Page 37 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
As they walked away with the boxed treats, Michael noticed Sarah seemed lighter, some of the tension leaving her shoulders as she carefully held the package.
The atmosphere was infectious—the rousing carols, the scent of pine and cinnamon, the laughter of children throwing snowballs near the gazebo.
He’d enjoyed this night so many times before, yet never like this. Never in the presence of his mate. Michael wanted to reach for Sarah’s hand, but hesitated, uncertain of her reaction, of pushing things too far too fast.
“Emmy sounds excited about the sleigh ride with her dad,” he said finally.
Why bring that up?his bear grumbled.
Because I want Sarah to know I’m here if she needs to talk,Michael replied.
“She is excited,” Sarah said, her steps slowing. She paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. “But one of the reasons we split up is his lack of awareness of how his actions affect his daughter.”
Michael nodded, hearing the careful neutrality in her voice, the way she avoided criticizing her ex directly.
“Emmy deserves to have people she can count on,” he whispered.
“She does.” Sarah looked up at him, something vulnerable in her eyes. “All children do.”
“If there’s anything I can ever do,” Michael offered, “just ask.”
“Thanks.” Sarah gave him a small smile. “I appreciate that. Although I think you have already done enough by introducing me to these wonderful cupcakes.”
They stood for a moment in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. Michael watched the way the colored lights from the Christmas displays played across Sarah’s face, highlighting the curve of her cheek and her lips...lips he longed to kiss.
“There’s more to see,” he said hoarsely. He cleared his throat and nodded toward the path that led away from the square. “If you don’t need to head back to Emmy yet.”
His bear hummed in anticipation, as if Sarah’s answer would determine the course of the entire evening.
Sarah half-turned and scanned the crowd. “I think they can spare me for a little longer. It looks as if Mom is helping Emmy decorate gingerbread cookies.”
Michael followed her gaze, his shifter senses homing in on the young girl who was now part of his family.
Even if she does not know it yet,his bear said happily.
He spotted Emily at the gingerbread stall, her grandmother helping her pipe a wobbly line of frosting onto a cookie house. The little girl’s face was scrunched in concentration, the tip of her tongue peeking out the corner of her mouth. Something in his chest tightened at the sight.
“She looks like she’s having fun,” he said, nodding toward Emmy.
“She does. Mom’s great with her,” Sarah said wistfully. “It’s one of the reasons I decided to move here after my divorce.” She swallowed hard. “I was scared I might not be able to start over without her support.”
“There’s nothing wrong with needing help from others,” Michael murmured, wishing he could take away her pain.
“I know.” Her eyes misted with tears. “But the breakdown of my marriage left me feeling like I’d failed somehow.”
Michael so wanted to remind her that she’d just told him that her ex’s behavior was the reason she’d left. That he shouldered the blame, but bashing her ex, a man he didn’t know and shouldn’t judge, was not what Sarah needed right now.
Instead, he shook his head gently. “You didn’t fail. Relationships are complicated. And you did what was right for you and Emmy.”
The corners of Sarah’s mouth lifted in a grateful smile that made his heart skip. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.” She gestured toward the path. “So what did you want to tell me?”
“Oh, just that I’m here for you,” Michael murmured. “But it was more that I wanted to show you something.”
“You did?” Sarah asked, glancing at him.
“Yes. It’s just up here,” Michael said, leading her toward the wooded trail that curved behind the square. “Watch your step. The path gets a little uneven.”
The sounds of the festival faded as they walked, replaced by the soft crunch of snow beneath their boots and the whisper of wind through pine boughs. Michael slowed his pace to match Sarah’s, hyperaware of her presence beside him. The path narrowed, and her shoulder occasionally brushed against his arm, each contact sending a jolt of warmth through him despite the layers of winter clothing between them.
