Page 127 of New Nebraska Heat

“Don’t worry, I learned about respect from the best. Oh, and the license paperwork’s all on your desk, by the way.”

“All right, I’ll take care of that, then I’ll be reading. Only disturb me if it’s an emergency.”

Vance nodded, wished me a happy birthday for next week, and began schmoozing a trail around the club, shaking hands, comping cocktails and cigars. I’d been unsure about promoting him at first, but he’d found the courage to rise to the challenge and then some.

Maybe it was time for me to do likewise with Dagger. I’d go up, read my book cover to cover, meditate, and see if I was brave enough to take the plunge. I chugged the dregs of my beer and—

You must feel out of place, among all those books.

My jaw clenched.Fuck are you babbling about now?

They’ve got spines. Let me talk to our brother. I’ll square it all with his animal, even if we have to sign the treaty with a few scars each.

Hell no. And also, fuck you. This calls for cool, collected, wisdom. Dagger and I have fought enough. We’re not going to bleed forgiveness out of each other.

Pfft! How has that helped you so far, hmm? If you could help yourself, you wouldn’t need a book in the first place, would you?

Fuck off.I shot out of my booth, using every ounce of restraint not to slam my hands on the table.

Snappy come back. You must read a lot.

Just what the fuck do you really want from me, smartass?I asked him as I cut toward my office.Some real advice, please. Not your usual alpha bullshit.

You know damn well. It’s why you locked me away. But at this point, I don’t care what you do, so long as you fucking pick something. Act! Quit with the self-pity. You’ve been boring me with it forever.

I jerked to a stop in the middle of the back hall, feet from my door.That’s… actually good advice.We could choose our attitudes. But mine wasn’t much of a choice anymore, was it? My jaguar and my mate, my two other halves, both wanted reconciliation, and I was denying them both for my own stupid pride.I choose… to forgive him.

His happiness trilled through my psyche like birdsong, but he spoke in his usual gruff growl.Good. Do that. Get over the past and focus on the future with our mate. Now get your sorry ass back to the loft and let her know the depth of our love. And make sure you eat at least two giant steaks at our birthday party too.

Thanks, I will. And now I’ve taken your advice, can you do me a favor in return?

What?

Can you please shut the fuck up!

Sebastian

Itested the black velvet booth seat with my fingers, and a disbelieving smile quirked my lips. How many other grunt journalists could come here on a casual Thursday? What had happened to my life?

Well, that was easy.She’dhappened. The vision in a blue dress now sliding into the huge circular booth beside Bryce opposite me, her auburn hair up in an elegant twist, her neck displayed proudly.

And I never wanted to go back. But I could take or leave the five-star restaurants. The Glasshouse was on top of both the social food chain and the beautiful Tolstoy Building.

Hunter had suggested that we come here to celebrate his and Dagger’s birthday, taking everyone by surprise, especially Dagger. We were all eager to try out the Glasshouse though. Even Bryce was new to this place. We’d all thrown on smart-casual clothes and filed into his stretch, excited at what the restaurant’s menu would offer. Bryce had arranged a last-minute security team, but as we’d climbedthe steep star-patterned stairs to reach the VIP Stargazer’s lounge, Hunter had asked if they could give us privacy.

“I have some serious things I want to hash out,” he’d murmured to Bryce, just barely in my earshot. When Bryce had shot him a worried look, he’d added, “Politely.”

So the three hired suits had been told to stay at the bottom of the stairs, among the patrons of the main dining area, preventing anyone but staff from reaching us in our mahogany- and brass-lined table. The high back largely blocked out the rest of the restaurant below the balcony area, making the view above even more striking.

I had lots of leg room too. The booth could’ve easily coped with eight or nine paranormal-sized butts, even grizzly ones. Hunter and Dagger took the middle, sitting the closest I’d ever seen them without growling at each other.

With a domed glass ceiling above us, and the sky blanketed in sparkles, I gave the waitress my drink order with my face skyward, searching for any shooting stars to wish upon. Because the last time I’d managed to catch one, I’d wished to meet my mate, never thinking it’d come true.

But the lady smiling across from me had proven that cynicism wrong.

When our drinks came back in a flash and the appetizer was ordered, Hunter cleared his throat, crystal tumbler in hand. “So, uh, I’m grateful we could all be here tonight. I really have enjoyed the way you’ve all turned my loft into a happy home.” He glanced down at the tablecloth, a severe wrinkle between his brows. “I know I haven’t always acted, uh… sporting about our new family, but I’ve finally admitted to myself that all my complaints boiled down to my own issues.”

“I think that’s true for most people,” Bryce interjected softly.