Philip could barely focus.
How could he when his mate was so close?
His mate. It all seemed so…
Unexpected, his bear offered.
Yes, Philip agreed. He thought he was coming here to meet up with his brothers to discuss their mom and dad’s anniversary celebrations, and instead…
We’ve created our own anniversary, his bear remarked. It’s the day we met our mate.
This is certainly a day we will never forget, Philip agreed.
And it’s all thanks to Finn, his bear said happily.
Philip chuckled to himself, thinking about the misdirected text. Finn was definitely going to earn a reputation once people found out he had made another accidental match.
Maybe he can work the same magic for our other brothers, his bear suggested.
And himself, Philip agreed.
But now we need to focus on how we tell Elsbeth that she is ours, his bear said.
Philip flexed his fingers against his thigh, grounding himself. We can’t risk rushing this and scaring her.
But she is our mate. How can she be scared of us? his bear asked.
Patience, Philip said, glancing sideways at Elsbeth. It was going to take all his self-control not to simply reach out and pull her close. Every fiber of his being wanted to hold her in his arms, to breathe in her scent and kiss her lips.
Oh, how he wanted to kiss her lips…
“Philip?” Elsbeth’s voice broke through his thoughts. Her brow was furrowed with concern as she studied his face. “Are you sure there isn’t somewhere else you need to be…”
There is nowhere else, his bear roared in his head. Ever!
He cleared his throat. “No, I’m fine. Just...picturing…the future.”
Tell her she is our future, his bear insisted.
“I mean, how the farm will look when your dreams have had a chance to…bloom.” He winced inwardly. It was as if his brain had short-circuited.
“How about we walk the property?” Finn suggested, smothering a smile. His brother knew exactly what was going on here. He’d known the moment he arrived at the Old Larson place and saw Philip and Elsbeth together. “Nothing like seeing things in person to understand them better.”
Philip caught the subtle weight behind Finn’s words. This wasn’t just about learning the lay of the land, it was about learning about their mate: who she was and what she wanted. Philip nodded gratefully.
“That’s a great idea,” Philip managed, rising to his feet, careful not to move too quickly. The last thing he wanted was to appear overeager, despite the way his bear was practically pawing at his insides, desperate to claim their mate.
“That sounds great. I’d love to show you both the rest of the property.” Elsbeth seemed hesitant as she gazed out across the overgrown fields. “Although it’s still rough. I mean, you can barely tell what’s what yet.”
“All things start out a little rough around the edges. But we’re here to help you smooth them out.” Finn smiled. There was no hint of mockery in it and Philip was glad his brother was here. Finn always had a knack for knowing exactly what to say to set others at ease.
Elsbeth exhaled and nodded. “All right. Let’s walk.”
She led them down a narrow dirt path, pushing aside tall grass that brushed against their legs. Philip followed close behind, acutely aware of every movement she made, every breath she took. His bear rumbled contentedly inside him, reveling in their proximity.
“I’m thinking of planting sunflowers along this fence line,” Elsbeth said, gesturing toward an old wooden fence that had seen better days. “They’ll create a natural border and attract pollinators for the other flowers.”
“Smart,” Philip said, finding his voice. “Sunflowers also help detoxify soil. But I expect you know that.”
Elsbeth shook her head as she turned to him. “I didn’t, actually. That’s fascinating.”
“They can pull heavy metals and other contaminants from the earth,” he continued, warming to the subject. Talking about plants was safe ground, familiar territory. “They’re quite remarkable.”
Like you, his bear said, practically drooling over their mate.
“This area over here,” Elsbeth said, pointing to a sheltered patch nestled against a gentle slope, “I’m thinking of dedicating to more delicate blooms. Flowers that need a bit more protection from the elements.”
Philip nodded, his expert eye assessing the location. “Good choice. The hill will block the worst of the wind, and you’ll get morning sun but afternoon shade.” He crouched down, running his fingers through the soil again. The simple act of touching the earth centered him and helped him focus despite her intoxicating nearness.
