Well, that could have gone better, Nero’s bear said as they stood at the edge of the main room, watching the people mill around.
And it could have gone worse, Nero replied. He’d sensed that Sophie had wanted to say yes to the vineyard visit, but something held her back. The same something that gave her a haunted look when he’d proposed to her.
Fake proposed, his bear corrected, but they both knew there was nothing fake about the way he felt about her.
So what were they to do?
Nero looked up as Sophie came back into the main room, her gaze fixed on the stall where they had first met. However, she was soon approached by a couple who chatted animatedly with her.
Nero smiled as he watched Sophie’s face light up. She obviously enjoyed talking to her fans, and there were plenty of them. He suspected that more than a few visitors to the wedding expo were here to meet Sophie and had no interest in the other wedding vendors.
“Penny for them.” Finn came to join him.
Nero smiled sadly. “My thoughts are worth more than a penny,” he whispered. “But that’s all they are. Just thoughts.”
Across the room, Finn glanced toward Sophie’s stall. She was now surrounded by people, laughing and chatting as she answered questions. “She’s certainly the draw I hoped she’d be,” he said, his tone tinged with admiration.
“Why did you invite her?” Nero asked, his curiosity finally surfacing.
“Oh, that was Cassia’s idea,” Finn replied, turning back to him. “When Julius asked me to find a celebrity to give the expo some star talent, Cassia suggested Sophie. She follows her on Instagram, you know?”
“I did not know,” Nero said, raising an eyebrow.
Finn grinned. “So you have Cassia to thank for meeting your mate, too.”
“I will thank her next time I see her,” Nero said.
“So,” Finn prompted gently, “what’s the plan?”
Nero blinked, still dazed by everything that had happened. “I don’t know.”
Finn arched a brow. “You’d better think of something quickly. Sophie’s only here for a couple of days. Unless you plan on chasing her halfway across the country, you’ve got until tomorrow to convince her to stay.”
“Tomorrow,” Nero echoed. A cold knot formed in his stomach. That didn’t give him much time.
Not much time at all , his bear agreed.
So think , the bear growled.
I’m open to ideas , Nero shot back silently.
Just then, an elderly man stepped up beside them, interrupting the quiet panic stirring inside Nero. “Nero, I was hoping I might catch you here.”
“Norman, hi.” Nero straightened, caught off guard. “I didn’t expect to see you at the wedding expo.”
Norman had been married to his mate, Hilda, for nearly fifty years. The two were still as in love as they had been the day they met. Solid. Steady. The kind of love Nero had quietly hoped for his entire life.
Maybe he’s a fan of Sophie’s, his bear suggested dryly.
“I came to see you,” Norman said, reaching into the pocket of his coat. “Pete told me about the ring you were making for him.”
“Ah.” Nero’s gut twisted with guilt.
I hope Pete didn’t send Norman to scold us for screwing things up, Nero’s bear remarked.
“I’ve got a favor to ask.” He pulled out a small velvet pouch and gently placed it in Nero’s palm. “I know you’re busy, but I need this repaired. It’s kind of urgent.”
Nero opened the pouch and carefully removed a delicate emerald bracelet. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting the fine craftsmanship. Two of the emeralds were missing, and the clasp had snapped cleanly in half.
“It’s exquisite,” Nero murmured, running his thumb along the gold filigree. “Artisan work.”
“Hilda thought she’d lost it,” Norman said, his voice catching with emotion. “She was heartbroken. But thankfully, I managed to find it again…though as you can see, it didn’t escape damage.”
“It means a lot to her?” Nero asked gently.
Norman nodded, his eyes growing misty. “My wedding gift to her. The emeralds reminded me of her eyes…I gave it to her on our honeymoon. She’s mortified over losing it, and she’d be so upset if she knew it was damaged.
Our anniversary is in a few of days, and I’d like to surprise her by giving it back. Good as new.”
“I see,” Nero said, peering more closely at the emerald settings. “It’s doable. I’ll need to see if I’ve got stones to match to replace the missing ones. If not, I’ll have to source some, which might take some time. But the clasp is easily fixed.”
“I don’t care how much it costs,” Norman said, his voice suddenly tight with urgency. “Just tell me what you need. I want her to have it back.”
“It’s not the cost,” Nero reassured him, carefully wrapping the bracelet again.
“It’s finding a match for the emeralds..
.” He looked over Norman’s shoulder to Sophie.
He could understand how much this meant to Norman.
The bracelet wasn’t just jewelry; it was a symbol of their enduring love.
