Page 64 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

“I’ve never been away from you overnight since we found each other,” he admitted. “My bear is...anxious about it.”

That’s right, blame me,his bear grumbled.

Understanding softened her features. “Your bear is overprotective,” she said with a teasing smile. “But he needs to trust that I can handle myself for a couple of days.”

“Okay,” Philip said, torn between duty and desire. The vineyard had been his life’s work, and Elsbeth was right. It was a great honor to receive such an award.

But our mate...his bear began.

“Go,” Elsbeth urged, breaking into his thoughts. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”

With a resigned sigh, Philip nodded. “All right. But promise me you’ll call if anything happens. Anything at all.”

“I promise,” she said solemnly, then brightened. “Now help me unload the last of the compost from the truck.”

They worked together in comfortable silence, as they often did. With hard work and dedication, Rose Farm had been transformed from a neglected property into a thriving business in just a few short months. The old farmhouse gleamed with fresh paint; the weathered barn now housed Elsbeth’s flower-arranging workshop; neat gravel paths wound between carefully planned beds of blooms in every color imaginable.

And at the center of it all was Elsbeth—his mate, his heart, his future.

We’ve built something beautiful here,his bear said, momentarily distracted from his anxiety.Something worth protecting.

“I know,” Philip murmured aloud as he carried the last bag of compost from the truck to the barn.

“Know what?” Elsbeth asked, looking up as she closed the tailgate.

“I know how lucky I am,” he said, as he stacked the bag of compost next to the others and went back to her, pulling her into his arms. “To have found you. To be building this life with you.”

She melted against him, her arms wrapping around his waist. “I’m the lucky one,” she whispered. “I came here with nothing but a promise to keep, and I found everything I never knew I wanted.”

“And in you, I found everything I knew I always wanted.” Philip breathed in deeply, trying to memorize every detail of this moment. The softness of her body against his, the sweet fragrance of the flowers, the absolute certainty that this was where he belonged.

And yet, beneath it all, that nagging sense of unease persisted.

“Okay, you should go before I change my mind and keep you here,” she said, stepping away from him.

“You’ll call me?” he asked, heading for his truck, which was already packed and ready for his trip. All he needed to do was swing by the vineyard and collect Kris, who was accompanying him to the wine festival.

“Wait,” she called, hurrying toward him. “I have something for you.”

She held out a perfect bachelor’s button, its vibrant blue petals fully open. “To remind you of me while you’re gone.” She carefully tucked the bloom into his buttonhole. “And since our love is everlasting, I am expecting it to still be perfect when you return.”

Philip’s throat tightened with emotion as he covered her hand with his. “I will love you forever, Elsbeth.”

“Are you trying to make me cry?” she asked, smoothing her hands across his chest. “Just come back to me safely.”

“Always,” he promised, bending to capture her lips in a kiss that left them both breathless.

When they finally parted, Philip rested his forehead against hers. “Two days,” he murmured. “Then I’m coming straight home to you.”

“I’ll be here,” she assured him, stepping back reluctantly. “Bring me back a present.”

“I will.” With one last kiss, Philip climbed into his truck. As he turned the key in the ignition, but before he pulled away, he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone to check the weather forecast one more time. The screen showed nothing but sun icons for the next three days, just as Elsbeth had said.

Maybe we’re overreacting,he told his bear as he backed down the driveway.

His bear remained unconvinced, pacing restlessly within him.

When he finally drove away, Philip watched Elsbeth in the rearview mirror as she stood waving, her figure growing smaller as he headed for the road. The bachelor’s button in his buttonhole caught his eye, its blue as vibrant as Elsbeth’s future seemed to be.

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