Page 33 of The Bear's Mail Order Mate

As a child, she’d always fantasized about getting married. Of walking down the aisle with the man of her dreams waiting for her, ready to promise her forever.

If she rejected Dante now, would she ever get the chance again?

Or was that just her mother’s voice in her head?

Cassia was suddenly aware of Kris watching her, his expression pained.

Of course, it was pained. When he’d come to talk to her tonight, he could never have expected to get caught up in her messy drama.

Yet here he was, his expression filled with concern for her.

Or was it a concern for his business? He must have heard at least some of the conversation. Now he must be worried he’d made a mistake taking a chance on her. After all, until she’d arrived in town after seeing that stupid advert, the vineyard restaurant was on the back burner. Now he’d persuaded his family to move forward with the plan.

Was he thinking he’d made a mistake putting his trust in her?

“Come on,” Kris said and guided her back toward the trail. “Let’s get you back.”

She didn’t argue. Although she’d said she’d go back to the guest house alone, as her mind cleared, she remembered where she was. In a forest on a mountain. A mountain where bears, wolves, and mountain lions lived. It was no place to be wandering around alone. Especially at this hour.

“Thanks,” she said, not trusting herself to say more, even though thanks seemed totally inadequate.

“No trouble at all,” he assured her as they set off toward the guest house.

“Sorry,” she murmured, guilt threading into her voice. “You were about to tell me something, then I—then my phone rang, and I basically shut you down...”

Kris gave a small shake of his head. “It’s okay. It can wait.” He winced slightly as if remembering how close they’d come to him revealing…something. She still didn’t know what, exactly, but clearly it was big. “And if you need to talk, I’m here.”

Cassia had never been good at sharing her innermost thoughts. After she’d found out Dante was cheating on her, he’d called her a closed book.

An accusation that had stung because there was some truth to it. She didn’t find it easy to open up, to let people in. But right now, even though she barely knew Kris, she found herself wanting to share.

“My ex-fiancé, Dante, called,” she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “We were engaged until I found out he was cheating on me with my best friend. That’s why I left... That’s why I came here.”

Kris’s footsteps faltered slightly on the path beside her as she felt him tense. “I’m so sorry.”

“He wants me back,” she continued, her voice hardly more than a whisper. “Says he made a mistake.”

“Do you want him back?” Kris asked, his voice carefully neutral.

Cassia considered the question. Just a few weeks ago, she might have said yes without hesitation. But now...

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Part of me does. I mean, for the last couple of years, our lives have been intertwined. You know?”

“Yes,” he said hoarsely.

Had she caused some past memory of a bad relationship to surface? Or worse, had he lost the love of his life?

She hated the idea of anything causing him any pain.

“Sorry, you don’t need to hear my troubles,” she said and stared straight ahead into the gathering darkness.

“Your troubles are my troubles,” he said, his tone lighter, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper beneath it. Then he added, “While you’re working at the vineyard, your happiness is important to all of us.”

She glanced at him, trying to read his expression in the gathering darkness. Was he simply being a good employer? Or was there more behind his words?

“I appreciate it,” she said. “And it won’t affect my work. I promise. I’m just…reeling. One phone call, and suddenly my ex is begging for me back, wanting to fix everything. As if it never happened.” A bitter note tinged her laugh. “But it did happen. He cheated, and now I’m supposed to act like it’s all forgivable? That’s the part that kills me.”

A hush stretched between them as Kris tightened his jaw and his eyes flashed with something primal. Something that sent a shiver down her spine. Not of fear. She doubted she could ever fear this man.

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