Chapter Twenty-One – Tessa
She didn’t want to leave. But she had to. The last twenty-four hours had been life-changing, and she needed time to process it. Time to put things into perspective. To re-evaluate her plans.
Tessa reluctantly slipped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her skin. Matt had offered to join her, but she’d gently declined. She needed a moment alone with her thoughts.
As she shampooed her hair, she couldn’t stop smiling.
Matt was a shifter. She was his mate. And somehow, instead of feeling terrified by these revelations, she felt.
.. right. Complete.But was she simply being swept up in the romance of it?
Only by putting some space between her and Matt would she be able to think clearly.
After drying off, she slipped back into her sundress from yesterday, smoothing the fabric over her hips. When she emerged from the bathroom and went downstairs, she found Matt waiting with a travel mug of coffee and that smile that made her heart skip.
“For the road,” he said, pressing the warm mug into her hands.
“Thank you.” She took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. Of course, he made perfect coffee too.
Matt leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with those intense eyes that seemed to see straight through to her soul. “I wish you didn’t have to go,” he said softly.
Tessa closed the distance between them, drawn like a magnet. “I know. But I need to check on Rachel, grab some clean clothes...” She let her free hand rest on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm. “And honestly, I need a little time to process everything.”
“Too much to bear?” His tone was light, but she caught the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
“No,” she said firmly, rising on tiptoes to kiss him. “Just enough bear.”
“That makes us happy.” His arms came around her, solid and secure, and Tessa melted into him. The kiss deepened, his beard soft against her skin. When they finally broke apart, she was breathless.
“I’ll see you tonight,” she promised, reluctantly stepping back to gather her purse from the counter.
As she reached for her phone to tuck it away, the screen lit up. Three missed calls from an unknown number.
Tessa froze, her fingers hovering over the device.
“Everything all right?” Matt asked, moving closer.
“Yeah,” she nodded, picking up the phone. “Just a handful of missed calls.” Her thumb swiped across the screen. “Oh, and a text.” She tapped the screen and read the text. Then read it again.
Matt was at her side instantly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” she looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s a message from a publisher I sent some preliminary sketches to, along with an outline of my project.”
“Good news or bad?” Matt’s eyes searched her face.
Her lips curved into a smile she didn’t entirely feel. “Good news. They want me to call them and set up an interview. They want me to be their in-house designer.”
“That’s amazing!” Matt pulled her into his arms, his enthusiasm genuine. “Tessa, that’s incredible!”
Her smile faltered. “It might not be so amazing,” she replied, pulling back to meet his gaze.
“Why?” His brows drew together in confusion.
“Because their offices are on the other side of the country. It’ll mean a big move.”
The color drained from Matt’s face, and Tessa felt her heart constrict as she saw the brief flicker of pain in his eyes.
“Oh,” he said after a moment. “I mean, that’s great, right? You get to live your dream.” His smile returned, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You deserve it.”
Her brow furrowed as she studied him. “What about you?”
He shrugged, his hands tightening slightly on her waist. “I’ll come with you. If you’ll have me.”
Tessa shook her head, disbelief washing over her. “Your life is here in Bear Creek.”
Matt’s expression softened as he cupped her face in his large hands. “My life is with you wherever that is. That’s my home.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and she pulled away, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he was offering. “Matt, I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
“You’re not asking,” he said simply. “I’m offering.”
“But the restaurant?” she insisted. “Your family?”
“Will understand,” he replied, his voice steady and sure. “The mate bond is stronger than anything in this world or the next. They know that.”
Tessa took a deep breath, needing to create some space between them before she dissolved completely. “I have to call them. It’s not a done deal yet.”
“Once they meet you, it will be,” Matt said.
This man—this incredible, impossible man—would give up his home, his livelihood, his family... for her?
How could she ask that of him?
Overwhelmed and confused, Tessa pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and turned toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Yes,” he replied, but she heard the slight crack in his voice even though he tried to hide it.
The drive back to Rachel’s passed in a blur. Why now? After months of trying to find a publisher for her caregiver journal, after countless rejections and unanswered submissions, why had this opportunity materialized now—just when she’d found something she hadn’t even known she was looking for?
The irony wasn’t lost on her. Her mom had told her to follow her dreams and live for herself. And now that dream was within reach, tantalizing and real.
But Matt was real, too. More real than anything she’d ever known.
She pulled into Rachel’s driveway and sat for a moment, hands still gripping the steering wheel. The house looked exactly as it had when she’d left yesterday, yet everything had changed.
With a sigh, Tessa gathered her things and made her way to the front door on unsteady legs. She stepped inside, feeling as though she was returning from a different universe rather than just an overnight stay.
“So, you decided to come home?” Rachel called out from the living room, her voice warm with amusement.
Tessa followed the sound, finding her friend curled up on the sofa with a book, her injured ankle propped on a cushion. Rachel looked up with a knowing smile that quickly faded as she took in Tessa’s expression.
“What happened?” Rachel set her book aside, sitting up straighter. “Did something go wrong with Matt?”
“No,” Tessa sank onto the sofa beside her. “Matt is... perfect.”
“But…” Rachel prodded.
“I just got a job offer,” she said, the words tumbling out. “From a publisher. They want me to illustrate journals, and also publish my own journals.”
“That’s amazing!” Rachel exclaimed, her face lighting up. She set her book aside and struggled to her feet, limping toward Tessa with arms outstretched. “Isn’t it?”
When Tessa didn’t immediately respond, Rachel’s smile faltered. “Tess?”
“It is,” Tessa agreed, nodding quickly. “Except that it means relocating to the other side of the country.”
“Oh.” Rachel sank down beside her, letting out a long breath. Her injured ankle jutted awkwardly in front of her.
“Yeah. Oh,” Tessa echoed, staring at her hands.
The room suddenly felt too warm, too small. Outside the window, Bear Creek sprawled beneath the mountain backdrop, picturesque and perfect. The same view she’d admired just yesterday, before everything changed. Before Matt.
“Matt offered to come with me,” Tessa whispered.
Rachel’s eyes widened. “Wow. That moved fast.”
Tessa shrugged, a small smile playing at her lips despite the turmoil inside her. “When you know, you know, right?”
Rachel studied her carefully, her head tilted to one side. “It’s more than that, though, isn’t it?”
Tessa nodded, reaching for her friend’s hand. She guided Rachel back to the sofa, where they could sit more comfortably.
“If I tell you something, promise not to freak out?” Tessa asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Rachel shook her head, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “If you’re going to try to explain shifters to me, it’s okay. I already know.”
“You do?” Tessa pulled back in surprise, searching her friend’s face.
“Yeah. After Caleb and Hannah got together so fast, Jenny spilled,” Rachel said with a casual shrug, as if they were discussing something as mundane as a new restaurant opening.
Tessa blinked, struggling to process this revelation. “And did you know that Matt and I were... mates?”
“I thought so,” Rachel admitted. “I hoped so. But it wasn’t until I saw you two together that I knew.” She squeezed Tessa’s hand. “And I also knew it wasn’t my secret to tell.”
Tessa pressed her lips together, emotions welling up inside her. “What am I supposed to do?”
Rachel rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles. “You are supposed to follow your heart.”
Tessa sighed, leaning into her friend’s touch. “And what if I don’t know what my heart is saying?”
“Then you’re not listening hard enough,” Rachel replied simply.