“And they’ll need to be vintage cut to maintain the integrity of the piece,” Nero explained, turning the bracelet to examine it from all angles.
“The setting is delicate work, but I can have it ready for your anniversary.”
Don’t make a promise you cannot keep, his bear warned him.
“That would mean the world to me,” Norman said, relief washing over his weathered face. “Hilda was heartbroken when she found she’d lost it. It took a few days, but my bear sniffed it out. We found it wedged down a storm drain. I didn’t think I’d be able to get it out, but thankfully I did.”
Nero smiled, feeling a connection to the elderly bear shifter. This was why he loved his work—preserving treasured pieces that carried decades of memories and love.
“I’ll get it back to you as soon as I can,” Nero said, carefully placing the bracelet in his pocket. “I’m sure I have some odd pieces of jewelry that I can use to match them perfectly.”
Norman broke into a relieved smile. “Thank you, son. Hilda will be over the moon if I can give it back to her on our anniversary.”
“I understand completely,” Nero said, his gaze drifting back to Sophie across the room.
Norman followed his line of sight, his eyes twinkling with recognition. “Ah, I see you’ve found your mate at last.”
Nero startled. “How did you…”
“After fifty years with Hilda, I know that look anywhere.” Norman chuckled softly. “The way you keep glancing at her, like she’s the sun and you can’t help but turn toward her light.”
Nero felt warmth creeping up his neck. “That obvious, huh?”
“Only to those who’ve experienced it themselves.” Norman patted his shoulder.
“It’s just things haven’t exactly gone smoothly,” Nero admitted.
“Ah, but it’s meant to be,” Norman said. “So, you’ll figure out how to smooth things out.” Norman nodded to Finn and walked away, leaving Nero to ponder his words.
“He’s right, you know,” Finn said after a moment. “You’re good at fixing broken things. It’s what you do.”
Nero ran a hand through his hair. “But people aren’t jewelry, Finn. You can’t just replace missing pieces and solder them back together.”
“No, but you can show them they’re worth the effort.” Finn squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “Look, I’ve got to check on the other vendors. But I have faith in you. You’ll work something out.”
Great, now we have two deadlines, Nero said.
As Finn walked away, Nero’s bear rumbled with determination. Then we’d better come up with a plan.
Yes, but what? Nero wondered, watching as Sophie laughed at something one of her fans said. Her smile transformed her face, lighting up her eyes in a way that made his heart stutter.
Sophie’s brand was all about simplicity. Keeping things uncomplicated and authentic. Maybe that’s exactly what he needed to offer her. Not grand gestures or elaborate schemes, but something genuine. Something real.
Something from the heart.
A piece of jewelry, his bear suggested. Designed from the heart.
“For the woman who holds our heart,” Nero murmured in agreement.
Nero glanced once more at Sophie across the crowded room, her hands animatedly describing something to an enraptured audience. The pull toward her was almost physical, like gravity itself was drawing him into her orbit.
But Norman and Hilda’s love story deserved his attention, too. Perhaps there was wisdom in retreat for now. He needed to regroup and create a plan worthy of his mate. He couldn’t rush this and risk pushing her further away.
Sometimes the path forward means taking a step back first, his bear said.
Yes, we’re not retreating, and we are certainly not surrendering, Nero agreed.
Decision made, Nero turned toward the exit. Each step away from Sophie felt wrong, but he forced himself to continue. The weight of Norman’s bracelet in his pocket kept him focused.
As he reached the doorway, the fine hairs on his neck stood up. Sophie was watching him. He could feel her gaze like a physical touch.
He didn’t turn. Couldn’t risk it, even though every instinct screamed at him to look back, to meet her eyes one last time. However, Nero knew better. One glance would be his undoing.
Somehow, he got himself out of the hotel and into the parking lot.
The sunlight was blinding as it glinted off windshields as he made his steady way to his car.
Each step felt heavier than the last, like walking through mountain snow in the dead of winter.
His bear felt it too and growled in protest.
We’re doing the right thing, Nero assured his other half, though the words rang hollow even to his own ears.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Nero placed both hands on the steering wheel and took a steadying breath. The leather was warm beneath his palms, heated by the afternoon sun streaming through the windshield. He started the engine, its familiar purr doing little to comfort him.
The passenger seat beside him remained conspicuously empty. His mate should be here, by his side.
One day, his bear promised with unexpected gentleness. One day soon.
Nero nodded, throat tight as he drove out of the parking lot and away from the woman who had turned his world upside down in the span of a single afternoon.
But he held onto the thought that this was the beginning. Not the end.