Page 46 of The Bear's Blooming Mate

“We recently converted one of the old barns into a restaurant,” Philip explained to Elsbeth, his hand moving to rest lightly on the small of her back. It was a small but intimate gesture.

“Oh, really?” Elsbeth asked, trying to mask her disappointment at the interrupted moment.

“It’s how we met,” Cassia said with a smile. “It’s good to meet you, Elsbeth.”

“You, too,” Elsbeth said, immediately warming to the woman’s friendly attitude.

“Yes, we were the first victims of Finn’s matchmaking,” Kris said with a wide grin, but Philip shot him a look that wiped the smile off his face.

But Elsbeth felt a profound sense of relief. She was not imagining things at all. Philip did feel the same way.

“Matchmaking?” she asked, glancing between the brothers.

“It’s kind of a family joke,” Philip said quickly.

Kris cleared his throat, looking slightly abashed. “Our brother Finn has a knack for...bringing people together. Though he’d probably say it was just a happy coincidence.”

“He thought it was funny to make up an advert for me. You know, like a mail-order bride type thing,” Kris explained, his arm slipping around his partner’s waist. “And then he accidentally posted it online.”

“And I saw the ad, thinking it was for real. And so I came here…” Cassia glanced sideways at Kris.

“And so we opened a restaurant, so that Cassia would stay,” Philip added.

“Wow.” And Elsbeth had thought Philip had gone out of his way to help her. This took things to a whole new level.

“Not that I would have left anyway. You know how sometimes you meet someone and just know?” Cassia added, leaning into Kris’s embrace. “Like your souls recognize each other?”

Elsbeth’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes,” she whispered, unable to stop herself from looking at Philip.

“Of course you do,” Cassia said and reached out and squeezed Elsbeth’s hand.

Elsbeth swallowed hard as heat rushed to her face. Cassia’s words echoed in her mind, making her feel exposed, as if everyone could see right through her. Was it truly that obvious? Could they all see how deeply she’d fallen for Philip?

“I should probably get going,” she said suddenly, glancing at her watch though she couldn’t focus enough to read the time. “I have an early start tomorrow. The irrigation system still needs work.”

Cassia’s eyes widened slightly, her expression shifting to one of embarrassment. She shot Philip an apologetic look, clearly realizing she’d overstepped.

Philip merely smiled reassuringly at his brother’s partner. “I’ll walk you to your car, Elsbeth.”

Relief washed over her. He didn’t mention the unfinished tour of the winery, didn’t try to convince her to stay. He simply understood her need to retreat and respected it without question. It was one of the many things she loved about him—his quiet empathy, the way he seemed to read her moods and respond to them without judgment.

They said quick goodbyes to Kris and Cassia before heading back through the vineyard toward the house. The walk was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Fireflies continued their dance around them, and the first stars had appeared in the deepening blue of the evening sky.

As they passed a particularly lush section of vines, Philip paused and reached into the foliage. With practiced fingers, he plucked a small, purple-black grape and offered it to her.

“Try this one,” he said. “These will make our Cabernet. They’re still a bit tart, but you can already taste the complexity.”

Elsbeth accepted the grape, their fingers brushing momentarily. She popped it into her mouth, surprised by the burst of flavor. Sharp and sweet at once, with hints of something deeper.

“It’s amazing. The way you describe it, I can just imagine the wine it will make,” she said, genuinely impressed.

Philip smiled, pleased by her reaction. He moved a few steps farther and plucked another grape from a different vine.

“And this one will go into our Merlot blend,” he explained, handing it to her. “Notice the difference?”

As she tasted the second grape, the tension that had gripped her began to melt away. This was the Philip she’d come to know—passionate about his work, eager to share his knowledge, with no expectations beyond the moment they were sharing.

“I can. They are very distinct,” Elsbeth replied.

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