Page 24 of His North Star
James knelt next to me, his voice in awe. “It’s amazing. Better than I remembered.”
“It really is.”
We stood side by side, admiring the waterfalls that rushed down the rocky slopes. The scenery grounded me. One day, my heart would heal. One day, I’d find love again. One day.
James grabbed his camera and took a panoramic shot before turning the camera on me. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get a selfie.”
I ran a hand over my hair, checking for any flyaways. He stretched one arm above us, his phone in hand. His other arm rested across my shoulders. I slipped my arm around his trim waist. We smiled, then turned back toward the lake after taking a few shots.
“Hey, that’s a great photo of us.” James stared at his phone before holding it out to me.
At a quick glance, we did look great together. As I lingered on my face, my smile wasn’t quite full. My eyes were a little tight. No way James would see those minute details. Ty probably would. Had Blake known me well enough to do so?
Stop thinking of him.He didn’t deserve it.
“Good job, Mr. Photographer,” I said.
“Hey,” Ty whispered urgently. “Come see this.”
My heart jumped to my throat.Please don’t be a bear.We walked to where Ty and Lys were. They pointed at something in the trees a few hundred yards ahead.
Leaves and bushes filled my view. “What are we looking at?” I asked uneasily.
Lys directed my gaze a little to the right. “Do you see that doe with her baby?”
Oh, thank goodness, it was not a bear. “Aww, they’re adorable,” I gushed.
“Do you think if we wandered up that way, we’d see a bear?” James asked excitedly.
“There’s a good chance,” Ty replied. “I’ve seen quite a few in Glacier, although not consistently or in the same spot.”
“Ty’s a bear magnet,” I said. “I’ve never seen one when hiking with my family. But the other three times—one of which was a grizzly—I was with Ty.”
Ty shrugged. “I always carry bear spray. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Living for twenty-six years in Flathead Valley, I should be used to the fact that bears loved the Rocky Mountains. Nope. My pulse quickened. “Regardless, I hope your bear magnet is broken today,” I said. The odds I’d be attacked were one in two million. Somehow I pegged myself to be that one. Especially with Ty’s track record.
“It would be awesome to see a bear,” James enthused.
Of course, Mr. Adrenaline Addict would say that.
Lys waved toward the path. “If you two want to go explore, go right ahead. I’ll stay here with Maren.”
“I’m game if you are,” James offered.
“Yeah, baby! Let’s do this,” Ty said.
Lys sighed. “Men, am I right?”
The guys sped away with too much enthusiasm. I chuckled. “For real. I don’t understand their fascination with seeing something dangerous.”
She flipped her hands up in anI don’t knowgesture. “For the thrill of it, I guess.”
“James did say he was an adrenaline junkie, so maybe.” I shrugged.
She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “What else have you and James been talking about?”
“Not much,” I hedged.
