Page 13 of Hero Mine

She gave him a half smile, tugging her towel tighter around her shoulders. “I’m not sure I’m much of afunkind of person right now.” Maybe not ever again. “I don’t want to make things weird. You know how people look at me now.”

Bear’s grip tightened just a fraction, his thumb brushing against her hip bone. “They’re not thinking about that. You know what they’re thinking when they look at you? That you’re strong. That you’re still Joy. And they’re glad you’re here.”

She scoffed, the sound weak, but the sincerity in his tone hit her somewhere deep.

“Fine, I’ll stay for a bit. But I’m hanging out over there, though,” she said finally, nodding toward a tree near the edge of the clearing.

Bear grinned, his brown eyes warm. “All right, shadows it is.” He gently steered her to the tree, laying his towel down in front of it so they could sit on it and lean against the bark. The crackling bonfires and lively chatter carried over the night air. Nobody would see them unless they were really looking. It was perfect.

“So,” Bear said, bumping her shoulder lightly, “on a scale of one to ten, how much did that jump remind you of being a daredevil teenager again?”

“Probably a seven,” she said with a smirk. “The cold water knocked off a few points.”

“Amari looked like she was having the time of her life. I’m shocked she didn’t try to drag her parents off the high ledge.”

Joy laughed softly. “Dorian and Ray are adventurous, but notthatadventurous. And honestly, I think they’re here more to support Amari than anything else.”

He nodded, his gaze drifting toward the bonfires. “Speaking of support, you know what would’ve been great here tonight?”

“What?”

“A food truck,” Bear said with a grin. “I know you said you’re not going the Tex-Mex route, but I think anything you decide on, you’d have a line a mile long.”

She wanted to tell Bear more than anyone about the changes she’d not only decided on but had already fully implemented in the truck. Bear had been part of this dream from the beginning.

Hell, he’d been the one to go with her when she’d been ready to buy it last year. He’d checked over the engine and bodywork to make sure it was a good investment. Then he’d been helping her with any elements she couldn’t do herself.

It wasn’t the attack that was keeping her from sharing details. The changes she’d made in the truck were going to be…unexpectedat best. Especially from Joy. Oak Creek was going to think it was completely out of character from her.

She’d changed from Tex-Mex to afancybrunchfood truck. Tacos were a more traditional way to go, but once Joy had really dug into what she wanted…that hadn’t been it.

She wanted stylish. She wanted refined. So, she’d changed the entire concept, and Velvet Mornings had been born. A rolling oasis of elegance—soft pastels, fresh flowers, and the irresistible scent of butter and espresso drifting through the air. She’d envisioned a place where the women of Oak Creek could sip mocktails, savor fluffy omelets, and indulge in thin crepes and golden, flaky pastries.

Feminine? Absolutely. But the food? It would be so damn good that even the gruff, battle-hardened Linear Tactical guys wouldn’t think twice about devouring it—dainty pastel plates and all.

Velvet Mornings would be impossible to miss—a bold splash of bright pink with light purple accents, equal parts charm and sophistication.

She knew Velvet Mornings would turn heads—maybe even shock the town. Charm and sophistication weren’t exactly qualities anyone associated with Joy. No, Oak Creek still saw her as the wild-child tomboy she’d always been, the girl more comfortable with skinned knees than delicate pastries. And no matter how much she changed, she wasn’t sure they’d ever see her any differently.

Case in point, the event here tonight. This was how people thought of her: doing wild and crazy things.

But still, Joy had been ready to show the town the hiddenotherside of herself, to prove she was more than the rough-and-tumble girl they knew. Velvet Mornings would be her way to do that.

She wouldforceOak Creek to see she was multifaceted.

But that had been before the attack. Before fear had sunk its claws into her, shredding whatever confidence she’d built. Now, the idea of debuting Velvet Morningsfelt as impossible as reclaiming the fearless girl she used to be.

What good was having all these different sides to herself when she couldn’t even hold the pieces together?

So, no, she wasn’t going to go into the food truck concept change with Bear. Not now. Hell, maybe not ever.

“Yeah.” She forced a smile. “Maybe next year. Maybe my food truck will be ready by then.”

Actually, she could already see it… The items she offered for the Polar Plunge would be a little less fancy than her normal fare, but they would still be delicious. She’d have hot chocolate and coffee and crepes to warm people up…

Bear shook his head. “No maybe. Let’s make it happen.”

She wasn’t anywhere as sure as him, but she didn’t want to lose this moment. “Okay. Deal.”

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