Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Max followed a group of twenty festivalgoers through the brewing area. The behind-the-scenes tours had proven even more popular than expected, with people eager to see where their favorite Fate Mountain beers were created.
“This is where the magic happens,” Marisol explained, gesturing to the gleaming stainless-steel fermentation tanks. “Our Grizzly Stout spends exactly fourteen days in these tanks before we move it to finishing.”
The visitors nodded appreciatively, snapping photos and pointing to different parts of the equipment. Max felt a surge of pride. Despite the water crisis and all the setbacks, they had pulled off a successful opening night. And more importantly, Laney was here.
Chris gave a small, urgent wave. His expression wasn’t panicked but definitely concerned. “So, what’s up with the system?” Max asked in a low voice.
“It’s giving off strange readings,” Chris said, showing Max the fluctuating numbers on the screen. “The microbial levels are spiking in ways they shouldn’t be, especially right after maintenance.”
Max frowned, studying the display. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s what I thought. I wouldn’t have bothered you during the festival, but if these readings are accurate, it could affect tomorrow’s batches.”
Max felt a flicker of irritation. He’d thought the water issues were behind them after installing the expensive filtration system. The last thing he needed was another contamination crisis during the biggest event of the year.
“Let me reset the system,” Max said. “It could just be a calibration error.”
The BioClean control panel was mounted on the wall near the water intake pipes. Max entered the override code and initiated a system reset. Numbers and indicators flashed across the screen as the diagnostics ran. Moments later, the reset completed with a soft beep. The numbers stabilized, returning to acceptable ranges. Whatever had caused the spike appeared to be resolved.
“Keep an eye on this,” Max told Chris. “If it happens again, call me immediately, no matter what time it is.”
“Will do, boss.”
Max ran a hand through his hair, suppressing his worry. He glanced at his watch. He’d been gone from Laney longer than he’d intended. The thought of her waiting with his parents made him quicken his pace as he headed out of the packed brewery.
Music and laughter greeted him as he stepped outside. The night had fully descended, and the festival lights created a warm, magical glow throughout the town square. Max scanned the beer garden where he’d left Laney and his parents, but their table was empty.
A small wave of anxiety rolled through him. Had Laney grown tired of waiting? Had his parents overwhelmed her with questions and family stories? He wove through the crowd, checking nearby tables and food stalls without success.
“Looking for someone?” Gwen appeared at his side.
“Mom, Dad, and Laney. Have you seen them?”
“Mom and Dad went to say hello to the Grants. Not sure about Laney.”
Max thanked her and continued searching. He spotted Liv near the craft booths, busy talking to a local artist about their festival signage. Noah was in the beer garden, probably tallying the impressive sales. But no sign of Laney.
As he rounded the corner by the market stalls, Max finally saw her. She stood beneath a string of twinkling lights, admiring handmade jewelry at one of the vendor booths. Relief washed over him, quickly followed by something sharper.
A tall, good-looking man leaned in close to Laney, pointing at something in the display case. He wore an expensive-looking jacket and had the confident posture of someone used to getting what he wanted. Laney smiled politely as the man said something that Max couldn’t hear from this distance.
Max felt his bear stir inside him, a low growl building in his chest. The animal recognized what the man couldn’t possibly know. Laney was his mate. His. Mate. The territorial instinct roared through him with unexpected force.
Before he realized what he was doing, Max was striding toward them. The stranger had moved even closer to Laney, touching her elbow lightly to direct her attention to another piece of jewelry. Her smile had tightened, looking more forced now.
“Don’t think I’ve seen you around. You here alone?” the man was saying as Max approached.
“I’m just... meeting some friends. Thanks, but I’m all set,” Laney replied, her voice tense.
Max stepped forward, smoothly sliding an arm around Laney’s waist. He felt her slight jump of surprise, then the way she immediately relaxed against him.
“Sorry I took so long,” Max said, keeping his tone casual while his arm communicated something distinctly possessive. He turned to the stranger with a polite but firm nod. “Everything okay here?”
The man’s eyes flickered between them, recognition dawning as he registered Max’s protective stance. “Yeah, sorry, I didn’t know you were taken,” he mumbled before slinking away into the crowd.
Laney exhaled. “Thanks for the rescue.”
“Was he bothering you?” Max asked, reluctant to remove his arm from her waist now that he had a valid reason to hold her close.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle, but he wasn’t taking the hint.” She glanced up at him. “Everything fixed at the brewery?”
“Just a minor issue with the BioClean system,” Max said, deliberately downplaying the problem. “Nothing serious. I reset it, and it’s working fine now.”
They strolled away from the jewelry booth, Max still keeping her close. The festival had hit its evening stride. Local artisans sold everything from handmade soaps to intricate metalwork.
“I was worried you might have left,” Max admitted. “My parents can be a bit much sometimes.”
Laney laughed. “They’re wonderful. Your mom offered an open invitation to Sunday dinner.”
“That sounds about right.” He smiled, picturing Laney at their family table. His inner bear rumbled with approval.
As they walked, Max spotted Angus Grant’s woodworking stall ahead. The large, bearded man was arranging small carved figures on a display table, his massive hands handling the delicate pieces with surprising gentleness.
