Page 10 of The Bear's Matchmaking Mix-up Mate
“Writing?” he guessed, remembering what Mrs. Abernathy had said about Wren’s album.
A small, surprised smile tugged at her lips. “Trying to. The words aren’t coming like they used to.”
For a second, he glimpsed something unguarded in her, pain, maybe, but also a fierce determination not to give up.
“So you thought a mountain hike might help?”
“Something like that.” She glanced around at the trees, their branches swaying gently in the morning breeze. “There’s a clarity up here. Like the air is... I don’t know, thinner? Cleaner? It helps clear my head.”
Finn nodded, understanding perfectly. “The mountains have their own kind of magic.”
He wanted to offer her all the words of comfort, but instead, he just let the silence stretch between them. Let their surroundings comfort her. As they had always comforted him.
“Yes.” Her smile widened, genuine pleasure lighting her tired eyes. “Exactly.”
She looked beautiful in the dappled morning light, with her hair falling loosely around her face as if trying to break free from her beanie. He wanted to tug the hat from her head and help her break free from whatever it was she was hiding from.
The idea that someone had hurt her made his bear want to curl protectively around her.
“Have you had breakfast?” he asked suddenly.
Wren blinked. “What?”
“Breakfast. Most important meal of the day and all that. So my mom always told me…” Had he really mentioned his mom?
His bear grumbled and lay down, covering his head with his paws as Finn winced inwardly. How could he sound both twelve and ancient at the same time?
Undeterred, he gestured toward his cabin. “I make a mean stack of pancakes. And the coffee’s good, too.”
Do not tell her it’s your mom’s special blend,his bear pleaded.
Wren hesitated, wariness flickering across her features. “I don’t want to impose,” she said, but her tone lacked conviction, and she covered her stomach as it rumbled.
“You wouldn’t be,” Finn said quickly. “I was heading back anyway, and honestly? I could use the company.”
Could she hear the tremor in his voice, filled with hope he could barely contain?
Wren studied his face, and Finn had the distinct impression she was weighing more than just his breakfast invitation. Whatever internal debate she was having, something in his expression seemed to tip the scales.
She took a deep breath, almost like someone about to dive into cold water. “Okay,” she said. “That sounds...nice.” There was a tremulous sweetness in her smile, and a hopefulness that sent a jolt through Finn’s chest.
Relief flooded through him, warm and unexpected. His bear lifted his head from his paws, suddenly alert and pleased.
“Great.” Finn tried not to sound too eager as he gestured down the trail. “It’s just a ten-minute walk from here.”
They fell into step beside each other, close enough that he caught the faint scent of her that made his mouth water and his bear practically purr.
As they walked, the morning air carried the sound of birdsong and the distant rush of water over stone, but Finn found himself more aware of the soft rhythm of Wren’s breathing and the occasional brush of her jacket against his arm.
He wanted to memorize every detail: the cadence of her laugh, the way she tilted her head when she listened, the melody of her voice when she finally let herself speak freely.
“So you live up here alone?” Wren asked as they navigated a particularly rocky section of trail.
“Yeah. I built the cabin myself, with the help of my brothers, about ten years ago.” He steadied her elbow as she stepped over a fallen branch, his fingers lingering perhaps a moment longer than necessary as he savored the shock of recognition that threaded through his veins.
For one heartbeat, the world stood still. As he locked eyes with her, he knew she felt it, too. And one day soon, he was going to tell her exactly what it meant.
Chapter Four – Wren
