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Spending time on the river with Quinn made me realize how much I’ve missed being around her amazing smile and warm personality. I always pushed those thoughts to the background before, but now I see no reason whatsoever to keep doing that.

For a split second, I thought Falcon wanted to ask her out, and I snapped at him. The thought of another man growing close to her makes me irrationally angry. Like right now.

I zoom in on the spot at the bar where I left Quinn when I went to the restroom. My seat has been taken by some burly dude who’s making my girl laugh. I clench my hands into fists and try to keep it together. The last thing I should be doing is starting a fight at The Grizzly Grove. It’s my friends Sloane and Benson’s bar, after all, and I don’t want to get them or me into trouble.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and do nothing, though.

I walk back to the bar and cross my arms over my chest. “That seat’s taken,” I tell the guy sitting in my spot.

“Really? Then why was it empty?”

He has the audacity to give me a cocky look as if Quinn is some prize that I forfeited the moment I left my seat. Fuck, how I wish I could wipe that grin from his face with my fist.

I take a step closer and stare him down. “Get lost.”

“Why don’t we let the lady decide?”

I grit my teeth and turn to Quinn with an arched eyebrow.

“Bear is right. You’re sitting in his seat,” she says with a sweet smile. “But we could get a table for three if you want to keep chatting about make-up trends.”

“Make-up trends?” I ask.

“Yeah, Chris here is super interested in my line of work. Isn’t that great? Men usually don’t like to talk make-up and hair at all.”

I scoff. As if Chris is truly interested in that. I bet all he cares about is getting into Quinn’s pants.

“Tough luck, Chris,” I tell him. “But Quinn is my girl, and you need to get lost before I lose control over my fist.”

He glances at me and jumps off the barstool so fast that it topples over. “Fine, I’m gone.”

“Bye, Chris,” I tell him as he walks away with an angry scowl.

I slide back into my seat.

Quinn gives me a questioning look. “Was that really necessary? He was being perfectly nice to me.”

“Come on, Jellybean. A man interested in make-up trends?”

Her shoulders deflate. “Shit, you’re probably right. Why do we women always have to look out for guys using sleazy tactics to get us into bed?”

“No man is going to get you into bed,” I tell her and signal to Sloane for another Ridge Reserve Rye, one of the bar’s specialties.

“Is that so? And why not? I’m desirable, Bear,” Quinn says, looking offended.

I shake my head. “Of course you’re desirable. Even a blind man would see that.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

I take a swig of whiskey and let it burn on my tongue before answering her. What am I going to say? I want you all to myself?

“Well?” Quinn presses.

I put the glass down on the bar. “Are we really going to fight about this?”

“That’s up to you, I guess.”

She sits up straight and arches her eyebrow at me. God, I love it when she acts all feisty. “Are you going to tell me why you’re being so possessive? It’s not like we’re a couple.”

I grab her hand and lock eyes with her, feeling fucking courageous. “Maybe it’s time we changed that.”

Her eyes grow wide as my words sink in. “Excuse me?”

I trail my thumb over her soft hand. My dick twitches, and all I can think about is making her mine. Truly mine. Finally. Suddenly, none of the reasons that held me back before make sense. Yes, I left Candy Cane Creek so she could follow her dreams, and she did exactly that. It’s not as if I’d still be standing in the way of her dreams if I kissed her.

“Bear, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

I look around the bar. Is this the place to have this conversation? Fuck it, it has to be. If I have to wait until we’re somewhere private, I’ll burst.

“Quinn. Jellybean. I’m just going to flat-out say it, okay? I love you. I have loved you forever, but I knew that if I told you, you would never travel the world like you wanted to. I loved you enough to walk away.”

“You love me,” she repeats in an incredulous tone.

“Have loved you forever,” I correct her.

She says nothing, only stares at me, and I’m afraid I’ve misread all the signals. What if she doesn’t have feelings for me after all and wants to stay in the friend zone?

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

“Jellybean, I meant what I said. I didn’t say a word because you would’ve stayed for me. I’m right about that, aren’t I? There’s no point in denying it. I know you too well.”

She gives me a soft smile. “Yes, you’re right. I would’ve stayed.”

“I didn’t want to be the reason you never traveled the world, Quinn. I didn’t want you to resent me for missing out on your dreams.”

“You love me,” she repeats, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth as if she can’t believe her ears.

I jump off my barstool and tilt her chin up with my hand. “Yes, I do. I fucking love you, Jellybean.”

I lower my mouth to hers. Our lips touch, a moment I’ve been dreaming of for years and it’s even better than I could have ever visualized. Fucking hell, she feels like heaven.

Her lips part eagerly, and she sucks my tongue with a passion and fire I didn’t even know she possessed. This moment marks a turning point in my life. Now, there’s Before Quinn’s Kiss and After Quinn’s Kiss. Nothing will ever be the same.

I push her body close to mine, my hands finding the hem of her shirt.

“Guys, get a room. I mean it,” Sloane says with a laugh from behind the bar. “I’m happy for you two, but The Grizzly Grove isn’t the place for a heated public make-out session.”

“We’ll get out of here, no worries,” I tell Sloane without lifting my eyes from Quinn’s face.

Shit, my girl is beautiful, and I’m the lucky guy who gets to kiss her senselessly.

Quinn jumps off her barstool and places her hand in mine. We speedwalk to my car and gun it out of there, gravel flying from under my tires.

Thank the gods I don’t live far from the bar. She’ll be in my bed in less than ten minutes, and I can’t fucking wait to give her a night to remember. The first of many.