Page 6 of Hero Mine

When she stepped back onto the floor, her eyes immediately went to Bear. He was still at the counter, his dark-brown hair slightly mussed, his shoulders broad and solid. He looked up from his phone, and their eyes met. The tiniest of shivers went down her spine.

Bear wasn’t just the town’s mechanic. Yeah, he was the guy you called when your car broke down in the middle of nowhere or when your tractor wouldn’t start when you were trying to haul hay. If it was mechanical, Bear could fix it.

But he was also the guy who drove someone home if they’d had too much to drink on a Friday night here at the Eagle’s Nest. The guy who cut Mrs. Fuller’s grass with an electric mower at five a.m. on Saturday mornings so no one would know it was him. The guy who had created a kids’ camp for the siblings of terminally ill children.

Bear was reliable, steady, capable. And way too good-looking for Joy’s peace of mind. Always had been.

His jawline was strong, covered with the lightest hint of stubble. And his lips… God, she shouldn’t be staring at his lips. Shouldn’t be remembering how they felt on hers.

Especially not when the way he was looking at her now, like he could see through every carefully constructed wall she’d built, made her want to run and hide.

Bear gave her a half smile. “You good?” he mouthed.

She nodded quickly and turned away, her cheeks flaming. She didn’t want to think about how his attention made her feel—a strange mixture of safety and vulnerability. She didn’t want to think about him at all.

The dinner rush finally began to wind down. She should be relieved; it had been a crazy busy day. Sloane had the closing shift, which meant Joy could go home.

But home was thelastplace she wanted to go. Even as tired as her feet were, she wished she could stay here.

As she pulled off her apron, she hesitated. “Hey, girl,” she said, trying to keep her voice casual. “You want me to take the closing shift? I don’t mind.”

Sloane gave her a long look. “I appreciate it, but I’ve got it. You need the rest.”

“Hey, I’m not the one who’s pregnant. Why don’t you go home to your sexy sheriff, and I’ll close up?”

“Nah, I’m saving up to buy some stuff I need. After everything I’ve gone through, it’s important for me to feel independent.”

Damn it. Joy couldn’t force it anymore. If she pressed, Sloane would have more questions.

So Joy nodded. “10-4, good buddy. I totally get that.”

“Are you doing okay at home by yourself?”

Shit. There was no way Joy could answer that honestly. Sloane already felt guilty enough about moving out, even if it was for the best reason: Sloane figuring out she was in love with Callum Webb, the man of her dreams, and Oak Creek’s sheriff deciding he definitely felt the same way.

“I won’t lie, I miss my roomie.” She made a goofy face in an attempt to throw Sloane off the scent. “What a bitch to get engaged to the father of her unborn child and leave me high and dry.”

Sloane didn’t fall for her shenanigans. “Joy, I still have nightmares about that night. I know you must have them also. But I have Callum to get me through.”

And Joy had no one.

Sloane didn’t have to say it. They were both thinking it.

Joy forced a smile. “Hey, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.”Liar. “Yeah, I think about what happened from time to time, but very rarely.”Big fat liar.“I’m good.”

Most ginormous liar ever.

“I don’t know whether to believe you or not.”

Joy pulled her friend in for a hug, just as much to keep Sloane from seeing her face as it was a gesture of affection.

“You can believe me. I’m going to be fine.”

Liar.

Chapter2

Bear pressed his shoulders against the rough brick wall of the Eagle’s Nest, shrouded in the darkness just beyond the back door’s dim light. The muffled thrum of music and conversation seeped through the walls, the neon beer sign above the door casting flickers of red light onto the pavement. His breath misted in the cold night air, but he barely noticed. His focus was locked on the door, waiting for her.