“Max Bock,” Angus called out when he spotted them. “Festival’s a huge success. Your parents sure are proud.”
“Thanks, Angus. This is Laney Collins.”
Angus extended a hand that dwarfed Laney’s as they shook. He gestured to the carved figures on display. “My son helps with the smaller pieces now. Boy’s got talent.”
Max ran his fingers over the smooth wooden animals. Among them were several exquisitely carved bears, foxes, wolves, and eagles. His eyes settled on two pieces in particular. A small fox, its tail curved elegantly around its body, and a grizzly bear standing on its hind legs.
Without hesitation, he picked them both up. “I’ll take these.”
Angus wrapped the carvings carefully in tissue paper. “Good choices.”
They walked several paces away, and Max handed her the wrapped carvings. “These are for you. They reminded me of us.”
“Thank you,” she said. “They’re beautiful.”
Something strange flickered in her eyes, but he couldn’t place it. He hoped he hadn’t messed up. Maybe he should have bought her jewelry, but it seemed presumptuous at this point in their relationship. The music from the main stage changed tempo, becoming more energetic. The crowd near the stage had formed a large circle, with people stepping in and out, following a line dance pattern.
“Come on,” Max said impulsively, taking Laney’s hand. “Let’s join in.”
“Oh, I don’t really dance,” Laney protested as he guided her toward the music.
“Neither do I,” Max admitted. “But it’s just following the steps. Look, even Mrs. Henderson is doing it, and she’s eighty-three.”
The dancers moved in synchronized patterns, stomping, turning, and clapping to the beat. Max pulled Laney into the circle, where several townspeople welcomed them with encouraging nods. The steps weren’t complicated, just repetitive. Max stumbled once, causing Laney to laugh, which was worth the momentary embarrassment.
“You’re doing great,” he told her as they turned in time with the music.
“I’m awful and you know it,” she said over the music, but she was smiling, her earlier tension forgotten.
They danced through two more songs, getting more comfortable with the movements. Max noticed how Laney gradually relaxed, her steps becoming more confident. When the band transitioned to a slower tune, many dancers paired off, while others left the floor.
Without asking, Max placed his hand at Laney’s waist, drawing her closer. She came willingly, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders. Under the glow of the festival lights, with the soft music surrounding them, Max felt a wave of emotion so powerful it nearly took his breath away.
She fit against him perfectly. Her auburn hair caught the golden light, and her blue eyes reflected the lanterns overhead. His bear stirred again, not with jealousy this time, but with a deep, primal need to protect and cherish her. His mate was precious beyond measure.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” Max said softly. “It means a lot to have you here.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Laney replied. “Your family has created something special.”
“We have,” he agreed. “And I want you to be part of it.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned her head against his chest as they swayed to the music. Max closed his eyes briefly, committing this feeling to memory. As the song ended, Max noticed Laney stifling a yawn. “I should get home,” she said. The evening had grown late.
“Let me walk you.”
“You don’t have to leave your own festival,” she said. “I can make it home fine.”
“I want to,” Max insisted. “The staff can handle things here.”
They said goodbye to various townspeople as they made their way toward the festival exit. The music gradually faded behind them as they walked the quiet streets to her apartment.
“I had a wonderful time tonight,” Laney said as they reached her building.
“Even with my parents telling embarrassing stories about me?”
“Especially with that part,” she teased.
They climbed the short flight of steps to her door. Laney fished her keys from her purse, but didn’t immediately unlock the door. She turned to face him, her expression soft in the porch light.
“Thank you for rescuing me from that guy at the jewelry booth,” she said. “And for the adorable figurines.”
“Anytime,” Max replied, suddenly aware of how close they were standing.
He wanted to kiss her more than he’d ever wanted anything. His bear nearly roared with the need to claim her lips, to mark her as his own. But he hesitated, remembering how she had run away after their last kiss in the brewing room.
Laney solved his dilemma by rising slightly on her toes, her eyes meeting his with a question that needed no words, the porch lights catching the gold flecks in her blue irises. Max didn't need a second invitation. His bear rumbled as he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative and questioning, the warmth of her breath mingling with his in the cool evening air. Then Laney's arms slid around his neck, her fingers threading through the hair at his nape, sending shivers down his spine. Max deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until he could feel the rapid beating of her heart against his chest. The curve of her petite little body fit perfectly against his larger frame.
His heart hammered against his ribs, every nerve ending alive with sensation. His bear sang with satisfaction, a primal recognition that hummed through his veins. This was right, this was perfect, this was everything.
They finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless. His lips tingled and his body was flushed with heat. Max rested his forehead against hers, inhaling the lingering scent of her perfume. “Goodnight, Laney,” he whispered.
“Goodnight, Max.”
He waited as she unlocked her door and stepped inside, turning to give him one last smile before closing it. Max stood on the porch for a moment longer, his lips still tingling from their kiss.
As he walked back toward the festival, Max felt lighter than he had in months. The brewery issue earlier seemed distant and manageable. Tonight had confirmed what his bear had known from the beginning. Laney was his mate, his future, his everything. And somehow, he would find a way to claim her.