Chapter Two – Kirk
Well, that was unexpected, Kirk’s bear said, still reeling from the shock of meeting their mate.
You can say that again, Kirk replied.
Well, that was…
I didn’t mean actually say it again, Kirk said with a roll of his eyes.
Maybe you should start saying what you actually mean, his bear told him. Like telling Isla she’s our mate.
“Want some raspberry ripple ice cream to celebrate?” Win asked, heading for the freezer.
“Sorry?” Kirk had been so lost in thought, he’d forgotten where he was.
“Raspberry Ripple?” Win asked. “I can add a good dollop of honey. Although I always thought you were sweet enough. And I’m sure your mate will think so too.”
“My mate?” Kirk raised his eyebrow at her.
“Oh, come on.” Win leaned in. “I saw it on your face the moment you walked in.”
“That obvious?” Kirk raked his hand through his hair.
“Oh, yeah.” Win pretended to lock her mouth and throw away the key. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. But I suggest you don’t keep it a secret for too long. She’s only here for two weeks.”
Plenty of time, Kirk’s bear said.
But Kirk was not so sure.
“I’ll take a rain check on the ice cream.” He headed toward the door.
“I’ll be waiting,” Win called after him with a knowing smile.
Kirk stepped outside, inhaling deeply as the mountain air filled his lungs. The scent of pine and earth grounded him, helping to clear his head. Two weeks. Would that be enough time?
It has to be, his bear said. Especially if you get started now. Follow her!
It would be all too easy. But that did not mean it was the right thing to do. No, he needed to keep a sensible head on his shoulders and not rush into things.
But damn, it was hard not to.
Kirk strode to his truck, parked in the small gravel parking lot, and climbed in. For a moment, he sat still behind the wheel.
Life could change so suddenly. The man who had gotten out of this truck a half hour ago to restock his chili plants was not the same man who sat here now.
No. It was as if they were two different men.
As if to hammer that fact home, he felt a tug in his chest, a sensation like an invisible thread stretching eastward toward Bear’s Rest. Isla was getting further away with each passing second.
The bear within him paced restlessly, urging him to follow that thread and keep his mate in sight.
His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. No. Following her now would seem predatory and intrusive. She had no idea what she was to him, and the last thing he wanted was to frighten her away.
Kirk started the engine, forcing himself to turn west toward town instead of following his mate toward Bear’s Rest. Matt was expecting those chilies for tonight’s special, and Kirk had never let his family down. Responsibilities first—that was the Thornberg way.
But our mate is our responsibility too now, his bear said.
We have to take it slow, Kirk said. And it’s not as if she’s about to leave town. We have two weeks. That will be enough.
As the truck rumbled down the mountain road, Kirk kept his senses focused on that tenuous connection.
The further he drove toward town, the more precious that awareness became, like holding onto a fragile thread that could snap at any moment.
But it didn’t snap. It remained a constant reminder that fate had finally decided it was his time.
First Caleb, then Matt, now him. The Thornberg brothers were finding their mates just as their cousins had before them.
You mean we’re falling like dominoes, his bear said. One after another.
Kirk’s mouth quirked into a half-smile. Yes, we are. Falling for our mates in the best possible way.
The familiar buildings of Bear Creek came into view, but Kirk barely noticed them.
His mind was filled with Isla—the curve of her lips as she’d tasted his chocolate, the protective hand she’d placed on Percy’s shoulder, the flicker of deep appreciation in her eyes as she’d looked at the various artisan goods in Win’s store.
And Percy, his bear reminded him. I can’t wait to meet him in the fur.
“Yeah,” Kirk murmured aloud, unable to suppress his smile. “That is a bonus. A ready-made family.”
And one day we’ll give him a brother or sister, or both, his bear said, dreaming of the day when they would have a child of their own with Isla.
He’d always wanted children. Watching his cousins start their families had awakened a yearning he’d tried to ignore. Now, after meeting Percy, Kirk felt a surge of protectiveness that rivaled what he felt for Isla.
Family, his bear purred.
