Page 7 of Grumpy Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #4)

Chapter

Six

Henry arrived at Sweet Summit Café, parking his weathered truck on a side street. After the suffocating family gathering last night, escaping his parents’ house had been a relief, though agreeing to this detour before returning to his cabin felt like a moment of temporary insanity.

The café stood across from the town square, its French-inspired facade standing out from the rustic mountain establishments surrounding it.

Delicate ironwork adorned the windows, and small round tables with wicker chairs lined a narrow patio.

Inside, copper pendant lights hung from high ceilings, illuminating walls painted in muted blues and creams. The scent of freshly baked croissants and espresso filled the air.

Henry rarely went into town, preferring the simplicity of the forest to the complex social dynamics of Fate Mountain’s small but gossipy population.

He scanned the café interior, relieved not to recognize any familiar faces among the lunch crowd.

Without the burden of small talk with acquaintances, he approached the counter, ordered a simple black coffee, then claimed a corner table partially hidden behind a decorative column, positioning himself with his back against the wall and a clear view of both entrances.

Henry exhaled heavily, already regretting his decision to come.

What had possessed him to suggest meeting this woman on his way back to the sanctuary of his cabin?

One hundred percent match or not, he had no interest in complicating his solitary existence with a fated mate.

His life functioned perfectly without messy entanglements.

Henry mentally reviewed his exit strategies.

A ranger emergency would be most believable.

Forest service radio calling him back to duty.

Perhaps a report of hikers in distress or an unauthorized campfire requiring immediate attention.

He could be polite but firm, explaining that duty called and another meeting would simply be impractical given his schedule.

Henry took a sip of coffee as a family with small children entered the café. The children’s high-pitched voices grated on his sensitive hearing.

His fingers tapped restlessly against the marble tabletop as he reconsidered the bizarre events that had led him here.

The family dinner with its intrusive questions about his love life.

His mother and cousin’s ambush with the unwanted smartphone.

The mate.com profile created solely to appease them.

Then the instantaneous 100% match that had appeared like some cosmic joke.

Henry took another long sip of coffee, uncomfortably aware of the clean flannel shirt.

It smelled faintly of his mother’s laundry detergent.

He’d even trimmed his beard slightly in the bathroom before leaving.

What did it matter how he looked? After making it clear to this Bright woman that he wasn’t interested in pursuing a mate bond, he’d never see her again.

His bear disagreed vehemently with this plan, pacing restlessly inside him.

Since the moment he’d seen Ivy’s profile picture, his animal side had been unusually alert and focused, pushing toward her with a certainty Henry found disturbing.

The conflict between his human reservations and his bear’s insistence created an uncomfortable tension under his skin.

Henry rehearsed what he would say when she arrived.

Something direct but not cruel. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet, but I should make it clear that I’m not looking for a relationship.

” Or perhaps, “While the algorithm seems to think we’re compatible, my lifestyle really doesn’t accommodate dating. ” Straightforward. Honest. Final.

A subtle shift in the air currents made Henry’s nostrils flare.

A new scent entered the café, cutting through the coffee and pastry aromas with striking clarity.

Vanilla mingled with the clean scent of mountain streams and something uniquely female that made his bear surge toward the surface with startling force.

Henry’s heart hammered against his ribcage as his eyes tracked to the entrance.

She stood framed in the doorway, sunlight catching her curly brown hair.

Ivy Bright wore a simple green blouse that somehow matched the exact shade of new spring leaves, paired with practical khaki pants and hiking boots.

She radiated natural warmth and intelligence.

His mouth went dry. Every practiced sentence fled his mind.

His bear recognized her instantly, pushing against his control with an urgency he’d never experienced, clawing desperately toward this woman his inner bear had already claimed as his.

Henry couldn’t tear his gaze away as she ordered at the counter.

Mate, mate, mate.

When she turned to him and their eyes connected across the café, something fundamental shifted inside him. Recognition flowed between them, primal and undeniable. Her lips parted slightly in surprise, and Henry knew she felt it too.

Ivy approached his table with confident strides, her movements graceful. Henry stood abruptly, his thigh banging against the table and nearly toppling his coffee cup. At full height, he towered over her, yet somehow she didn’t seem diminished by the comparison.

“Henry?” Her voice carried notes of honey and warmth. She extended her hand, smile brightening further. “I’m Ivy Bright. It’s wonderful to meet you in person.”

When their hands touched, an electric current raced up Henry’s arm and straight to his core.

Her skin was soft but her grip surprisingly firm, the handshake of someone comfortable in her own authority.

For several seconds, they both remained frozen in the contact, staring at their joined hands as if neither quite understood what was happening.

Mate, mate, mate.

His bear roared the word so loudly in his mind that Henry nearly checked if she’d heard it too. The intensity of his reaction frightened him. This wasn’t normal.

