Chapter Seventeen – Kris
Kris loved his brothers. He truly did. But right now, he wished they were elsewhere.
As Finn and Philip appeared around the side of the barn and headed toward the doorway, he longed for them to vanish, to be anywhere but here, so he could take Cassia by the hand and lead her someplace secluded, show her just how fiercely he wanted her. His mind conjured the memory of her breath catching as he’d brought her to a shuddering climax mere moments ago, and he swallowed hard, battling the heat that threatened to flare back to life.
The thought of claiming his mate completely consumed him. Instead, he would have to muster all his self-control, keeping his demeanor pleasant and polite while every primal part of him screamed to warn his brothers off, to show them that Cassia was his, and only his.
They know, his bear reminded him.
I know they do, Kris replied in frustration. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting them gone from here right now.
His hands tightened into fists as Finn and Philip stepped inside, their gazes flicking from him to Cassia and back again. He forced his shoulders to relax, releasing a controlled breath.
“Hey there,” Philip said, an amused tilt to his brows.
“Morning,” Kris managed, hoping he sounded normal even though nothing about this situation felt normal anymore.
Finn caught Kris’s eye and cleared his throat. “We were just—uh—checking on the barn progress,” he offered.
“Which is coming along,” Philip added, though his gaze lingered on Cassia’s flushed cheeks and Kris’s ruffled appearance. A knowing grin tugged at his mouth, but he tactfully didn’t comment.
Cassia drew a breath, pushing the hair from her face. “I hear you’re the one responsible for the advert that brought me here,” she said, giving Finn a small but friendly smile. The tremor in her voice might not have been obvious to anyone else, but Kris sensed it keenly, remembering the intimate moment they’d just shared.
Finn chuckled sheepishly, glancing at Kris in an unspoken apology. “I still have no idea how that happened. I swear it was only drafted as a joke. We were trying to show my brother here that there was more to life than work. It was never meant to be published. But apparently, fate had other ideas.”
Kris snorted softly. “Yeah, you might say that.”
Fate, indeed. His bear chuckled happily.
Cassia’s cheeks colored again. “I have to admit, I was never a believer in fate. But now…” Her voice drifted off as she glanced at Kris, a small smile on her lips. “Kris has convinced me.”
Finn’s eyes darted back and forth between them. “So does this mean…”
Kris nodded, inhaling slowly. “Cassia knows we’re mates. I showed her my bear just now.”
Philip’s eyes sparked with interest. “Just now?” He crossed his arms, looking amused. “I take it things got a little…personal?”
Kris’s bear rumbled with annoyance. He did not want his brothers to dissect his private moments with Cassia. “Philip,” Kris warned, his voice dropping to a low growl.
Philip raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes still danced with mischief. “Just making an observation.”
Cassia shifted beside Kris, her fingers brushing against his. The simple touch grounded him and eased the territorial surge that had his bear pacing restlessly beneath his skin.
“Listen,” Finn interjected, clearly sensing the tension, “if you want us to give you some time…”
Yes, Kris blurted to his bear.
But Cassia lifted her chin, shaking her head. “No, that’s all right. We were about to dive into work, anyway.” She glanced at Kris, reading the reluctance in his posture. “Weren’t we? After all, this restaurant will not open itself, will it?”
Kris hesitated, torn between his impulses and the reality that any moment of stolen privacy was now lost. “We were,” he agreed at last, though that wasn’t exactly how he wanted to spend this special morning.
And it was a special morning. A one of a kind, never to be repeated.
True. You only meet your mate once, his bear agreed.
But Cassia was right, they needed to focus on the restaurant. At least for now. There would be time enough for more later.
If something is worth waiting for…
Kris pushed his frustration aside, allowing himself one last longing look at Cassia before reluctantly shifting into work mode. “Okay, let’s get to work.”
Finn nodded in agreement and pulled a rolled sheet of paper from behind his back. “Great, because I’ve got a revised set of plans for the restaurant. I’ve been refining the layout and applying for some permits we’ll need.”
A flicker of confusion crossed Cassia’s expression. “You have?” She scanned his face, then gave Kris a questioning look. “I didn’t realize you were this far along.”
Finn shrugged. “We might’ve been slow to commit before, but, well…” He glanced over at Kris. “I guess your arrival gave us a kick in the pants to move forward.”
Cassia’s brow furrowed. “Now that I know about the mate bond and that the ad was a…mistake.” She paused, forming her words carefully. “I just want to confirm you’re not doing all this purely because you think it’ll make me happy. I don’t want to be the reason you jump into something you’re not ready for.”
Kris let out a low, relieved laugh, stepping a fraction closer to her. “Not at all,” he said firmly. “Fate might’ve brought you here, but fate also nudged us to finally take this project seriously. If you hadn’t come, we might’ve dithered another year or more.”
Philip nodded, smothering a wry grin. “What my brother is so eloquently trying to say is that we should have taken this step a long time ago. You showing up just gave us the momentum to do it.”
Cassia’s shoulders relaxed, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. Her gaze slid to Kris as if seeking confirmation. He merely lifted one hand and gently brushed her arm. A small, possessive gesture that made his bear hum with satisfaction.
