Chapter Three – Tessa
Okay, so what’s the plan? Matt’s bear asked.
Just get through the shift without spilling my heart out to Tessa, Matt replied.
And our soul, his bear added.
Oh, goodness, Matt said, this is going to be a long shift.
One he didn’t want to end because once it did end, Tessa would walk out of the restaurant and out of his life.
Temporarily, his bear reminded him. She’ll be back tomorrow. And the next day.
Yeah, but she’s not here forever, Matt said.
She will be if you say the right thing, do the right thing, Matt’s bear said.
No pressure then, Matt replied.
None at all. It’s only the rest of our lives and our eternal happiness we’re talking about here, his bear said lightly, but they both knew how much was resting on them winning their mate over.
Matt forced himself to focus on the plate of pasta in front of him, twirling the fork methodically through the noodles as Alan recounted his daughter’s latest soccer triumph.
Normally, he’d be all in, asking questions about the game, celebrating the victory.
Alan’s kids were great—smart, funny little humans who always brightened staff picnics with their energy and mischief.
But today, with Tessa sitting just three chairs away, Matt could barely follow the conversation. His thoughts kept drifting to possibilities he’d rarely allowed himself to consider over the last few years.
Little humans of his own.
“She scored the winning goal with only thirty seconds left on the clock,” Alan was saying, his face animated with pride. “You should have seen her, Matt. She’s got a killer instinct on the field for a nine-year-old.”
“That’s amazing,” Matt managed, though his gaze kept sliding toward Tessa.
What would their children look like? Would they have her amber eyes, or his darker ones? Her soft smile or his serious expression?
One thing is for sure, his bear said. They’ll have our shifter genes.
He imagined sitting at this very table years from now, telling his own stories about soccer games and school plays, while Tessa sat beside him, her hand in his.
Can’t wait, his bear said, the longing almost painful in its intensity.
“So, are you going to tell her?”
Alan’s voice, pitched low enough that only Matt could hear, jolted him back to reality. The pasta that had been balanced on his fork slipped free, landing with a wet splat on his black T-shirt. Red sauce splattered across the fabric like evidence of a crime.
“Damn,” Matt muttered, grabbing his napkin and dabbing at the stain.
Alan chuckled, not bothering to hide his amusement. “Smooth, boss. Very smooth.”
Matt glanced up from his futile cleaning efforts and froze. Tessa was watching him, her lips curved in a shy smile that reached all the way to her eyes. The warmth in her gaze made his heart ache with longing.
Say something, his bear urged.
Matt’s jaw clenched as his mind went completely, utterly blank. All his usual confidence evaporated under her gaze.
Say something about spillage, his bear prompted desperately. Prove you were listening about the cooking show disasters.
“Looks like I could use one of those cooking show disaster recovery tips right about now,” Matt said, the words feeling clumsy on his tongue.
Tessa’s smile widened slightly. “Cold water and salt,” she offered. “Works wonders on tomato sauce.”
Matt nodded, relief washing through him as he resumed eating, careful to hold the fork closer to his plate this time. The tension in his shoulders eased incrementally.
“So?” Alan asked when the conversation around them had moved on to weekend plans.
Matt turned to his friend, lowering his voice. “How are you supposed to tell someone something like this? ‘Hey, by the way, I’m a bear shifter, and also, you’re my fated mate?’”
Alan shook his head and grinned. “Never had to. My mate is a shifter too, remember? She knew what was happening the moment we met.”
Matt frowned. “Of course I do. But I’ll take any advice you’ve got.”
Alan chewed thoughtfully, his expression growing more serious. “I guess I would start by winning her heart, for real. So when you tell her about the shifter stuff and the mate bond, it’s inevitable she’ll accept it.”
Inevitable. Matt liked the sound of that word. Inevitable meant certain, guaranteed. It meant he would not lose her before he’d even had a chance to know her.
As they finished their meal, Matt could not resist sneaking glances at Tessa as she chatted with Jenny. Her hands moved expressively as she talked.How he’d like to hold her hand. Kiss her palm. Then kiss her wrist, and higher…
Get a grip, his bear said. You’re drooling.
Am not, Matt replied, but wiped his mouth on a napkin just in case.
Because one thing he knew for sure, his mate was mouthwatering.
Oh dear, his bear said with a roll of his eyes.
When the meal was over, they all pitched in to clear the table together, the staff moving with the practiced efficiency of people who had shared many meals in this room. Matt stacked plates while Tessa gathered silverware, their paths crossing as they moved toward the dishwasher.
“So,” he said, leaning against the counter beside her, trying for casual and probably failing miserably, “how do you like Bear Creek so far?”
Tessa looked up, a napkin still in her hands. “I like what I’ve seen. Though I only arrived last night, so I haven’t explored much beyond Rachel’s neighborhood and the mountain trail we hiked this morning.”
“The view from up there is pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Matt said, remembering all the times he’d run those same trails in bear form, when the forest and town spread out beneath him.
“It really was,” Tessa replied, her expression softening. “I could see the whole valley. It felt... peaceful.”
Matt took a deep breath, gathering his courage. “I could show you around if you like. There are some spots that aren’t on the tourist maps—places only locals know about.”
Good move, his bear approved.