Ivy recovered first, withdrawing her hand with a nervous laugh. A flush of color bloomed across her amber-toned cheeks, illuminating her face with a warm radiance that caught the light like burnished bronze. “The mate.com algorithm definitely got something right.”

Henry managed to sink back into his chair, gesturing stiffly for her to take the seat opposite. She sat down and took a sip of her latte. Words failed him entirely, his usual reticent nature intensified by the confusion swirling through his mind.

“I’m Henry Kincaid,” he finally managed. “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”

“Kincaid? Of Timber Bear Ranch?”

“Yes,” he muttered.

“What a small world! My younger sister Holly has been friends with Joy since they were kids. And the institute works with the ranch on timber conservation. I’m surprised we never met. But we do have a five-year age difference. It would make sense that we never ran across each other in school.”

Henry nodded, a lump forming in his throat.

“I was so excited to see our match this morning,” Ivy continued, filling the awkward silence with bright chatter.

“A hundred percent match is truly profound. I actually did research on the neurological indicators of true mate bonds for my graduate work. The instant recognition response is fascinating from both a biological and psychological perspective.”

She paused, seeming to realize she was rambling. Warmth bloomed beneath her skin a second time. “Sorry. I tend to get carried away when I’m nervous. And meeting you has made me surprisingly nervous.”

“Why?” The single word emerged gruffer than Henry intended.

Her smile softened. “Because meeting your fated mate only happens once in a lifetime.”

Henry found himself nodding before he could stop the honest response.

“What do you do as a forest ranger?” she asked, gracefully shifting the conversation.

Henry’s answer came in clipped fragments. “Wildlife monitoring mostly. I track animal movement patterns, and document ecosystem changes.”

Despite his minimal responses, Ivy listened with genuine interest, leaning forward slightly, her entire focus on him as if his words were precious. It was disconcerting to be the center of someone’s attention, especially someone whose gleaming hazel eyes seemed to see beyond his gruff exterior.

“Your knowledge of local wildlife patterns must be extensive.” Henry shrugged. “And what brought you to the forest service instead of working on the ranch?”

The question ventured too close to personal matters. Henry deflected, “What about you? The Bright Institute must keep you busy.”

Ivy’s face lit up, and Henry immediately regretted asking.

The floodgates opened as she enthusiastically described her work.

“Actually, I’m currently overseeing the construction of the new Fate Mountain Nature Center,” she explained, hands moving expressively.

“It’s going to be such an asset to Fate Mountain.

Interactive exhibits showcasing local ecosystems, sustainable building practices, educational workshops for schools and visitors. ..”

Henry felt the blood drain from his face as connections clicked into place.

The nature center. The incorrect boundary markers.

The compromised wildlife corridor. This bright, enthusiastic woman sitting across from him was responsible for the very project threatening the forest he’d sworn to protect.

“The nature center near Whispering Pines Road?” His voice had dropped several degrees in temperature.

“Yes! That’s the one.” Her smile remained undimmed. “We’re about seven weeks from completion. The timeline is challenging, but it will be worth it.”

Henry’s conflicting emotions crystallized. “Your boundary markers were placed incorrectly. They’re cutting thirty yards into a protected wildlife corridor.”

He expected defensiveness, dismissal, or bureaucratic excuse-making. Instead, Ivy’s brow furrowed with concern.

“We’ve had some vandalism issues recently, boundary stakes being moved, but Ronald, our contractor, reset them according to the original plans.”

She pulled out her phone, tapping rapidly. “I have the approved site maps here. Would you be willing to visit the site with me? Today, even? I’d value your expertise in assessing the actual boundaries versus what’s marked.”

The sincerity in her voice seemed genuine, yet Henry hesitated. Getting further involved with Ivy Bright meant complications he’d spent years avoiding. Yet he found himself considering her offer despite every internal warning. “I have duties this afternoon.”

Her disappointment was visible but quickly masked with understanding. “Perhaps another time? Whenever works with your schedule. This is important.”

Her reasonable response made refusing more difficult. Henry stood abruptly, the need to escape overwhelming him. “I should go. Patrol starts in thirty minutes.”

“Oh.” Ivy’s bright smile faltered momentarily before recovering. “I understand completely. Thank you for making time to meet today.”

“I’ll think about the site visit,” Henry said grudgingly, the words emerging without conscious decision.

“That would be wonderful. Here, let me give you my direct number,” she said, handing him a business card.

Henry tucked the card into his pocket, nodding awkwardly before turning to leave. Each step toward the door required physical effort, his bear resisting all the way. At the threshold, he glanced back despite himself. Ivy watched him from their table, her expression thoughtful.

Henry strode to his truck, climbed in, and gripped the steering wheel. His heart pounded erratically, his bear pacing anxiously beneath his skin, demanding he return to his mate. The intensity of his reaction disturbed him deeply.

Henry started the engine, mind racing as he pulled away from the café. Whether or not he wanted to acknowledge the mate bond, Ivy Bright had just complicated his carefully ordered existence.