While they waited, Matt crouched beside Percy’s chair. “How was the chili dip, buddy? Not too spicy?”
“I loved it!” Percy declared. “It was like... warm and then HOT and then sweet at the end.”
Matt grinned. “That’s exactly what we were going for.” He glanced at Isla, then back to Percy. “You know, if you liked Kirk’s chilies, you should really see where they grow. He has a whole farm of them just outside of town.”
Percy’s head snapped up, eyes wide with excitement. “Can we go? Please, Mom? Can we?”
Isla hadn’t even opened her mouth to respond when Percy continued, “I want to see the chili plants taller than me!”
Kirk held his breath, watching Isla’s face as she considered the invitation. His bear paced anxiously beneath his skin.
“Well,” she said after a moment, a small smile playing at her lips, “I suppose it would be nice to get a real taste of Bear Creek. If Kirk doesn’t mind showing us around?”
“I’d be happy to,” Kirk said, perhaps too quickly. He cleared his throat. “Whenever works for you.”
Rachel returned with the bill, which Isla paid promptly. As they stood to leave, Kirk offered to walk them to their car, pointedly ignoring Matt’s knowing smirk behind Isla’s back.
“Thank you again,” she said, turning to Kirk as Percy climbed into the backseat. “For everything.”
“My pleasure,” Kirk replied, meaning it more deeply than she could know. “I’ll see you soon? For the farm tour?”
“Yes,” Isla nodded. “Maybe tomorrow?”
“Perfect,” Kirk said, memorizing the curve of her smile as she slipped into the driver’s seat.
He stood watching as their car pulled away, feeling the invisible thread between them stretch but not break. Tomorrow. He would see her tomorrow.
When Kirk returned to the restaurant, Matt was waiting by the back door, arms crossed, a smug smile on his face.
“That,” Kirk sighed, “was the best meal you’ve ever cooked.”
“Because of the company?” Matt’s eyes danced with amusement.
Kirk couldn’t hold back his grin. “Oh, yeah.”
His bear rumbled in agreement, already counting the hours until he saw them again.
Chapter Five – Isla
“Here we are at last.” Isla turned off at the sign for Bear’s Rest. And boy, did she feel as if she needed a rest. And a glass of wine.
She glanced at the bag on the passenger seat beside her. After she’d bought sunscreen for Percy, they had wandered along the street looking in shop windows before heading into the grocery store for a few essentials. Namely, ingredients for s’mores and a bottle of Thornberg wine. She figured she deserved a glass after Percy had gone to bed.
“Is this where we’re staying?” Percy asked as he spotted the wooden cabins set among the tall pines.
“Yes.” Isla steered the car along the winding gravel path that led deeper into the property.
“It’s like we’re in a fairy tale,” Percy whispered, his face pressed against the window.
Isla had to agree. The cabins were spaced apart for privacy, each one nestled among towering pines that swayed gently in the mountain breeze. As they rounded a bend, a larger building came into view, a handsome lodge constructed of thick logs with a wide porch wrapped around it.
She parked in front of the lodge and switched off the engine.
“Can I get out now?” Percy was already unbuckling his seatbelt.
“Yes, but stay close.” Isla stepped out of the car, stretching her back after the long drive, and eyed the tree line for any sign of movement. She still couldn’t quite shake the image of bears and wolves in these mountains. It left her uneasy.
But then the door to the lodge swung open before they reached it, and a woman with silver-streaked hair and kind eyes stepped onto the porch.
