Her body hummed with anticipation, but she raised an eyebrow, feigning skepticism. “Are you inviting me on a romantic wilderness getaway, Bollinger?”
Bear’s slow grin was dangerous, predatory in a way that made her insides liquefy. “Maybe.”
“After you’ve been flirting with another woman all night?” The words escaped before she could stop them.
He set his beer down and moved directly into her personal space, close enough that she could smell him—motor oil and pine and something darker, richer. “There’s only one woman in this bar I’m interested in flirting with.” His voice dropped lower. “That nurse wasnother.”
“She certainly seemed to like flirting with you.” Joy cringed inwardly at how petulant she sounded.
“Doesn’t change how I feel.” Bear’s eyes were intense, unwavering. “Doesn’t change that you’re the one I want to take into the woods.”
Heat pooled low in her belly. Joy tried to maintain her glare, despite the smile threatening to break through. “Fine. I’ll go. But if we get eaten by a bear, I’m blaming you.”
He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. His voice was a rough whisper that sent electricity racing through her veins.
“Sweetheart, I am the bear.”
Oh man, she was in trouble.
Chapter15
The rhythmic crunch of their boots against the packed dirt trail was the only sound between them for a while, each step marking their journey deeper into the forest. The crisp air carried every breath, every small shift of their gear, wrapping around them like a cocoon of solitude.
Bear stole another glance at Joy. This impromptu trip hadn’t been in his plans, but when the suggestion left his mouth yesterday, he knew instinctively it was exactly what they needed. He was willing to give Joy all the time she required to heal, even if that meant sleeping in that playhouse with her when she couldn’t make it up the stairs to his apartment—though his back had protested that damn cot something fierce.
The revelation had hit him last night: perhaps what they both needed was acompletely new space. Somewhere away from Oak Creek, away from curious eyes and hushed whispers. Somewhere that was just theirs.
“Nice day for a hike, isn’t it?” Bear broke the comfortable silence, adjusting the weight of his pack.
Joy huffed out a laugh, her breath forming a small cloud in the cool air. “You know we’re going to freeze our asses off, right? Sleeping in a tent?”
Bear bit back a grin, keeping his eyes deliberately fixed on the trail ahead. “Where’s the enthusiasm, Bug?”
“Just…” She stepped over a fallen branch with exaggerated care. “November camping? Not exactly a spa getaway. I thought the playhouse was bad enough.”
“No one said anything about a spa.” He kept his voice casual, fighting the smile that threatened to break through.
She shot him a sideways look, mischief flashing in her green eyes. “Oh? No hot stone massages waiting for me at the campsite?”
“I’m sure we can find some rocks to throw in the fire,” he deadpanned.
“Damn.” Joy kicked at a pinecone, sending it skittering across the path. “What about one of those fancy bathtubs with the jets? I’ve got a lot of tension in my shoulders.” She rolled them exaggeratedly as if proving a point.
Bear watched the movement, his fingers itching to help with that particular problem. “Just keep walking, Davis.”
The forest thickened around them, sunlight filtering through the branches and casting dappled golden patches along the trail. Bear had always loved this section of the woods—secluded but not too remote, peaceful without feeling isolated. The familiar territory grounded him, while the company made it feel new.
He glanced back at Joy to find her steps gradually becoming looser, more fluid. The rigid tension that had been locked in her shoulders for weeks was visibly melting away with each mile they covered. Out here, away from everything, she was already starting to relax, to breathe more deeply.
“You want to lead for a bit?” he offered. “Stretch your legs?”
Joy moved ahead of him, her smile more genuine than he’d seen in weeks. “You sure you can keep up, old man?”
“Watch yourself, kid.”
She laughed—really laughed—the sound echoing through the trees before she pushed ahead, her ponytail swinging with each determined step, setting a pace that challenged him to follow.
The trees began to thin as they approached the last incline, and the sound of rushing water grew louder, announcing their destination before they could see it. Bear felt an unfamiliar weight of anticipation settle in his chest. He wasn’t sure why he was nervous—this place was solid, built with his own hands—but Joy’s opinion suddenly mattered more than it should.
