Chapter 44
By the time Mattie got back to her house with Gunnar and Blueberry, she was starving. The smell of the moussaka they’d picked up had her stomach growling. She should have had a bigger breakfast, so that was her fault.
She was happy Gunnar had showed up to help. If not for him, she’d still have deliveries to make. Instead, she was home early and had lunch ready to go. She got the door unlocked and came inside. “Just set the food on the table and I’ll get plates.”
She turned around to see him still standing by the door, the bag from Apollo’s in one hand, the bag from Delaney’s in the other. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“I was thinking I’ve been bothering you long enough. I should probably go.”
“Gunnar, you paid for lunch. You are more than welcome to eat it here. Especially after all the help you gave me today.”
“Yay!” Blueberry did a little twirl, shedding green dust.
Gunnar took one step toward the kitchen. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome. If you’re tired of me, tell me to go. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
“Stay. Please.” After Delaney had acted like Gunnar was someone special, Mattie knew he had to be a good guy. Not that she’d thought otherwise. He’d been nothing but a perfect gentleman all day.
Of course, Aaron had been like that too, and look where that had gotten her.
“Okay.” He walked into the kitchen and set the takeout bag on the table. “What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. I’m just going to get plates and glasses. I’ve got some iced tea in the fridge, if that’s all right for a beverage. Fair warning, it’s sweetened with honey.”
“I love iced tea made with honey. I can help with the glasses.” He got them down out of the cabinet as she went to the fridge.
She took out the iced tea, closed the fridge door, and looked at him, trying to work out how he’d done that without opening every single cabinet in the kitchen. “How did you know where the glasses were?”
“I guess it just seemed like the logical place for them. Bear intuition?”
Her brow wrinkled. “Is that a thing?”
“Maybe.”
She shook her head. Her brain fog had mostly disappeared about an hour into deliveries, but every once in a while, it snuck back in. Like just now. And she still couldn’t explain why she was feeling this way.
But brain fog or not, having Gunnar around was nice. He was nice. Not at all like she would have imagined a bear shifter might be.
Didn’t mean she was suddenly going to start dating him. Her heart still hadn’t healed from Aaron leaving. She wasn’t about to paint every shifter with the same brush, but getting involved with another one right after him just seemed … not the best idea.
But being friends was all right.
She put plates on the table, poured iced tea into the glasses, and soon was sitting down across from Gunnar. He’d already unpacked the food, setting out the containers of moussaka, salad, and bread.
They filled their plates and dug in.
“This is nice,” he said. “I don’t usually share meals with anyone. Unless you count Adrian Ledger.”
She stopped, her fork halfway to her mouth. Was he being serious right now? “No way.”
“What?”
“You know who Adrian Ledger is?”
He grinned. “The numbers never lie.”
She sucked in a breath. “You don’t seriously watch Time Traveling Accountant.”
His grin faltered. “What’s wrong with Time Traveling Accountant?”
“Nothing.” She leaned in. “It’s the best freaking show ever in the history of shows.”
He snorted in amusement. “I agree. Have you watched the new season yet?”
“Nope, but that’s exactly what I was planning on doing tonight.”
He nodded as he forked up more moussaka. “Same here.”
Was he really this perfect? It scared her as much as it thrilled her. An impulse came to her that got her heart racing. “Do you want to stay and watch the first episode after lunch?”
After his attempt to leave earlier, she expected him to say no. “I’d like that very much. I’ll even share my chocolates for dessert.”
“Good. My plan worked.”
He laughed as they went back to eating. When they finished, he helped her clean up, then they went into her living room.
“Your house is nice,” he said, looking around. “Cozy. Lived-in, in the best possible way.”
“Thanks.” She sat down on the couch and grabbed the remote.
He settled in at the end of the couch, leaving a cushion between them that Blueberry soon filled.
“Where’s the chocolate?” Blueberry asked.
“Oh, right.” Gunnar got up, grabbed a box from the shopping bag he’d left in the kitchen, and returned with it. “Here you go.”
They ate truffles and watched the first episode, laughing in all the same spots, commenting on who the bad guy was, then groaning when they realized they’d both gotten it wrong.
Before she knew it, Gunnar had gathered his things and was standing by the door, Blueberry hovering close.
She went to say goodbye. “Thanks again for helping today. And for lunch. And for sticking around to watch TTA with me.”
He nodded. “Thanks for the tips on how to make a good wish. It was a fun day.” He hesitated. “Would it be all right if I got your number? In case I need help with Blueberry?”
“Oh, definitely.” She grabbed her phone, and they exchanged numbers. “If he gives you any trouble, you text me.”
“Will do.” Gunnar made no move to leave. “Would you like to go out for dinner sometime? Or something?”
“Yeah, sure.” What could it hurt? If he actually called, she’d let him know she wasn’t looking for anything more than a friend right now.
Except the next day, he did call, and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. They went to Salvatore’s for pizza and had another fun night. He was such a nice guy. Handsome, smart, funny. He held doors for her and treated her like a queen.
