I think she knows,Matt replied.She just doesn’t want to admit it.
“I didn’t mean the entire market,” Matt said, voice dropping lower. “I meant your company specifically.”
Tessa’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh,” she said softly. “Well... thank you.”
They stood there for a moment, the market sounds fading into background noise as they looked at each other. Matt felt his bear rumbling with contentment inside him.
“We should probably get all this to the truck,” Tessa suggested, reaching for one of the bags. “Before your produce wilts in the sun.”
“Good thinking,” Matt said, hoping she was just being practical rather than wanting to find a reason to end this intimate moment.
“Then do you think we have time to head over to Rachel’s so I can grab my sketchbook? I’d like to show you my sketch of thecourtyard and see what you think. But it’s okay if you’d rather go straight to the restaurant. We’ve been longer than I expected.”
“Sorry, I always lose track of time,” Matt said. “But Rachel’s is more or less on the way.”
“Great.” She flashed him a smile that took his breath away. And restored his confidence in the way she felt about him.
No wonder you lost track of time,his bear chuckled.
When Tessa’s around, I can’t think straight at all,Matt admitted.
They made their way back to where he’d parked, Tessa carrying several of the smaller packages while Matt balanced the crates of vegetables and fruit.
At the truck, Tessa held the bags while Matt unlocked and opened the tailgate. Together, they arranged everything carefully in the bed, making sure the more delicate items wouldn’t shift during the drive.
“Perfect,” Matt said as he placed the last crate of heirloom tomatoes securely against the side.
When he turned, Tessa was standing closer than he expected, looking up at him with those eyes that seemed to see right through him.
His bear went completely still, every sense focused on her—the scent of her skin, the slight quickening of her breath, the way the sunlight caught golden highlights in her hair.
Matt’s gaze dropped to her lips, and he saw her tongue dart out to moisten them. It would be so easy to lean down, to close that small distance between them.
His bear urged him forward, the pull toward her almost irresistible.
Tessa held his gaze for a long, breathless moment. Then she took a deliberate step back, breaking the spell.
“We should get going,” she said, her voice slightly unsteady. “I don’t want to make you late for your shift.”
Matt swallowed his disappointment at the near-kiss and instead focused on the way she said the wordwe. As if they were already a unit, already connected in some fundamental way.We are,his bear said.And I know she can feel it too.
They climbed into the truck, the cab suddenly feeling much smaller than it had on the drive to town. Matt started the engine, focusing on the familiar routine to ground himself after that charged moment.
As they pulled away from the market, he glanced over at Tessa. “So you liked the farmers’ market?”
“Oh, yeah.” She smiled, reaching into her purse. Her fingers emerged holding several small, polished stones in jewel tones—deep purples, blues, and greens that caught the light. One larger stone, smooth and flat, had tiny words painted on it.
“Home Sweet Home,” Matt read aloud, peering at the painted stone. “That’s perfect.”
“I thought so too.” Tessa turned the stone over in her palm, her expression soft. “Thanks for showing me that last booth. I can’t believe these are river stones that Polly polishes and paints herself.”
“The girls are going to love them,” Matt said, glancing at Tessa’s face as she studied the stones. He loved the way she always tried to make others happy.
And our job is to make her happy,his bear said.
It is. And I aim to do that every day for the rest of our lives,Matt replied.
“I hope the fairies approve of them too,” Tessa said, carefully placing the stones back in her purse. “I’ve been told they have very high standards.”