“That’s…good,” she murmured, looking from Kris to Finn to Philip. “Then let’s take a look at those new plans.”
Finn laid the rolled-up documents on a workbench. “We can spread them out here.”
Kris stepped around Cassia, ignoring the simmer of desire that still coiled low in his gut, and helped unroll the paper so she could see. Their arms bumped as they leaned in, a reminder of how close they’d been moments ago, how intimately he’d touched her. He bit back the surge of longing, focusing on the well-worn lines of text and sketches that lay before them.
But even as his eyes scanned the restaurant layout, mentally picturing walls, seating, and a tasting bar, part of him remained intensely aware of the woman by his side—his mate—her warmth, her scent, and the promise in the air between them.
It might not be the privacy he craved, but as Cassia offered an insight about the best location for the entrance to the dining area, Kris felt an unexpected contentment settle in him. Because this was what he wanted: to stand beside her, building a shared future, one step at a time.
We’ll have our moment later, he told his bear. And when we do…we’ll make sure no one interrupts us.
Although he planned on spending more than a moment with his mate.
“So, what do we think?” Finn asked as they all leaned over the workbench and studied the plans.
“They’re great,” Cassia said as she looked them over.
“Very similar to the ideas Cassia showed me earlier,” Kris said, resting his hand on the small of her back.
A shiver ran up her spine, and she turned to look at him over her shoulder. As their eyes met, Kris felt his heart skip a beat. Even in this crowded barn, with his brothers hovering nearby, that single look between them felt intimate. A silent acknowledgment of what they’d shared and what still lay ahead.
“I think,” Cassia murmured, “we’re on the same page.”
Finn cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Is that a first for this family?”
“Not when it comes to the vineyard,” Philip said defensively. “We’ve always pulled together in the same direction.”
“And this restaurant is not going to change that,” Kris added, backing up his brother.
“I’m glad you approve.” Finn chuckled good-naturedly. “As you can see, I’ve allocated more space for the kitchen than in the original plans. Figured our chef would appreciate that.”
Cassia’s eyes brightened. “Absolutely. A cramped kitchen is a nightmare for service flow.” She leaned forward, tracing her finger along the blueprint. “And I like how you’ve positioned the bar here, with a view of both the dining room and the vineyard beyond.”
Philip nodded, looking pleased. “That was Kris’s suggestion, actually. He thought guests should be able to see the vines that produced the wine they’re drinking.”
“Perfect,” Cassia said with a smile at Kris.
Kris felt a flush of pride at the admiration in Cassia’s glance. “It makes for a better story,” he said simply. “People come here for more than just food and wine. They want the experience.”
“Speaking of experience,” Finn interjected, “if this is going to work, we’re going to need a chef who knows what he is doing and is willing to work with us on the menu.”
“I can ask Uncle Leo if he has someone he can recommend,” Kris said.
“Good idea.” Philip nodded.
“Why don’t the two of you head over there now?” Finn suggested as he rolled up his plans.
“We were going to work on the barn,” Kris said.
“Finn is right. Finding a chef should take priority,” Philip said. “It won’t matter how good the recipes are and how wonderful the wine is if the dishes are not cooked to perfection.”
“Philip does have a point,” Cassia agreed.
“And I’m here,” Finn said. “I can spare a couple of hours to work on the barn. You two go and speak to Uncle Leo.”
Kris considered his brother’s words, his eyes drifting to Cassia. The thought of spending time alone with her, away from the vineyard, was too tempting to resist. Much too tempting, his bear rumbled in agreement.
“What do you think?” he asked Cassia.
She nodded. “I’d love to meet your uncle. And if he can recommend a chef who understands the vineyard’s vision, that would be invaluable.”
“It’s settled then,” Finn said, clapping his hands together. “You two head into town while we handle things here.”
Don’t look a gift bear in the mouth, his bear said. They both found their brothers’ meddling amusing, since their hearts were, as always, in the right place.
“All right,” he agreed, unable to keep the eagerness from his voice. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Call if you need anything.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Finn called out.
“Yeah,” Philip added. “Take your time. No rush.”
Kris shot his brother a warning look, but Cassia just smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink. “I’ll grab my purse from inside.”
As she stepped away, Finn moved closer to Kris, lowering his voice. “Fate, huh?”
“Fate,” Kris replied, his eyes never leaving Cassia as she collected her things.
“Well, you certainly look...happier,” Finn observed, a teasing note in his voice.
Kris rolled his eyes. “Don’t start.”
“What?” Philip joined in. “We’re just noticing that our serious, all-work-no-play brother suddenly has a spring in his step.”
Kris snorted softly. “You two are impossible.”
“Maybe,” Philip conceded with a grin. “But you love us, anyway.”
“Most days,” Kris muttered as he stifled a grin.
Cassia reappeared, her purse slung over her shoulder, a light jacket draped over her arm. The sight of her made Kris’s heart stutter. Even in simple jeans and a blouse, she was breathtaking. His mate. The reality of it still felt surreal.
But the taste of her on his lips, the memory of her sighs, as he pleasured her—these were very real, and they belonged to moments he would cherish forever.