Page 22 of My Forever Bear

I peer over my shoulder at him in confusion before slowly turning my head. Sucking in a gasp, the sight before me is truly awe-inspiring.

The sound of rushing water below us fills my ears. My eyes trail a path across the clear, blue water to rest upon brilliant fall foliage. Trees of every color stretch for miles along the shoreline. Yellows and oranges shine brighter than the sun. Deep, bold reds pop against the remaining green leaves.

Each hue reflects off the surface of the water, creating a mirror image, the rippling colors reminiscent of a painter's brush strokes. It's almost like the world is on fire with the amount of reds and oranges filling the trees.

Closing my eyes, I tip my head back against Kiernan’s chest, letting the autumn sun warm my skin. Each breath fills my lungs with clean, crisp mountain air. It’s invigorating.

“It’s really amazing here. So beautiful,” I murmur, opening my eyes.

“It sure is.” His lips move against the side of my neck. He nips playfully at my flesh.

“Thank you for letting me stay,” I whisper, turning in Kiernan’s embrace until I can see his whiskey eyes.

They burn like the fiery reds and oranges of the forest. Pure, unconditional affection.

“Wren,” he sighs.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, too overwhelmed by his gaze, I bury my face in his neck. I breathe in his warm cedar scent, knowing it will calm my runaway heartbeat.

“I know,” I whisper against the skin of his neck. Placing a gentle kiss against the flesh, I break the trance. “You still owe me a tour.”

His laughter rings through the air as I scurry back to the truck. Before I admit big feelings way too soon.

“Alright, sweet girl, let’s go.”

After our pit stop, Kiernan drives back to Cypress Valley. The ride is quiet, but not tense. I’m processing some big feelings and imagine he is, too. The look in his eyes earlier has me wondering if he’s falling as hard as I am.

The truck brakes squeal, pulling me from my thoughts. We roll to a stop in front of a greenhouse on the main road.

With furrowed brows, I stare up at Kiernan. “A greenhouse?”

He brings our joined hands to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back of my knuckles. My heart flutters at the soft display of affection.

“Come on, Lilac,” he teases, “Time for you to meet the boys.” In the next blink, he’s out of the truck and rounding the front. Stepping up to the passenger side, Kiernan opens my door and offers me his hand.

“Such a gentleman,” I joke, a slight flush coating my cheeks as I take his hand and climb out of the truck. “How many other people live here?”

Not missing a beat, Kiernan clasps our hands together again and tugs me toward the entrance to the greenhouse. Looking across the dirt road, there are three other cabins and some picnic tables surrounding a fire pit.

“Currently, there are five of us. Like I said before, Reese was already here when he found me five years ago. The others have trickled in over the past few years.”

“Did Reese build all of this?”

With a nod, his eyes lock with mine, lips curving into a wistful smile. “This is an old Boy Scout campground. It had been abandoned and in rough shape when Reese bought the land. He hired a crew to fix the place up and build the two cabins further up the mountain.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of his own cabin. “Reese’s cabin is more of a mansion,” he chuckles. “It’s further up the mountain from my place.”

I nod as he continues, “The three cabins here,” he points across the road, “are for newcomers. Only two are currently occupied.”

Stopping in front of the greenhouse, which I now realize is connected to another smaller cabin. “And this is Tyler’s pride and joy. Let’s go introduce you.”

“Hello, beautiful. I haven’t seen you around before.” I look up into a set of emerald green eyes dancing with mischief.

“Tyler,” Kiernan growls in warning, stepping closer to my side, resting a possessive hand on my lower back.

“Chill out, man. I know she’s yours. You practically pissed on her with how much she reeks of your scent.” The man, Tyler, chuckles under his breath, but Kiernan doesnotseem amused. Clenching his jaw tight, he glares daggers at Tyler.

“Yeah, and don’t you forget it, knucklehead,” Kiernan grunts out, his deep voice echoing in the quiet greenhouse. I’ve never seen this possessive side of him. I’m not sure if I’m turned on or… yeah, definitely turned on.

Voice tight, Kiernan extends his hand across the greenhouse toward Tyler. “Wren, this asshat is Tyler.”

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