Free Stone Bear: Sentinel (A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Stone Bears Book 1) by Amelia Jade Page B

Solid worker, but extremely dim-witted.”
    Gabriel stared at the Alpha for another moment, then nodded unhappily.
    “Package secure sir,” Uriel reported as he and Raphael walked back over to him, the box between them.
    “I hate the mines,” Gabriel said by way of dismissal as he and his team left the others standing there with two bodies to dispose of.
    Such was life in Genesis Valley.

Chapter Six
    Caia
    The mirror screamed at her, but she ignored its voiceless cry. It tried again and again to get through to her, but Caia tuned it out. She shouldn’t have, because it was speaking smartly when it told her that this was a bad idea.
    Every time she looked at herself it told her that. When she had gotten out of the shower, freshly clean and fixed up in all the right places, it had told her she was making a mistake. When she had put on the slightly flimsy, but completely empowering lace underwear instead of her normal cottons, it had told that this was a terrible idea. And when she had draped the plunging blue dress over her head, it had hollered with all its might that she was being stupid.
    But damn am I looking good while doing so!
    She couldn’t wait to see Gabriel’s eyes when he first looked at her. The dress wasn’t form-fitting, but it wasn’t loose either. It hung perfectly from all the right places, showing off what she wanted to, and hiding a few things that were better saved for later. Except when it came to the neckline. That, she thought with an evil grin, showed off a little bit more than was necessary. But it looked oh so good when it did.
    Gabriel wasn’t going to know what hit him, she thought with a smirk.
    Now she just had to get herself to the restaurant itself. Which meant getting up, getting in her SUV, and actually sitting down to have dinner with the dreamiest coworker there would ever be. One who, in her fantasies the night before, had done more than just eat his steak when they got together. She shivered once more at the memories of her late night exploration. Part of her definitely hoped that reality might mimic fantasy, at least for one night.
    “Okay, let’s do this. If you’re going to make this mistake, at least make it with confidence, woman,” she told her reflection. It mocked her sharp nod, but she didn’t care anymore.
    Besides, I get steak tonight! The last thought filled her with another sort of excitement. Shift on Main was well known for the quality of its steaks, and that happened to be Caia’s favorite meal, even if it was normally out of her budget. But since Gabriel had insisted on going and that he was going to pay, she had every intention of indulging herself just a little bit this evening.
    You sure do, don’t you? The sarcastic part of her brain didn’t seem to respect the off switch, constantly bombarding her with its innuendos. Which were partially true, she knew. After all, it was her brain.
    Rolling her eyes, Caia strode out the front door of the little apartment she rented, fiddling with the keys, trying to find the one necessary to lock it.
    “Hello wonderful.”
    Caia straightened, then turned around.
    “I thought you said to meet at the restaurant?”
    “I didn’t want to wait any longer than I had to in order to see you,” he said. His voice was different, and it took her a moment to realize what it was. There was nothing more to it, but it was void of something that half the time she hadn’t even realized was there.
    His professionalism was gone. Gabriel was off the clock, and he was able to tell her his thoughts now. There would be no more guarded replies from him tonight, she thought, descending the three steps from her front porch to the sidewalk carefully. Her eyes were focused on his face as he took in her outfit for the first time.
    Her cheeks warmed slightly as she saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down when he swallowed, followed by his tongue flicking out to nervously lick his lips. There wasn’t an ounce of nervousness in his body