Page 25 of Beary In Love

"Very funny." Serena measured ingredients with precise movements. "The iron will anchor the strengthening properties and prevent any... musical side effects."

The new potion shimmered a deep silver, nothing like the previous rainbow-colored disasters. When they tested it on a small section of fence, the wood darkened and hardened visibly, taking on a metallic sheen.

"Now that's more like it." Logan rapped his knuckles against it, satisfaction rumbling through his chest at the solid thunk. "Silas won't know what hit him."

They worked together applying the potion along the fence line, shoulders brushing occasionally as they moved. Each touch sent sparks through Logan's skin. His bear grew more possessive with every accidental contact.

11

LOGAN

Logan stepped back with satisfaction as they finished the last section of fence. The metallic sheen caught the late afternoon sun, a testament to their hard day's work. His muscles ached pleasantly from the physical labor, and his bear rumbled happily at having spent the day working beside Serena.

"That should hold even against an angry bear," he said, watching her pack away her supplies in the workshop. His stomach growled loud enough to echo off the walls. "You hungry?"

"Starving," Serena replied as she zipped up her leather potions kit. "I should probably head home."

Logan's bear bristled at the thought of letting her leave. "I've got food at the cabin. Let me cook you dinner. It's the least I can do after you spent all day helping me."

She hesitated, and his bear tensed. "You still cook?"

"Some of us don't survive on takeout and microwave dinners." He grinned when she rolled her eyes. "Come on. You can keep me company while I work."

In his cabin's kitchen, Logan moved with practiced ease, gathering ingredients while Serena perched on a stool at the counter. His bear preened again when she inhaled deeply.

"Is that..." Her eyes widened.

"Honey-glazed salmon with rosemary?" Logan smirked as he prepared the glaze. "Might be."

"You remembered."

"It's pretty hard to forget when you used to practically purr while eating it." He glanced over his shoulder to catch her blushing. His bear hummed with pleasure at the sight.

"I did not purr."

"You absolutely did." Logan drizzled honey into the pan. "Made my bear jealous that food could get that reaction out of you."

Serena's blush deepened. "Well, your bear was always easily jealous."

"Still is." The words slipped out. His bear huffed in agreement while Logan busied himself with the herbs, pretending he hadn't just admitted that.

"I was thinking we could eat outside," he said, changing the subject. "Weather's perfect for it."

"That sounds nice." Serena's voice had softened, and when Logan looked at her again, she was watching him with an expression that made his bear want to puff out its chest.

Logan set their plates on the weathered picnic table, watching as Serena settled onto the bench. The evening breeze carried the scent of honeysuckle and grass, mingling with the aroma of their dinner. His bear bellowed with pride as she took her first bite and closed her eyes in appreciation.

"The fence looks amazing," he said, cutting into his salmon. "That hardening potion was brilliant."

"After I turned it into a flower garden first." Serena pushed her food around her plate. "And then made it rubber. And then somehow made it play music."

"The music wasn't that bad." Logan's lips twitched. "Better than my bear's attempts at humming a tune."

She didn't smile like he expected. "I used to be better at this. More focused. Now I can't even get a simple reinforcement potion right on the first try."

Logan's bear bristled at her defeated tone. This wasn't the confident witch who used to experiment fearlessly with her potions, who'd once turned his entire yard into a winter wonderland in July just because she wanted to see if she could.

"Hey." He waited until she met his eyes. "You figured it out. That's what matters."

---