Chapter 6
JOY
Who knew that making scrambled egg wraps with a man could be so sexy? But Bear takes every opportunity he gets to caress my shoulder, stroke my hair, and generally get in my space.
I keep waiting for some internal warning bell to go off, reminding me that we just met. But there’s no sirens. No flashing lights. Just green flags at every turn.
Okay, it might be a bit weird that he keeps his phone in the charger and barely glanced at it the two times it’s beeped this morning. It’s maybe a bit strange that in a house this large there are only four plates and bowls. But perhaps Bear never entertains. Or maybe he’s a minimalist.
One thing I know for sure, he’s a loner. Our conversations loop through many topics, and it sounds like he spends most of his time by himself.
We’re driving out to pick up my tent when he asks, “What is your job? Or… You said you bought a house with Carl with the insurance money. Do you mostly live off that?”
I laugh. “No, the insurance was just enough for the house. We both decided to work full time for several years to build up our savings. Since we’re not paying rent or a mortgage, we might go back to school or something. Carl wants to be a vet.”
“And you?”
I shrug as we pull into the field. “Right now, I do a bunch of stuff online – research, website testing, whatever. But I like working with my hands. Carl said I did a great job of refinishing some of the second-hand furniture we got.”
Bear’s thick eyebrows lift at that, but he doesn’t say anything.
He parks, jumps out of the truck, then hurries around to open my door.
His thick, burly arms circle me, holding me snugly against his chest as I breathe in his warmth before my feet gently settle onto the ground.
I can feel the vibration against my cheek as he rasps, “And this is why I didn’t want you to stay here last night. ”
He turns me around to face my tent.
Holy crap.
It’s half blown over, flapping sadly in the breeze.
Thankfully I had my essentials in the daypack I took with me biking.
The soggy nylon did little to protect my sleeping bag and larger pack of clothing.
I could have frozen solid. Even if I’d gathered my stuff and gone to the road to flag someone down, the vehicles are few and far between out here.
“Thank you,” I murmur, wide-eyed. “You’re right.”
Bear has my tent disassembled in a flash, packing everything into a big box in the back of the truck. He turns to see me trembling and wipes his damp hands on his jeans before hugging me. “You’re okay, sugar. I’ve got you.”
“I… I would have died,” I sputter.
“No, you wouldn’t. You would have tried to bike back here. A driver would have stopped for you.”
I’m sure he’s just saying that so I don’t freak out. “Bear?” My face tips up. “Thank you.”
His lips twitch. “What, for being bossy and kidnapping you? You’re welcome.” The feeling of his palm running up and down my back makes me shiver in a different way. “Aw sugar, you’re okay.” He snuggles me tighter. “How about we make a big festive dinner?”
“Festive how?”
“However you like. I was thinking…like a vacation kinda meal, just at home.”
Is he asking me on an official date? My heart might explode. “That sounds great. I know a great baked ziti recipe?”
“Perfect. We’ll pick up groceries, then wash and hang up your stuff. Then you’ll set me to work on dinner.” He nods firmly, then helps me into the truck like we’re on a mission.
The vibe continues at the grocery store. He speeds through the aisles with almost military efficiency. If someone says hello he nods while muttering a greeting, then gets away from them before they can say anything else.
Weird. I always thought small town people stopped to talk about the weather or ask after each other’s families. People in Cedarvale are becoming chattier with me and Carl, even though we’ve only been there for six months.
Is Bear such a true loner that speaking to people makes him uncomfortable? Or is it because I’m with him? People do keep giving me strange looks. I guess in a small town, anyone new is noticeable. Or maybe they’ve never seen Bear with a woman before.
Maybe he doesn’t want his family to hear that he’s met someone? Buying groceries together feels pretty domestic and could make things appear far more serious than they are, or will ever be.
No matter how I feel about Bear, I can’t expect him to feel the same. Yes, he’s protective. But perhaps he’s like that with all women.
A vacation thing would still be fun. Even if I’m secretly hoping for more, I’ll force my hopes to sit down and be quiet.
On the drive back to Bear’s house, I bombard him with questions about the area. It's a topic that almost gets him talkative again. Then he clears his throat and shoots me a sideways glance. “Has your brother checked in on you yet?”
“No. Why?”
His jaw clenches. “That storm last night. He wasn’t worried about you?”
“Honestly, solo camping is one of those things where I try to prove to myself I can do things alone. I didn’t even think about calling him. Is that weird?”
His fingers tighten on the wheel. “Could you have called him, if I hadn’t come by?”
“I guess so. I try not to call him for help. He…um…doesn’t like it. He says we should stay out of each other’s business as much as possible.”
Bear’s knuckles look like they’re about to snap, and I swear steam is coming out of his ears, but he doesn’t say anything else.
By the time we’re making dinner together, he's lowered his shields a bit more, sharing a couple of crazy stories from when he was younger.
