She poured two mugs when the pot finished, handing him one that steamed with that strong, bitter aroma he usually craved. Today, it just smelled like another lonely day. “Sit,” she said, nodding to the desk chair.
He took the mug, wrapping his hands around its warmth, and dropped into the seat. The steam rose in wisps, carrying the scent up to his nose as he took a sip, the heat scalding his tongue just enough to ground him.
Gretel leaned against the desk, cradling her own mug. “So, she drove off alone this morning? After you two spent all yesterday together?”
Christopher couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips as a montage of yesterday’s memories played in his mind. “It was…perfect. I showed her the town, the sanctuary. We went sledding. I even made her dinner.”
“And?”
“And nothing,” Christopher sighed. “We almost…there was a moment…but she pulled away. Made an excuse to leave.”
Gretel set her mug down with a decisive click. “Sounds to me like she’s scared.”
Christopher looked up, surprise cutting through his misery. “Scared? Of what?”
“Of feeling something real,” Gretel said simply. “Of finding a reason to stay when she’s built her whole identity around leaving.”
As the words sank in, something stirred inside him. Something that felt dangerously like hope.
His bear perked up, interested.We need to go after her.
“That bear of yours talking some sense into you?” Gretel asked with a raised eyebrow.
Christopher nodded, feeling a spark of determination ignite in his chest. “He says we need to go after her.”
“And he’s right,” Gretel said, setting her mug down with a firm tap. “You need to find her and win her heart and make her stay.”
Christopher ran a hand through his hair. “You make it sound so simple.”
“Love is simple,” Gretel said wistfully, her eyes distant with memories. “We’re just mighty good at making it complicated.”
Christopher considered this, turning the words over in his mind. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was overthinking everything.
“So, you’re telling me to keep it simple?” he asked.
“Should be easy for a man like you,” Gretel chuckled, the lines around her eyes crinkling.
Christopher shook his head and grinned. “Thanks.” He placed his cup on the desk and then leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “You always did give the best advice.”
Gretel chuckled. “Isn’t that why you stayed?”
“It is,” Christopher said with a nod, smiling at the memory.
Yes, all those years ago, he’d arrived in Bear Creek lost and alone…But he’d found good friends and a simple life, one he loved, one he wanted to share with his mate.
His bear surged with renewed purpose, and Christopher felt his own resolve hardening. He wasn’t going to let Sorcha drive away from Bear Creek, from him, without at least trying.
He went outside and hurried to his truck, skidding on a patch of ice. He righted himself with a muttered curse and then climbed into his truck, starting the engine. The familiar rumble vibrated through the seat as he backed out, his mind racing ahead to what he might say when he found her.
He drove away, taking care on the icy roads as he headed toward town. As he drove, he tried to formulate a plan. But after a few moments of circular thinking, he decided to wing it. If fate had a hand in this, it would guide him.
As he got nearer to town, the sense of Sorcha grew stronger. He was getting closer. Then he realized that it wasn’t just him getting closer to her, but she was getting closer to him. The bond between them seemed to pulse and strengthen with each mile.
Then, sure enough, he rounded a bend and there was her car, coming toward him. She slowed, he slowed, and they stopped side by side on the narrow road, facing opposite directions.
She rolled down her window, her copper hair catching the winter sunlight.
Play it cool,his bear warned.
