Page 7 of The Bear’s Second Chance Mate (Bear Creek Forever: Thornberg Vineyard #5)

Stanley scooped up the white rabbit and placed him gently in Oli’s lap. The rabbit snuggled in without fuss. Oli beamed, hands steady as he stroked Herbert’s soft back.

June sat beside them, her shoulder nearly brushing Stanley’s. And she was once again acutely aware of him. As if there were an invisible thread binding them together.

“Have you found Herbert’s owners yet?” Oli asked, his voice unusually steady as he continued petting the rabbit.

Stanley shook his head. “Not yet. I’ve posted in the local lost-and-found group.”

June watched her son’s face as he processed this information. She could almost see the wheels turning in his mind, building toward the inevitable question.

“If no one wants him, could we take him home?” Oli looked up at her with those solemn eyes that always made her heart catch. “Please, Mom? I’d take care of him every day.”

Part of her wanted to say yes immediately. Not just because it was obvious how much this would mean to Oli, but also because she owed it to the rabbit to give him a home.

After all, if he had not gotten lost, she would never have met Stanley.

Surely that was fate’s way of saying they were meant to be together.

“I think we need to give it a bit more time, sweetheart,” she whispered, reaching out to stroke Herbert’s ears. The fur was impossibly soft beneath her fingertips.

“But if he doesn’t find his owners?” Oli asked.

“We’ll see,” June replied. “A pet is a big responsibility.”

“Hey,” Stanley said as Oli tensed, and his foot tapped on the floor. “I forgot I promised you could meet Clive. Shall we put Herbert away and go see him?”

Oli curled his fingers into the rabbit’s fur and then leaned forward and pressed his lips to the rabbit’s head. June was so proud of Oli as he kept control of his emotions and handed Herbert back to Stanley.

Stanley carefully returned Herbert to his enclosure.

“Clive’s this way, at the back of the store. He’s a bit shy with strangers, but I think he’ll take to you.”

June watched as Oli followed Stanley, his footsteps lighter than she’d seen in weeks. The transformation in her son whenever he was near these animals was nothing short of miraculous.

They stopped at a glass terrarium in a quieter corner. Inside, a bearded dragon lounged under a heat lamp, its scaly body patterned in shades of tan and orange.

“This is Clive,” Stanley said, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. “He’s about three years old.”

Oli pressed close to the glass. “He looks like a dinosaur.”

“A lot of people think that,” Stanley said with a chuckle. “Reptiles are among the oldest animals on Earth.”

June stood just behind them, watching as the quiet wonder spread across her son’s face. The usual tension in his shoulders had melted away.

“Would you like to feed him?” Stanley asked, already reaching for a small tub.

Oli nodded eagerly.

“These are mealworms,” Stanley explained, holding up the container. “Clive’s favorite snack.”

He handed Oli a pair of tweezers and gave a calm, simple demonstration.

“Hold it gently. Just enough so Clive sees it.”

Oli mimicked him with surprising steadiness, his focus laser-sharp as he lifted a wriggling worm.

Stanley opened the terrarium a crack. “Nice and slow,” he murmured.

Oli’s hand moved forward.

Clive’s eyes locked onto the movement, and then, in a flash, his tongue darted out. The worm vanished.

“I did it!” Oli whispered, beaming.

“You sure did,” Stanley said warmly. “Want to try another?”

Oli didn’t hesitate, already reaching again. And June stood still, struck by the transformation in her son. She’d rarely seen him this engaged for so long, this completely at ease.

“That’s why they’re called bearded dragons,” Stanley pointed out gently as Clive’s chin puffed out.

“Does it hurt him?” Oli asked, concern flickering.

“Not at all. It’s just a way of showing off.”

The bell above the shop door jingled. A voice called out from the front, “Heya, Stan! You got those special filters in yet?”

Stanley gave Oli a quick pat on the shoulder.

“You did great. Maybe next time, we can try handling him.”

Oli’s smile dimmed slightly, but he nodded and set the tweezers down with care.

“We should probably go anyway,” June said softly, touching Oli’s back. “Time to cook dinner.”

“Of course,” Stanley said, his eyes meeting hers with the same warm intensity that made her stomach flutter.

“I’ll get the door for you.”

He hesitated before heading down the aisle and opening the door, setting the little bell jingling.

“Can we come again?” Oli asked.

“Anytime,” Stanley replied with a smile.

“Tomorrow?” Oli asked hopefully.

“We’ll figure out a time that suits us all,” June said, guiding Oli out of the door.

“Thank you,” she said as she paused in the doorway. “For everything. This meant a lot.”

His smile deepened, but his eyes held something deeper. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you both came by.”

He hesitated again. His fingers tightened on the door frame.

“Would you…sometime…maybe…want to grab a coffee?”

Her heart gave a reckless little leap.

Then he added, “I’d really love your advice on how to make the shop more welcoming for kids like Oli. You seem to really understand what works.”

The leap crashed back down to earth.

“Sure,” she said, masking her disappointment with a polite smile. “That would be nice.”

As she walked to the car, she finally accepted what Barb had been trying to tell her.

She wasn’t his mate.

And thinking otherwise would only lead to heartbreak.