Carl cringes. The people around us shake their heads and make tut-tut noises.
“Now,” Bear continues sternly, “we can start fresh. You can try to be a better brother. I’m determined to be the best boyfriend I can, which includes Joy living with me – above ground, with light and fresh air. You good with that?”
My brother looks around nervously at everyone staring, as if he’s about to run for it. “Yeah. Sure.”
Bear stares into my brother’s eyes for what feels like a very long time. Then his shoulders drop. He leans closer and murmurs, “Joy said you want to be a vet. There’s a scholarshipprogram I know about that will pay for everything. If you live around here, odds are pretty good you’ll get it. Text her tomorrow and we’ll send the info.”
“Oh. Um. Thank you.” Carl steps back. “Joy, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. I really am.”
“Okay. See you, uh, soon.” He takes off toward his car at a brisk walk as the crowd dissolves, people still shaking their heads and whispering. This exchange could well be the talk of the town for the next few days.
Bear helps me into the truck. After he’s buckled in I ask, “What scholarship program?”
He grins with a wicked gleam in his eye. “The Wolfe family has some holding companies, and more than a few assistants. I can make one phone call, and they’ll fake a scholarship fund to give him a free education.”
“Wait… You can do that?”
“Nobody looks too hard at the details when people are handing them piles of money,” he snorts. “One of the truly fun parts of being a Wolfe is that our family finances anything that will help people. And we need more veterinarians around here. Boom.”
He threads his fingers through mine. “I mean, is that okay with you? It will keep him out of your hair and make this mountain a better place.”
“Yes. More than okay.” I lean over to kiss his cheek. “Even when you’re grouchy at my jerk brother, you’re still looking out for the people around here.”
He spins his head to catch my lips against his in a quick, fiery kiss.
“I’m a Wolfe, sugar. It’s what we do.”
19
BEAR
Ido some of my best thinking while driving, so it's no wonder that my mind is spinning as I drive Joy back to my house. Orourhouse, as I’m already thinking of it. I haven't told her that yet, of course.
I'm still learning how to be in a relationship, but I think I'm going to have to start speaking up about a lot of things. After we discuss what to make for dinner tonight out of what's in the fridge, because neither of us feels like dealing with the grocery store again today, I reach over to squeeze her knee.
"By the way… This house was designed by a guy, for a guy. It probably needs a woman's touch in many ways. Please feel free to start thinking about anything you want to change."
Joy looks over at me in surprise. "What? I'm not going to start changing your house."
"Well, see, that's a problem. Because I'm already thinking about you living here permanently. And I have to say…” I take her hand and lean a bit closer to place it in the center of my chest. "It makes a little thumping gurgle happen right here."
She bursts out laughing. "Are you talking about…feelings?"
"Grrr." I shoot her a look. "I can’t call them gurgles?"
"No."
"Dammit. Okay then."
Once we're parked in my driveway, I take Joy's hand and walk around the house to the back. The light is just beginning to fade in the yard. A sharp crescent moon is almost directly overhead, with a few wisps of cloud off to the east.
Clasping Joy's hands, I drop to a knee and look up into her startled blue eyes. "Yes, I'm a grumpy loner who avoids most people and doesn't express his feelings very often. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have them.”
I kiss the back of her hands, and her entire expression lights up when I smile. "I love you, Joy."
She freezes, eyes wide, mouth open.