A shy smile curved Tessa’s lips, and something in Matt’s chest expanded painfully until he could barely breathe. “Thanks,” she said, straightening up. “That’s really nice of you.”
But she didn’t commit, didn’t say yes, and Matt felt the moment slipping away.
Do something, his bear moaned.
But then his thoughts of his mate stalled as he sensed someone else approaching. Or someones else.
Mom and Dad, his bear crowed. They’re back from the vineyard.
Not now. Please, not now.
His mother’s eyes widened the instant she stepped into the kitchen, her gaze darting between Matt and Tessa with an understanding that made his skin prickle. Beside her, his father stood with a grin on his face.
Not too obvious, Matt’s bear said.
“Mom, Dad,” Matt said, his voice strained even to his own ears. “I didn’t know you were coming by today.”
“Just checking in after the lunch rush,” his mother replied, but her eyes never left Tessa. A smile spread across her face, warm and knowing. “And who might this be?”
Matt swallowed hard. “This is Tessa Johnson, Rachel’s friend. She’s covering shifts while Rachel recovers from a sprained ankle.” He turned to Tessa. “Tessa, these are my parents, Thaddeus and Eleanor Thornberg.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Tessa said, extending her hand with a polite smile.
His mother ignored the outstretched hand and instead pulled Tessa into a gentle hug. “The pleasure is all ours, dear. Any friend of Rachel’s is welcome here.”
Matt caught the meaningful glance his father shot him over Tessa’s shoulder. The older man’s eyes sparkled with recognition and barely contained excitement.
His bear growled anxiously. They know. They can tell she’s our mate.
Of course, they could. His parents knew the signs better than anyone else. And they were watching him now with expressions that mixed delight with curiosity, clearly wondering why he hadn’t already staked his claim.
“Tessa’s been a tremendous help today,” Matt said, desperate to keep the conversation normal. “Stepped right in as if she’d been working here for years.”
“I’m not surprised,” his mother said, still beaming at Tessa. “Some people just fit right in, don’t they? Almost as if they were meant to be here.”
Matt shot his mother a warning look, which she cheerfully ignored.
“Well, I should get back to helping Jenny,” Tessa said, glancing between them. “It was nice meeting you both.”
“You too, Tessa,” Eleanor replied. “I hope we’ll be seeing much more of you.”
As soon as Tessa disappeared through the doorway, Matt’s parents turned to him with identical expectant expressions.
“Kitchen office,” Matt muttered. “Now.”
He led them to the small room off the main kitchen, where he handled paperwork and scheduling. As soon as the door closed behind them, his mother’s composure broke.
“Matthew James Thornberg,” she whispered excitedly. “Is that who I think it is?”
Matt ran a hand over his face, suddenly exhausted. “Mom…”
“She’s your mate,” his father stated, not a question but a certainty. “We could see it the moment we walked in.”
There was no point in denying it. To his parents, he was, and always would be, an open book.
Not that he wanted to deny it. Matt knew how much this meant to them.
They’d been waiting years for their sons to find their mates and give them grandchildren.
“Yes,” Matt admitted, resigned to what was likely to follow. “She’s my mate.”
His mother clapped her hands together, barely containing a squeal of delight. “Oh, Matt! This is wonderful! First Caleb and Hannah, and now you and Tessa. The family is growing!”
“It’s not that simple, Mom,” Matt said, keeping his voice low. “She doesn’t know yet. About any of it. She doesn’t even know shifters exist. And she’s only here visiting for a short time.”
Understanding dawned in his mother’s eyes. “Oh, son. You’re afraid she’ll leave.”
The words struck a chord so deep that Matt’s bear whined in distress. Yes, that was exactly what he feared. That Tessa would walk away before he even had a chance to show her what they could be together.
“I have to win her over first,” Matt murmured. “I need to give her a reason to stay that has nothing to do with fate or shifters or mate bonds. She deserves to choose this—to choose me—not just accept it because some cosmic force decided we’re compatible.”
His father stepped forward, placing a strong hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Son, the mate bond isn’t just some cosmic accident. It recognizes something true between two souls—something that would be there even without shifter magic.”
“Your father’s right,” his mother added. “The bond doesn’t create love out of nothing. It reveals what could already exist between you.”
Matt wanted to believe them. His bear certainly did, rumbling with approval at their words. But the human part of him knew it wasn’t that simple. That relationships were complicated, messy, and sometimes broke no matter how hard you tried to keep them together.
“I just need time,” he said. “Time to let her get to know me without the pressure of the bond.”
His parents exchanged a look he couldn’t quite decipher.
“What?” he asked.
His mother smiled gently. “It’s just... we’ve never seen you like this before. So careful, so concerned about doing everything right.”
“She matters,” Matt said simply. “This matters.” He put his hand over his heart.
“We know,” his father replied. “And for what it’s worth, son, I think your instincts are good. Build trust first. The rest will follow.”
His mother nodded, though she couldn’t quite hide her impatience. “But don’t wait too long, Matt. That young woman out there—she feels it too, even if she doesn’t understand it yet.”
Matt caught himself replaying every look they’d shared during the shift—the quick darting glances when she thought he wasn’t looking, how her eyes lingered just a beat too long when they connected with his.
There was something electric there, as if she was just as conscious of the bond between them as he was.
Like she felt that invisible thread pulling them together, even without knowing what it meant.
Maybe his mother was right.