Talking of family… Kirk parked behind the restaurant, the familiar brick building that had been a constant his whole life. He climbed out and retrieved the crate of carefully selected chilies from the truck bed. As he hoisted it into his arms, that invisible thread tugged sharply at his chest.
He froze. The connection to Isla was changing direction. She wasn’t driving toward Bear’s Rest anymore. She was getting closer. Coming toward town. Toward him.
Kirk’s knees weakened suddenly, and he braced himself against the truck. His heart thudded hard against his ribs as he took a steadying breath. Was she coming to find him? Did she feel the same tug in her chest, the same unbreakable thread binding them together?
The back door of the restaurant swung open, and his brother, Matt, poked his head out.
“There you are! I was beginning to think…” Matt stopped as he took in Kirk’s expression. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Kirk swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus. “I’m fine. I just…”
Matt’s eyebrows rose, and he reached for the crate. “I’ll take these before you drop them.”
“Thanks,” Kirk managed as he handed Matt the crate and followed him inside. The last thing he wanted was for his mate to see him collapsed in the street. Maybe a slug of whisky would help.
The only thing that’s going to help is seeing our mate again, his bear said firmly.
As he stepped into the kitchen, the savory scents of simmering sauces and roasting meats enveloped him, but for once, Kirk barely noticed. All he could think about was the invisible thread pulling tighter with each passing moment, drawing his mate closer and closer to him.
She’s coming, his bear said.
Kirk turned and looked toward the front of the restaurant.
“Kirk?” Matt stopped mid-motion, the crate still in his hands. He placed it on the counter and gripped Kirk’s arm, steadying him.
Kirk blinked, trying to focus on his brother’s words while every sense in his body was tuned toward the front of the restaurant. “I… er...”
“Oh.” Matt took a step back, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding. “Oh. You found her!”
Kirk ran his hand through his hair again as he fought to steady his nerves. “Is it really that obvious?”
Matt chuckled, his voice filled with affection. “To one who knows, yeah, it’s literally written all over your face.”
“Okay. You got me.” Kirk held out his hands. “I was over at Win’s place, and Isla pulled up… It was like…”
“Getting hit by a truck?” Matt asked.
“Yeah.” Kirk nodded. “Only it didn’t kill me. It made me feel more alive.”
“I know that feeling,” Matt said. “Tell me you talked to her.”
“I did,” Kirk said. “And she tried my chili chocolate. And she liked it. So did her son.”
Matt’s eyes widened with surprise. “She has a son?” A slow smile spread across his face. “Even better!”
The invisible thread pulled tighter, and Kirk’s breath caught in his throat. “She’s so close.”
“That’s great,” Matt replied, his voice warm with reassurance. “Go find her and bring her to the restaurant for dinner. I’ll cook her something that will blow her mind.”
“Matt...” Kirk began, uncertainty making his voice waver.
“Go.” Matt was already heading for the walk-in fridge. “And I’ll use your chilies. So she’ll be doubly impressed.”
As Matt disappeared into the fridge, Kirk took a moment to compose himself. His bear paced restlessly within, eager and impatient. Kirk smoothed down his flannel shirt and ran a hand through his hair one last time before heading through the kitchen toward the dining area.
All the while, he could sense her getting closer, the connection between them strengthening with each passing second.
I don’t think we’re going to have to go find her, his bear said. She’s coming here.
Kirk hesitated in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room, not sure what to do. The restaurant was quiet, with only a few afternoon customers lingering over coffee and dessert. Rachel was behind the bar, putting freshly washed glasses away.
Through the large front windows, Kirk saw a car slow down and then stop just along the street from the restaurant. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the vehicle from the Spice & Honey Shack.
They climbed out of the car, Isla’s blonde hair catching the late afternoon sunlight, Percy bouncing excitedly beside her. Kirk’s breath caught in his throat as he watched them cross the sidewalk, possibly heading for the pharmacy a couple of doors down.
Not to the restaurant.
Go say hi, invite them in, his bear said.
On my way. But his hands were clammy, and as he spotted his reflection in the glass, he froze. He looked wild, untamed, and a little unhinged.
