Page 62 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
“I don’t want to rush you,” Michael said, his voice gentle. “The mate bond is there whether we act on it immediately or take our time. I just want you to know that I’m in this completely, Sarah. For you and Emmy both.”
Her heart swelled at his words. The mention of Emmy reminded her of all the complications, all the conversations that lay ahead. But looking at Michael across the small kitchen island, his eyes oh so sincere, Sarah knew with absolute certainty that he was worth every difficult conversation, every life-changing adjustment.
“I want this,” she said simply. “I want us. I just need to figure out how to explain to Emmy that her mom is dating the Christmas tree farmer.”
Michael’s smile was like sunshine breaking through clouds. “Dating the Christmas tree farmer. I like the sound of that.”
Sarah glanced at her watch and sighed reluctantly. “I really should go. I expect Emmy will be back from Maisie’s soon.”
Michael nodded, though his fingers tightened briefly around hers before releasing. “Okay, let’s go.”
They finished their coffee in comfortable silence, savoring these last few private moments before facing the outside world. Then, Sarah reluctantly set her empty mug in the sink.
Michael stood and retrieved her coat from the hook by the door. He held it open for her, a gesture so simple yet so thoughtful that it made her love him just a little bit more.
And she did love him. She just wasn’t ready to say the words yet. But soon.
As she slipped her arms into the sleeves, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering against her skin. “Ready?” he asked, his voice a warm rumble that sent pleasant shivers down her spine.
Sarah nodded, not trusting her voice as emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Michael opened the door, and a blast of cold air rushed in, carrying snowflakes that sparkled in the morning light. Overnight, at least three inches of fresh snow had blanketed the landscape, transforming everything into a pristine wonderland.
Michael stepped out first, his boots crumping in the untouched snow as he created a path for her. Sarah followed, carefully placing her feet in the indentations his boots had made. The simple act felt strangely intimate.
Michael clearing a path for her, and her following in his steps. A metaphor for their future together, perhaps.
No, with Michael, she would not follow. She would walk by his side. His equal.
Except when it came to wading in the snow!
The truck was covered with a thick layer of white. When they reached it, Michael opened the passenger door and offered his hand to help her climb in. His fingers were warm despite the biting cold, his grip steady and sure.
“Thank you,” she said, settling into the seat as he closed the door behind her.
Michael circled to the driver’s side, inserted the key, and started the engine. The heater sputtered to life, blowing cold air that would soon warm. He grabbed a snow brush from behind the seat and stepped back out into the cold.
Sarah watched through the windshield as he methodically cleared the snow, his movements efficient and purposeful. Snowflakes caught in his dark hair, melting almost instantly from his body heat. Why wouldn’t it? Because, boy, he was hot!
The warmth from the heater filled the cab, but Sarah hardly noticed. Her mind was too busy flipping through reels of a futureshe hadn’t dared imagine until now. Christmas mornings with Michael and Emmy, summer picnics at North Peak Pines, quiet evenings by the fire in his cabin. A life built on trust and security rather than broken promises.
It felt like all her Christmases had come at once. She had not just found love but a true partner, someone who saw her and wanted her, for exactly who she was. Someone who could be counted on.
The driver’s door opened, and Michael slid in, bringing a gust of cold air and the scent of pine with him. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, his eyes bright as he smiled at her.
“All clear,” he said, putting the truck in gear.
They drove through the winter landscape, Michael navigating the snow-covered roads with careful precision. The world outside the windows was hushed and white, the early morning sun casting long blue shadows across the snow. Sarah found herself stealing glances at his profile, the strong line of his jaw, the slight crinkles at the corners of his eyes, the curve of his mouth that she now knew the taste of.
“You’re staring again,” he said without looking away from the road, a smile in his voice.
Sarah laughed softly. “I can’t help it.”
His hand found hers across the seat, their fingers intertwining naturally. They drove the rest of the way to town in comfortable silence, the connection between them speaking volumes without a single word.
All too soon, they were pulling up in front of her mother’s house. This magical adventure was over, now it was time for a dose of reality.
“I’ll call you later?” he asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice that she found endearing.
“You’d better,” Sarah replied, leaning across the seat to press a quick kiss to his cheek. The stubble on his jaw tickled her lips, and she caught the scent of his skin—pine and something uniquely him that made her want to burrow closer.
