Page 48 of Bear's Heart

What was wrong with her?How selfish could she be?

So no, he wasn’t happy Savannah was in his house, but he was gone tomorrow, which meant she’d be gone tomorrow.

He’d been reminding her daily that she needed a plan, and a place to go, but she was stalling, and he suspected she was still holding out for a chance to move with him to Marietta.That was most definitely not happening, but she didn’t seem to believe him, which was her way of getting what she wanted.

Savannah nearly always got what she wanted.

On the plus side, the Cahill family from LA were leasing the house furnished which made it easy for him to leave tomorrow.Bear just needed to finish packing his clothes, toiletries and essentials.Most of his things were already shoved in duffel bags and a couple boxes, ready to be loaded into the back of his truck.

“The cleaning crew are coming in the morning at ten thirty,” he told Savannah Thursday afternoon when she wandered into the kitchen in a barely there robe, which meant barely covered her assets, and her hair in a high messy ponytail.“You’ll need to be completely out by the time they arrive.Is that going to be an issue?”

“Can’t I get a later check out?”she asked, reaching into the refrigerator for a bottle of bubbly water.

“I’ve promised the cleaning service that the house will be theirs when their staff get here.That’s the agreement.”

“But why can’t we be here while they’re here?Couldn’t they skip my room until the end?No hotel check in is until at least three o’clock.”

Bear just stared at her.

She didn’t flinch.“What am I supposed to do for five hours, Bear?Where do I go until then?”

“I didn’t invite you to Montana.”

“You’re so cold.”

“I have a lot going on.Maybe that’s rude, but it’s the truth.I can’t take care of you.I can’t babysit you.You’re not my responsibility.”He looked her in the eye and held her gaze.“You should call Noah’s parents and tell them what’s going on, and I know they’ll help you.They’ll be far more sympathetic to your situation than I am.”

“And if I don’t?”

He shrugged.“Then you’re on your own.”

He started to leave the kitchen, but Savannah stepped in front of him blocking his exit.“Will you let me talk to your roommate?The girl who isn’t your girlfriend?”Savannah asked.“Can I introduce myself to her and see what she thinks?She might like me.She might not object… not if you’re both friends.”

“I object.Isn’t that enough?”

“I just need a bed.I need somewhere safe to sleep.That’s all I want, all I need.Give me a week to figure out my next steps.I’ve been too down, too sad to think clearly.”She hesitated, tears filling her eyes.“I miss Noah.I miss his calls.I miss his voice.I miss knowing someone loved me.”

“Did you love him, Savannah?”

“I was growing to love him.He and I were different from you and me—”

“We don’t need to go there.”

“Just saying it was a different relationship.”

Bear’s jaw worked.“He adored you, and I didn’t, right?”

Her slender shoulders twisted.“He put me first.”

Whereas Bear hadn’t.He exhaled slowly.“I’ll ask Josie if she’s open to meeting you, but if she isn’t, you are on your own.And even if she does, that doesn’t mean she’ll want you in the house.”

Savannah straightened, instantly on guard.“Why not?What did you tell her about me?”

“Nothing.But if she knew, she wouldn’t think it’s appropriate to have you in the house with us.I don’t think it’s appropriate, but Noah was a good friend of mine, and whatever I do for you is because of my loyalty to him.”He reached out and used his arm to gently but firmly push her back so he could escape.

Twenty minutes later, Bear was still feeling trapped and restless, and he decided to head to Marietta and go to his house.It was his house after all, and he was moving in tomorrow so why not see it today?

Mick jumped into the truck, sitting in the passenger seat while Bear popped the tires off his wheelchair, loaded those behind him, and then leaned his seat back to put the frame over his shoulder in the backseat.Once the chair was in, and he was buckled up, he set off, glad to be getting away from the ranch—and Savannah.

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