Page 255 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“To theranch?”

“Well, no,” she said. “Cody hasn’t asked me to move in or anything. I was thinking I might get an apartment in town. I really like him, but I don’t want to rush intoanything.”

“You have a good head on your shoulders. Cody’s a lucky man,”Macksaid.

“Can I ask yousomething?”

“Shoot.”

“Is it really safe to bearoundhim?”

“Are you asking because of his bear?” heasked.

“Yeah.”

“You’re safer with his bear around than without it. If you’re his mate, he’ll protect you withhislife.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I really needed tohearthat.”

“Don’t overthink it. He loves you. If you love him back, don’t waste time looking for reasons to stay apart,”Macksaid.

“You’re a wise man,”shesaid.

He shrugged. “He’s my brother. I look out for him the way I’d look out for anyone in myfamily.”

“Thanks,Mack.”

As she headed back toward the B & B, she smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell Cody that she was thinking aboutstaying.

She’d just lay down to take a nap when a knock sounded atthedoor.

“Come in,” shecalled.

Cody opened the door and stepped into the room. He held a large brown shipping box in his hands. A row of stickers marked “overnight mail” coveredoneside.

“Am I interrupting a nap?” heasked.

“No.” She sat upinbed.

“Good, because I brought yousomething.”

“What?”

“Open it.” He set the box on the bed and sat down next to it. “I would have wrapped it but I couldn’t find anypaper.”

“You didn’t need to buy me anything,”shesaid.

“But I wanted to,”hesaid.

As she ripped open the tape, anticipation quickened her heart. What on earth could he have bought that would require overnightshipping?

When she looked inside, she gasped. Artist-grade canvases lined the sides and bottom of the box. Nestled between them were several types of paint sets. Tubes of oil paint rattled around as she leaned in to remove them. A full spectrum of watercolors in resealable containers mingled with a variety of brushes. She lifted a brush set out ofthebox.

“They’re sable.” Shegasped.

“The art place I called said they’re the best for watercolor painting,”hesaid.

She moved more of the supplies to the side and found a huge block of watercolor paper. Tears formed inhereyes.