Page 15 of Hero Mine

Bear stiffened beside her, clearly reluctant to move. His gaze flicked to Joy, and she could see the hesitation in his eyes. “I’ll be back in a second,” he said softly, his hands brushing her arms in a quick, reassuring squeeze. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

She nodded, managing a small smile. “Okay.”

But the moment he walked away, the warmth of his presence left with him. The cold seeped back in, not just into her skin, but into her chest, settling like a weight. She leaned back against the tree, pulling her towel tighter, her thoughts spinning.

That kiss with Bear last month had beeneverything. Full of promise and passion. For one brief, shining moment, she’d thought it might be the start of something real—something she’d been waiting for her whole life.

But just a few hours later, her world had shattered into so many pieces she couldn’t even find them all, much less put them back together.

Yeah, he’d been interested in her, had kissed her with a passion that had literally curled her toes.

But the person he’d kissed didn’t exist anymore. How could she ever be enough for someone like Bear now?

She glanced toward the bonfires, where laughter and conversation carried over the chill night air. Someone waved her over, their voice friendly. “Hey, Joy! Come warm up!”

But she couldn’t make herself move. Not just because of her thoughts. The feeling was back—that prickling unease on the back of her neck, like someone was watching her. She knew it was paranoia. Knew it. But it didn’t stop her heart from racing, her chest tightening.

She couldn’t stay. Not here. Not like this. It was better to leave now and not drag everyone down.

Not drag Bear down.

Joy slipped into the shadows, heading toward the path back to her car. She didn’t look back, even though part of her desperately wanted to wait for Bear. Because no matter how much she wanted to stay, the fear was stronger. And she hated that it was.

Chapter5

Bear took one last look at the stalled car, nodding with satisfaction as the engine rumbled back to life. The grateful father clapped his shoulder, thanking him profusely, but Bear’s mind had already drifted elsewhere—back to the tree where he’d left Joy.

As soon as it wouldn’t seem completely rude, he broke away, making a beeline across the grounds. His pulse quickened with each step, anticipation building as he approached the spot where he’d left her sitting on the cool earth, arms wrapped around her knees, staring at the fire like she was searching for answers in the flames.

He wanted to continue their conversation more than he wanted his next breath.

But he slowed as he got closer to their tree and all he found was empty space. No sign of Joy.

Disappointment flooded his system but not surprise.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand over his still-damp hair, frustration tightening his chest. He should’ve known she wouldn’t stay. Hell, hehadknown. But that didn’t make the sharp sting of disappointment any easier to swallow.

“Yeah, Joy’s gone.” Hudson Zimmerman’s voice carried over the crackling fire as he strolled up, beer in hand. “Not that you needed me to tell you.”

Hudson was one of Bear’s good friends and owned the Eagle’s Nest, so he was well aware of Joy’s struggles. Bear grunted, accepting the beer the other man offered without really looking at it.

“At least she showed,” Hudson added, lifting his own bottle in a small toast. “That’s more than I expected.”

Bear didn’t answer. Showing up wasn’t enough. Not anymore. He didn’t know exactly what was happening inside Joy’s head, but he knew damn well this was more than just needing time.

The attack had its claws in her, dragging her under whenever she started to surface. And he wasn’t sure how to help her when she kept swimming away from his outstretched hand.

He took a long pull from his beer, the cold bite sharp against his throat.

“Come on,” Hudson said, nodding toward the bonfire where their friends had gathered. “No use brooding over it.”

Bear rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to shake it off. As they reached the fire, his cousin Lincoln was in the middle of a heated debate, his logical voice standing out against the snapping flames.

“Jumping into that water is not entertainment,” he insisted, his expression serious. “It’s willful, self-inflicted suffering that serves no purpose.”

“Jesus, Linc, just admit you’re scared of the cold like a normal person,” Sam Dempsey laughed, grabbing another beer from the cooler.

Sam headed the helitack rescue team in the Grand Tetons. He didn’t live in Oak Creek, but he showed up whenever possible since his sister Eva had married Theo Lindstrom.

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