Page 58 of The Bear's Perfect Mate
“Yes, you would,” he replied, dropping a kiss on her head, breathing in the scent of her perfume mingled with the vineyard air.
She tilted her face up to his. “Then I should say, I’m glad I am not doing it without you.”
“Me, too,” he said lightly. “Since I have very much enjoyed being a recipe tester.”
Sophie placed her hand on his chest, her eyes sparkling in the fading light. “They do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
“You were already in my heart before I even tasted your food,” Nero said, stopping for a moment. He drew her close, cupping her face in his hands. “You are going to be fabulous tonight.”
“I am now that I have this.” She closed her fingers around the ruby pendant at her throat.
He leaned down and kissed her lips, tenderly at first, then with growing passion as she responded. The kiss deepened. Their bodies pressed together among the vines that had witnessed generations of Thornberg love stories. Sophie’s arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer still.
After a long moment, she stepped back, her cheeks flushed. “Come on, I have work to do.”
Hand in hand, they continued toward the restaurant. It was a beautiful evening, and the setting sun gave the converted barn a magical feel.
Tonight is going to be perfect,Nero’s bear said.
It sure is.Nero opened the door. Sophie stepped inside first, her hand still clutched tightly in his as her earlier sense of excitement faded into nervous anticipation.
Cassia appeared almost instantly, rushing toward them with wide eyes.
“Oh my goodness,” she began breathlessly. “You’ll never guess what’s happened.”
Nero bristled. His spine stiffened, and his bear surged to attention, instantly alert. The very idea of something ruining Sophie’s evening made his protective instincts flare.
Sophie’s grip tightened on his hand. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice thin with nerves.
“Oh! Nothing’s wrong,” Cassia said quickly, waving her hands.
Relief flickered across Sophie’s face. “Thank goodness.”
Cassia hesitated, then added, “It’s just… Tito Alvarez is here.”
Nero’s bear growled, fury rising at the name.
“He heard about your guest menu,” Cassia continued, “and came to support you.”
“Support me?” Sophie repeated, her voice sharpening with disbelief.
Cassia nodded. “He’s in the kitchen now, talking to Marco.”
He can get out of the kitchen and out of our lives,Nero’s bear snarled.
Nero’s fists clenched involuntarily before he forced them to relax.
Sophie turned to him, her face pale, the glow she’d worn earlier dimmed by dread. “I’ll go talk to him,” she said, her voice steady despite the tightness around her mouth.
But before she could take another step, the kitchen doors swung open.
Tito Alvarez strode into the dining area as if he owned it, his chef whites pristine and prominently emblazoned with his name across the chest in bold thread and a practiced smile that never touched his eyes.
“There’s my little recipe girl!” Tito announced, his voice pitched to carry throughout the restaurant. Several early-arriving diners turned in their seats, recognition dawning on their faces as they recognized the celebrity chef.
Sophie stiffened beside Nero, every inch of her posture turning guarded. “Tito. What are you doing here?”
Break his fingers so he can never cook again,Nero’s bear suggested darkly.
