Page 37 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

“No pressure,” he blurted. “I just thought...well, you are kind of family now, whether you know it or not.”

His words, meant to be light, hit deeper than he probably realized.

Kind of family.

The longing in her chest ached so sharply she had to look away for a second, pretending to brush dirt from her hands.

She could say no. She could keep things simple, safe, anddistant.

But when she looked up and met Philip’s intense gaze, she found herself nodding.

“I’d like that,” she murmured.

Relief flickered across his face, and he grinned.

“Six o’clock?” he asked.

“Six,” she confirmed.

“Great.” He grinned, looking so darn happy that she grinned right back at him, her nerves forgotten. “Well, I would love to stay and fit that filter regulator for you, but I have a full day of work ahead of me.”

“Of course,” she said, cradling the box in her hand as if it were the most precious gift anyone had ever given her.

“But I’ll see you at six?” he asked, as he backed away toward his truck.

“I’ll see you at six,” Elsbeth replied.

“Promise?” He swung open the truck door but didn’t climb in.

“I promise,” she said.

“You want me to text you directions?” he asked as he swung himself into the driver’s seat.

“I’m sure I can find it,” she replied, still grinning.

“Does that mean you already looked me up?” he asked in a teasing tone.

“I looked up the Thornberg Vineyard,” she admitted. “Because I was told their wine is so delicious.”

He closed the door, but she heard his laughter through the open window. “If that’s the way you want to play it.” He started the engine and, with a wave, he was gone, disappearing back down the driveway and out of her life.

As she stood there and watched him go, the box still in her hands, she knew she’d crossed some invisible line. Stepped a little deeper into a future she was still afraid to hope for.

For a moment, she allowed herself to wonder what it would be like to belong somewhere again, to have a family. Not just any family, but the Thornbergs. Philip’s family.

Elsbeth shook her head and returned to the irrigation pipes, but her mind remained distracted. Meeting his parents meant something. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe it was just a casual invitation. There was something in Philip’s eyes when he’d asked—a hopeful vulnerability.

She’d never expected to see it in a man like Philip. A man so strong, so self-assured in so many ways. Then she reminded herself she’d never met a man like Philip before. He was one of a kind.

And the more she got to know him, she was sure he was the one for her.

Chapter Eleven – Philip

Philip crouched beside the middle row of vines, running his thumb along the underside of a leaf, inspecting for signs of stress or pests. There were none. The row was healthy, thriving, right on track.

But he checked again and then moved to the next one.

Are you planning on checking every single vine?his bear said with gentle amusement.

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