Free Bear to the End (Bear Claw Security Book 5) by Terry Bolryder

restaurant. She gaped at it as he came around the door to open it.
    “Um,” she said, looking up at the sign and the fancy writing on the outside specials menu.
    He looked where she was looking, did a double take, scratched his head, and then laughed. “No, I was thinking that wouldn’t be your style. I was thinking we’d go over there.” He pointed across the street to a burger bar that looked like it had pool tables.
    She felt the tension melt out of her as she looked at the more inviting atmosphere.
    He held out an arm, and she put a hand through it before he walked her across the street to the bar.
    It was quiet since it was just after the lunchtime rush. The decor was fun inside and well lit considering it was a bar, and there were pool tables and dartboards scattered around.
    When the waitress came to take their orders, they both got classic burgers with fries and then talked as they waited.
    She realized despite being incredibly connected with him and really enjoying his company, she knew barely anything about him.
    “Tell me more about you,” she said, stirring her straw around in her drink.
    His face went visibly paler, which made her suspicious.
    “What?” she asked. “Why don’t you like to talk about yourself? You’ve had a really interesting life.”
    “Not as interesting as you’d think,” he said, dodging it. He waved down the waitress to change his order slightly, though she got the feeling he was doing it just to change the subject. When he turned back to her, she rested her hands on her palms and glared at him.
    “Why do I feel like you’re hiding something?” she asked.
    “I feel the same about you,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re telling me the full story.”
    She put up her hands. “Fair enough.” She looked over at the pool tables. She’d played pool with her dad a lot when she was younger. “Since neither of us wants to talk about ourselves, how about we make it fun?”
    He raised a blond eyebrow. “Yeah?”
    She stood and walked to the nearest pool table. She grabbed a rack, and an employee brought balls over. She set them up on the table and gave him a playful grin.
    “Whoever makes a shot gets to ask a question,” she said.
    He shook his head. “That’s silly. I can already tell you’re a pro.”
    “Yup,” she said. “Watch out.”
    “That’s hardly fair,” he said, nevertheless standing with a smile to come over to her.
    She liked how he tended to gravitate toward her, but it never felt threatening or weird. Just right. Everything was right since she’d hired him.
    “All right, I’ll agree as long as it’s not a question about my family or my military background.”
    She pouted. “But those are the interesting ones.”
    He frowned. “So I’m only interesting for my past and my background? Besides, military stuff is classified.”
    She nodded. “Fine, then. No questions about my ex.”
    He sighed. “I guess that’s fair. You go first. I’ll break.” He did, and the balls didn’t move very far apart. She laughed. It was going to be easy to win this one.
    She sank a ball off a bumper, and he groaned. “All right,” she said. “Favorite thing to eat?”
    “Anything you cook,” he replied quickly.
    “Ugh,” she said, folding her arms. “So not an answer.”
    He laughed. “All right. Spaghetti. Take note.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I never said I’m cooking for you, dude.”
    He laughed and took a shot. And scratched on the ball. He scowled.
    “That should count for negative, but I guess you don’t get a question.” She took the white ball from the pocket and sank another shot. “All right, my turn again. How many girls have you dated?”
    “That’s dirty pool,” he said. “Damn.”
    “How many?” she asked, looking up at him.
    He cocked a hip. He looked massive in here with the low ceilings. She was enjoying being out with him, but she also couldn’t wait to get back home. Get him all to herself. She saw how