Page 14 of The Bear's Mail Order Mate

Then we’d better come up with a plan, and fast,his bear said.Because Cassia believes there is a real job for her here, and if we want her to stay, we have to make that job real.

The half-formed idea of a restaurant had been raised several times over the last couple of years, but they’d never committed resources. Now, the time had come.

All he had to do was convince his family of that fact.

He turned, letting his gaze sweep over the rows of grapevines.We’ll build it,he vowed.No matter what it takes.Because the alternative—watching Cassia drive out of his life forever—was simply unthinkable.

When the rest of the family knows what is at stake, they will back us one hundred percent, his bear said.

Then we’d better go tell them.Clenching his jaw, Kris forced himself to turn his back on his mate. A hard thing to do, even when she was almost out of the range of his shifter senses. It took all his strength not to turn back around, shift, and run after her. To keep a hold of the connection they shared.

But he resisted the urge, instead heading to the house where he could sense his parents inside and smell the aroma of his mom’s cooking.

We’re late.Kris glanced at his watch. He’d promised his mom he’d be there for dinner, but losing track of time with Cassia had been…well, inevitable.Better get inside before she sends out a search party.

As he climbed the porch steps, he paused and looked back in the direction of the road. She was gone.

But he had to trust in fate. Had to trust that she would be back tomorrow. And when she returned, he needed to have something more concrete to offer her. He needed to show her this was where her future lay.

Here,with us,his bear added.

The aroma of something savory—maybe roast chicken—drifted through the screen door. The moment he opened it, he was greeted by his mom. “There you are.”

“We thought you were going to spend the night crafting the perfect wine,” Philip said from where he sat at the kitchen table, his meal half-eaten. “Again.”

“But then we saw the car and figured you had a client,” his dad said.

He took a breath, trying to center himself.

Just act normal,his bear told him.

I’m not sure what normal is anymore,he told his bear.

“I’m sorry I am late. I lost track of time.” His voice sounded unfamiliar. Had meeting his mate changed him already?

Leanne looked up from the table where she was spooning carrots from a serving dish to a plate. “Are you all right?”

Kris opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out.Should I just say it? ‘I found my mate, Mom’?

Nowthatwould be a bombshell in the middle of a quiet family dinner,his bear said.But they deserve to know. They’d want to know.

Yes, they do,Kris agreed.

He inhaled, tried to speak, and then paused again. Hugo, his father, was seated at the table, quietly ladling gravy over his mashed potatoes. At the sight of Kris’s expression, he set down the ladle, eyebrows lifting. “Something on your mind, son?”

Philip looked up from his plate and then set down his fork. “You look like you got struck by lightning.”

A wry chuckle escaped Kris. “I—uh—maybe I did.” He cleared his throat and stepped closer to the table. He ran a hand through his hair once more, glancing at his mother, then father, then brother. Suddenly, his chest felt too tight. “You guys better brace yourselves, because…I just met my mate.”

That triggered a moment of stunned silence, like the hush after a sudden clap of thunder. Hugo’s eyes widened, a spark of delight quickly banishing any surprise. Leanne set the dish of carrots down with a lightthud. While Philip blinked once, then twice, before a broad grin slowly spread across his face.

“What?” he breathed incredulously, though the delight in his voice was obvious. “Your mate?”

Kris nodded slowly, a faint smile spreading across his lips. “Yeah.”

“Are you sure?” Philip asked.

“Duh!” Kris said with a roll of his eyes.

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