Free Breakwater: Custer (BBW Bad Boy Space Bear Shifter Romance) by Becca Fanning Page B

shook her head. "It's not a big deal. He was just a piece of shit, but he's nothing to do with my life any more. I didn't go into detail about him because I wanted people in my life who didn't know about him. Then no-one would see me as his victim anymore, you know?"

    She sounded shaken, it wasn't a tone Lorne was used to hearing out her usually bubbly friend. Dina's expression had hardened, and it was clear she was done talking about Freddy.

    "Sorry I brought him up," Lorne replied emphatically, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "I was just surprised is all."

    "I know," Dina shrugged. "But you shouldn't be letting my dick ex get in the way of you and Sam! Looked like the two of you were really getting on."

    Lorne let a flicker of a smile pass across her face before she could get herself in check.

    "Yeah, he seems cool, I guess." She yawned, suddenly overtaken by tiredness. "I'm exhausted, though. Should probably head to bed."

    "Yeah, I should probably join you," Dina stretched and looked around. "We're missing the last bottle of champagne, anyway, so there's not much point in staying up any longer."

    "Missing a-?" Lorne shook her head. "That's not my problem right now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

    "Love you," Dina pecked a kiss on her cheek, and turned to leave.

    Lorne stood for a moment by herself, and found her eyes drifting back towards Sam. She was intrigued by him, and she couldn't deny it, ever since she'd split with her last long-term boyfriend, maybe eight months previously, she'd been struggling to find that spark with anyone else. It wasn't that she didn't get on with the boys she ended up on dates with but, at this point in her life, she felt like she'd already dated most of them, the moody, flaky musician, the distracted business guy, the college bro. She'd hit every cliché in the book, and none of them worked out. Maybe her problem was that she was looking for someone too…normal? Perhaps a shifter was what she really needed to shake things up. Sam lifted his head and met her gaze, and she felt a jolt run down her spine, yeah, okay, this was something, even if she couldn't quite put her finger on what. He grinned, and gestured her over, and she went to join him again.

    "Everything okay?" He asked, flashing her that smile again.

    "Yeah, fine," she nodded, " Though we're missing a bottle of champagne, for some reason."

    "I'm pretty sure I saw one of the other bridesmaids sneak off with it," he commented. "Guess you'll just keep an eye out for the super-hungover person tomorrow."

    "Guess so." She felt a little out of practice; it had been a while since she'd flirted with someone for any other reason that because they were on a date and it would have been rude not to. Sam made her feel a little giddy and off-balance, but in the best way possible.  

    "I don't suppose you'd like a dance?" He broke the silence, and nodded towards the dance floor. Lorne glanced in the direction of the gyrating crowd; she pretty much had two left feet, but she had a feeling she wouldn't care when she was getting up close and personal with Sam.

    "Sure!"

    Just as they made their way on to the dance floor, the band finished up the jaunty tune they were playing and replaced it with a slower, more intimate number. Lorne felt a flush run up her neck as she watched all the couples around them get closer, arms around waists, hands on shoulders. Sam offered her his hand, and drew her into a perfect waltz position.

    "How are you so good at this?" She mumbled, staring at her feet as she tried to figure out what she was meant to be doing.

    "Sisters. They taught me. I never thought it would come in handy, but…" He trailed off, and for a moment, the chemistry between them was almost unbearable, Lorne would have kissed him right then and there if it hadn't been for all the beady eyes on them.  

    "Can I ask you something?" He murmured, breaking the tension. Lorne gratefully nodded.

    "How come the whole…shifter thing