Page 12 of Bear's Heart

“You’ll get that here.”Rye’s tone was ironic.“There aren’t a lot of people out this way.”

“I have found it rather remote.”

“Did your girl move back with you?”

Bear shook his head.“No.I moved back on my own.And there is no girl,” he smiled grimly.“Or woman.Just me.”

“This house is certainly big for one person.”

“It’s big for two people.I only use a couple rooms here.No point hanging onto it, not when someone else could enjoy it.I certainly don’t enjoy it.”

“Would you enjoy it more if it were accessible?Put in an elevator, get those necessary changes to your master bedroom and bathroom.”

“No.I built this for my fiancé.We made a lot of decisions together.I wanted the great room’s wall of windows and the wood—the hundred-year-old barn beams and flooring.She was all about size and the finishes, bigger, better, more luxurious.So, it has both of us here.I’m the timber and rustic wood.Savannah’s the expensive finishes and additional six thousand feet no one needs.”

“But you agreed to her ideas.”

“I figured we would have a lot of kids.I always wanted a lot of kids.But that’s not going to happen a now, and this place just reminds me of a time, and a life, that no longer exists.”

“You have to get out of here in that case.I wouldn’t stay either.”Rye sipped his coffee.“But if you are hoping to lease this place, or one day sell it, you’ll want to make a few repairs.I’m not suggesting I need to do the work.In fact, I’m pretty slammed during the summer months, but that bathroom of yours and the bedroom have seen better days.The walls and doors are scuffed, and there’s a place the drywall looks like something hit it—”

“Me.”

Rye grinned.“I wasn’t going to say it.But once you get the new bathroom door in, I can recommend some painters and they can come in and do the necessary touch ups.”He hesitated.“If you’re tempted to stay, I’d suggest replacing the vanity and the shower, making it a roll-in shower.But if you’re serious about leaving, don’t spend the money.Just give it a refresh so it doesn’t look like your walls and cabinets have been feuding with your chair.”

“Oh, they have.My casters make contact with virtually everything, every day.”

“Our old house up in Eureka was the same.Between my dad’s chair and my brothers chair—”

“Your dad’s in a chair?”

“He had a roofing accident.Broke his back.Happened about ten years ago.”

“That’s rough.”

“It is what it is.”

“No wonder your sister said she’s passionate about accessible design.”

“My dad’s accident was hard on her… hard on all of us, but especially her.She’d always been a daddy’s girl and seeing him so changed turned her into a warrior, determined to make things better—for as many people as she can.”

“She’s certainly something.”

“Josie can be a lot,” Rye said ruefully.

“That’s not what I meant.Your sister is…” Bear hesitated.“She’s young.And confident.”And ridiculously pretty, he added silently.

“Ambitious,” Rye added.“As well as passionate about design.”

“Nashville is full of beautiful ambitious women, but your sister is different.”

“Maybe it’s because she doesn’t have a lot of ego.”Rye shrugged.“Hard to be cocky when you’re considered the poor family in town.”

“That bad?”

“After Dad couldn’t work, it got pretty grim for a number of years.Happily, we’re all doing better now.Moving from Eureka to Park County was a good decision for the entire family.”

“There are more of you?”

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