The Bear's Second Chance Mate: A Cozy Small Town Shifter Romance by Harmony Raines

Author:Harmony Raines [Raines, Harmony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harmony Raines
Published: 2025-08-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve – June

June woke to the smell of fresh coffee drifting up from the kitchen. She lay still for a moment, letting her senses adjust to the morning. Her body still hummed with the memory of a dream. One that left a heat across her skin and a deep ache of desire in her core. Stanley’s hands had been on her skin, rough and sensual, his lips trailing down her neck as he slid his fingers inside her. She’d felt the weight of him pressing her into soft sheets, his breath against her ear, his voice—low and full of desire—saying her name. It had felt so real, she was almost surprised to wake and not find him lying next to her in bed.

She sighed and stretched her arm out, wishing he were there. Wishing he would pull her close and press his lips to her shoulder, before trailing kisses down her neck, while his hand cupped her breast, his thumb brushing against her nipple…

Time to get up!

She pushed back the covers, pulled on her robe, and padded to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face before heading downstairs. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, flushed cheeks, still slightly parted lips, and shook her head, embarrassed by how much she’d wanted him, even in sleep.

As she patted her face dry, she forced herself to think of anything other than Stanley Thornberg and his talented fingers and mouth. Of the way he made love to her like no other man had…

“Urgh.” She leaned her forehead against the cool bathroom mirror. She truly was a lost cause.

Lost in love with a man she barely knew.

But that wasn’t true. Deep down, it was as if she knew him in her soul.

All she had to do was open herself up to the possibility.

She slowly raised her head and looked at her reflection. Was that it? Was she the reason he was holding back?

Was she sending out the wrong signals? Signals that said, Stay back, buddy, there’s nothing for you here.

Shaking her head, she went downstairs. Perhaps a hot cup of coffee would clear her head.

“Morning,” Barb said, not looking up from the toast she was buttering as June entered the kitchen. Her voice lacked its usual edge, the one that had sharpened every time Stanley’s name had come up in the past week. Ever since Barb got home last night, she’d sounded more…reserved. As if she were holding something back.

“Morning,” June replied, watching her aunt’s face for clues. “Coffee smells good.”

Barb pushed a mug toward her in silence, then sat down, her expression unreadable. She didn’t nag. Didn’t pry.

Just like Stanley, June thought. Both of them were more comfortable with quiet than with questions.

But something about Barb’s silence this morning felt less like disapproval and more like…consideration. As if she were mulling something over.

Goodness, June hoped she wasn’t changing her mind about June and Oli living here.

No, Barb would not do that to them. Barb had offered June and Oli a place to live until June got a job.

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