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did you invite?” Hercules asked, wanting to know more from a security perspective rather than from a jealous boyfriend perspective.
    Well, maybe just a little from a jealous boyfriend perspective.
    Bob looked genuinely embarrassed for what he’d done. “Just a few friends from our inner circles.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll all be respectful. It just might be a little awkward.”
    “A little?” May asked, raising her voice. Her angry tone contrasted with her perfectly coiffed blond hair and appearance. “A little awkward that you invited three single bear shifters to come see our daughter, who now turns out to be engaged? Honey, that’s more than a little awkward.”
    Hercules put up a hand. “It’s okay. I’m more than equipped to protect Valerie.”
    Bob lowered his brows, and May tilted her head curiously. “What would you need to protect her from, hon? These are our friends. They wouldn’t do anything.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t trust Bentley,” Hera muttered.
    Bob was still appraising Hercules, as if trying to decide whether to be suspicious or impressed. He decided on impressed. “Well done, son. You’ll take care of my daughter.”
    Hera stood, face flaming red. “I can take care of myself. As long as you aren’t interfering.”
    Hercules could see over the years, her and her father’s strong personalities had probably clashed in a lot of battles. He could see Hera’s blood pressure starting to rise, so he stood from the table and gently took her elbow.
    “You want to take a quick walk with me, honey?” he asked quietly.
    She looked up at him, and then her face relaxed. “Yes.”
    He gave a quick smile to her parents and excused them from the table, hearing them banter as he walked with Hera back into the entryway.
    She pulled away from him and strode out the front door ahead of him. He could tell something was building inside her, and he had questions of his own, once they were out where no one could see or bother them.
    Unless this whole house was covered in cameras, like the front gate.
    Hera walked toward a large hedge with a gate in it and waved for him to follow. When he did, she opened the gate and went through it, and then led the way over the lawn toward a large private pond with benches around it. She took a seat on one and stared out at the water blankly with slumped shoulders.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting down. “Things tense with your dad?”
    “I shouldn’t have needed a fiancé for him to respect my wishes,” she said. “I guess I feel like he never took me seriously as a soldier. All he has seen me as is a woman with breeding potential.”
    “I don’t think that’s it,” Hercules said. “Speaking as another dumb male who just wants to protect you, I think he just wanted to see you safe. And happy, like he is with your mom.”
    She let out a steadying breath and gazed at him. A smile slowly claimed her face as a small breeze lifted the hair on her forehead. She squeezed his knee. “You’re right. I know. It’s just been a tense couple of years. Avoiding the hookups. Never sure what to tell them. You know, after us.”
    He nodded. “But why no one? Has there really been no one you’re interested in since I left?”
    She gave him a rueful smile. “How can you even ask that? After what we had, why would I be interested in anyone else?”
    He looked out at the lake, feeling unwelcome nostalgia wash over him now that they were here and safe. Alone. Together. Pretending to be a couple, like they had once been for real. Not that they’d been engaged then.
    But it had seemed like a natural extension of things, if they’d stayed together.
    In fact…
    But Hercules shook off that thought.
    Valerie. He needed to start calling her Valerie or he’d get stuck in the past and never be able to do his job. “Tell me about this Bentley guy who’s worrying you.”
    She shrugged. “He’s not that bad. I can handle