Page 15 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

“No, no,” Philip assured him hastily. He crossed to the table and sank into an empty chair, the room tilting slightly around him as he tried to gather his thoughts.

“Oh my,” Hugo murmured, dropping back into his seat.

“What is it?” Leanne glanced between her husband and son.

Hugo’s expression softened. “It’s happened again.”

“What has happened again?” Leanne asked, though something in her eyes suggested she already knew.

“Our son has found his mate,” Hugo said simply.

Leanne’s eyes widened. “He has?” She turned to Philip, hope blooming on her face. “You have?”

Philip nodded, a smile finally breaking through. “I have.”

Hugo clapped his hands together with delight. “I knew it!”

“How could you possibly know?” Leanne asked, though her cheeks had turned a delicate shade of pink.

Hugo reached across the table and took his wife’s hand. “That look on his face. It’s the same one I wore when I first met you.”

“The same one Kris had,” Philip added, finding his voice at last. “I never understood it until now.”

Leanne squeezed Hugo’s hand before releasing it to pour Philip a glass of wine. “Tell us everything. Who is she? How did you meet?”

Philip accepted the glass gratefully, taking a sip to steady himself. The rich notes of blackberry and oak grounded him, reminding him of his place in this family, in this legacy.

“Her name is Elsbeth,” he said, the name feeling like honey on his tongue. “She bought the Old Larson place. She’s starting a flower farm.”

“The Old Larson place?” Hugo’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s going to take some work…”

“I believe she’s more than equal to the task,” Philip said, a note of pride coloring his voice. “You should see her sketches. She knows exactly what she’s doing.”

“And how exactly did you end up at the Old Larson place?” Leanne asked, leaning forward with interest.

Don’t tell her about the surprise anniversary party,his bear reminded him.

I won’t,Philip replied.

Just checking,his bear said.Right now, you look like you’ve been hit over the head by a bag full of fairy dust.

Philip chuckled, shaking his head. “Finn. He accidentally sent me a text meant for himself. About meeting Elsbeth to discuss him drawing up plans for the farm.”

Hugo laughed, the sound warm and full of unbridled happiness for his son. “That boy and his mix-ups! First Kris and Cassia, now you and Elsbeth.”

“Maybe we should put him in charge of matchmaking for all your brothers—and your cousins,” Leanne suggested with a twinkle in her eye.

“Why stop there?” Hugo said. “He could be the town matchmaker!”

“So does she know?” Leanne asked.

“No,” Philip admitted quietly, his fingers tracing the rim of his wineglass. “At least not as far as I know. I mean, about us being mates. Or shifters. Or any of it.”

His parents exchanged a knowing look, as they often did. They were so attuned to each other that Philip and his brothers had often joked they could read each other’s thoughts.

“Ah,” Hugo nodded. “So you’re taking it slow.”

“I have to,” Philip said. “She’s new to Bear Creek. Starting a business. The last thing she needs is…”

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