He forced himself to stand still, to breathe, to appear normal, even as every cell in his body screamed for him to rush forward and claim his mate.
But then fate stepped in.
“Look, it’s the chili man!” Percy’s face lit up with recognition as he pointed directly at Kirk through the restaurant window.
Kirk raised his hand and smiled.
“Hi!” Percy dashed toward the door.
“Percy, slow down.” Isla reached for the boy’s hand, but Percy slipped away, his small face alight with excitement.
You’re on, his bear roared. Invite them in. Maybe take them through to the courtyard. Then let Matt’s cooking wow them. While you woo Isla.
“Hello,” Kirk croaked, his throat dry as he pulled the door open.
“Hi,” Percy said, stopping in front of Kirk and looking up with unabashed interest. “Do you work here too?”
Kirk found his voice, though it came out rougher than he intended. “I... no. I mean, my family owns the restaurant, and I was delivering chilies to my brother, Matt.”
Isla approached more slowly, her gray-blue eyes wary. “We meet again,” she said with a small smile. “I’m not stalking you, honestly. We were on our way to Bear’s Rest when I realized we’d forgotten Percy’s sunscreen. I didn’t want to start our stay with a sunburn.”
I wouldn’t mind if she were stalking us, Kirk’s bear said.
“Would you… Would you like a table?” Kirk managed, gesturing toward the dining room. “We’re between lunch and dinner service, but the kitchen is always open for…” He stopped himself before saying for my mate. “For diners,” he finished lamely.
“Oh, I hadn’t planned…” Isla began.
“Can we, Mom? I’m starving,” Percy said with the theatrics of a child.
“That would be great,” Isla said. “We haven’t had a proper meal since breakfast, and the journey’s taken longer than I planned thanks to a couple of unplanned pit stops.”
“I know just the table,” he said, finding his footing at last. “The best view in the house.”
“Lead the way.” Her smile was polite, but Kirk could sense something more beneath it, a flicker of interest, perhaps, or at least curiosity. It was enough for now.
More than enough, his bear said.
Percy slipped his hand into Isla’s as Kirk led them through the restaurant, past the polished wooden tables and the soft amber lighting, guiding them toward the back door.
“This way,” he said, holding the door open.
The courtyard opened before them, bathed in late afternoon sunlight.
Kirk’s mother, Eleanor, had transformed the area into a vibrant garden when she first met his father, Thaddeus.
Over the years, it had grown from a simple service area to a haven for wildlife.
Tables were arranged to maximize both privacy and the spectacular view.
“Look!” Percy broke free from Isla’s grasp, rushing forward with the unbridled enthusiasm only children could muster. “A butterfly!”
The delicate creature, its orange-and-black wings fluttering between the blooms, had captured the boy’s attention completely. Percy tugged Isla forward, pointing excitedly at the monarch as it danced from flower to flower.
“It is beautiful out here,” Isla said, turning to look at Kirk.
“I thought you might find it more relaxing than sitting inside,” Kirk said. “I mean, with Percy. After the drive here...”
“You’re right. He needs fresh air and room to move, or he starts to fidget.” Isla watched as Percy stopped and watched a bug on a leaf. “These flowers are stunning.”
“It’s not just the courtyard that’s stunning,” Kirk said, finding his voice. He gestured toward the horizon. “The view...”
He swept his arm in a wide arc toward the world beyond the courtyard. The mountains rose in majestic silhouette against the deepening blue sky, their rugged peaks swathed in mist. Pine forests blanketed the lower slopes in rich green, climbing until the trees gave way to stone and snow.
Isla followed his gesture, her lips parting slightly as she took in the panorama. The breeze lifted a strand of her hair, and Kirk fought the urge to tuck it behind her ear.
“It’s like they’re standing sentinel,” she whispered, her voice hushed with reverence.
“And always have,” Kirk replied, the familiar landscape suddenly new through her eyes. The mountains that had watched over generations of his family, that had witnessed the building of this restaurant, the planting of each seed in his greenhouse. Constant, protective, eternal.
And always will, his bear added silently. Just as we will stand sentinel over our mate and her son forever.
And that was a promise.