“Although, I can’t finalize my planting plan until we have set out the drainage,” Elsbeth said, directing her focus to Finn.
Philip experienced a twinge of jealousy but pushed it aside—after all, that was why they were here. For Finn to give his expert advice and draw up the plans Elsbeth needed to help turn her dreams into reality.
“I can design something efficient,” Finn replied, pulling out a small notebook from his back pocket. “Something that works with the natural contours of the land rather than against them.”
Philip watched Elsbeth’s face light up as she and Finn discussed technical details. She was passionate and knowledgeable, her hands moving animatedly as she described her vision. Every gesture, every smile, every thoughtful pause only confirmed what his bear already knew…she was perfect.
Philip rose from his crouched position, brushing the soil from his hands. “What’s your water source looking like?”
“There’s an old well,” Elsbeth said, pointing toward a spot near the barn. “And I’ve been told there’s a natural spring somewhere on the property, though I haven’t located it yet.”
A spring? Philip’s interest was piqued immediately. His bear stirred with excitement, too.
“If we can find that spring,” Philip said, his voice taking on a quiet intensity, “it could change everything for your irrigation plans.”
Elsbeth tilted her head, studying him with such intensity it made his heart stutter. “How do we find it?”
We, his bear said, practically swooning.
“It shouldn’t be too hard,” Philip assured her. “And it would be worth the effort. The spring that feeds the vineyard is what helps to make our wines so successful.”
Finn nodded. “It’s true.” His phone buzzed loudly in his pocket. “Excuse me.”
“No problem,” Elsbeth said as she wrapped her arms around herself and stared out across the fields.
“I need to take this,” he said, and turned back toward the house, already answering the call.
Philip and Elsbeth were left alone, and for a moment the silence stretched out awkwardly between them.
Say something, his bear told him.
Like what? Philip asked.
Anything, his bear replied.
“You made a good choice,” he said, nodding toward the land. “It’s good ground. It’ll give back to you if you give it time.”
Elsbeth smiled faintly. “I hope so. It’s scary sometimes. Starting over.”
He understood that. Deeply.
“Nothing worth doing isn’t a little scary,” he said. “You’re brave for trying.”
Their eyes locked, and something heavy, sweet, and unspoken passed between them.
Philip shifted first, bending down to brush the tops of some nearby wildflowers.
“These,” he said, “are bachelor’s buttons.”
You should pick one and put it in your buttonhole, Philip’s bear said.
I don’t have a buttonhole, Philip told his bear.
“Cornflowers,” Elsbeth crouched beside him, running her fingers through the blue petals. “I’ve never heard them called bachelor’s buttons before.” Her fingers were so close to his, he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
He turned his hand slightly, brushing against hers. It was barely a touch. But it lit every nerve ending in his body on fire.
She didn’t pull away.
“It’s an old folk tale,” Philip murmured, barely trusting himself to speak. “It’s said that if a bachelor picks a flower and puts it in his buttonhole and it stays fresh throughout the day, the love he seeks is returned.”
Elsbeth’s eyes widened slightly, her fingers still hovering near his. “And if it wilts?”
“Then he must keep looking,” Philip said, not daring to look at her in case he gave himself away. In case she could see the longing in his eyes.
“I wonder if it works for flower farmers, too,” she said with a small smile, breaking the tension.
Philip chuckled. “I suppose you could test the theory.”
It would last for eternity, like our love, his bear said happily.
“It would be a waste of a flower.” She brushed her fingers across the petals, then straightened. “I’m not looking for love right now.”
She might not be looking, but it’s found her anyway, Philip’s bear said.
“Yarrow,” Philip said abruptly, pointing to another plant. “For healing.”
