Page 31 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
Sarah took a long sip of cocoa to hide her expression, but she couldn’t quite smother the smile that tugged at her lips. “It wasnice.”
“Nice,” Pat repeated, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well, that’s a good place to start.”
Sarah’s cheeks warmed, and this time she couldn’t blame it on the cold. “Mom...”
“What?” Pat asked innocently. “All I said wasit’s a good place to start.”
Start what?Sarah wanted to ask, but she already knew the answer. Start living again. Start feeling again. Start trusting again.
Maybe even loving again.
She watched Emmy place the last button on the snowman’s chest with ceremonial precision, her small face serious with concentration. Behind her, the late afternoon sun broke through the clouds, casting long blue shadows across the snow. In a few hours, she’d be at the Cocoa and Carols event, and Michaelwould be there, and maybe—just maybe—they’d pick up where they left off...
“Yes,” Sarah agreed absently. “It is a great place to start.”
But the real question was…where would it end?
Chapter Thirteen – Michael
We’re going on a date with our mate,Michael’s bear said happily.
It’s not a date,Michael insisted as he studied his reflection in the mirror. He’d changed shirts twice already, and his bear found the whole process amusing.
Does it matter?his bear asked with a chuckle.You’ll be wearing a jacket and hat anyway.
Michael took the dark blue button-up from his closet, eyeing it critically. It wasn’t too formal, but it wasn’t casual either. Just right for Cocoa and Carols.
But what if I invite her for a drink afterward?he asked, smoothing down the front of his shirt.
His bear huffed happily.Then that would be a date.
Michael sighed and slipped his arms into the shirt sleeves. His bear was right. He’d be bundled up in winter gear, and the chances of this evening ending in anything more than shared cocoa were slim. Sarah would have Emmy with her, and even if she didn’t, would she want to spend more time with him after the festival?
The memory of their almost-kiss made his chest tighten. They’d been so close. If James hadn’t shown up with the snowplow...
Somehow, he needed to figure out how to ask Sarah out properly. Not something he was an expert at. Dating was hard when you knew the person was not your mate. So he, like his friends, had shied away from it as they’d gotten older. When he asked Sarah out, he needed to get it right. He needed to makesure he wasn’t putting pressure on her. It was obvious she’d been hurt badly and let down by her ex-husband.
We would never let her down,his bear said firmly.
No, we would not, ever,Michael agreed, buttoning his shirt.But I don’t think Sarah is going to believe that from a person she has just met.
She might,his bear suggested,if you tell her we are mates.
Michael mulled this over as he took a final look in the mirror. The idea of telling Sarah about shifters, about mates, about the bond he already felt between them made his palms sweat. What if she ran? What if she thought he was crazy? Worse, what if she rejected him?
He headed downstairs, slipping on his well-worn boots before shrugging into his favorite jacket. The knit cap was next, tugged down over his ears, though he didn’t really need it. His shifter blood kept him warm even in the harshest winter weather, but appearances mattered in a town where not everyone knew about shifters.
Outside, snow crunched beneath his boots as he made his way to his truck. He paused for a moment, taking in the scene before him. The full moon hung low and heavy in the sky, its light turning the snow-covered landscape into a sea of diamonds. The mountains rose in the distance, dark silhouettes against the star-filled sky.
It was magical, and Michael wished Sarah were beside him to share it.
And Emmy,his bear added, the image forming in both their minds of Sarah’s daughter riding on his bear’s back through the snowy forest, her small hands buried in his thick fur, her laughter echoing through the trees.
The thought warmed him as he climbed into his truck and started the engine. The roads into town had been plowed, making the drive easy despite the recent heavy snowfall. As he neared Bear Creek, he could see people already milling about, all heading toward the town square for the lighting of the Christmas tree and the Cocoa and Carols event.
It was one of the biggest celebrations in Bear Creek, the unofficial start of the holiday season. The whole town turned out for it, bundled in winter gear, carrying thermoses and blankets, ready to sing carols around the massive town square tree.
Michael found a spot down a side road and parked, joining the flow of townspeople making their way to the square. He nodded and smiled as people greeted him, exchanging pleasantries with familiar faces. Most families in Bear Creek got their Christmas trees from North Peak Pines, making him something of a local celebrity during the holiday season.
