Page 57 of Bear's Heart

“No, you are.Much nicer than me.”

“I don’t find it hard to be nice.”

“I do.”Savannah grimaced.“Being nice is so difficult.Makes me want to throw up a little bit.Not everywhere.Just in my mouth.”

Josie nearly smiled, but she suppressed it.Savannah was so ridiculous and yet there was also something… something… about her.“I accept your apology, but, Savannah, I think it’s highly unlikely we’re going to be friends.

“I get that, and totally respect that.It might not surprise you, but I don’t have a lot of friends.Women don’t love me.Or even like me very much.”

Josie gave her a pointed look.“Maybe if you were nicer?”

Savannah winced.“I deserve that.”

Josie set the large serving spoon down.“I’m going to be honest.I’m not sure how I feel about you staying at my brother’s house.Is that a long-term thing, or…”

Savannah flushed.“Your brother and Ansley have been really good to me.”

“They’re good people.”

“Ansley has been helping me find a place and tomorrow I’m going with her to her brother’s in Paradise Valley.He’s living on the Campbell family ranch—”

“You’re going to move in with Lachlan?”Josie asked incredulously.

“I don’t remember his name.She has a lot of brothers.But whoever is living there has to return to Texas for a little bit, and I’m supposed to keep an eye on the house and her uncle.”Savannah must have seen Josie’s stricken expression because she hastily added.“The uncle has professional caregivers.I’m not doing nursing duty.Ansley thought it would be good for me to be there as back up.”

“Are you going to be okay in such a remote place?There’s no one around except for the Wyatts, and they’re pretty busy with their own family.”

Savannah shrugged.“I’m getting paid.It’s basically a house-sitting job and that’s better than nothing.”

Josie returned to dishing up the last two crisps.“Bear told me you had an entire summer of concerts lined up.Big shows every weekend and smaller venues midweek.”

“They’re not glamorous.”

“Most work isn’t glamorous.”Josie took in the shadows beneath Savannah’s eyes and the sadness in her gaze.Savannah wasn’t as tough as she sounded.If anything, she was pretty much a mess.“And I’d think that constantly traveling and performing is grueling, no matter the size of the audience.”

“True.”Savannah’s mouth quirked.“Which is why I’m happy to make a little money staying put.A couple weeks house sitting in the mountains sounds pretty ideal to me.”

Chapter Twelve

With Savannah settleda thirty-minute drive from Marietta on the Campbell’s Cold Canyon Ranch for the next couple of weeks, Josie finally began to relax and enjoy the house and what was left of her summer.Happily, it was proving to be the best summer she could remember.

There was so much to do in Marietta and she and Bear enjoyed checking out all the restaurants and bars and weekend farmer’s markets.On the nights that Josie didn’t work at Ansley’s gallery, she and Bear would hang out, or go do something fun, whether it was a movie, or a meal, or to listen to music in Bozeman.They always went Dutch, because Josie valued her independence, and Bear was not responsible for her.He was her friend, and she was determined to be a good friend to him, which meant keeping a tight rein on her emotions, and her deepening feelings, as well as her attachment to him.

She loved working at the gallery.Josie was good at it, too, and sold more pieces than Ansley did, probably because she had no self-consciousness about discussing Ansley’s talent.Ansley was extraordinary, young, and would be a huge name one day.Her work was an investment and collectors would be wise to buy her pieces now, while they were relatively affordable.

Josie met a lot of tourists working at the gallery, but then there were the locals and serious art collectors who traveled to Marietta just to see Ansley’s work.Some shoppers wanted Josie’s opinion—which painting would look best in a particular room—while others wanted nothing from her, making it very clear that they were merely looking and didn’t need any assistance.

Bear would often pop in on Thursday nights, since it was the one night during the work week that the gallery stayed open until ten o’clock.He’d bring her an iced tea or a snack and would stay and visit if there was no one in the gallery.If she was busy, he’d leave the treat for her behind the elegant little counter and look around the gallery before leaving.

Tonight, he didn’t rush away despite the gallery having several different groups of people shopping.As she answered questions one couple had about Ansley’s work, Josie watched Bear from the corner of her eye.He was slowly rolling around the exhibit, spending most of his time in front of the Montana landscapes.She also loved the Montana mountains and valleys, as well as the paintings featuring the various rivers in all of Montana’s seasons.

She was glad Bear was lingering.She liked having him here.He always made her feel safe and protected.She also found comfort in his company, even if they weren’t speaking.Josie secretly hoped that Bear would stay longer.They’d both been busy this week and hadn’t spent as much time together as they had.

*

Bear had swungby the gallery tonight to say hello to Josie, and then he was going to leave and try to get some reading done at home.But once he entered the gallery, Bear had no desire to go.He felt restless tonight, a little bored, a little irritable and he suspected it had to do with not seeing much of Josie this week.

He missed her.He missed talking and making her laugh.He missed her lovely face and those eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled.Tonight, she wore a simple lilac summer dress.It was fitted but had classic lines, and with her long, dark hair and stunning eyes she took his breath away.There was a part of him that thought of her as his—his girl, his woman, his heart—but at the same time, it wasn’t realistic, and he did his best to tamp down the thoughts and all the frustrating emotions.

---