where’s Rosie?” he asked, looking at me first then at the principal.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Principal Jefferson asked.

“Dante Bianco, I’m Avery’s fiancé,” he said matter-of-factly, squeezing my hand as if to silence the gasp rising in my throat.

I knew being mates was more to a Shifter than being married, but something about hearing him say that touched me deep inside.

I supposed a lot of little girls dreamed of wedding dresses and flowers and saying I do , and I was no different. But this wasn’t the time or place to ask if he meant it.

“Well, Mr. Bianco, there seems to be some confusion here?—”

“Oh stop. You don’t have to tell this Neanderthal anything,” Mr. Dryden sneered.

“Son, I’d watch my mouth if I were you,” Dante growled.

“Enough, gentlemen. I am sorry but as far as I knew, you were engaged to him,” she said, pointing at Mr. Dryden who stood there looking like he swallowed a bug.

“What are you talking about? I would never!”

“Like hell she’s engaged to that turd!” Dante replied, and I swear, I felt his whole body ripple with power.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, and pressed my back against his front.

He placed his large hands on my waist, his touch steady and grounding. The heat radiating from him seeped into my skin, branding me in a way that wasn’t possessive but protective.

Like he was silently declaring to the universe, She’s mine, and I’ve got her .

That warmth, that solidness, empowered me.

Yes, fear still coiled tight in my chest, twisting and turning with every thought of my child.

I was still furious at Mr. Dryden and my boss, their arrogance and incompetence feeding my anger like gasoline on a fire.

But with Dante standing there, his presence a force of calm in the chaos, something else began to fill me.

It wasn’t relief exactly. It was bigger than that.

My chest squeezed with it, the sensation so intense that my heart stuttered, skipping a beat before it roared back to life, pounding against my ribs like it was trying to tell me something.

And then I realized what it was.

It was the knowledge that I wasn’t alone.

Yes, I was scared out of my mind. Who wouldn’t be in a situation like this?

When your child’s safety was at risk, fear was inevitable. But now, for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t facing that fear on my own.

I had someone beside me. Someone who wasn’t just here for the good times or the easy parts.

Dante was here, solid as a mountain, ready to back me up no matter what. No questions, no hesitations. Just unconditional, unwavering support.

And it was fucking fantastic.