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Chapter One
Holly
Rushing through the door of the Lost Lady, I shiver as snow and sleet blow inside with me. My stomach drops as I see that I’m the only one in the bar — except him. My best friends, Parker and Oakley were supposed to be meeting me here. I’m always the last one to arrive, so my hope that they are still coming is small. I should just turn around and go home, but I’m cold and don’t want to venture back out into the snow.
“Are you going to come all the way inside? You won’t get warm standing that close to the door.” Bear, his sexy face grinning at me, sours my mood even more.
Why does he have to be so handsome? The man is almost beautiful. His smile makes me weak in my knees. It’s just not fair.
I walk over to the bar and sit on one of the cracked leather stools. The Lost Lady is, unfortunately, the only nice bar in our small mountain town. If I wanted to avoid Bear it would be hard to do. Besides owning the bar and working as the bartender, Bear is my brother’s best friend. Totally off limits.
“What has you so grumpy today?” He places a rum and coke in front of me and leans against the bar.
I get a little distracted by his forearms. I find even his dumb arms sexy. Bear clears his throat. “Um, I’m not grumpy,” I argue without really believing myself. I am grumpy, it seems like I’m irritated all the time lately and I have no idea why.
“Holly Berry, you haven’t done anything but growl and frown since you walked through the door.”
“I hate it when you call me that.” I take a healthy drink from my glass. Bear is staring at me giving me a look that lets me know I have to talk. He’s not going to let me be quiet. “I haven’t growled.”
“Okay, maybe no growling, but you’ve been frowning. I hate that. I want to see you happy, Holly.”
Why does that feel different than when the girls say that? “I am happy, Bear. I’ve just been having a rough day. I thought the girls were going to meet me here.”
Reaching into my purse, I pull out my phone to check my text messages. Sure enough, I have one from Parker about her missing tonight due to a headache and a couple from Oakley. First, Oakley was going to come. Then she might be late. The last text was that the mountain was too snowy. Her boyfriend, Nash, didn’t think it was a good idea for her to go down the mountain. I show Bear the texts and he shakes head.
“I’m sorry, Holly. I know you’re disappointed.”
He’s right that I’m disappointed but being here with just him isn’t the worst thing. “It’s okay. The snow is getting bad. Can you imagine how badly Nash would freak out if Oakley couldn’t get back up the mountain to him?” We both laugh. My best friend’s boyfriend is devoted to her. Honestly, he’s obsessed and I’m jealous. I would love for a man to be that crazy about me.
“He would find a way to get to her,” he says. “Nothing would keep me from my woman.”
Bear turns away, back to cleaning off the bar. His woman? Is he dating someone, and I just haven’t heard about it? I want to text the girls, but something stops me.
“Are you dating someone?” I blurt out, then quickly add, “I need another drink.”
???
Bear
I slowly turn around and make her another drink. “No, I’m not dating anyone. Are you?” I know she’s not. I know everything about Holly. I’ve been in love with her since we were teenagers, and she was too young for me. I’ve never made a move out of respect for her brother, my best friend, but I’m starting to lose my mind.
“You know I’m not dating anyone.” She takes another healthy gulp of her drink. At this point she’s going to need a ride home.
We both just look at each other unsure of what we’re supposed to say or do. I always feel comfortable around Holly, but tonight there is some kind of electricity and energy in the air. The snowstorm raging outside has insulated us here and maybe it’s time for me to be honest with her about how I feel.
“Can I give you a ride home, Holly?”
Holly is a knockout. She has curves in all the right places. Her auburn hair and green eyes feature heavily in my dreams. Nothing has ever happened between us, but I hope for it every time we are alone. If she gave me the slightest indication that she felt the same way, there would be no stopping me.
“Um, I guess so. I walked here from work, but my car is at home. I thought I’d get a ride home with Parker.” She shakes her head with a soft laugh. “I didn’t think this one through very well, did I?”
Moving around the bar I stand in front of her. “You are perfect, Holly Berry. Let me get my coat and we’ll get you home.” I turn away before I do something that could ruin multiple relationships.
We both get our coats, gloves, and hats on. We walk out of the bar and straight into a blizzard. In the hour that Holly has been in the bar the weather has gone from typical winter storm to whiteout. Holly and I both quickly turn around and run back into the bar.
“Holy shit! I can’t believe the storm is so bad,” Holly says wiping the snow off her coat.
After she finishes wiping off her coat, she starts wiping off the shoulders of mine. I don’t move. I’m afraid if I move, she will stop. Even though she’s touching me through a heavy coat I feel myself getting hard. I’m seriously a lost cause. Holly pulls back and smiles a little. “Thank you, Holly,” I say softly.