“I need some of that,” Elsbeth said but did not elaborate. She took a couple of steps away from him and crouched down. “Forget-me-nots. For remembrance.” As she stared at the small blue flowers, her shoulders hunched, he could sense her sadness. He longed to gather her in his arms and hold her close, to kiss her forehead and promise he would chase her pain away.
“Snapdragons,” Philip said, trying to lighten the mood. “Deception.”
Elsbeth sniffed loudly and brushed her hand across her eyes as she stood up and came to join him. “Well, that’s not encouraging. Are you deceiving me, Philip?”
“Me?” he asked, his voice coming out a little high. “Never. Maybe it just means things aren’t always what they seem.”
She gave him a considering look. “Maybe.”
Every second he spent near her made it harder to think straight.
“All I know…” Philip said, then cleared his throat. “Is that wildflowers have their own wisdom. They grow where they please, or where they are needed—even when no one plants them.”
“Like dreams,” she murmured. “They find a way, don’t they?” She looked out across the farm with such hope in her eyes it made his heart ache.
“They do,” Philip said, wishing he could know the source of her sorrow. Wishing he could make her dreams come true.
Because she had made his dreams come true just by being here.
“I should check on Finn,” Elsbeth said suddenly, breaking the spell.
Philip nodded, not trusting himself to speak. As they made their way back toward the house, he caught a whiff of her scent and his bear practically purred with delight. She smelled like sunshine and flowers and something uniquely Elsbeth that he couldn’t quite name…but he would recognize it instantly for the rest of his life.
Finn was waiting for them by the porch, his phone in his hand. “Sorry about that,” he said, flashing an apologetic smile. But Philip sensed his brother was not sorry at all. Finn had used the phone call as an excuse to leave Philip alone with his mate.
“No problem,” Elsbeth said. “Shall we go inside and go over the plans?”
“Yes,” Finn replied and shoved his phone in his pocket.
“I am going to get going,” Philip said, although he wanted nothing more than to go inside the house and never leave. But he was a distraction. It was time to leave Elsbeth alone with Finn so she could get the professional advice she needed. It was the best thing for her, even if every step away from the house would be torture. “I have some jobs that need doing before sunset.”
“Oh.” Was that disappointment in her voice? Or was he just hearing what he wanted to hear? “Well, thank you for all your help today. And for...identifying the wildflowers.”
“My pleasure,” Philip said, meaning it more than she could possibly know.
Finn shot him a look that clearly said, What are you doing?
“I’ll walk you to your truck,” Finn said pointedly.
“I’ll wait inside,” Elsbeth said. “And get those sketches ready.” She disappeared into the farmhouse, leaving the brothers alone.
“Why don’t you stay?” Finn hissed as soon as she was out of earshot. “Philip, she’s your mate. You can’t just leave. Whatever jobs need doing can wait. This is more important.”
“I know. Trust me, I know.” Philip ran a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on the farmhouse door where Elsbeth had disappeared. “But she doesn’t know that yet. And she just said she’s not looking for love.”
“That’s what she said. But she doesn’t know what’s happening between you two,” Finn argued, keeping his voice low. “And she won’t unless you tell her.”
His bear growled in agreement, but Philip was resolute. “I need to take this slowly. She’s starting a new life here, chasing her dreams. The last thing she needs is some bear shifter telling her they’re destined to be together.”
“So your plan is to what? Just walk away?” Finn looked incredulous.
“No,” Philip sighed. “My plan is to give her space. Let her get to know me naturally. Build something real before I spring the whole ‘we’re mates’ thing on her.”
Finn’s expression softened. “That’s actually...surprisingly thoughtful.”
“Don’t sound so shocked,” Philip muttered as they reached his truck. With a sigh, Philip glanced back at the farmhouse, his heart tugging him toward it with an almost physical force. “Tell her I’ll be back tomorrow. Say I want to look for that spring.”
Finn nodded. “Will do. And Philip?”
“Yeah?”
“This whole found my mate thing…” Finn grinned. “It suits you.”