JOY
Turns out that Bear is very good at keeping a polite veneer firmly in place when he's uncomfortable. I watch with amusement as he insists the Mayor give out the ribbons. His "oh shucks, I'm not important" attitude is adorable, even though the look in his eyes says something very different.
I sit with him off to the side during the actual award presentation, studying his expression. From the stories we've shared over the past few days, it's clear that he loves his family, but doesn’t love being known as a member of it. I can already tell he detests being the center of attention.
When the official festivities are over, Bear returns to me with a pained frown. "I'm sorry, there are a bunch of people who are going to want to talk to me now. If you want to get out of here, I can make up an emergency."
He’s clearly not happy about the prospect, but there's already three people standing a few feet away, eager to talk to him. I lean close. "I think it's sexy to see a huge guy being so sweet. This contest obviously means a lot to the women who hold the community together, and getting to meet you is going to make their day."
He blinks sharply, his warm brown eyes locking with mine. Instantly his grumpy demeanor dissolves into a smile. "Thank you for understanding."
We've been keeping any physical contact as low-key as possible, but now he reaches out to lift my hand and kiss it. It's an adorable gesture that tells everyone at the event that we’re together. I smile, trying not to let him see how I'm trembling inside.
"You go do your thing. I'm going to go grab some lemonade. Want some?"
He nods, slipping me a twenty and then squaring his shoulders, steeling himself as he turns to the gathering crowd. "Mrs. Ableton! Lovely to see you again…"
There are a few empty chairs between the lemonade and coffee stations. I sit and pull out my phone to search the Wolfe family. This is the first chance I've really gotten to take a proper look without Bear being around.
Once I begin reading, my eyes almost bug out of my head. The family history…the businesses…the way they sponsor anything the towns need… Even the local fire department is funded in large part by “anonymous donors”, which everyone knows is the Wolfe family.
It takes a moment, then I find a family tree showing Bear's father and his three brothers, and all their sons. Some of Bear’s cousins just expanded a school. They repair the roads and sponsor libraries. Fully half the mountain is flourishing because his family just keeps investing back in the area, a dynasty of hardworking do-gooders.
It's inspirational.
Glancing across the room, I choke back a giggle to see him surrounded by middle-aged women. Two of them are trying to get him to try more desserts, even though he's holding up his hands in self-defense. It would be comical, except for thegenuine discomfort in his eyes. His jaw is tight on one side, even though he's forcing a smile.
I'm strangely proud of him for keeping it together as he plays the part. Good to know that he steps up. I just hope I can find ways to step up for him as well.
"Hello there!" a woman blurts, surprising me. I nearly drop my phone.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry." She smiles sweetly. "I'm Eileen." She's brunette, possibly in her early forties, with that outdoorsy, comfortable country vibe that many of the women around here have.
Jumping to my feet, I shake her hand. "Joy. Lovely to meet you."
"It’s wonderful to meet anyone who makes Emerick so happy." She beams, a twinkle in her eye. "The three brothers in that branch of the family rarely come out to this kind of thing."
"Well, to be fair, he's not a baker. I think he wasn’t sure he was a good choice to act as judge."
"Are you kidding me? Some of his descriptions were perfect." She takes a step closer and her voice drops. "He seemed a bit grouchy about it at first,” she murmurs. “But you managed to make him snap out of it and sorted out his notes. Thank you for that."
"I'm very happy to help."
A sudden surge of people creates a line in front of the coffee station, so we shift over, turning slightly. "I don't mean to pry, but…" Her eyes sparkle. "Are you his girlfriend?"
Swallowing hard, I suppress everything I want to say.I’d love to be his girlfriend. I want to be his girlfriend someday. I'm falling for him so hard and can't imagine life without him, even though we've only been together a few days.
But I know anything I tell her will spread like wildfire, and Bear is so private that I can't do that to him.
Exhaling slowly, I find my voice. "We're…just friends. He wanted a woman's opinion on the baked goods to help him out."
Her face falls for a split second before she pastes on her bright smile again. "Well, that's nice. Please do tell him how much we appreciate him coming by today."
She joins the coffee line, as I turn away…and directly into a broad chest wearing a dark button-down shirt.
Bear’s jaw is clenched. Like his shoulders. And the fists at his side.
Crap. He must have heard every word.
