Chapter 9
BEAR
Most of my dinners are eaten alone and are about as much of an event as brushing my teeth.
My brothers and I do get together for dinner at least once a week, and we eat with our parents a few times a month.
Mom is the only true conversationalist among us, but there’s still camaraderie in sharing a meal, no matter how much… or little…talk there is.
Every meal with Joy, though, feels like an occasion. Even though it's only burgers and barbecued corn, everything feels infinitely better with her here. Having this lovely woman near me turns everything to magic. She also makes the house feel like a home.
Joy helps me clean up after dinner, then we settle onto the couch to watch a spy movie she's excited to see on my big screen. My phone rings just as I’m reaching for the remote. "Sorry," I mutter, jumping to my feet when I see my mother's name on the screen. "I'll be quick, promise."
I walk out to the back porch. "Hello?"
"Emerick!" she practically shrieks. “I've been getting calls all day. Rachel and Bonnie both saw you at the grocery store with a young lady." She sounds so excited, you’d think she’d just won the lottery. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"It's not…I mean…" I stammer. “There's nothing to tell yet." That’s not really true, but I’m preoccupied with fighting off the prickly sensation triggered by the idea that strangers are reporting my personal business back to my mother.
“Hmmmpf,” she huffs. “Bonnie said you had your arm around her waist. And Rachel said the girl was looking up at you looking completely lovestruck."
She was?
My eyes fall closed as I think, trying to remember what I was doing in the grocery store. I can’t. I was so hell-bent on getting us out of there as quickly as possible.
"You know I hate that your friends gossip so much," I mutter. "My grocery shopping is nobody's business."
"Well, it's my business now."
Dammit. She's already riled up. Normally, Mom is calm and levelheaded. But once in a while, her heels dig in and the attitude comes out.
"It really isn't, Mom. Not yet. When there’s any news to tell, you'll get a call. Fair?"
"Fine." From the twang in her tone, it is most definitely not fine. "Look, Emerick. You're going to be thirty-five soon. If you don't have a serious girlfriend by then, I'm going to start fixing you up with women I know."
"You wouldn’t."
“I would. I will. In fact, I'm going to call your brothers right now and have a word with them too. They've got six months to start dating, or I'll be setting them up as well. "
My chuckle is not one of amusement. "Good luck with that."
"Don't you get snarky." I can picture her stamping her foot as she paces in the dining room, where she always makes calls.
"I want grandkids someday, for goodness’ sake.
You three have done your backwoods broody mountain loner routine for long enough.
It's time for you to start dating. Planning for the future. "
"You're aware that there are some people in this world who end up not having children?”
"Not in this family."
Oh boy. I'll have to warn my brothers. Her dander is most definitely up.
Telling my mother about my budding relationship makes my skin crawl.
I’m thrilled that Joy seems interested, and there’s potential between us.
Just the word us fills my heart. But once Mom knows, she’s going to tell the world.
Although I trust her with my life in most situations… This is not one of them.
I sigh, realizing I need to take one for the team so she’ll calm down. "Okay. I’ve met a lovely young woman. But it's only been a few days, so—"
Even though I hold the phone a foot away from my ear, I can still hear her delighted squeal. "Emerick! I'm so excited!"
"Tone it down. And please, please, keep that to yourself. Do not tell another living soul, or I won't let you meet her."
"At least let me tell your father. And Celeste. And Emily. And— "
"Just Dad. That’s it. Or I swear, I will never let you see your grandkids. Ever." She begins to huff again. "Gotta go, Mom,” I mutter. “Talk soon. And seriously, don't tell anyone."
I end the call, hoping she manages to keep her mouth shut. For all the rolling hills across the mountain, and the distance between some of the houses, news travels like lightning.
The triangle of Old Hemlock Valley, Cedarvale, and West Stoneburg should have its own gossip website. What the hell – why not throw in Pinesley on the one side, too, and Rathlock, Rivercross, and Bridgewood on the other? Everyone loves to gossip here.
It makes my soul grumble. Maybe more people should have their own wood shop to keep their minds occupied, dammit.
I come back into the living room and force a smile for Joy. Her face falls. "Whoa, that's a fake smile. What's wrong?" She pats the couch invitingly beside her. "I know this is all super new, but you truly can tell me anything."
Yes, I’ve already learned this about her. Learned that she won’t be quick to judge. "My mother's friends were in the grocery store…" I begin.
Her bottom lip twitches. "Ack. Is your mom freaking out because you're spending time with a woman she hasn't approved?"
I hate that the first place her brain goes is that she might not be good enough. "Oh, sugar." I clasp her hand. "When the time is right, she's going to adore you."
She blinks. "What did I say wrong?" I ask.
"You said when. I kind of assumed that this was still a case of…you know…if. "
She looks at me with that bright curiosity that always makes my heart swell.
"Okay." My fingers slip into the back of her hair as I pull her body to mine.
"I'll clarify." My lips drift across her cheekbone, then nuzzle her ear.
“I want to assume that everything will be a case of when.
That this is going to turn into…us." Carefully drawing her earlobe between my teeth, I nibble until I hear her breathy gasp.
"But you've only known me for a couple of days, and I don't want to put any pressure on you or get ahead of ourselves.
" I catch her eye. "How about we say one day at a time for now? "
Joy nods eagerly, then grins. "Ha! Your mother's spies upset you. You're chatty again."
My growl makes her laugh out loud as I yank her into my lap and wrap her shoulders and legs in the blanket from the back of the couch. "You're not going anywhere until this movie is done, cutie."
The way her head falls against my shoulder makes my heart swell. Something else is swelling, too, from the feel of her snug little ass against my thighs.
I should take my time with this precious girl. Wait several weeks before I even think of tearing the clothes from her curvy body and claiming her. Yet how can I? Every single cell of my body is vibrating with anticipation.
I need her. And as her butt grinds against my lap, her palm tracing circles in the center of my chest, I know she needs me, too.