Sam let out a snicker, and the sound released some of the tension in my gut. Maybe he didn’t completely hate me yet. “Will do.”
“Let’s find someone local to fix this. Ask that guy at the town hall—what’s his name? The one we talked to when I bought the land.”
“Oliver Klondike.”
“That’s the guy. He seemed reasonable. Ask him who he’d recommend. The bears must have someone building their houses and renovating their bathrooms, right?”
“Sure, boss. On it.”
“I don’t mind paying extra for speed. And if they’re good, we let them finish everything.”
Straightening his shoulders, Sam moved toward the door. “Excellent. I’ll book rooms for you and two guys from security at the B&B, then.”
“No. It’s just going to be me.”
Sam paused with his hand on the handle. “But, Laurel…”
“I need a break, Sam. The whole point of my being here in the first place is that I need a fucking break. Book the damned B&B from the roof to the basement, but it’s only going to be me.”
“I recommend security staying in town, at least.”
“And force them to camp out here without running water and a toilet?” I gestured at the mess on the floor with both hands.
“You should reconsider. Remember that time at the Frankfurt airport when someone shared a pic of you? It took barely ten minutes for a mob to form.”
“That was an international airport with a bazillion strangers. This is Beauville. The bears don’t want attention any more than I do. Book hotel rooms in Green Peaks for all of you. Get yourself a nice suite with a hot tub.”
“It’s a two-hour drive, Laurel.” But he already looked resigned. Sam knew I was determined to get my way. Worst case, he’d get the satisfaction of saying “I told you so” again. He seemed to enjoy it when that happened.
“I’m going to take the risk. I want to be left in peace.”
As much peace as I could have in Montgomery’s house.
The last time I stayed there, I had been all over the place, full of anxious energy from the tour and rattled by what was happening to Calvin. On top of that, Jordy, with that weird, enigmatic vibe surrounding his massive body, had me squirming. And even Monty was hot as hell when he shut up for a second. Those round muscles and twinkling brown eyes—I gotwhy some omegas chased after bear shifters. I had felt this little tickle in my belly every time I bumped into one of them in the narrow halls of the B&B.
Well, I was safe fromthatnow, at least. My libido was as good as dead. I barely masturbated anymore. “You have extraordinarily high stress levels, Laurel, you shy away from human connection, you’re terrified of intimacy, and you approach everyone with suspicion…”I could hear my therapist’s bored voice in my head like a recording. The poor guy was tired of going through the same bullshit with me over and over without any progress.
After the chunky investment I’d made into my mental health, I was just as cranky and anxious as when we’d started. Knowing what was wrong with me was one thing… Fixing it? A whole ’nother beast to tackle.
That was why I’d bought the land in Beauville. The mountains would heal me. Eventually. Once I had a home here with a flushable toilet.
Ugh.
I left Sam to his own devices and went to repack my luggage. My brand-new hiking clothes, comfy hoodies, pajamas, and two pairs of jeans—I wouldn’t need much.
Only one week at the B&B. Just one extra week of sleeping in a strange bed at a place that wasn’t home.
It wouldn’t be too bad. I could go on hikes, read, and listen to music while staring at the mountaintops from the balcony. The small top-floor room I’d stayed in last time was a far cry from the “suite” Monty called it, but the view was spectacular.
Monty and Jordy would surely be too busy with the pub to bug me. Not that Jordy had ever said more than two words to me. And even though Monty was a talker, if I was clear with him that I wanted to be left alone, he’d listen. I hoped. He wouldn’ttrail two steps behind me, day in and day out, like my security would.
When I emerged from my would-be bedroom with a suitcase for one week, I was determined to make the best out of this debacle.
“I’ve booked the B&B,” Sam said when I met him in the living room. “They’ll be ready for you. Mr. Wolf sounded excited to be of service.”
“Excited, huh?”Oh Lord.
“I made it clear you need complete privacy. It’s low season now, so he assured me there won’t be any other guests on the property. Are you sure you don’t want any of the guys to stay with you?”
