Some might call him whooped after the first date, and perhaps he was. But to come home and find that Maddie Collins was still single, seeming to be everything he wanted—Bear couldn’t afford to waste time. He’d already done enough of that.
He lifted a fist and gave the door a quick knock.
“Come in,” Maddie hollered from within.
Bear pushed open the door, recalling the way Kate had let him inside when he’d come to pick Maddie up. He’d barely had a moment to look over the framed art in her front room when he’d heard her break into song. Dang, she was cute.
“Hi,” came Maddie’s voice, bright and cheery like her home. “Oh my gosh, those are beautiful!”
Bear had nearly forgotten he was holding the flowers. He stepped around the end chair and extended them to her. She’d called the bouquet beautiful, but Maddie was stunning. A light blouse contrasting with the pretty color of her golden skin. A silver chain that drew his eyes to the delicate slope along her neck and collarbone. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail. The look of sophisticated confidence.
She took the flowers from him, her smile wide. “Thank you. Want to follow me into the kitchen?”
He nodded, enjoying the way she sniffed the flowers as she walked. A tangy aroma wafted through the home, making him realize how hungry he was.
Bear took a look around, interested to learn more about her. A coffee machine in the corner, a can of Folgers nearby. A small toaster took up the adjacent corner, and he found himself wondering how she liked her toast. The cabinets above were merely frames with chicken wire in the center. The cream-colored paint and copper wire created an antique look. Inside, he could see each cup, bowl, stacked plate, and mug. And it actually looked good.
“Glad you can’t see inside my cupboards,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t think anyone wants to see my crappy collection.”
She laughed. “I don’t need a whole lot of dishes. I bought most of them together in a set. That’s the only reason they match.”
She filled a tall vase with water, cut a strip down the plastic holding the flowers, and proceeded to snip the bottom of each stem before slipping them into the vase.
“Kate says the same thing. About the cupboards, I mean. But I’ve been to her house and seen her mishmash collection.” Maddie dumped the stem ends into the trash and rinsed her hands. “They have number one parent mugs, superhero plates. I think it’s charming.” She stepped over to a cutting board where a stack of green leaf lettuce rested.
He watched as she lined up the lettuce with delicate-looking hands and began to chop, using a knife he’d expect most women to fear. “You have a younger sister, don’t you?” she asked him. “I think she went to school with my sister, April.”
Bear nodded. “Yeah, she probably did. Her name’s Brenda.”
“How is she? Does she still live here?”
“She’s been living in Boise,” he said, “but she’s actually in the middle of a divorce, so she’s coming back here to stay with my mom. Mainly because her husband travels a lot, and she wants her boy, Phillip, to have some family support.”
“Phillip? How old is he?”
“Three,” Bear said, picturing the kid’s small-toothed grin. “He’s a cute little stinker. Brenda says he’s been talking nonstop about seeing Grandma Grace and Uncle Bear. Hope we can help him adjust.”
Maddie’s brow furrowed. “I hope so too,” she said. “Poor kid.”
“How old were you when your parents divorced?” Bear asked.
“Fourteen,” she said. “April was eleven.”
“That would’ve been difficult.”
“It was.” Maddie nodded. “Especially when my dad moved. At first he stayed on top of his visitation, but then it got less and less. Then one day he just took off to Canada and started a whole new life.” She shrugged, sliding the chopped lettuce to one side before setting another bunch on the board. “So yeah, we missed him.”
“Do you or your sister ever see him now that you’re older?”
Maddie shook her head. “I text him now and then. How are you? Happy birthday. That type of thing. But no. He came back one Christmas after moving to Canada, but that’s it. The last time I saw him in person, I was 18 years old.”
She’d said it simply enough, her tone matter-of-fact, but he detected hurt in her eyes and in the droop of her shoulders at the topic.
“It’s nice that your parents lasted,” she said. “I, um, was sorry to hear about your father a while back. Is your mom doing any better?”
