Page 17 of Guard Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #5)

Chapter

Fifteen

Andre stood on Joy’s porch holding two dozen roses in red, pink, yellow, and white. "I couldn't pick just one color," he admitted when Joy opened the door.

She inhaled the heady fragrance. "Oh, Andre. These are beautiful.”

She wore a deep blue dress, her strong shoulders bare, hair pulled back with pieces framing her face.

She looked... he didn't have words for it.

The light fabric of the dress skimmed her curves when she moved.

She'd done something to her eyes that made them stand out. He’d never seen her in heels before, and they were doing something to her calves that had his bear rolling over.

"That dress…" he said, the words rough with truth.

Joy's smile warmed him from the inside out. She gave him a quick kiss, her lips soft against his. The familiar spark jumped between them, electric and so real it hurt.

The drive to Fate Mountain Lodge wound through towering pines, the road familiar now after weeks of patrol. But tonight felt different. Tonight was just them, no threats or investigations or overprotective instincts getting in the way. At least, that was the plan.

The lodge rose before them like something from a postcard, all gleaming logs and soaring windows. After they checked in, the porter carried their bags to their suite, and Andre tipped the man.

The suite itself was perfect. Exposed timber beams stretched across vaulted ceilings, while a stone fireplace dominated one wall.

The king-size bed was dressed in crisp white linens and a plush down comforter.

A sitting area near the windows featured two leather chairs and a small table, perfect for morning coffee or evening drinks.

French doors led to a private balcony that overlooked the lake, the evening sun turning the water to molten gold. Joy stepped outside, breathing in the pine-scented air while Andre followed. After a few minutes of enjoying the view, Andre checked his watch. "Ready for dinner?"

Joy nodded, and they rode the elevator down to the main floor. The host at the restaurant entrance greeted them with a warm smile. "Good evening. Do you have a reservation?"

"Holt, party of two," Andre replied.

"Right this way, please."

The dining room wrapped them in warmth and soft lighting as they followed the host. Polished wood gleamed under wrought-iron chandeliers, and tall windows framed the lake that was turning silver as evening approached.

Their corner table offered a perfect view of the lake, and a single candle flickered on the white linen tablecloth.

The host handed them each a leather-bound menu as they took their seats. "Your server will be right with you. Enjoy your evening."

Moments later, their server appeared. He was a young man with an easy smile and a polished demeanor. "Good evening. My name is Robert, and I'll be taking care of you tonight. May I start you with something to drink?"

"Just water for now," Andre said. "We'd like to look at the menu first."

"Of course." Robert filled their water glasses.

"May I tell you about tonight's specials?

" At their nod, he continued. "Chef Keenan has prepared pan-seared elk medallions with a huckleberry reduction, served alongside roasted fingerling potatoes and sautéed wild mushrooms. We also have fresh steelhead trout, caught this morning, prepared with lemon butter and fresh herbs. "

"The elk sounds incredible," Joy said.

"I'll have the same," Andre agreed.

"Excellent choices. For wine, I'd suggest the Columbia Valley Syrah. Full-bodied with notes of blackberry and pepper that complement the elk beautifully."

Andre glanced at Joy, who nodded. "That sounds perfect."

"Wonderful. And to start?"

They decided on the lodge's famous wild mushroom bisque. Robert disappeared, leaving them in their bubble of candlelight. Andre’s phone buzzed with a text notification. He picked it up to find a message from his sister.

"Tommy wants me to promise to make up for missing story time tonight when he visits," he said, turning off his phone.

"I could show him the hives," Joy offered. "If you think it's safe, I mean. He might enjoy seeing how the bees work."

Andre smiled. "He'd love that. Kid's obsessed with bugs right now. Built an ant farm that lasted exactly three days before the ants staged a great escape. Megan found them in her sugar jar."

Joy laughed, the sound wrapping around him like honey.

Robert returned with the wine, presenting the bottle with quiet ceremony before pouring a taste for both of them.

The liquid was deep purple, almost black in the candlelight.

Andre swirled it, inhaling the complex aroma before taking a sip.

Warmth spread across his tongue, rich fruit followed by a subtle spice.

Joy tasted hers as well, nodding with approval. "That's lovely."

"Excellent," Andre agreed, and Robert filled both glasses.

Moments later, the bisque arrived. Steam rose, carrying the earthy scent of forest mushrooms. Andre lifted his spoon, blowing gently before taking the first taste.

The flavors exploded across his tongue. Porcini and chanterelle, rich cream, a hint of sherry. He closed his eyes, savoring the complexity.

"Oh, that's divine," Joy murmured, her own spoon pausing at her lips.

She took another spoonful of bisque, a drop clinging to her lower lip. Andre watched, mesmerized, as her tongue darted out to catch it.

"You must miss Portland," she said.

"I do sometimes. The Fate Mountain market is amazing, but Saturday market in Portland stretches for blocks," he said, setting down his spoon. "Every kind of food you could imagine. Thai, Ethiopian, fresh pasta made while you watch. I’ll have to take you sometime."

Robert appeared to clear their bowls. Within moments, their entrees arrived. The elk medallions glistened under the soft lighting, the huckleberry reduction pooling like liquid garnets. The aroma of rosemary and game made Andre's mouth water.

Andre watched Joy take the first bite, saw her eyes flutter closed in appreciation. His own first taste confirmed what her expression had already told him. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender enough to cut with a fork, the sweet-tart sauce complementing the richness.

