“He talks to you about me? How is he? Is he doing okay?” She wished she hadn’t said anything when his eyes narrowed slightly. She should have acted disinterested. Shoot.
“Where is your car? You shouldn’t be walking when it’s nearly dark. You could slip and hurt yourself.”
She frowned at him. Had he forgotten already? But this didn’t seem the type of man who forgot things easily. “I crashed it, remember?”
“Yes, I remember,” he said impatiently. “I also remember the lawyer saying your aunt left you a car.”
“Oh yeah.” She’d forgotten he’d been there then. “It’s a manual transmission. I can’t drive it. I never learned how.”
“So, you’ve been walking everywhere?”
“Keeps me fit,” she said lightly.
“Did you tell Bear this?” he demanded.
“Nothing to do with Bear. And it’s nothing to do with you. If you came here just to grill me about my transportation options, then you can just go.” She was being rude, she knew. But she just wasn’t up to talking to him. Seeing him made her miss Bear even more. Tears pricked at her eyes and she was determined not to give into them. She tried to walk past him, but he stepped forward and reached out to grab hold of her arm.
“Wait just a minute, little girl. I’m not done talking and I didn’t dismiss you.”
Her eyes widened as she gaped up at him. She wasn’t sure whether to be horrified at his arrogance or impressed. “First of all, stop calling me little girl. I’m not a little girl. I’m a grown woman. And secondly, dismiss me? Really? I’m not some schoolgirl, and you’re not the principal.”
“Hell no. I’m not. Thank God. I’m not after a schoolgirl. And I don’t want to be murdered by Bear.”
She didn’t know what on earth he was talking about. Why would Bear get angry with him? “What are you doing here, Clint? Does Bear know you’re here?”
“Of course, he doesn’t. I’m here because I wanted to check up on you. Didn’t feel right just leaving you here. I know Bear would have been here himself but…”
“But what?”
“He thinks he’s not good enough for you.”
“What?” She gaped at him. “Not good enough for me? Why would he think that?”
“Can I come inside? Got a story to tell you and I’d rather we were inside in the warmth.”
“Oh, ahh, sure, come in.” Any nervousness she felt around him died when he said he had something to tell her about Bear.
He followed her inside as she moved back towards the kitchen. “Want some hot chocolate?”
“Got marshmallows?”
“Well, you brought my groceries, so you know I do.” She gave him a chiding look. That’s what he’d gone away to do for an hour while she and Bear had been unpacking. “I’m still going to pay you back.”
“You try and you’ll be in big trouble,” he warned. “They were a housewarming gift.”
God, he was so stubborn.
“Thank you for doing that.”
He waved off her gratitude, looking uncomfortable.
She sighed. He was impossible. Arrogant. Infuriating. And given to generous acts of kindness that obviously made him uncomfortable.
Clint just watched as she made them both a hot drink. They sat across from each other at the small table in the kitchen.
“Why does Bear think he’s not good enough for me? Bear’s the best person I know.”
He nodded. “He is. And I’m glad you see that. He’s honest. Smart. A hard worker. Loyal. He’d make a good daddy.”