It took him a moment to realize Maddie was referring to a conversation they’d had at the library, when he’d asked for her opinion on self-help books. “I think so,” he said. “Of course, I didn’t help things by being gone the last six months.”
“I can imagine.”
“That’s the only good thing about Bren coming back here. She and Phillip can keep my mom company.”
Maddie picked up handfuls of the cut greens and sprinkled them into a red bowl that didn’t match her dishes. He watched as she tossed the salad with vinaigrette before shredding a block of white cheese over the top. “Okay,” she said, more to herself. “We’re ready.”
He helped her set the table. The tempting aroma filling the house was lasagna. It looked delicious, and tasted even better.
Bear had wondered if their conversation would be as good as it’d been the night before. He was pleased to find that it—like the lasagna—was even better. Maddie was witty. Easy to talk to. Fun to laugh with. And tempting to open up to as well.
“Promise you won’t tell anyone?” he asked, wondering if he really wanted to share the detail.
Maddie rested her glass on the table and crossed an X-shape over her chest with one finger. “Cross my heart.”
Bear pushed his plate, empty save for the silverware and napkin, farther onto the table. He rested his hands there, surveying Maddie’s gorgeous eyes in the low light. Low, because she’d turned the others off as they sat down to eat. It made the space feel cozy. Intimate. Private. Enough for him to share a detail he’d managed to keep from most people his entire life.
“Okay,” he said. “My given name is Barrette. Like, carrot with a B.”
“Barrette?” She tilted her head. “I don’t mind that. Why don’t you like it?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t want people to pronounce it wrong, like the clip that goes in a girl’s hair, you know?”
She laughed. “I doubt they would. Is it a family name?”
“Yes. It was my grandfather’s name. It means bear strength, which of course they hoped I’d have since they hoped I’d carry on the family tradition of logging.”
“Bear strength. That’s so fitting. Huh. I thought it was impossible to keep secrets in Cobble Creek,” she said with a laugh. “They must not have had your full name on the roll at school.”
“They didn’t. My parents liked the name Bear. They knew that’s what I’d go by, so it worked.”
Maddie nodded, looking over the table. “Should we go veg out by the fireplace?”
“Sure.” Bear gathered a few dishes and followed her over to the sink.
“Just leave them here; I’ll get them later.” Maddie led him to a small sitting area with a big rug in the center. She flicked the fireplace switch and tossed a few pillows from the couch to the rug. “I don’t know why I even own couches,” she admitted while lowering herself to the floor. “This is my favorite spot in the house.”
Bear wasn’t as graceful as Maddie, but he joined her on the rug, then followed suit as she propped pillows beside her and rested on them, sprawling her legs toward the fireplace. Once he was lounging on his side as well, the heat of the flames warming his sock-covered feet, Maddie spoke up.
“It seems like you really like your job,” she said, mindlessly cracking a few of her knuckles. “Do you?”
He fought back a grin. “Yes. I don’t mind the business side, and we’ve got some amazing employees who keep us on o
ur toes. But mostly, I love getting outside. The forest is like my second home.”
“So are you hoping to carry that on to a son one day?”
He grinned. “Yes. I wouldn’t force him, but I’d just … I don’t know. Make sure he had a lot of good experiences out there with me. I wouldn’t want him to look at the forest like something that takes me away from him, like he has to compete with it. Instead I’d like him to view it as a place where we make great memories. Where he learns a lot and gets to have fun and help out some days.”
Maddie gave him a soft, thoughtful smile. “That sounds nice. What will you do if you only have girls?”
He chuckled. “Same thing. Expectations might shift a bit, though.” He shrugged. “And maybe if they don’t take to it, their future husbands will. In fact, I’ll only hire the finest in town. Make sure any guy who works for me is good enough for my daughter. It’ll be like handpicking my future son-in-law.”
Maddie held his gaze as their laughter died down.
