Page 4 of Bearly Ever After (Bear Creek Forever #5)

What was she thinking? That was the disturbing thought that had rattled around her head as they drove deeper into the mountains. What if she took a wrong turn and wound up at the wrong house? With a stranger. A dangerous stranger…

As a mother raising her child alone, Nicole had always been haunted by the thought of not being able to keep her daughter safe. Even though Mila was now a teenager, that fear still lingered in Nicole’s mind from time to time. And this had been one of those times.

But as soon as she pulled up in front of the cabin next to the veterinarian clinic and saw the man standing on the porch, she felt something shift. Before she even stepped out of the car, she was drawn to him. There was something about his presence that put her at ease. A sense that he was someone she could trust. It was a surprise, to say the least, given how guarded she had been for so long.

“It’s good to meet you both,” Klein said, holding out his hand to her as he closed the distance between them.

Nicole hesitated for the briefest of moments before sliding her hand into his. The moment their hands touched, an immediate, powerful sense of recognition flooded her. His fingers enveloped hers, and a wave of warmth washed over her, bringing a sense of belonging. Like someone coming home after a lifetime away.

It’s ridiculous, she told herself. She must be tired after the long drive and the excitement of finding the little scruffy dog that now sat quietly in Mila’s arms. Still, the feeling lingered, leaving her breathless.

“Good to meet you, too,” Nicole managed to say, her cheeks flushing with color.

Their eyes locked for a moment, and the connection between them was overwhelming. Her breath caught in her throat, and for an instant, it felt as if time had stopped. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them standing there, holding hands.

“Mom?” Mila’s voice broke the moment, and Nicole started, realizing her hand was still in Klein’s.

She glanced down at her daughter, who was gazing up at her with impatience. Klein flexed his fingers and then released her hand, stepping back slightly. Instantly, Nicole missed the warmth, the connection they had shared, and she had to fight the sudden urge to reach for him again. To hold on to him. Forever.

“Tammy is expecting you,” Klein said, his voice gentle as he stepped away. “She’s in the exam room next to the barn.”

Mila nodded, still holding the little dog, and followed after Klein as he led the way. Nicole lingered for a moment, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The feeling that had passed between them was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It was powerful, and it left her shaken, unsure of what to do next. Finally, she sucked in a deep, steadying breath and composed herself before hurrying to catch up with Klein and Mila.

“Tammy said you found this little one in your yard?” Klein asked, glancing back at Mila as they made their way toward the barn.

“Yes,” Mila answered, her voice filled with concern for the small creature in her arms. “We’d only just arrived, and he was hiding under a bush,” she explained, her eyes meeting Klein’s for a moment.

Klein nodded, his expression softening. “Well, Tammy will know what to do. She’s the best.” He pushed open the door that led into the examination room, holding it open for Nicole and Mila to enter.

The examination room was clean and airy, with shelves of supplies and a large table in the center. Tammy stood by the table, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, a welcoming smile on her face as they walked in. Her eyes flicked between Klein and Nicole, a hint of curiosity in her gaze, but her smile remained warm.

“Hi there,” Tammy greeted them both. “You must be Nicole and Mila. And who is this little one?”

“This is the puppy we found in the yard of our new house,” Mila explained, stepping forward and gently placing the dog on the examination table. “He was hiding under a bush, and I think he’s hurt.”

Tammy nodded, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the dog. She reached out, her touch gentle as she began to examine him. “Let’s take a look, then,” she said soothingly, the tone seemingly intended to reassure both Mila and the puppy.

For a brief moment, Tammy glanced over at Nicole before her gaze flicked briefly to Klein. But Klein was staring at the puppy as if avoiding Tammy’s eyes.

Maybe the couple had been arguing before Nicole and Mila arrived. But Tammy behaved with professionalism as she continued her examination.

While Tammy was looking at the puppy, Nicole found her gaze constantly drawn to Klein. His magnetic aura had an intense, intoxicating pull on her. She couldn’t explain it, but being near him made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t felt in years.

Maybe ever.

Was it all in her head? Maybe it was just her overactive mind, reading too much into a simple handshake and a warm smile. Still, the sense of connection she had felt with Klein was undeniable, and it left her feeling both excited and terrified. Her body hummed with awareness, but her mind screamed caution.

Klein belonged to someone else. And she refused to be drawn to the wrong man again. Tammy and Klein obviously shared a close connection. Nicole would never step onto that minefield!

“There’s a slight cut on his paw,” Tammy said, her voice pulling Nicole back to the present. She smiled reassuringly at Mila. “Nothing too serious. We’ll clean it up, and he should be just fine.”

