Page 66 of Hero Mine

He didn’t move, didn’t react. He didn’t want to be rude, but his patience was wearing thin.

“I’m not single.”

Cassie blinked, feigning surprise. “Oh?” She lifted a brow, her lips curving. “Could’ve fooled me. You’re here alone.”

Bear clenched his jaw. That he was, wasn’t he? And while he tried to tell himself it was just about giving Joy the time she needed, the truth was…maybe she didn’t feel the same way as him.

Maybe, for Joy,allof this with him was casual.

Regardless, he was not going to entertain a flirtatious conversation with Cassie while he was seeing Joy, even if it was casual on her part.

“Just because I’m not standing with…”

“Hey, babe.”

Thatvoice, he definitely recognized. And there was no one he’d rather hear than her.

He knew he shouldn’t, but he loved the possessive tone of Joy’s voice. Calling himbabe? He would take it.

Her sliding up against his side, wrapping an arm around his waist, pressing her body into his?

Nothing he wanted more.

Cassie’s brows shot up, clearly caught off guard. “Oh.”

Joy tilted her face up to him, eyes bright, full of amusement. She reached up and pressed a quick kiss to his jaw—one that was nothing but deliberate.

Bear went completely still. Cassie’s lips parted, but Joy didn’t even look at her.

“Sorry, did you need something?” Joy’s question was innocent enough, but the steel behind it was unmistakable.

Cassie let out a short, forced laugh. “Nope. I didn’t realize you two were…together.”

Joy finally turned her gaze to the other woman, green eyes sharp. “Oh yeah. Very much so.”

Bear tried to fight back a smirk.

Cassie hesitated, then gave a quick nod. “Well. Good for you.”

And with that, she turned on her heel and walked off.

The second she was gone, Bear arched a brow. “Huh.”

Joy still had her arm around him, but she didn’t seem to notice. “What?”

His smile deepened. “Guess you changed your mind about the town not knowing we’re together.”

Joy shrugged, completely unbothered. “Yeah, well. All I really cared about was one particular person knowing we were together. If the rest of town finds out about it, so be it.”

Bear was more than willing to take that. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer against his side. The warmth of her body against his felt right in a way that nothing else ever had.

“What changed your mind?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Joy’s eyes followed Cassie’s retreating form. “Let’s just say I didn’t appreciate someone else thinking they had a chance with what’s mine.”

“Yours, huh?” The possessiveness in her voice sent a wave of heat through him.

“Damn straight,” she said, turning to face him fully. Her smile softened, some of that bravado slipping away to reveal something more vulnerable. “Besides, I’m tired of hiding the good things in my life. After everything that’s happened, I think I deserve to show off a little. If I’m going to be gossiped about, I’d rather it be for that.”