People often spoke of traveling hours to spend time at the ocean. Bear had never seen the appeal. But as he looked into the depths of Maddie’s ocean blue eyes, all he could think was more.
The space between them, no more than a foot or two, caught Bear’s attention as he considered of the best way to eliminate it. He rested his hand on the rug, palm up, as an invitation, wondering if she’d accept it.
Bear’s pulse sped as Maddie glanced at it.
He remained motionless as she released the grip she had on the corner of a pillow. She extended that arm, hovered her hand over his for a blink, and then lowered it until they were joined.
Skin on skin.
Holding hands might be viewed as a casual act, lacking intimacy or meaning. That was not the case here. Maddie’s touch alone, the feel of her delicate hand in his, made heat burn deep in his belly.
He scooted closer, brought her hand to his lips, and placed a heated kiss there.
Maddie’s eyes had changed, heavier on the lid, a dreamy type of look. He’d heard the term bedroom eyes before. And while he was certain it referred to a look one intended to give, Bear assumed Maddie’s was more natural. A reaction to the chemistry sparking between them.
He cleared his throat. “Do you like being a teacher?” he asked against her skin.
She lifted one brow, a hint of surprise on her face. “Yes,” she said, clearing her throat. “I do. I love it.”
“What’s your favorite part about it?”
She sighed. “Oh, there are so many things. I love it when that light kicks on when they discover something new. I like watching as they read, even if it’s just a line that makes them laugh out loud. If it’s one they read by themselves, one they comprehended, and it resonates, even … I don’t know, it’s like magic. What I imagine being a mom is like, in a way.”
He nodded, captivated by the image she’d created. “And you want that one day too, to be a parent?”
“Definitely.” That dreamy look was back in her eyes, and heaven help him, Bear couldn’t resist any longer. He wanted her kiss again.
He moved in, pulling her hand close to his chest as he closed the space between them. With her face just an inch away, Bear pulled in a breath, ran the tip of his nose up the side of her cheek. She smelled good. Like something sweet and tropical. He moved his lips, slightly parted, along her forehead, just above her brows.
Maddie let out a small sigh, and soon her other hand was working up the back of his neck, gripping him there as he pressed a kiss to her temple, her cheek, and the very corner of her mouth. Her breaths came faster and hitched.
Bear’s did too, the rhythm working to catch up with his racing pulse. At last he surrendered, and pressed a fervent kiss against her full, perfect mouth.
Back in high school, making out was a big deal. Kissing for hours in the basement. Taking things nice and slow. A time for discovering just what made for the very best kiss.
Never had a woman put Bear back in that mindset so quickly. Heat stirred low in his belly as he gave in to the magnetic draw of Maddie’s mouth. Testing. Tasting. Exploring. The unhurried push and pull.
So good he could kiss her for days.
He made his way to a delicate spot at her neck, pressed a longing kiss there, and realized—with an ache of untimely regret—that he was moving in too quickly.
Bear groaned as he forced himself to back a few inches away from her. He gulped. Definitely too fast. “I better go,” he whispered.
“Okay.” Maddie moved in to kiss him again. “This is me … saying goodbye,” she whispered, pressing a series of kisses to his lips. “Bye, Bear.” Another kiss. “Thanks for coming to dinner.”
Bear chuckled, wanting to take her by the waist and kiss her all night long. “Thanks for having me over.” He helped her up, and then joined in as she tossed the decorative pillows back on the couch and love seat.
Maddie walked him to the door. She gave him a knowing smile at the doorway, and a teasing wave as he trailed down her steps, glancing over his shoulder.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“Brenda’s coming in. How would you feel about meeting everyone?”
She nodded, her smile growing wider. “I’d love to.”
“Good,” he said with one final wave. “I’ll pick you up at 6:00.”
Chapter 13
“So what is this, like, fifteen days in a row?”
“Yep.” Maddie knew—without having to do any math—that that’s exactly how many days she’d been seeing Bear. The surprise was that Kate knew it too.
