Page 7

Chapter 6

Horace

“W hat app?” a female voice asks as she settles both our pizzas down on the table.

This woman is young and sweet looking. But it’s not her .

Not my Carina.

Shit.

I can’t think of her like that.

“Hello, my dear. You must be Carina’s sister. I’m Uncle Uzzi, this is Horace.”

“I am! My name’s MJ. I’m the head chef at Pizza Girls ,” she says, and her smile is welcoming.

“So, what app are you working on if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, uh,” I stutter.

I might not know a lot about this apparent multiverse we live in, but I know I shouldn’t just talk about it. Especially not with a normal.

“Actually, dear, it’s a dating app. See, I’m a matchmaker—yes, people still use us—and I’ve come up with this app designed to find, well, I suppose you could say your soul mate ,” Uzzi explains.

“A matchmaker? Cool! Ooh, let’s see, Date to Mate ,” she reads over his shoulder, “sounds awesome! Is it live? Can we use it?”

“We?” I ask stupidly.

“Yeah, me and my sisters. We are like so single, it’s ridiculous. Carina just got out of the worst relationship, and Dina doesn’t trust anyone,” she emphasizes and chuckles at herself.

“I see, well, my dear, tell me, do you believe in magic?” Uzzi asks.

“Sure. Why not?” she shrugs.

“Then I would highly recommend you sign up. But right now, the app is by invitation only.”

“Oh, well, here’s my number and my sisters’ numbers. Invite away,” she says and takes his phone.

I want to snatch it from her and delete Carina’s number, but how can I?

If she wants to use a dating app, I certainly can’t stop her.

“That would be fantastic. Wunderbar!” Uncle Uzzi exclaims.

But I’m not excited or happy about this.

In fact, I’m growling.

“Wow. Is that your stomach? Eat up. It really is delicious,” MJ says nodding at my pizza.

Fuck.

I just dip my chin and grab a slice, shoving half of it in my mouth.

Only, it’s hot. Like really freaking hot.

So, of course, I make a spectacle of myself.

I start to gasp and hiss.

“MJ! Don’t kill our customers. Not everyone can swallow their food straight from the oven,” Carina tsks, coming over and patting my back while offering me a glass of ice water.

“I’m not! I mean, I didn’t know he was going to take such a big bite while it was still smoking,” she says, and she’s not wrong.

I don’t know what’s worse. The fact I can’t seem to swallow my food like a normal person, or that my cock is getting even harder with every pat of her hand on my back.

Geezus.

“Are you okay, Horace?” Uzzi asks and I glare at him.

“Should I call an ambulance?” Carina asks, and I can scent her alarm.

Shit.

It’s difficult, but I manage to swallow.

Barely.

I clear my throat, trying not to choke in front of Carina, of all people. That would be a hell of a first impression.

“No, I’m fine. Really, I’m okay,” I assure them, my voice a little rough. “I can be a Bear about food.”

Only half joking.

Carina’s eyes flicker, lips twitching just slightly at the joke. Like she wants to smile but won’t let herself.

Meanwhile, MJ, who clearly has no fear, gives me a smirk and says, “Wow. Chew slowly next time, buddy.”

I grin at the death glare Carina shoots her, as if MJ has personally betrayed the family by pointing out my near-death experience.

“Hey! I know! You guys are good at tech, right?” MJ continues, completely unfazed.

“My sister’s been having a beast of a time getting our site up and running so we can take online orders. Maybe you can help?”

Carina’s head snaps toward her so fast I’m surprised she doesn’t give herself whiplash.

“You can’t ask customers things like that,” she hisses, low and sharp.

I shouldn’t get involved.

I really, really shouldn’t.

But instead of taking that as my cue to stay out of it, I lean forward, elbow on the table, curiosity piqued.

Because now I want to know what’s been troubling her.

And—because I am, apparently, a glutton for punishment—I offer to help.

Like I know being near this woman is a bad idea, but I cannot stop putting myself directly in her path.

“Sure,” I say, looking directly at her.

“Once we’ve finished our meeting, I’ll be happy to take a look.”

And fuck, if I don’t mean it.

This woman could ask me for the moon, and I’d be standing here like an idiot trying to figure out how to lasso it down for her.

Trouble . That’s what this is.

But like most Bears, I seem to have an incredibly dumb habit of running straight toward trouble when I should be going the other way.

“Well, that is interesting,” Uncle Uzzi states once the women leave.

I glance at him, narrowing my eyes

“What’s that?”

“Oh, not a thing, dear boy.”

But his blue eyes are twinkling.

Like he knows exactly what’s happening here.

Like he’s already three steps ahead of me and is just sitting back, enjoying the show.

Doesn’t matter.

I can work on his dating app.

I can help my pretty new neighbor with her website.

And I can do all of that without going full Bear over her.

Right?

Yeah…right.

I grab my third slice and start munching because again, this is just so fucking good.

The sausage and meatballs are definitely made in-house like she said.

But that hot honey?

It gives it just the right amount of kick and a dose of sweetness my Bear simply adores.

Uzzi is enjoying his spinach whatever— gag . And now my brain circles back to his app.

Date to Mate.

The idea behind the app is solid. In fact, I wish I’d thought of it myself.

Dating is already a nightmare in the best of circumstances.

But when you’ve got a half-ton furry secret to safeguard? It’s even more of a minefield.

Still, I don’t have to use the app to work on it.

Just like I don’t have to kiss my neighbor to help her out.

Even if I want to.

Badly.