Page 16 of Bearly Ever After (Bear Creek Forever #5)

“So why bear ?” Nicole asked as they drove through the mountains, the sun glinting off the creek as it meandered across the valley below.

“Sorry?” Klein’s hands tightened around the steering wheel as he flicked a cautious glance her way.

“Why is the town called Bear Creek?” Nicole repeated, studying his profile. Had she hit a nerve with her innocent question? But why?

Klein relaxed his hands on the wheel. “The first settlers named the town after the creek. It might look small, but it’s the lifeblood of the valley.”

“But why bear ?” she pressed, curious as to whether he was trying to evade her question. “Were there lots of bears in the mountains back then?”

He looked toward the peaks that loomed over them and the forests covering the lower slopes in various shades of green. “Yes,” he answered simply. Then he paused as if weighing his next words.

She noticed the slight tension in his jaw as if talking about bears wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Perhaps it wasn’t just the presence of wildlife he hesitated to mention, but something else. Some deeper personal history he wasn’t ready to share.

“And now?” Nicole asked. They had briefly discussed bears and wolves in the forest during their ride the day before, but she could tell there was a hint of reluctance to discuss the topic.

Had he been trying not to frighten her or make her worry?

But if there were a lot of bears and wolves in these mountains, she needed the truth so she and Mila could be prepared.

Klein took a moment before replying. As the silence settled around them, Nicole suspected that this wasn’t just about not scaring her. Perhaps there was more to this story than she originally thought. Had the wildlife population been decimated by hunters?

Or maybe there was an ongoing conservation project aimed at protecting the bears and wolves. She remembered hearing about a wildlife sanctuary in Bear Creek. But none of these reasons explained Klein’s reluctance to speak about it.

Was there a different, more personal reason for his tight-lipped demeanor? Perhaps a family tragedy?

“There are still bears and wolves in these mountains,” he said at last, “if you know where to find them. They mainly keep to themselves unless they want to be seen.” His tone was somewhat cryptic, leaving Nicole with the sense that there was more than he was telling. Before she could press further, the road curved sharply, and they turned onto a neatly maintained driveway flanked by low hedges and rows of carefully tended vines.

A vineyard. Nicole’s eyes widened as they passed under a carved wooden sign: Thornberg Vineyard. Neat lines of grapevines stretched out in gentle arcs, leaves shimmering in the breeze. They were nestled in a sheltered valley, mountains rising protectively around them, and the scent of ripe fruit and rich earth filtered through the open window, warm and inviting.

“I guess we’re here,” Nicole said with hushed reverence. The vineyard had an enchanting atmosphere, almost as if when they drove under the sign, they had been whisked away to a different world.

“We are,” Klein confirmed, slowing the truck. There was an understated awe in his tone. “I’ve always wondered how my uncle’s ancestors were able to grow these vines so successfully. The climate here should not have been suitable for such growth, yet year after year, they continued to thrive. It’s like this valley has its own microclimate.”

Nicole looked from the vineyards to Klein. “It’s incredible,” she agreed. As she admired the rows of lush vines, that same admiration spilled over to the man beside her. This vineyard was remarkable, but no more so than Klein himself. He was every bit as extraordinary.

Nicole relaxed in her seat as Klein pulled the truck to a stop. When he turned off the engine, an intense silence filled the cab and heightened her senses toward him. She could hear his deep breaths and feel his body heat radiating from his body. Anxious, she smoothed out her dress with her hands and reached for the door handle, taking a moment to collect herself.

Needing fresh air to calm her racing thoughts…and heart, Nicole pushed the door open, and she stepped down onto the neatly kept gravel drive. The sun-warmed stones crunched under her feet as she took a few steps away from the vehicle, breathing deeply. The air was sweet with the scent of grapes and well-cultivated earth, and she closed her eyes, letting it wash over her.

She heard the truck door open and close behind her, followed by the sound of boots on gravel. But she didn’t even need to use her ears to know it was Klein approaching. Her body simply knew. Her acute awareness of him sent a faint buzz throughout her body.

A moment later, his hand brushed her elbow with the lightest of touches. Nicole’s eyes fluttered open, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

“You okay?” he asked, concern lacing his deep voice.

She turned to face him, a smile already curving her lips. “I’m just taking it all in.”

“Me, too.” His gaze was fixed on her face, and she licked her lips, wishing, not for the first time, that he would kiss her. But he resisted the temptation. If he was tempted at all.

