Page 40 of The Bear's Perfect Mate
“When the weather is this beautiful, yes,” she said. “It makes me feel more connected to the world around me.”
Nero glanced at her and grinned. “That’s exactly what I love about this car.”
We are so similar in lots of ways,his bear said.
We are,Nero agreed.She fits here. With us.
She does,Nero agreed.And I think she knows it.
Yes. She feels it. Deep in her soul, she feels it, his bear said, ready to do somersaults.
The road wound upward, revealing green slopes and glimpses of the valley below. Sophie’s gaze roamed the landscape, her lips parted in quiet awe.
Wait until she meets me,his bear said.Then she’ll be in awe.
Well, awe would be a lot better than fear,Nero agreed. But he didn’t want to think of the future right now. He wanted to enjoy the present with his mate.
Sophie broke the comfortable silence. “Tell me about the vineyard.”
Nero thought for a moment. “The land has been in our family for generations. The Thornbergs were some of the first families to settle here. They were part of the founding of Bear Creek.”
“Wow, you can trace your ancestors back that far?” Sophie asked.
He kept one hand on the wheel as he gestured toward the hills. “We’re part of these very mountains.”
“And the vineyard?” Sophie asked.
“The valley has its own microclimate,” Nero explained. “So what started as an experiment for making homemade wine kind of grew as the vines thrived. Over the generations, my family perfected the art of winemaking, until it’s what you see today.”
As if on cue, they crested the final hill, and the vineyard came into view. Lines of lush green vines, with the hacienda proudly at the center, whitewashed and glowing beneath its terra-cotta roof.
“Oh,” Sophie breathed, her voice full of wonder.
Nero slowed the car. “Yeah.” He would never tire of this first glimpse of the vineyard.
“It’s incredible,” Sophie said.
And so are you,his bear added.
Nero pressed his foot down on the gas and soon they arrived at the vineyard, and he parked the car in his usual spot next to the house. In an instant, he was out of the car and came around to open her door. As he held it open, he caught the shift in herexpression. A brief flutter of nerves, she tried to mask with a smile.
His bear rumbled.Tell her there’s nothing to be afraid of.
But Nero simply offered Sophie his hand. As she took it, that same sense of connection passed between them, and she smiled up at him, looking more confident. As if a silent message had passed between them. One that said,it’s okay, I’m here by your side. And always will be.
“Shall we go in?” Nero asked, leaning to grab the picnic basket from the back seat.
“I’d love to.”
Inside, the house was cool and welcoming. He led her through the familiar hallway and into the kitchen, where he could sense his parents. Of course, his dad would have sensed them coming, but when Nero and Sophie entered the kitchen, they were trying their best to act casual.
Leanne was arranging flowers in a vase while his father peered over a wine journal.
It’s upside down,his bear said.
I know.Nero smothered a smile as he set the hamper on the table.
“Mom, Dad, this is Sophie. Sophie, my parents, Leanne and Hugo Thornberg.”
