Page 2 of The Bear's Mail Order Mate

Philip nodded slowly. “That’s what’s missing. That subtle earthiness would balance the fruit notes perfectly.”

Kris reached for another bottle, one he’d been saving from last year’s experimental batch. “Let me try adding just a touch…” He carefully measured a small amount into his blend, then swirled it gently before taking another taste.

The moment the wine touched his tongue, he knew he had it at last.

Thank goodness,his bear rumbled with satisfaction.

“That’s it,” Kris said, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. “That’s exactly what it needed.”

Stanley grinned triumphantly. “See? And you all thought the pet store guy didn’t know his wines,” he declared, giving Kris a playful punch on the shoulder. “But you don’t have to be an expert to know what tastes good.”

“I guess it’s all those dog biscuits you have to sample,” Nero teased, but there was admiration in his tone.

“Good team effort.” Kris carefully noted the adjustment in his notebook, then sat back in his chair, the weight of the day’s tension lifting. The satisfaction of solving the puzzle pleased him as much as the wine itself.

Maybe now we should go for a run,his bear said.

That’s not a bad idea,Kris agreed as he closed his notebook.

“So,” Alfie said, hopping onto a stool, “now that you’ve achieved viticultural perfection for the evening, maybe you can help us with a little project.”

This doesn’t sound like something we want to get involved in.Kris’s bear instantly went on alert. He recognized that tone. It was the same one Alfie had used before convincing him to“borrow”their father’s truck when they were teenagers.

“What kind of project?” Kris asked cautiously.

“It’s something personal,” Stanley said, a little too innocently.

“Personal?” Kris repeated. Now he knew he wasn’t going to like it.

“Did you tell him?” Finn came to join them, grabbing the half-empty bottle from the side before he perched on the edge of a cask. “Anyone for a top-up?”

As they poured drinks, Kris noticed the conspiratorial smiles drifting among his brothers. A sense of mild dread swirled in his gut. He could practically taste their shenanigans.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?” Kris held out his glass and Finn filled it nearly to the brim. But he doubted any amount of wine was going to help him through whatever his brothers had planned.

“Don’t be hasty,” Finn said as he emptied the rest of the wine into Philip’s glass.

“Come on. Out with it.” Kris took a long swig of wine, ignoring how it burned slightly at the back of his throat. He preferred sipping slowly, but his nerves told him otherwise.

“So, Kris,” Finn began, swirling wine in his glass, “we had a thought while running. About your…lack of a social life.” He traded a smirk with the others.

“My what?” Kris sputtered, nearly dropping his notepad.

Here we go,his bear muttered with gruff amusement.

Stanley cleared his throat in playful pompousness. “Yes. Your catastrophic, hopeless social life. Or non-existent social life, to be precise. You never leave these vines long enough to meet anyone, let alone find your mate.”

Heat flared across Kris’s neck. “It’s not that bad.”

“But itisthat bad,” Stanley said, leaning a hip against a barrel. “You can’t hide away in here for the rest of your life. It’s…”

“…not healthy,” Philip finished pointedly.

Kris drained the last of his glass, setting it down a bit too forcefully. “So, what, you guys have a grand plan for me? Like I can just place an order for a mate?”

A hush fell, broken only by the click of Finn’s phone unlocking. Alfie shook his head with an exaggerated sigh. “Order a mate? Huh, interesting you mention that…”

Stanley grinned as he stepped forward. “We might have drafted a littlead. For fun.”

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