She already liked him more than she should.
Even if he still hadn’t made his wishes so that Blueberry could come back to her. Mattie understood, though. Wishes were no joke. Gunnar’s reluctance was reasonable.
The morning after their pizza date, there was a knock on her door. She went to answer it and found Gunnar standing there in his ranger uniform, Blueberry on his shoulder, smiling like he knew a secret.
The uniform looked good on him. But then, what wouldn’t? She swallowed, wishing she’d done something more with her hair than throw it into a braid. “Morning.”
“Hey,” he said. “I brought you something.”
“You did?” He wasn’t holding anything. “What is it?”
He stepped out of the way so she could see her front walk.
There, on either side of the flagstones, were two beautiful Japanese maples. She took a breath. “Oh, those are beautiful. I’ve always wanted a pair of those. To plant right in those spots. How did you know?”
“Bear intuition?”
She laughed, almost in tears at such a thoughtful gift. “Blueberry told you, didn’t he?”
“He did, and I wished for them. So you can have the imp back now.”
That was only one wish, but he must have made the others already. “That was so kind. I love them. I really do.”
“Do you want help planting them? I have a few minutes before I have to get to work.”
“Thanks, but I actually have to get ready to go somewhere.” She didn’t, but his gift had overwhelmed her. Aaron had been just like this at first, giving her gifts. Being incredibly sweet.
Only to break her heart. She couldn’t do this again.
“Okay. I’ll get out of your way then.” He gave her a quick smile, then waved at Blueberry. “See you later, bud.”
Blueberry waved back as he flew to Mattie’s shoulder.
As Gunnar headed for his truck, she went inside, feeling awful. She shut the door harder than she meant to. Blueberry flew ahead of her, giving her a strange look. “You look like you’re going to be sick. Don’t you like the trees?”
“I love the trees. I’m fine,” she lied. “He’s just … too nice.”
Blueberry grunted. “Too nice? Is that actually a problem?”
“Yes. It’s very much a problem.” She paced, voice rising. “It’s Aaron all over. I’m not doing that again. I’m not letting myself fall for another guy who’s going to realize I’m just a small-town complication.”
She grabbed her phone, thumbs flying before she could talk herself out of it. Hey. The trees really are beautiful, but I think we should keep things simple. I’m not looking for anything more than a friend right now. I hope you understand.
Blueberry watched over her shoulder as she hit send, heart hammering, then immediately regretted it. Too harsh? Too final? She stared at the screen, waiting for dots, for something. Nothing came. But of course, he was driving.
Blueberry frowned at her. “Did you really just kick Gunnar to the curb?”
Mattie sank into a kitchen chair, face in her hands. “I had to. Before things went too far and I got my heart broken again.”
Blueberry poked at her until she uncovered her face and looked at him. “What?”
“I shouldn’t do this, but I’m going to, because otherwise you’re going to regret that text for the rest of your life.”
She frowned. “What are you talking—”
He started to spin, throwing off green dust like a blizzard. It went everywhere. In her hair, on her clothes, in her mouth. She coughed, accidentally inhaling some.
Then her world tilted, and something inside her cracked open.
Images. Sensations. His arms lifting her from black water. His voice, rough and desperate: “Stay with me.” The hospital room, his hand covering hers, forehead against the mattress, murmuring her name like a prayer.
The way he’d carried her down the trail, never once complaining about how cold he must have been. He hadn’t left her then. Not even in the ambulance. He hadn’t left her at all.
She’d pushed him away.
She gasped, chair scraping as she stood. The memories kept coming: the way he’d protected her from the other bear, how they’d been trapped in his cabin, the plunge basin glow sticks, his bear form searching in the dark cold water, the CPR, the way he’d never left her side. Not once.
And through it all, the same steady presence he’d shown her these last couple of days. Gunnar was nothing like Aaron.
She bolted for the door, flinging it open to go after him. But there he was.
Truck idling at the end of her drive, door open like he’d just jumped out, unable to make himself go. He stood at the end of the walk, hat in hand, looking at her with that same quiet intensity she now remembered so clearly.
He still hadn’t left her.
Mattie ran. Barefoot across the grass, not caring about anything but getting to him. She stopped inches from him, breathing hard.
“You didn’t leave,” she said, voice cracking.
“Couldn’t.” His eyes searched hers. “Not until you told me to my face.”
She reached up, fingers brushing his jaw. “I remember. All of it. Hitting my head. The water. The hospital. You stayed with me.”
Gunnar exhaled, slow and ragged, like he’d been holding the breath for weeks. He caught her hand against his cheek, warm and careful.
“Does this mean you want me to stay now?” he asked.
To answer him, she went up on her toes and kissed him. It was as good as she remembered. No, it was better.
Gunnar wrapped her in his arms and lifted her.
Behind them, Blueberry whooped from the porch. “Finally! I was about to go hide in another box of chocolates!”
Mattie laughed against Gunnar’s mouth. He was staying.
And she was keeping him.