Just as we are addicted to our mate,his bear purred.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Tessa asked.
“No, I have it covered,” Matt replied. “Make yourself at home.”
Yes, please,his bear said happily.
While Matt fetched plates from the cupboard, Tessa wandered into the hallway with her wineglass. He could hear her soft footsteps as she moved, the caress of fabric against her thighs, and the quiet creaking of floorboards beneath her feet.
Unable to bear being apart from her, he quickly finished his preparations and went to join her.
“I love your family photos,” she said, looking up at the various framed photos that lined the hallway wall. “Especially this one.”
“That’s my brothers and me,” Matt said, coming to stand beside her.
The photo showed six boys perched in the branches of an enormous oak tree, their grins wide and carefree. Another nearby showed the same boys splashing in a creek, their clothes soaked, faces alight with laughter.
“This is Caleb,” he said, pointing to the tallest boy. “And that’s Elliot. Kirk. Leo and Spencer. And me.”
“You all look so happy,” Tessa said, her eyes moving from picture to picture. “It looks like you had a charmed childhood.”
“We did,” Matt agreed, studying the images of his younger self. “Growing up here, with all this space to run and explore... we were lucky.” He turned to her. “Do you have any siblings?”
Tessa shook her head, her smile fading slightly. “No. Just me.”
She hugged herself, a small gesture that spoke volumes. Matt fought the urge to wrap his arms around her, to pull her against him and offer comfort. Instead, he cleared his throat.
“Dinner’s ready,” he said gently. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” she said and followed him into the kitchen, where Matt had transformed the small table into an intimate dining space. A crisp white tablecloth covered the wood, and two tapered candles stood ready to cast a soft, intimate glow over the setting. He struck a match and lit them, hoping the romantic atmosphere wouldn’t overwhelm her.
“This is beautiful,” Tessa said as she took her seat. “You didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”
“I did,” Matt said as he served the first course—a delicate salad of local greens with candied walnuts and goat cheese. The tension in Tessa’s shoulders seemed to ease as they began to eat, her expression brightening with the first bite.
“This is the cheese from the market?” she asked.
“It is. What do you think?” Matt always liked to hear other people’s opinions of his recipes. But Tessa’s opinion mattered most.
“It’s delicious,” she said, closing her eyes briefly as she savored the bite. “The tanginess of the cheese with the sweetness of the walnuts... It’s like they were made for each other.”Like us,his bear rumbled in satisfaction.
As they ate, conversation flowed more easily. Tessa told him about how she and Rachel had met in college, been roommates,and stayed close even when life pulled them in different directions.
“She was my rock when Mom got sick,” Tessa admitted. “Called me every day, sent care packages. When she invited me to visit Bear Creek, I nearly said no. I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I’m glad I didn’t.”
“I’m glad too,” Matt said, his voice low and sincere.
She ducked her head and stared at her plate for a moment, but then looked at him through her lashes, and he knew in that moment tonight was the night.
But not yet. He wanted to get through dinner and then find the right moment.
“Did the girls like the stones for the fairy garden?” he asked, lightening the mood.
Tessa’s face lit up. “They loved them. Lucy has already arranged them all according to some fairy-approved system I couldn’t quite follow.”
Matt laughed as he served the main course—herb-crusted salmon on a bed of lemon risotto, with roasted asparagus alongside. The rich aroma filled the space between them.
“Tell me more about Bear Creek,” Tessa said as they settled into their main course. “About the mountains. I’ve never lived anywhere so beautiful.”
