Out in the wild, they were basically the assholes of the woods. Mating promiscuously and leaving after. But when a bear spirit was mixed with a human one, there could be a tempering. The strength and fortitude of the bear that made him and his brothers so successful. But the goodness and integrity of what a man can choose to be. Good to women. Faithful to one mate. Happy that way.
He believed it could be that way at least.
Leslie went back to badgering Riley about fame, about how he was discovered, even though that was common knowledge and she already had to know. Everyone did. He’d been scouted in college at a party, and the rest had been history.
He always played the action hero or romantic interest. Just his abs were enough to get women filling the seats. Which was good, because the writing for some of the Riley Hart movies was downright embarrassing.
He noted with amusement that Kylie kept trying to squeeze over toward Ryan, and Ryan was practically ready to pull his legs out and scoot away from the table.
He put his hand over Janna’s, warm and secure, letting her know he was there. She turned to him with a smile, and heat shot right down to his toes.
The need to claim her was strong. He swore he could literally hear the roar of his bear waiting to claim her. She squeezed his hand back, and he released hers and moved his hand to her thigh. So soft.
She bit her bottom lip and made a tiny gasp that had the others looking her way.
“Sorry,” she said apologetically. “Bit my lip while looking at the menu. It all looks so good.”
The men grinned at her. Whether it was because they knew what Ryder’s hand had been up to or because they liked that she liked the food, Ryder didn’t know. But he let out a low growl and shut the menus either way. He opened the sliding door, called for a waiter, and just ordered a ton of things that should probably suit everyone. He’d order the whole menu if he had to. Just to hurry this along and keep his brothers’ eyes off his mate.
And to be able to take her back home.
For dessert.
He caught Riley raking the other two women with an appreciative gaze. Even Ryan, when he wasn’t eyeing Kylie with a wary stare, was checking out the females. The women were all pleasantly curvy and soft. Exactly what bears tended to go for. All shifters really. Not that lean couldn’t be attractive, but the softer and larger, the better for bears. Kylie was even on the small side, despite being what others might consider overweight.
Leslie took most of the attention, and that seemed to suit Kylie.
Ryder kept his eyes primarily on Janna, both to make sure she knew he had eyes only for her and because he liked keeping his eyes on Janna.
By the end of the night, maybe he’d have more than just eyes on her.
A knock sounded on the door and the waiter entered. Followed by another waiter. All in all, it took three waiters to deliver the amount of food he’d ordered, and Janna raised an eyebrow at him when it was all covering the table.
He shrugged innocently but was secretly pleased there was plenty to go around. His brothers could eat a lot, not that they would before the women had their fill. Females were more important.
He poured a glass of wine for himself and Janna and offered it around the table. Riley took it and filled Leslie’s and Kylie’s glass, and Ryan waved it away. Bad for training, he said.
The Olympics aren’t for another three years, Riley had reminded him, but Ryan had declined all the same.
Once an athlete, always an athlete.
When the dinner finished, Janna was fidgeting in her seat. The other women were standing and saying good night, hugging her from behind as she reluctantly stood, and she merely smiled slightly in return. Was she sad to see them go? No, he couldn’t call it sad exactly. Was she worried without them he’d make a move? Nervous? He’d make sure to try and assuage that. He wanted his mate, but he’d never do anything to make her uncomfortable.
He and Janna linked arms and Ryan and Riley walked with them to escort the women back out to the Jeep. Kylie had said she was teaching the next day and would need to be up early, and Leslie seemed disappointed that Riley wasn’t making a move.
Ryder was sure Riley would have, if not for Ryder’s threatening glares throughout the night. He could make whatever moves he wanted after Ryder was assured Janna would be his mate. After that, it was Leslie and Riley’s business. But he didn’t need drama screwing things up now. Janna was already gun shy from being burned by Scott. She didn’t need an angry friend helping her make the decision.
And Leslie would probably be angry because Riley had a strictly love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of style. He’d make sure to tell Janna so she could warn her friend. At least then she’d know what she was getting into.