Page 8 of Bear's Heart

“I’d never break your heart,” Aiden vowed, a hand to his chest.

Josie laughed again and, still shaking her head, disappeared through the door to the upstairs apartments.Aiden was gorgeous but young, way too young, and she wasn’t looking for a relationship anyway.She was enrolled full-time at the college and working full-time, which meant there was no time for a social life.Besides, she was too serious for most guys she’d met in Bozeman.They wanted to hang out and have fun and she was trying to change the world, make it a better place for everyone.Which was why Josie had always been that odd Calhoun girl with the weird purple eyes and even weirder family.

The labels didn’t bother her anymore.She was who she was, and it didn’t matter if she didn’t fit in.Maybe she wasn’t supposed to fit in but do something important, and if that was the case, then she was doing just fine.

Josie sat down on her thrift store loveseat which she’d recovered herself and pulled her laptop from her bag, preparing to jump on her homework when she spotted a text in Messages on her computer.

Josie, this is Bear Anderson.Thanks for coming out to my place, and I appreciate your input but I’m going a different direction.Sorry to have wasted your time today.

Josie sighed, not entirely surprised by his decision, but disappointed nonetheless.She’d wanted to work with him—not just because Bear needed help—but she’d been excited by the project, one which would have fulfilled the requirements for her program.

She was getting so close to being out of school and finally being able to pursue the jobs that interested her, rather than the ones Neil and Melissa assigned her.

But she’d made it this far.She’d find a way to fulfill her program requirements without Bear.She just needed to focus and spread the word.Perhaps it was time to reach out to some of the senior homes in Park County and see if any of them were open to her donating her services… if they could pay for the materials.

Josie put away her phone without rereading Bear’s message, but it stayed with her, and it gave her a prickly feeling in her middle.Excitement and nerves and a tingly awareness that couldn’t possibly be attraction.

She’d only just met him, too.Worse, she hadn’t been attracted to anyone in years.What was it about him?

It couldn’t be his beautiful face.Or those massive shoulders.Or the tan muscular forearms.

No, she wasn’t that shallow.

Her attraction went deeper.She was drawn to something internal, a toughness that came with battle scars.She shouldn’t be drawn to scars—real or imaginary—but Josie didn’t always do the expected thing.She had a long history of doing what everyone thought she shouldn’t do.

Maybe Bear going a different direction with his house was a blessing in disguise.But first—before she moved on—there was something she had to do.Whether he liked it or not.

She called her brother Rye, hoping he’d be free to pick up, and he did.

“What’s up, Jo?”he asked, answering.

“Rye, I need a favor, and it’s a big one.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“No.No, it’s a work thing, and I’m trying to pull off a miracle, and you’re the only one who can make it happen.”

“I’m not particularly good with miracles, Josie, especially this time of year.I’m slammed.”

“I know.And I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really need you.”

“Can it wait a couple weeks?”

“No.”

“Josie, this is when I make my money.”

“I know, but it’s important, Rye.Trust me.”

“I do trust you, but I’ve promised the Gradys we’d be finished with their kitchen by the weekend.”

“Haven’t they changed their mind on the layout three times?Different stone, different stove, different windows?And didn’t they expect you to absorb the cost for the mistake she made with the stone?”

Rye exhaled on a growl.“So, what’s the emergency?Did you break something?”

“No, but you will be.I need you to widen a door.Fortunately, it’s an interior door and I was hoping you could swap the interior door for one that’s wider.”

Rye sighed.“So where am I going?”

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