Page 34 of Bear's Heart

“Fun?”

“We’re friends.We have a good time together.”

Ansley didn’t appear convinced.She kept studying Josie, as if waiting for her to crack.“Rye thought—and he could be wrong—he is a man after all.But Rye thought you might have a crush on Bear.”

Josie had two options.Be honest or keep pretending that Rye and Ansley had it awrong.“I might,” she carefully admitted.“It’s hard not to be a little smitten.He’s smart.Gorgeous.Successful.”

“And how does he feel about you?”

She sighed.“Brotherly?”

“You’re sure?”

Josie nodded.“He said I remind him of his sister Susie.”

“So, he keeps an eye on you.He’ll keep you safe.”

“Absolutely.”Josie could tell Ansley was relieved.Josie wasn’t sure how she felt.“But if I’m being perfectly honest, mycrushis one of the reasons I thought it’d be good to get out in the evenings and weekends.It’s why I’d love to work in your gallery.I don’t want to just be hanging around the house every evening and weekend.It’s a small house, and one day it’ll be a charming house, but I do need a social life, and if I’m working in your gallery, I’m going to be meeting people and having something to do.”Besides crush on Bear.

“Are you sure that moving in with Bear is the right next step for you?It’s kind of a big step.”

“That sounds really weird when you put it that way.I’m renting a room from him—more or less.There’s no torrid affair.”

“He’s still a mature single man, and your family is pretty conservative.”

“No more conservative than your family, and definitely no more protective than your brothers.Poor Rye having to face down the five Campbell brothers at one time.”

Ansley grinned, obviously enjoying the memory.“I was very impressed at how well he handled them.But then, Rye never shows fear.”

“Probably because he’s not afraid of anything—except something happening to you.”

Ansley’s expression softened, turning tender.“I am madly in love with that man.He wasn’t as convinced that we would work.Fortunately, I had you and Hannah on my side.”

“Always.”Josie reached across the table and gave Ansley’s hand a quick squeeze.“Now I have a talented sister that’s going to put me to work.Right?”

“When do you want to start?”

“A week from today?Next Saturday?”

“I open at noon.”

*

Bear’s little housein Marietta was coming along nicely.His bathroom was nearly done.The new appliances were installed in the kitchen and the tiny, enclosed porch at the back of the house had become the new laundry room.She’d insisted the washer and dryer slide into their new spot without a frame or box beneath, and then had a slab of marble installed over the appliances, giving Bear a solid work surface for sorting laundry or folding clothes.Josie was also careful to document every step and decision for her program.

Her bedroom was ready for her to move in.Rye knew she would soon be moving, but her parents didn’t yet know.She hadn’t yet broken the news to them, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.But with her moving out of her studio in just days, it was time to share her plans, and she had to do it face-to-face.

Josie made arrangements to have dinner with them on Thursday night, offering to bring their favorite Italian dishes—cheese ravioli with meat sauce, lasagna, baked rigatoni—plus garlic bread and a bottle of red wine.

Her mother had set the table and Jasper, slumped sideways in his electric chair, used his laptop to show Josie the courses he would be taking at Gallatin College in the fall.“I might need an aide,” he said, struggling to form sentences.

Josie knew not to hurry him because eventually he’d get the words out, and even if they weren’t clear to strangers, she understood them.

“The school said they could help me maybe,” he added.

“I’m excited for you.You’ve wanted to go to college for a long time.”

“I’ve taken classes online but it’s not the same.”

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