“Please,” Matt said, the word gentle but urgent. “May I see more?”
He wasn’t trying to take something from her or impress her. He genuinely wanted to understand this part of her world, this work that so clearly mattered to her. Tessa studied his face for a long moment, then slowly reopened the book.
“This is just the beginning stage,” she said, turning pages to show him more sketches—figures supporting each other, hands reaching out, faces showing compassion without pity. “I want tocreate something that acknowledges how hard it is but doesn’t feel... clinical. Something that helps people feel less alone.”
Matt nodded, understanding completely. “Sometimes the hardest part is feeling like no one else gets it... like you’re the only one trying to figure it all out.”
Tessa’s eyes met his again, a flicker of connection passing between them. “Exactly.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the forest awakening around them as the sun crept higher. Tessa glanced up at the brightening sky.
“I should probably get back,” she said reluctantly. “I left Rachel a note, but I want to be there if she wakes up and needs anything.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Matt offered, rising to his feet and extending a hand to help her up.
She took it, her smaller hand fitting perfectly in his. The contact sent warmth spreading up his arm, and his bear rumbled with contentment. When she was standing, he released her hand—though everything in him wanted to hold on—and fell into step beside her as they made their way down the trail toward town.
They walked side by side, their pace unhurried despite her earlier words. Matt matched his stride to hers without thinking, as if they’d walked together a thousand times before.
His bear vibrated with want beneath his skin—the need to protect, to claim, to keep her close—but Matt kept his movements measured, his conversation light.
“How long have you been drawing?” he asked.
“Since I could hold a pencil,” Tessa replied with a small smile. “My mom used to say I was born with one in my hand.”
The mention of her mother brought a brief shadow to her face, and Matt resisted the urge to reach for her hand again.
Too soon,his human side cautioned, even as his bear protested.
They talked easily as they walked—about Bear Creek, about the restaurant, about Rachel and the girls. Nothing too personal, nothing too deep, yet Matt felt the connection between them strengthening with each exchanged word, each shared glance.
When they reached Rachel’s house, the moment narrowed to just the two of them standing at the bottom of the porch steps. Matt could feel the heat of her body so close to his, could hear the slight quickening of her breath. They were alone in the soft morning light, close enough that he could lean down and...
His bear surged forward with such force that Matt had to clench his fists at his sides to maintain control.
“Thank you for walking me back,” Tessa said softly, turning toward the steps.
As she moved to climb the first step, Matt’s hand reached out of its own accord, his fingers brushing the sleeve of her sweater as he steadied her. It was barely a touch, nothing bold or presumptuous, yet his bear went completely still, waiting, hoping.
Tessa paused, looking up at him with parted lips. For one heartbeat, Matt forgot the restaurant, the rules he’d set for himself, the fact that she didn’t know what he was. There was only Tessa, only this moment, only the overwhelming certainty that she was meant to be his.
The front door banged open suddenly, shattering the spell.
“Tessa!” Lucy cried, her small face lighting up with delight. Aria appeared beside her sister, both girls tumbling onto the porch in their pajamas.
Matt dropped his hand as if it had never touched her, though his whole body knew differently. The moment was gone,broken by the girls’ exuberance, but the connection remained—a tangible thread between them that he could feel even as he stepped back to let her greet the children.
“Good morning, girls,” Tessa said, her voice warm as she climbed the remaining steps. “I see you found my note.”
“Mom’s still sleeping,” Aria informed her importantly. “We were super quiet.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Tessa replied, ruffling the girl’s hair.
Matt remained at the bottom of the steps, suddenly uncertain of his place in this domestic scene. Tessa turned back to him, something unreadable in her eyes.
“I’ll see you at the restaurant later?” she asked, and he heard the question beneath the question.
“I’ll be there,” he promised, the words carrying more weight than their simple meaning.