"Your poor mother," I laugh. "The three of you sound like terrors."
"Oh, for sure. We lived in the woods like animals. If we weren't in the mood to come home for lunch, we'd just cruise by the hill filled with blackberry bushes. There's a stream near there for water, too."
"You really are a bear!” I burst into laughter, and his eyes shine as he smiles back at me.
He slips the ziti into the oven as I start throwing a vinaigrette together for the salad. "Hey.” I turn to flash him a smile. “I'm sorry, I didn't even think to ask before. What do you do for a living?"
His hand freezes as he reaches for the washed spinach. He takes a breath, then shakes the greens vigorously before tearing them into bite-size pieces. "A bit of this and that."
For a split second, it hits me – I don't know this man.
I literally met him huddled under a tree.
The only proof I have that he's a Wolfe is the family portraits in the hallway on the way to the guest room.
Well, and a couple of the older ladies in the grocery store saying how nice it was to see Emerick Wolfe out and about after we passed by.
"Joy?" He drops the spinach, dries his hands, then gently takes my elbow. "What's wrong? You blanked out there for a second."
"I… Maybe I shouldn't be asking questions if the wrong answers will make me nervous."
"Ah, shit.” He takes my hand and leads me to the dining room, where we sit side by side. His long exhale and headshake are not exactly reassuring, but then he looks at me sheepishly. "I didn't want to mention it, because it always feels like bragging. That makes my skin crawl."
"Just tell me." My voice is thin.
"Sugar, my family owns half the mountain. We've owned generations of businesses and invested our money well, and been frugal. So I don't need a day job. I guess I’m retired."
He squeezes my hand gently. "I spend my time running weekly sweeps of a few sections of the mountain, taking photos of any evidence of bears or other animals for a university research study.
I do a bunch of woodworking. Read a fair bit.
And…" He shrugs. "People know I'm usually around if they need me, so I end up doing random things like helping organize the construction on a school extension or coordinating a team of laborers who are fixing the roads.
I might not have a job, but I do work all over the area to be useful. "
My head falls against his chest. "I'm sorry. I just suddenly remembered you're a stranger, and apparently my radar isn't working properly if I didn't ask you what you do for a living at the beginning."
“No problem, sugar. I'm cagey about it because I don't like announcing that I was lucky enough to be born into money.” Bear lifts my chin with his finger. "Makes me feel like one of those Manhattan trust fund brats with nothing to do but lounge in coffee shops all damn day."
"I can't even picture you in a big city, to be honest."
He shrugs. "I don't mind going now and then to check out the museums, or crazy big bookstores." His strong hand cups my face gently. "Joy, you can ask me anything, anytime. I want you to be comfortable with me. Okay?"
"Thank you."
We smile softly at each other, then Bear pulls me into his lap. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay enough for you to kiss me?”
I’ve barely nodded when his mouth consumes mine.
At first everything feels smooth and gentle, his lips parting slightly and his heavy hand running up my leg.
A moment later, the world becomes steamy and a delicious tightening takes over my core.
His hand glides up the back of my shirt, his tongue slips into my mouth.
My body crushes against his, the kiss turning savage as we clutch at each other.
Bear is every bit the quiet mountain loner when it comes to words. As soon as he’s expressing himself through touch, though, he becomes bold, taking hold of me and directing our pleasure as if he’s dreamed of this moment for years.
I melt as he grasps my hip, groaning into our kiss as it turns even more heated. He roughly shoves the table away and repositions me so I’m straddling his lap. The noticeable evidence of his arousal makes me shiver with lust as I grind against him.
I’ve never felt so sexy or desired. My breasts press against his rock-hard chest as he holds me closer. My fingers tangle in the back of his hair, and I shiver when I hear him groan, palming my ass, gripping me with those huge, strong hands.
His voice sounds like steel grinding against rock as he growls, “Fuckin’ hell, sugar, you’re so sexy. Driving me crazy, shaking your hips on me like that.”
My fluttery gasp only makes him kiss me harder, possessing me, capturing me tightly against him. I’m consumed by his heat. It turns off my shyness, leaving pure desire in its place. Time stops as our mouths move together, my pulse pounding in my chest.
Finally, he pulls away with a groan. “Dinnertime, beautiful.”
He lifts me off his lap, my entire body still vibrating. It’s all I can do to hold back a pout.
As the ziti finishes baking, Bear lights a few candles and puts on some soft jazz music, turning this into a real date. Even more important, he's being open with me. Sharing what makes him uncomfortable. I notice he's getting much chattier even when he's not upset.
All the while, we’re constantly touching each other. Getting comfortable together.
There's no chance I'm staying in the guest room tonight, but not because of my night terrors.
I want to be as close to this incredible man as possible. I'll just have to get over my nerves and show him exactly how close.