Page 28 of The Bear's Perfect Mate
She couldn’t imagine that with Tito. Even before discovering his betrayal, she’d sensed an expiration date. It was obvious now that he had never been the forever kind of love she was looking for.
But as she watched Nero carefully tuck the velvet box into his jacket pocket, his movements precise and respectful of the treasure within, Sophie found herself wondering what kind of man he was. The forever kind? Or just another Tito, wrapped in a more appealing package?
As they reached the door, Sophie hesitated. Everything about Nero, from his quiet confidence, his passion for his craft, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, told her he was genuine.Yet a small voice inside whispered caution. Tito had seemed real, too, at first.
She hated that he’d left her like this, unable to trust her own heart. That he’d made her build walls around her heart. They might be for protection, but they were also suffocating.
The door opened before she could spiral further. An elderly man with gray hair and striking pale blue eyes greeted them, surprise and warmth in his gaze.
“Nero, I wasn’t expecting you so soon,” he said.
“I worked through the night to match the emeralds and repair the clasp,” Nero replied. “So, I thought I’d drop off the bracelet, so you’d have it in time. I didn’t want you to stress over not being able to return it to Hilda.”
Norman’s face lit up. “You must have read my mind. I was worried you might not be able to match the emeralds before the special day.”
“Take a look.” Nero opened the box with quiet pride.
Norman gasped. “It looks like new.”
“I polished all the stones, cleaned the gold, and checked over all the fixings,” Nero replied, his voice filled with well-deserved pride.
“It’s just like the day I gave it to Hilda on our wedding day.” Norman smiled as he accepted the box, his eyes distant, as if he were reliving the moment once more. “The emeralds matched her eyes, you see.”
“Norman, who is it?” a woman’s voice called from inside the cabin.
Norman quickly snapped the box shut and pressed his finger to his lips in a conspiratorial gesture. “It’s young Nero Thornberg and his...” His gaze flicked to Sophie, then back toNero. “Friend,” he finished, though Sophie had a feeling that wasn’t the word he’d intended to use.
If she had to guess, he was going to say “mate.” It was a curious word she’d heard more than once since arriving in Bear Creek, always spoken with more weight than its dictionary definition carried.
“Come in...” An elderly woman appeared behind Norman and then froze when she saw Sophie, her face lighting up with recognition. “Eat it Simple with Sophie! Why didn’t you say!” Hilda beckoned enthusiastically. “Come in, come in. I’ve just pulled a batch of your lemon-thyme shortbread cookies from the oven. I’d love you to try them.”
“Oh, we don’t want to intrude,” Sophie said, glancing at Nero.
“Are you kidding me?” Hilda asked, her tone brooking no argument. “Come in.”
They followed the elderly couple inside, and Sophie found herself mesmerized by the way Hilda and Norman moved together. It was as if they anticipated each other’s movements, communicating with shared looks and subtle gestures. It was as if they had learned the silent language of love.
The cabin was warm and cozy. Snug would be a good word to describe it, filled with handcrafted furniture and shelves of books. Photos spanning generations adorned the walls, telling the story of a life well-lived together.
When they sat down at the kitchen table, Norman poured tea while Hilda arranged the shortbread cookies on a hand-painted plate. They sat close, their arms brushing, Norman’s hand resting on Hilda’s.
“So, what brings you to town?” Hilda asked.
“The wedding expo,” Sophie explained as the couple exchanged a glance she couldn’t quite read.
“You two went along for wedding ideas?” Hilda asked, her eyes twinkling as she looked between Sophie and Nero.
“Oh, no, we are not a couple,” Sophie said quickly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.
But sitting here with Nero, in the presence of these two lovebirds who had clearly found something rare and precious in each other, she couldn’t help but wish they were. The realization startled her, and she picked up her teacup and raised it to her lips to hide her confusion.
“We just met yesterday,” Nero added. But something in his voice made Sophie glance at him. There was a wistfulness there, a longing that mirrored her own.
“Yesterday?” Norman chuckled, exchanging another of those meaningful looks with his wife. “Some of the best things happen in an instant.”
“Like lightning,” Hilda agreed, squeezing her husband’s hand. “I knew the moment I saw Norman that he was special.”
“You ran the other way,” Norman teased.
