Page 8 of Bearly Ever After (Bear Creek Forever #5)

“Thanks again,” Nicole said to Stanley as he held the door open for them while they trooped out of the pet store.

“You are very welcome,” Stanley replied with a nod. “Klein, we must catch up soon.”

“Definitely,” Klein said, cradling the dog bed and the bag of dog food Mila had chosen for the puppy in his arms. Meanwhile, Mila held on to the scruffy puppy, a wide smile lighting up her face. Nicole’s gaze lingered on them each in turn, Klein’s calm strength as he balanced the supplies, and Mila’s glowing happiness as she cuddled the furry bundle close to her chest. The puppy let out a soft yip, nuzzling into Mila’s neck.

It was one of those moments Nicole wanted to remember, a snapshot of happiness. One of many she hoped they would find here in Bear Creek.

And so far, they had gotten off to a fantastic start.

“I can’t wait to get home so that this little one can play with his toys,” Mila said, kissing the top of the puppy’s head.

“He’s going to be spoiled for choice,” Nicole said as they headed for the car.

“He deserves it,” Mila replied. “Don’t you, little one?”

“We all need a little spoiling from time to time,” Klein said in agreement.

She glanced at Klein, who was following behind them with an easy stride. He caught her gaze, and Nicole gave him a lopsided smile, her emotions suddenly threatening to overwhelm her. She quickly turned her attention back to Mila, but a thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

If only Klein was Mila’s father.

The thought jolted her, and she shook her head slightly, trying to dispel it. Nicole couldn’t afford to get swept up in a fantasy, no matter how inviting it might be. She had to focus on her new life here in Bear Creek, on getting Mila settled at her new school, on starting her new job. She didn’t need to complicate things by entertaining impossible dreams.

But that reasoning was beginning to sound more and more hollow, as if each repetition lost a bit more of its conviction. It was as if she were at odds with herself—her heart tugging her in a direction her mind was not yet ready to follow.

As they reached the car, Nicole opened the trunk, stepping aside to give Klein space to put everything inside. His arm brushed against hers as he leaned in, and that same jolt of recognition shot through her veins, intense and undeniable. She swallowed hard and stepped back, breaking the contact between them. But when he turned his head and locked eyes with her, she saw it there. He felt it, too. The same spark, the same sense of connection she did.

Klein held her gaze for a moment longer before he reached up and closed the trunk with a gentle thud. Not trusting herself to speak, Nicole went around to the passenger side and opened the door for Mila, who carefully climbed in with the puppy still cradled in her arms.

“So,” Klein said, his voice casual but his eyes still holding a hint of something deeper, “maybe you’d like to come visit the ranch tomorrow? Go riding?”

Mila’s eyes lit up. “Riding? On a ranch? Really?” she asked enthusiastically.

Enthusiasm Nicole certainly shared. Riding across a mountain meadow with her own cowboy? She’d be lying if she said the prospect didn’t send a thrill through her. But she reined in her runaway thoughts. “If you’re not too busy tomorrow,” she said. “I feel as if we have taken up enough of your time today.”

Klein shook his head, smiling. “I wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t convenient. And besides, there’s always room for an extra pair of hands on the ranch.”

Mila kissed the puppy on the head, her voice softening as she spoke to him. “Do you hear that?” Then her expression faltered, and she looked up at Klein, worry clouding her eyes. “But what about this little one? We can’t leave him on his own.”

Klein chuckled, reaching out to give the puppy a gentle scratch behind the ears. “You can bring him, too. My mom will keep an eye on him.”

Mila’s face lit up again. “Great!” she said eagerly.

Nicole closed the car door and turned to Klein. “You’re too kind.”

Klein’s eyes darkened slightly as he searched her face, his gaze intense. “There’s no such thing.”

Heat crept across Nicole’s cheeks, and she quickly ducked her head, trying to hide her blush. “We’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, her voice breathy.

Klein’s chest rose and fell with a deep breath, as if he too were trying to steady himself against the tide of emotion flowing between them. “You can count on it.”

Nicole walked around to the driver’s side, pausing before she opened the door. She looked back at Klein. “Do you want to text me directions?”

Klein nodded. “Sure.” Nicole took out her phone, unlocking it before handing it to him. Klein quickly tapped the screen, adding his number to her contacts. “There,” he said, handing it back to her. “Drop me a text, so I have your number.”

Nicole hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the screen. She wanted to say something…something that captured how she felt in this moment. But the words didn’t come. Finally, she typed: This is Nicole , and hit send.

A pang of regret pierced her chest. She wanted to say more, so much more. Something like… This is your Nicole . But that was ridiculous. She had never been anyone’s anything, except Mila’s mom.

Klein’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he smiled as he pulled it out, glancing at the screen. “I’ll text you the address and directions,” he promised, with a look that made her believe him.

Believe that he would never, ever break his word to her.

“Great,” Nicole said, her voice high-pitched as she finally climbed into the car and closed the door. Despite all her efforts, her hand trembled slightly as she put the key in the ignition, and there was no question why.

Klein .

