Page 83 of Bear's Heart

“So, who is driving west with you?”

“Me.”

“That’s a long way.”

“I’ll play some good music.”

He struggled to put his feelings into words.The last thing he wanted to do was push her further away.“Should you feel like some company, I’d be happy to ride shotgun.Once in Seattle, I can book a flight home.”He hesitated.“Or hang out and explore with you.I used to love being on the road.It’d be fun to do a road trip with you.”

“What about your business?”

“There’s nothing I can do until the equipment arrives, and that’s at least another three weeks, possibly longer.”

Josie’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked away.“I’ve been so upset.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“It was all just so demoralizing.”She looked at him now, her pain evident, her emotions still so raw.“My mom was wrong,” she added huskily, “but you, you, Bear, were the worst.You kicked me to the curb.You said terrible things.”

Bear swallowed around the lump in his throat.“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever do that to me again—regardless of the reason.If you have something to say, be honest with me.Respect me enough to tell me the truth.”

“I was trying to protect you, but I know now that I failed.”

“You can protect me from the bad guys, but you can’t be the bad guy.”Her voice broke and the tears were falling again.“I trusted you, Bear.I trusted you more than I’ve trusted almost anyone.”

He tilted up the steering wheel and then reached over and scooped her up, settling her on his lap.His arms went around her, and he just held her to him, held her firmly, held her as though he’d never let her go again.

She turned her face to his chest, finding that spot between his neck and collarbones.He felt her tears on his skin and her breath through the fabric of his shirt.“You said you loved me.”

“I do.”

“How much?”

“To the moon and back.”

She hesitated.“Aren’t the stars farther?”

“Then to the stars and back.”

“What about the moon, can’t it be the stars and the moon—”

“And the sun, and every other galaxy there is.I love you that much, Josie.I love you forever, from now until the end.”

She sighed and relaxed against him.“I need you in my life, Bear.We make a good team.”

“We make a great team.”

Silence stretched.Josie drew a slow breath, her hand against his chest, just above his heart.“Savannah said we weren’t done.She said this was a blip and not like you.”

He looked down at her in surprise.“You went to Savannah for relationship advice?”

Josie laughed and gave his chest a warm pat.“No.She just happened to be at Rye’s house the night you kicked me out.She was a good listener that night.She was there when I needed a friend.”

Bear wrestled with his emotions and then smoothed Josie’s hair back from her brow and kissed her temple.“I’m glad.I should have been your friend that night.But since I wasn’t, I’m glad someone was there.I love you, my sweet Josie.Can we try this again?Is it too late to make it work?”

She snuggled closer.“Never too late.Just like its written in Corinthians.Love is patient, love is kind.Love never fails.”She looked up at him.“Our love won’t fail, either.”

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