All the while, his bear cataloged every detail about her—the way she moved, how she nodded attentively at his instructions, the slight furrow between her brows when she concentrated.
“The kitchen is back here,” he said, pushing through the swinging doors. “This is where I’ll be if you need anything.”
“Nice.” Tessa nodded as she assessed the kitchen. “I like how you’ve kept some of the original features.”
“It helps us remember where we came from and how our family built this restaurant from nothing,” Matt said, a little wistfully.
His parents had never voiced their fears, but he knew, as they’d watched their sons grow older with no sign of them finding mates, they’d grown concerned that there might not beanother generation of Thornbergs to carry on the tradition of serving good food to the good people of Bear Creek.
“I like that.” She turned to him and smiled, and his knees went weak. How was he ever going to get through this shift without making a fool of himself?
“I think we’ve covered everything,” Matt continued, keeping his voice even through sheer force of will. “And if you have questions, either ask me or Jenny. She’s been serving here for years. She can help you.”
Tessa nodded, her eyes taking in the bustling kitchen with quiet assessment. “I’ll try not to let you down.”
“You’ll be fine,” he said, giving her what he hoped was a confidence-boosting smile.
It looks like a grimace,his bear said, full of mischievous joy.Not helping,Matt replied.
“Okay…” She nodded and took a breath, her nerves showing for the first time. “I will get to work.”
“Great.” He watched her go, resisting the temptation to follow her around like a lost puppy.
“Matt!” Alan called from the kitchen.
“Coming!”
The lunch service began, and Matt forced himself to focus on the rhythm of the kitchen, the orders coming in, the plates going out. But his awareness of Tessa never dimmed. He could sense her movements throughout the restaurant as if she carried a beacon only he could see.
We shouldn’t be watching,his bear complained when Matt’s eyes followed her for the third time in as many minutes.We should be by her side, helping her.
We’re running a kitchen,Matt reminded his bear.She’s doing fine.
And she was. Tessa moved through the dining room with surprising confidence for someone unfamiliar with the layout. She took orders efficiently, remembered which tables needed refills, and maintained a warm but professional demeanor with the customers.
Until the gravy boat incident.
Matt saw it happen as if in slow motion. A customer gestured too broadly, catching the edge of the gravy boat as Tessa leaned in to set down a plate. The boat tipped, sending a stream of rich brown gravy directly toward an elderly woman’s cream-colored blouse.
His bear surged forward, ready to leap to Tessa’s aid, but before Matt could even move, Tessa had snatched up a napkin and intercepted the gravy mid-air. A few drops splattered on the tablecloth and the floor, but she’d saved the woman’s outfit.
“I am so sorry about that,” Tessa said smoothly, already dabbing at the small spots on the table. “Let me get you a fresh gravy boat right away.”
The elderly woman looked startled, then impressed. “My goodness, what quick reflexes! Thank you, dear.”
Tessa smiled—a genuine smile that made the corners of her eyes crinkle slightly—and Matt felt his chest tighten at the sight. “No problem at all. I’ll be right back with that gravy.”
See?His bear said smugly.Perfect reflexes. Perfect instincts. Perfect mate.
Matt couldn’t argue with that assessment. He watched as Tessa handled the situation with calm efficiency, returning with fresh gravy and checking on the table throughout their meal.
She didn’t need rescuing. She didn’t panic. She just... handled it.
And now she was coming his way!
“Good catch,” he said, keeping his tone even despite the way his bear pushed against his control, urging him to say more, do more. “You handled that gravy situation well.”
Tessa looked up, a hint of surprise crossing her features. “Thanks. It wasn’t my first spill.” A small smile played at the corner of her mouth. “Though usually, I’m the one dodging debris like a contestant on a cooking show gone wrong.”