She glanced at Mila, suddenly aware of her daughter watching her with an amused expression. “You’re blushing, Mom,” Mila said in a slightly teasing tone.

Nicole blew the air out of her cheeks and started the engine with a slight shake of her head. “It’s warm in here,” she said, trying to brush it off.

Mila didn’t buy it. “Of course it is.”

“Drive safe.” Klein tapped lightly on the roof of the car, giving them both a warm smile before stepping back.

“I will.” Nicole put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb, quashing the need to fling open the door and run into his arms.

However, as they moved down the street, she couldn’t resist glancing in the rearview mirror, catching one last glimpse of Klein standing there, watching them.

Watching her. Just as she was watching him.

Nicole tore her gaze away and focused on the drive back to their new home, filled with Mila’s excited chatter about the puppy, the ranch visit tomorrow, and her growing fondness for Bear Creek. Nicole listened with a smile, her own thoughts drifting between the warmth of Klein’s gaze and the nagging sense that she was treading on dangerous ground.

But why? If Klein was single, why not take a chance on him?

As they pulled into the driveway, Nicole’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Klein’s name on the screen. She opened the message to find detailed directions to the Thornberg Ranch, followed by a simple… Looking forward to seeing you both tomorrow. -K

Nicole stared at the words, an unbidden smile playing on her lips. It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of anticipation, this flicker of possibility. She knew she had to be careful, to guard her heart, but in this moment, she allowed herself to savor the feeling.

“Earth to Mom!” Mila’s voice broke through her reverie. “Are you going to help me carry this stuff inside or what?”

Nicole laughed, shaking her head as she pocketed her phone. “Sorry. Let’s get this little guy settled in his new home.”

“Do you think we will be able to keep him?” Mila asked as she got out of the car, her arms protectively wrapped around the puppy as if she never wanted to let him go.

“I don’t know.” Nicole wished she could assure her daughter otherwise. But she would not lie and sugarcoat the truth. That would do no one any good.

“If…” Mila paused. “If his owner does want him back…” She pressed her lips together as her chin wobbled.

“Hey.” Nicole slipped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Why don’t we focus on getting him well? And if his owner comes forward, I promise I will ask Tammy to make sure they are going to care for him.”

“You will?” Mila asked.

“I promise,” Nicole assured her. “And then maybe we could get a puppy.”

“Or maybe we could get a dog from the shelter,” Mila suggested. “I’d like to give one a good home.”

“Now, that is a good idea.” Nicole dropped a kiss on the top of her daughter’s head. “Come on, let’s grab the stuff from the trunk and get him settled. Then we need to unpack our own things.”

Mila grinned. “Yeah, I’d forgotten about that.”

“That’s because this little fella needed us,” Nicole said, tickling the puppy’s head. “Now, I’ll grab his bed and some food. We can get him settled in the kitchen and then come back out for everything else.”

“Okay,” Mila agreed, adjusting her hold on the puppy so she could carry the bag containing the toys.

As they walked into the house, the puppy squirmed in Mila’s arms, eager to explore his new surroundings. But Mila kept a firm hold of the little guy as Nicole opened the front door. When they reached the kitchen, Nicole set the bag of dog food on the counter and watched as Mila gently placed the puppy on the floor. He immediately scampered off, his little paws slipping on the hardwood as he investigated every corner of the room.

“What should we name him?” Nicole asked, her eyes following the puppy’s every move.

Mila’s face fell slightly, but she nodded. “I don’t know. Maybe we should wait to see if his owner comes forward?”

“I know. Why don’t we at least give him a temporary name? It’d be better than just calling him ‘the puppy.’”

Mila nodded. “Good idea. What do you think?”

“You choose,” Nicole told her daughter gently.

Mila thought for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then her face lit up. “How about Scruffy? Because he’s all scruffy and cute.”

Nicole chuckled. “Scruffy it is.”

“Here, you must be thirsty.” Mila took out the two bowls she had picked at the pet store and filled one with water, setting it down on the floor. Scruffy trotted up to it, and after a cautious sniff, lapped up the water, leaving droplets on the floor. When he’d had his fill, he let out a playful yip and darted between Nicole’s legs, nearly tripping her. She laughed, bending down to scoop him up. “Whoa there, little guy. Let’s get you settled before you start exploring too much.”

Nicole carried the bed to a corner of the kitchen and laid it on the floor. “Here we go. He’ll be all right here for a few minutes while we unpack the car.”

“Time for a nap.” Mila placed him gently on the soft bed and watched as he circled a few times before plopping down with a contented sigh. Mila knelt beside him, running her hand gently over his fur. “I think he likes it here.”

“I think you’re right.” Nicole edged toward the door. “Now, let’s go. It’s been a long day, and I could do with something to eat.”

“I am starving!” Mila announced, as if she hadn’t eaten for a week.

“I’m sure we can rustle something up,” Nicole said. “I brought all the groceries from home…”

“This is our home now,” Mila reminded her mom.

“It is.” Nicole glanced around the hallway, glimpsing the living room with its inviting sofa through the open door.

“We belong here,” Mila said.

But what Nicole really wanted was to belong to a man.

Klein.

And that terrified her.