“I can’t believe how cute he is with you. He’s all sweet and attentive. Cam said the same thing after we got home the other night.”
“Aw, he did?” Maddie thought back on the double date they’d gone on last week. Dinner and bowling. It was a blast.
“Yeah. I mean, with different wording of course. Cam didn’t call him cute,” Kate said with a laugh. “He thinks you guys make a nice couple.”
Maddie grinned. “I love hearing that.”
“So what are you guys doing next?”
“Since he was stuck in the office all week, Bear said he wants to get out in the wintery woods and take me with him. So we’re doing that tomorrow. I’m supposed to dress real warm.”
“Wow, I bet it will be gorgeous out there.” Kate, who rarely took advantage of casual day, was taking things to a whole new level. Stretch pants that looked like denim with a long sweatshirt that covered her butt. It reminded Maddie of the way she’d dressed when … Hmm … Maybe the couple was expecting again?
“Well, I’ve got tests to grade before the bell rings.” She climbed off the couch and gave Maddie a squeeze. “I’m beyond happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“So tomorrow’s the frozen forest … what about today after work?”
“Oh, we won’t see each other until tomorrow. He has a business meeting to attend out of town.”
“You’re actually letting a day pass without being together?” Kate asked, thick on the sarcasm. “Kidding. I’m just glad he finally dumped what’s-her-name for someone wonderful like you.”
“What do you mean? Who’s what’s her name?”
“Kristen Grandy. After getting to know Bear, I can see why they didn’t work out. He’s way nicer than she is.”
Maddie felt a spark of jealousy flare up in her chest. “My mom said something about Kristen Grandy too. Why would anyone think they were together? I mean, I know their dads were business partners, but I thought it ended there.”
“It definitely ends there. I’m sure they broke up a long time ago.” Kate’s face went soft then, all traces of tension gone. “Well, I better scat. Let me know if you want to join us for Thanksgiving. If not, no biggie. But we’d love to have you.”
“Thanks,” Maddie said, but Kate was halfway through the door before Maddie realized what she’d said about Thanksgiving. The truth was, Bear had already invit
ed her to eat with him and his family. But she could hardly think on that now.
Her mind was too stuck on the whole Kristen and Bear thing. Sure, they’d been spotted stealing a kiss or two over the years, but she’d never thought they were really an item. But what if they were? And what if things weren’t over between them even still?
Stop it, Maddie. She hated when ideas like that popped into her head. Especially when they had no right being there. If Bear had had anything going with Kristen when he came back to Cobble Creek, he never would have asked Maddie out. And he definitely wouldn’t be kissing her the way he did.
The affirmations calmed her mind, but Maddie’s body was a different story. Her insides had already flared into a frenzy. It felt like her stomach was leaking acid. She ignored it and focused on the other thing Kate had brought up: Thanksgiving.
Her sister April planned to have Mom out this year, and she hadn’t extended an invite to Maddie. Not that she minded. It seemed that April and Mom had a common goal when they all got together: making her feel like she was from a different land—la-la land, to be exact.
If Maddie’s ideals of love and marriage and a happily ever after were floating along in a bright, delicate balloon, her mother and sister were two sharp, gleaming needles, just waiting for their moment to strike. Still, if an invite came, she’d most likely pack up and fly to Spokane. They were family, after all. If not, she’d enjoy the holiday with Grace, Brenda, and adorable little curly-haired Phillip.
With another sigh, Maddie walked over to the coffeepot, refilled her mug, and thought about just why she needed the extra cup today. There hadn’t been a whole lot of sleeping for her lately. Dreaming, yes—but mainly the kind that happened while she was awake.
Maddie had the habit of replaying some of her favorite moments with Bear. He might be big and manly and have the strength of an actual bear like his name suggested, but he knew how to hold her softly, kiss her gently, and make her feel more desired than an unmarried woman had right to feel.
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