“So, the vineyard…” Nicole tore her attention away from the man beside her and shielded her eyes from the sun as she gazed out at the magnificent view before her.

“Yes. The vineyard. My uncle’s family has worked hard over the generations to perfect the subtle tones these grapes produce.” He stepped away from her and inclined his head. “Come on. My uncle and aunt are expecting us.”

Nicole walked alongside Klein, matching his pace as they strolled down the gravel path. The vines were neatly arranged in rows around them, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze. It was as if they were sharing a whispered secret. If she stopped and listened, would she hear their words? Would they give her words of wisdom? Perhaps share the key to unlock the heart of the man beside her?

She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye, admiring the strong lines of his profile, and the way his dark hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. His connection to this land was as deep and enduring as the vines that rooted themselves in its soil. This was a man who was part of these mountains, part of Bear Creek itself.

And she wanted to be part of him. To belong to him.

The thought came unbidden, catching her off guard, and she sucked in a sharp breath. He must have heard it because he turned to look at her and their eyes locked for a long moment. There was a question there. One she could not fathom. A question that was followed by a fleeting moment of uncertainty. Vulnerability, as if he was afraid of the question he wanted to ask.

Or afraid of the answer she might give.

But a noise up ahead drew Klein’s attention. As they approached the farmhouse, the front door swung open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out onto the porch. He had the same strong jaw and kind eyes as Klein, though his hair was peppered with silver.

“Klein!” he called out, his voice booming across the yard. “And this must be the lovely Nicole I’ve heard so much about.”

“You have,” Nicole gulped as heat crept across her cheeks at the man’s words. Klein had been talking about her? The notion sent a little thrill through her.

“Uncle Hugo,” Klein greeted and stepped forward to clasp the older man’s hand. “This is Nicole. Nicole, my Uncle Hugo.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Nicole said, extending her hand. Hugo’s grip was firm and warm, and above all, welcoming. And so was his smile.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Hugo said, as his grin widened. “Leanne! Klein and Nicole are here!”

“Leanne is my aunt,” Klein told Nicole.

A moment later, a petite woman with short, curly hair and a wide smile emerged from the house, wiping her hands on a colorful apron. “Welcome, welcome!” she exclaimed, her smile as warm as the sun overhead. She pulled Nicole into an unexpected hug. “We’ve been so looking forward to meeting you, my dear.”

Nicole froze for a moment before returning the hug, touched by Leanne’s easy affection. “Thank you for having me,” she said as they parted. “Your home is beautiful.”

“Oh, it’s nothing special,” Leanne said, waving a hand dismissively, but her eyes shone with pride as she looked out over the vineyards. “Just a little piece of paradise we’ve been blessed with.”

“And worked hard for,” Hugo added, slipping an arm around his wife’s waist. “But enough about us. Come on inside, both of you. Leanne’s picked out a couple of wines for you to try.”

“If it isn’t a little early for you,” Leanna asked, focusing on Nicole. “We could always do a tour first and then relax and talk over a glass or two.”

“A tour sounds perfect,” Nicole replied. “I’d love you both to show me around and tell me your story.”

“Our story,” Hugo mused. “I thought you would want to hear the story of the vineyard.”

“I do,” Nicole said. “The vineyard has a history, but you have a story that brings that history to life.”

Hugo chuckled with amusement. “Well, when you put it like that...” He gestured for them to follow as he started down the path that wound between the vines. “My great-great-grandfather, Elias Thornberg, planted the first vines here in the 1860s after he visited Italy and brought back a handful of vines. Over the next hundred and fifty-odd years, each successive generation has worked to improve the taste of the wine.”

“Hugo has also worked hard to improve the soil and make the vineyard as environmentally friendly as possible,” Leanne added, with obvious love and admiration for her husband.

“I was inspired by you, my love.” Hugo reached for his wife’s hand and drew it to his lips.

“Nicole will think you have been at the wine already,” Leanne said lightly as she leaned into Hugo.

“Drunk on your very presence,” Hugo murmured.

“You two need to get a room!” a voice called out and a head, crowned with a mop of dark curly hair, popped up from behind a row of vines.

“And this is my cousin, Philip,” Klein said and reached out toward Nicole, resting his hand on the small of her back.

Possessively.

That was the word that popped into her head.

And she could not deny she wanted to be possessed by this man.

Mind, body, and soul.