"On clear days, I could see Fate Mountain from my apartment.” He took another bite, the flavors grounding him in the moment. "But now I’m in Fate Mountain. And Fate Mountain has you, and something Portland never did."

"What's that?"

"A small-town community."

Joy's expression softened. "That's what I love about it too. Though it has its drawbacks. Everyone knows everyone's business." A smile tugged at her lips. “In fact, I have some extremely embarrassing stories about your colleagues.”

She covered her mouth to keep herself from laughing. "When Gabriel was ten, he tried to arrest the mailman for suspicious behavior. He’d put toy handcuffs on everyone at family dinners. Poor Dad couldn't eat without his nephew trying to read him his rights for six months."

"At least he grew out of it," Andre said, savoring a forkful of wild mushrooms. Their earthy flavor paired perfectly with the elk.

"Eventually. But then Valeria decided to rehabilitate a raccoon she found." Joy shook her head at the memory, pausing to sip her wine. "Named him Bandit. He lived up to it by stealing Uncle Heath's lunch every single day for a week."

Andre countered with his sister's chemistry set disaster between bites of the incredible meal. How she'd nearly burned down the garage trying to create 'rainbow fire.'

"Would you care for dessert?" Robert asked as he cleared their plates.

"What do you recommend?" Joy asked, her hand finding Andre's across the table.

"Our pastry chef makes an exceptional lavender honey crème br?lée."

"That sounds perfect," Andre said.

“Let’s share,” Joy said, patting her stomach.

The dessert arrived with two spoons. Robert torched the sugar topping table-side, the caramelization crackling in the quiet dining room. The first crack of Joy's spoon through the glassy surface made Andre smile.

"Oh," she breathed after the first taste. "That's incredible."

The custard was silky, the lavender subtle, the honey adding depth without overwhelming sweetness. They traded bites, knees touching under the table, until the ramekin was scraped clean.

Robert appeared as they set down their spoons, his timing impeccable. "I trust everything was to your satisfaction?"

"Beyond satisfaction," Andre said, meaning it. The entire meal had been perfect—from the bisque to this final sweet note.

"Excellent. Everything has been taken care of as part of your lodge package." Robert smiled warmly. "Is there anything else I can bring you this evening?"

Andre glanced at Joy, who shook her head slightly. "Just our compliments to the chef."

"I'll be sure to pass those along." Robert inclined his head. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

As Robert moved to clear their dessert dishes, Andre slipped several bills from his wallet and tucked them beneath the base of his wine glass.

"Want to walk through the atrium?" Joy suggested as they left the restaurant, her hand warm in his. "I love all the tropical plants."

They walked across the lobby and entered the lodge’s famous atrium.

Glass soared overhead, the geometric panes catching the moonlight and casting it in fractured patterns across the stone path below.

The air hung thick and sweet with the scent of jasmine and plumeria, so different from the crisp pine outside.

A waterfall cascaded down the far wall, its constant murmur mixing with the calls of parrots overhead. Andre caught flashes of brilliant color—scarlet and azure and emerald—as the birds moved between towering palms and bird of paradise plants. Their raucous cries echoed in the enclosed space.

The path wound between massive ferns that brushed their shoulders with fronds as wide as dinner plates. Orchids clung to rock walls, their blooms impossibly delicate in whites and purples. Steam rose from hidden misters, creating pockets of fog that swirled around their ankles.

Joy's fingers tightened in his as she led him deeper into the manufactured jungle. The main path branched into smaller trails, each turn revealing new wonders. A banana tree heavy with green fruit. A pond where koi swam in lazy circles, their scales glinting gold and white in the underwater lights.

They found a bench tucked among the foliage, hidden from the main path by a screen of bamboo and elephant ears. The seat was made from a single slab of teak, polished smooth by countless other guests. Moss grew in the cracks between the flagstones at their feet, soft and impossibly green.

Andre was about to pull Joy closer when movement caught his eye. Through the screen of plants, he spotted a familiar figure pacing near the fountain. Ryan Holbrook held a phone pressed to his ear, his free hand gesturing sharply.

Andre's hand found Joy's, squeezing gently for silence. She followed his gaze, her body tensing as she recognized the man from the market. They sat frozen, barely breathing.

"Timeline's accelerated," Ryan said, his voice carrying clearly in the humid air.

Andre's bear stirred, hackles rising.

"The beekeeper didn’t seem interested, but that should change." Ryan turned slightly, and they ducked lower behind the ferns.

The call ended. Ryan shoved the phone in his pocket and strode toward the hotel bar, passing within feet of their hiding spot without noticing them. They waited until his footsteps faded completely before exhaling.

"I think he was talking about me,” Joy said.

Andre pulled her closer, protective instincts flaring. But he didn’t want to overreact like he had at the market. "He's probably mad you didn't call about his opportunities."

They made their way back to the suite in thoughtful silence. Once inside, Joy pulled out her phone, fingers flying across the screen.

"Pacific Northwest Investments has a website," she said, showing him the generic corporate page. "Vague mission statement, no real details about what they do."

"Could be legitimate," Andre said, though his bear remained skeptical. "Maybe he really is just aggressive about business."

Joy set the phone aside with a sigh. "We'll mention it to Heath tomorrow. Just to be safe."

"Agreed." Andre watched the tension in her shoulders, wanting to smooth it away.

"Enough about creepy businessmen," Joy declared, tugging him to her. Out the balcony window, the lake shimmered under the first stars, peaceful and eternal. "We have this whole suite to ourselves."