There was something raw in her certainty, a shadow behind her eyes that made him suspect she knew exactly what it looked like when people chose not to step up. Something in her tone made him wonder about her own family, what she’d experienced that made her so certain of this truth.
The conversation lulled, a comfortable silence settling between them. Holly shifted slightly, and Daniel noticed she’d moved closer, the distance between them on the sofa shrinking by a few crucial inches. His pulse quickened.
“You must be bursting with questions about me,” Holly said suddenly, looking down at her hands. “About yesterday. The wedding dress. All of it.”
Daniel considered his response carefully. He did have questions—so many questions—but pushing felt wrong.
His bear, usually so demanding, was surprisingly patient on this matter.Don’t rush her.
“I don’t expect anything from you, Holly,” he said gently. “Not explanations, not anything.”
Her head snapped up, surprise evident in her widened eyes. For a moment, she simply stared at him, as if trying to determineif he was sincere. Whatever she saw in his face must have convinced her.
“I left my wedding,” she whispered, the words falling into the space between them like stones into still water. “Obviously. But it wasn’t... it wasn’t a last-minute panic or cold feet.”
Daniel remained silent, giving her room to find her words.
“I saw the truth of what I was stepping into,” Holly continued, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “Something happened that made it impossible to walk down that aisle. To say those vows.”
She didn’t elaborate, and Daniel didn’t push. The firelight played across her face. His bear urged him to reach for her, to pull her against his chest and promise protection from whatever had hurt her. Daniel resisted, keeping his hands firmly in his own lap.
“Thank you,” Holly whispered, meeting his eyes. “For letting me into your life.”
“Are you kidding?” Daniel teased, lightening the moment. “I don’t know if I’d have gotten through this snow day without you.”
“Yes, you would,” Holly said lightly. “I think you can achieve whatever you set out to do.”
Like convincing our mate to stay, his bear added silently, satisfaction thrumming through him.
As if drawn by some invisible force, they’d shifted closer still, the distance between them narrowing to mere inches. He could smell the faint scent of his shampoo in her hair, could see the delicate pulse at the base of her throat. His bear stirred restlessly, wanting to claim, to protect.
Daniel cleared his throat. “You should probably call someone, though,” he suggested carefully. “Just to let them know you’resafe. Family or friends who might be worried.” Daniel wished he could take the words back the moment they left his mouth, but practicality won out over his desire to maintain their bubble of intimacy.
“You’re probably right.” Holly stiffened slightly, the openness in her expression faltering.
His phone sat on the side table, mocking him. He reached for it, knowing full well he might be handing her the very thing that would end his dream of them being together.
“Here,” he said, holding it out. “No pressure.”
She stared at the phone without taking it, conflict visible in her eyes.
Daniel sighed inwardly. Being the responsible adult sucked sometimes.
His bear was practically sulking, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that somewhere, someone might be worried sick about her.
“Here,” he said, extending the phone toward her. “No pressure. But if someone’s worried about you...”
Their fingers brushed as she finally took the phone from him, and Holly looked up, startled by the contact. Their eyes locked, and the quiet between them transformed into something electric. Daniel felt it like a physical pull, this connection that had appeared out of nowhere and now seemed to define his existence.
Without conscious thought, they leaned toward each other, drawn together by something beyond rational explanation. Holly’s eyes fluttered closed, her lips parting slightly as the distance between them narrowed to mere inches. Daniel could feel her breath on his face, could smell the sweetness of hot chocolate still lingering on her lips.
His heart pounded a heavy, hopeful rhythm against his ribs. While his bear roared its approval, every instinct told him to close the final distance, to claim her mouth with his own, to seal the bond that had formed between them from the moment he’d seen her standing in the snow.
But then Holly’s gaze dropped to the phone in her hand, and the spell was broken. She drew back slightly, caution replacing the desire that had been so clear in her eyes a moment before.
The almost-kiss hung between them, unspoken yet undeniable. Daniel exhaled slowly, trying to calm the racing of his heart…and his bear.
Not yet,he told his impatient bear.When it happens, it needs to be right. For both of us.
