Page 47 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

By the time they reached her car, the easy rapport between them had returned. Philip opened her car door with that old-fashioned courtesy she’d come to expect from him.

Elsbeth slid inside quickly, not trusting herself to linger. Her feelings were too raw, too overwhelming. If she stayed another moment, standing close to him in the moonlight, she might do something foolish, like pull him close and confess everything she was feeling. She wasn’t ready for that—not when she still needed to sort through the chaos in her heart.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” she said, looking up at him. “Please thank your mom and dad for their hospitality. The dinner was amazing.”

“I will,” Philip promised, his hand resting on the car door as he leaned down slightly. His eyes searched hers, a sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Goodnight, Elsbeth. Sweet dreams.”

He closed the door gently, and Elsbeth started the engine, her hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel. As she drove away, she caught a glimpse of him in her rearview mirror, standing exactly where she’d left him, watching her go.

The road wound through the darkened vineyard, each curve taking her farther from Philip but not from her thoughts of him. She knew with absolute certainty that when she closed her eyes tonight, her dreams would be filled with Philip Thornberg. His gentle hands, his warm eyes, and all the unspoken words that hung between them.

What did Cassia mean about souls recognizing each other? The question circled in Elsbeth’s mind as she navigated the moonlit road. There was clearly something special about the Thornberg family, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

But then she barely knew him.

That wasn’t true, was it? She felt as though she’d known Philip forever, as if some part of her had been waiting for him all along.

As she pulled into her driveway, she wondered if Philip was looking at the same moon right now, thinking of her.

“Sweet dreams,” she whispered, echoing his parting words. And for the first time since her mother’s passing, Elsbeth felt a surge of hope.

Perhaps her dreams—all of them—might actually come true.

Chapter Fourteen – Philip

As Philip tended the vines the next morning, he could not make up his mind whether or not last night had been a success.

Yes,his bear answered emphatically.It was.

But Philip was not convinced. There had been times when he’d felt so close to Elsbeth, as if the final barriers between them had crumbled, and when they sat on the bench, he’d known the moment was right to tell her who he was and what they shared.

But then the moment had abruptly gone. Broken by Elsbeth. He was certain she’d known he was about to speak, and for some reason, she hadn’t wanted to hear what he had to say.

Do you think she knows about shifters?his bear said.Someone in town might have told her.

And she might have put two and two together and realized I was about to tell her we were mates,Philip mused.

And she didn’t want to know. She didn’t want to hear the words, and know it was true,his bear said forlornly.

Or maybe he was overthinking it all. Philip paused, secateurs in hand, and straightened up to look across the vineyard. The morning sun shimmered on the dew-covered leaves, weaving a pattern of light and shadow that always brought him peace.

What if it wasn’t about shifters at all?

He thought back to dinner, to the way Elsbeth had spoken about her mother. The raw grief that still lingered in her voice. The way she’d touched that rose charm bracelet throughout the evening, like a talisman connecting her to someone she’d lost.

Maybe she’s just not ready,he said.

His bear stirred, considering this new perspective.She lost her mother less than a year ago. Her whole world changed. She needs time.

Philip nodded slowly.And we’re strangers to her, really. We’ve only known each other for a short time.

Even though we don’t feel like strangers,his bear added.

It made perfect sense now. Elsbeth wasn’t rejecting him or the bond. In fact, it was probably nothing to do with him at all. She simply wasn’t ready to take on anything else when she was still healing from such a devastating loss. She had uprooted her entire life to fulfill a promise to her mother, bought a farm, and was pouring everything into making her dream a reality.

Last night, she’d probably sensed that he was about to share something with her. Something important. And she didn’t feel strong enough to take on any more.

She needs a friend right now,Philip murmured, a new sense of purpose filling him.Someone to support her dreams, not complicate them.

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