Page 73 of Bear's Heart

“Because there’s a million things I can’t do—”

“Not true.There are more things you can do than not do.You’re a remarkable human being, and you have everything I want in a person, a partner.You are everything I care about.You are smart, tough, compassionate, hard-working, honest, loyal, and gorgeous.I guess I’m allowed to be a little bit shallow.Your legs may not be working, Bear, but your face is.”

“Let’s cut to the chase.I can’t have sex.I can’t give you kids.I will have a lifetime of health complications, and I don’t want to put you through that.”

“If we wanted kids we could adopt.There’s lots of ways to be intimate without intercourse.And everyone has issues at different points in their life.Everyone has health problems.”

“It’s one thing to develop them later in a relationship.It’s another to start off a relationship with everything stacked against you.”

“I just don’t see it that way.”

“I appreciate your generous spirit, but when it comes to a relationship, both opinions matter, and my feelings on this are really strong.It’s not a little hang up.It’s a serious issue, and I’m not going to change my mind.”

She rose to go to him, but he rolled away.“Don’t touch me,” he gritted.

She flinched as if slapped but she held her ground, determined to fight.“We can work though this, Bear.If you give us a chance.”

“That’s just it.I’m not going to give us a chance.I can’t do it.I won’t do it.”

“But Bear, I love you—”

“You don’t.”His voice was hard, ruthless.

“Why are you doing this?What’s happened?Something happened, because this morning everything was good.Last night, everything was great.”

He shrugged.“I was faking it.”

“You weren’t.I know you.”

“But that’s just it.You don’t know me.You don’t know me at all.”

She tossed her head back, jaw firm, tears shimmering in her eyes.“You’re an ass.”

“Exactly.Thatisme, the real me.Ask Savannah.She’ll tell you.I am selfish.I am hard.I am driven and self-absorbed and everything that is not good for you.I am not good for you, Josie, and I’m going to be honest, you are not good for me.”

“Why?”

“You’re too soft, too sweet, too innocent, too hopeful.Sweetheart, you are beautiful, and I have a thing for your face.I have a thing for your eyes and that mouth and everything about you.I’m turned on by your sweet little package and I could get lost in your body, but once I’ve had enough, once I’ve had my fill—” He broke off, shook his head.“I’ll still be Bear Anderson, and Bear Anderson only cares about Bear Anderson.I’m not father material.I’m not boyfriend material.I’m not husband material.I was a good lover—and that’s the one thing I can’t do anymore.So sorry, sweets, I have nothing for you.”

“You’re just afraid,” she choked.

He shrugged.“Maybe, or maybe I’ve finally grown a conscience—”

“You’ve had a conscience this entire time.You went out of your way to apologize to me after our bumpy first meeting!”

“Then maybe I’ve just wised up and realized that as fun as it was playing house with you, it’s not fun anymore.I like you.I enjoy your company.But I don’t love you.I won’t ever love you, and it’s better for us to make a clean break of it now, before things progress any further.”

“You want me to move out?”

“I think you should.”

Her lips parted and then closed.She glanced away and blinked, holding back the tears.“I’ll need a few days.Rye and Ansley are going to a wedding in Missoula this weekend but once Rye’s home…”

“Not a problem.I’m traveling myself.I leave for Austin in the morning.”

She looked at him puzzled.“Are you meeting Dillon Sheenan?”

“And some of his friends.It’s a week trip, I’ll be back by the weekend.”

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