Mila let out a sigh of relief, her face lighting up. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for finding him and bringing him in,” Tammy replied. “This wound could easily have gotten infected, and then the poor little fella would have been in trouble.”

“But you can make him better?” Mila asked.

“I sure can.” Tammy nodded, reaching for some supplies. “Why don’t you help me with him?” she suggested, her eyes flicking to Nicole again. “We can dress the wound and give him some pain meds that will make him feel a bit more comfortable.”

“Can I?” Mila asked as she stepped closer and threaded her fingers through the little dog’s scruffy fur.

“Of course,” Tammy replied. “He likes you.”

“And I like him,” Mila replied, as she tickled the little dog’s ears.

“Do you know who he might belong to?” Nicole asked, watching Tammy set to work preparing a solution to clean the wound.

“No,” Tammy replied. “I haven’t seen him before. And as far as I am aware, there hasn’t been any litter of scruffy puppies whelped in the last few weeks.”

“Is there a local animal shelter we could contact?” Nicole asked. “In case someone has reported him missing,” she quickly added as Mila shot her a questioning look.

“I’ll give the shelter a call when we’ve finished up here,” Tammy said as she cleaned and bandaged the dog’s paw, giving Mila instructions along the way. To Nicole, it seemed Tammy was naturally gifted at communicating with both animals and people.

“Thanks,” Nicole said. “I would hate for someone to be looking for him and not know he was safe.”

“I can ask around on my rounds, too,” Tammy added. “If someone has lost a puppy, I will hear about it.”

Mila twisted her fingers through the puppy’s fur. It seemed a horse might not be at the top of her daughter’s wish list right now. Nicole only hoped Mila didn’t get too attached to this little one and end up with a broken heart. Heartbreak was the last thing Nicole wanted for her daughter.

“Are you visiting town on vacation?” Klein asked, his voice casual as he shifted his weight, his gaze now focused on the dog.

Nicole looked up, meeting his eyes. Damn, he was intense. “No, actually,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I’ve got a job with the local co-op. So Mila and I are here to stay. For now, we’ve rented a house in Bear Creek, but I’m hoping to buy somewhere in town in the future.”

“You’re planning to stay.” Relief crossed Klein’s face for a brief moment. Or was she imagining it? She could have sworn his shoulders relaxed, but she couldn’t be sure why. Why would it matter to him if they were only visiting? Oh, because if they didn’t keep the puppy until its owner was found, Tammy might take it in and that would mean more work for her.

“Yes,” Nicole nodded. “It’s been a long journey, but we’re hoping Bear Creek will be a good place for us to put down some roots.”

Tammy glanced up from her work, her gaze flicking between Klein and Nicole again. A smile played at the corners of her mouth, and she exchanged a quick look with Klein—one that Nicole couldn’t quite decipher. Heat rose in Nicole’s cheeks, certain they knew something she didn’t.

The last thing Nicole needed was to get caught up in this strange relationship.

“Well,” Tammy said as she returned her focus to the little dog, carefully wrapping a bandage around his paw. “I think that’s about it for this little guy. He’s going to need some rest, but he should be just fine.” As she straightened up, she looked at Klein. “Uncle Gavin is out, so why don’t you take Nicole into the cabin? She must be dying for a cup of coffee after her long drive.”

Nicole opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Klein stepped forward, his eyes meeting hers. “It’s no trouble,” he said. “I’d be happy to make you a cup.”

Nicole hesitated for a moment, but instead of protesting, she nodded and said, “That sounds nice. Thank you.” Nice? What was she thinking? The last thing she needed was to be alone with Klein. Especially since her stomach did a flip every time he looked at her.

This was wrong. So very wrong.

But Tammy gave Nicole an encouraging nod before patting Klein on the shoulder, practically shoving him toward the door. “Go on, then. I’ll finish up here with Mila.” She looked down at Mila, who was still petting the little dog, her face filled with affection. “We’ll take good care of him, won’t we, Mila?”

Mila nodded eagerly, her eyes never leaving the dog. “We will.”

Klein gestured toward the door, and Nicole followed him out of the examination room, not sure what she was doing. But even as they stepped out into the bright sunlight, she could not deny the intensity of emotions he evoked in her. She was drawn to him in a way that felt impossible. It was all too sudden, too intense, and far too risky for someone who’d built her life around caution. Yet every time she looked into his eyes, she got the feeling that to deny him would be to deny her only chance at happiness.

But the cost would be far too great. So deny it, she would.