Bear Valley Valentine: Valentine's Day Paranormal Romance by T. S. Joyce Read Free Book Online Page B

back to life in more ways than you can even understand. Or maybe you could understand, but I’m not great with words. Open the box before you read further.
     
    Her stomach fluttered and her hands shook as she untied the twine and lifted the lid. Inside, nestled in red velvet, was a pocket knife. It wasn’t like any she’d ever seen. The handle was smooth and stained a rich earth tone, and the spine of the knife was etched with a floral design that looked like a creeping ivy vine. She ran a reverent finger down the smooth hilt and pulled it free of its case. On the edge was engraved Flowerlady26 in a fine, pink line that contrasted with the darker arcs of the wood grain. She opened it carefully, and the sharp blade shone in the fluorescent lighting. She’d be able to use it for so much around the shop, and it would fit perfectly into a compartment in her purse. From the craftsmanship, he must have spent some time on it. This was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her.
    A single tear fell to her cheek as she closed the knife and picked up the letter again.
     
    I began making this for you the first day we talked online. I hadn’t made a knife for fun in so long, and I wanted it to be special, just for you. This is the one I was holding yesterday when you came into my shop. I was trying to think of a way to give it to you without it seeming a strange gift. Maybe it still does, I don’t know.
    I wanted to be the first to tell you Happy Valentine’s Day today, Hadley…so…
    Happy Valentine’s Day.
    Love,
    Bearman
     
    Hadley wiped her eyes and pulled her cell phone from her purse. Colin had given her his number, and a trill of excitement zinged through her as she put it to use for the first time.
    Are you awake? she texted him.
    His response was immediate. Yeah. I’m out working in the shop.
    She grinned and hit the call button. It rang three times before he picked up.
    “Hey,” he said, his breath catching like he’d been rushing to answer her call.
    “Hey mister,” she said as creeping shyness filled her. “I got your present.”
    “Do you like it?” Colin’s voice was all deep and gruff, as if he was sleepy, and the sexy tone of it brought heat to her cheeks.
    “It was the sweetest gift you could’ve ever thought up. I love it indescribably much.” She turned the closed knife in her hands and rubbed the polished hilt. She wouldn’t tell him that she was going to keep his letter forever because that might freak him out, but it was definitely going into her lockbox of meaningful trinkets she kept hidden in the top drawer of her dresser.
    She sighed regretfully, not wanting to get off the phone. Duty called, though. “I have to get to work on these orders, but will I see you tonight for dinner?”
    “I’ve made a reservation for us at the Winchester Steakhouse at eight. Is that late enough?”
    She stifled a smile at the thought of sitting with him all through dinner, and in public. The ladies around here were going to lose their biscuits when they got an eyeful of Colin without his mountain man beard. “I’ll make it work. Colin?” she asked, turning to the display case filled with red roses. “Did I ever thank you for the flowers you had shipped in yesterday?”
    “Yes, about a dozen times before you left last night.” His voice sounded amused, and she imagined him leaning against his work bench, arms crossed as his snow-colored eyes rivaled the neon streaks of sunrise peaking over the horizon.
    “Well, I just wanted to be thorough about it. You took a lot of pressure off me. Really, you saved the day, and a lot of couples will be getting roses from their significant others because of your thoughtfulness. It means a lot to me that you did that.”
    “I’m glad, Hadley.”
    She loved the way her name sounded in his deep voice.
    “I’m not going to give your sweater back,” she said, leaning on the counter and biting the end of her thumbnail.
    “You like wearing it?”
    “It