Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
“Neither of those sound comfortable.”
“Hey, those air beds can be pretty nice. Some people use them as their actual mattress.”
“It’s more about having some space for yourself. They are a married couple with a newborn. You’re a extra person. You’re just going to feel like you’re excess and shouldn’t be there.”
“Well, yeah. But I don’t really have much choice in the matter. It’s just to help me get back on my feet.”
He pauses, obviously gathering his thoughts. “Why don’t you come and stay with me?”
I swallow. “Really?”
“Yeah. I got some extra rooms, and one’s even already got an actual bed in it. It’s a lonely place, and I could use a friendly face to wake up to every morning.”
“I just met you.”
He rubs his chin. “If it makes you feel any better, we probably met briefly at their wedding, and just overlooked one another because the whole thing was so busy, as all weddings tend to be?”
“I don’t think I’d forget seeing you, Bear.”
“And I don’t think I’d forget seeing you, either, but here we are.” He sits up. “Come on. Come home with me tonight. If you feel uncomfortable, you still got Savvy and Hunter’s to come back to. It’s probably a better fit for you.”
Every adult woman always has worries when it comes to men. Wondering about their true intentions, if men are as sweet as they are outwardly presenting themselves. The worry about them being a serial killer or having even more twisted intentions.
But I see Bear and I only sense sweetness. A kind man.
There’s a definite attraction between the both of us. We each want one another so damn bad. This is obviously an attempt for us to be alone to explore those desires, but the legitimate wish to help me is there too.
“Oh, all right,” I say, pushing through my doubts. “I’ll check your place out.”
We get up and approach our hosts.
“Savvy, I think I’m going to see if Bear has more room for me.”
Her eyebrow shoots up. “That’s moving quite fast.”
“Things moved fast between us, too, babe,” Hunter adds.
“I got an extra bedroom and bathroom,” Bear says. “Char sounds appreciative as hell for your offer, and she may well take you up on it if she doesn’t like what she sees. But I figure I can help you guys by helping her. It works out better for everyone, I think.”
Hunter nods. His approval means a lot. Savvy trusts him, so I trust him, too, and he knows Bear better than any of us. “You need gas, Char?” He hops up and grabs the can from the side of the house, and bringing it over.
“How much is this?”
“About five gallons. It will get you between here and Bear’s about twenty times unless your car has way worse mileage than it looks like it has.”
“Thanks, Hunter,” I say, taking it.
I head over to fill up my tank with it, Bear gathering his things too.
Savvy and Hunter are smiling and chatting, looking our way. Part of me wonders if they orchestrated this whole thing, like this is all some convoluted plot to get Bear and I together, them playing matchmakers.
If so, they may well have played their cards perfectly.
Through the woods, I followed Bear’s truck. It really isn’t that far, passing by the main street of Evergreen Valley on our journey. It appears to be a quaint little place with the quintessential small-town offerings.
Bear’s cabin strikes me as more luxurious than Hunter’s, although Hunter’s is a growing project of pride for him. Bear’s is already completed. It’s nestled on a hill, a large porch spanning around its entirety, rustic wooden beams holding it up. I make a note to check out there in the morning, because I expect the view to be absolutely gorgeous.
It’s a cabin already sizable for quite the family, and I wonder why Bear lives here alone. Did it belong to his parents and he inherited it?
I step out of my car, my bag at my side, and Bear waves me over to follow him. “Welcome to my castle, babe. Make yourself at home.”
We head into the house, kicking off our shoes and boots to not drag dirt all over the nice clean cabin.
Bear heads to the fireplace and gets to work, and soon a fire comes to life in the main room of the home, bringing light and warmth to the area. A big, dark-red, plush leather couch is opposite the fireplace, and I imagine sitting there alongside him, cuddling up on a cold night, him warming me more than the fire would. The fire crackles, and the whole place has the charming scent of pine and cedar. It feels more like home than any place I’ve ever been before, and I’ve been in here for a whole forty-five seconds.
“Welcome to the Love Nest,” Bear says with a smirk.