Page 11 of Luke: The Bears

“I would do whatever it takes for my mate.”

Colt snorted. “Okay, but imagine if you didn’t have a bear in your subconscious pointing you to your forever-girl? You might balk at changing what you’ve arranged. At least at first. She went home with you, she gave you her number. You clearly got under her skin but just don’t try to storm into her life and upend all the things she’s set up. Be there for her. Show up. Show her who you are and that you’re worth sticking around for.”

Luke mused on that while Colt picked up the tablet. After a few minutes, he let himself stop thinking so hard about how upset he was that Valley was still clearly sticking with her plans and instead thought about how he could prove that he was her forever-guy.

Because truthfully, he wasn’t going to let her go without him. If she wanted to move two hours away for her career, and staying here was not an option for her, then he’d pack his shit and follow her.

She was definitely worth whatever he needed to do to be with her.

He just had to get her to see that he was the guy for her.

A couple hours later, he finally got a text back from her.

Hey. I slept ok. Been busy packing.

She didn’t say anything about his dinner invitation, but she didn’t say no, and that was something.

He grabbed his keys and got in the truck, heading across the bridge to the Mill Creek Diner. Ma, the owner, greeted him when he walked in.

“What can I get for you?” she asked as he sat at the counter.

“Can I get two lunch specials to go?”

Her brows lifted. “You got it.”

She got him a soda while he waited, and he scrolled aimlessly on his phone until the food was done. He took the bags and got back in the truck. He drove to the farm where she lived above a stand-alone garage. A sprawling farmhouse was nearby, and there were several outbuildings, and signs at the gravel driveway for two businesses: Wild Sage Studio and Old Soul Furniture.

He parked in front of the garage and texted her.

I brought lunch. If you’re too busy, I can leave it on the landing.

He stared up at the door, where he’d left her last night after a kiss on the cheek that had felt oddly impersonal after all they’d shared in his bedroom.

The door opened and she stepped out, resting her hands on the wooden railing.

He got out of his truck.

“What kind of lunch?” she asked, looking adorable in cutoffs and a tank, her long hair in a loose braid over her shoulder.

“From the diner. Turkey club with chips.”

“Oh, I do like Ma’s sandwiches.” She walked back into the apartment, then came out with two bottles of water. She walked down the steps, barefoot. “There’s a picnic table next to the garage. Did you bring lunch for yourself, too?”

“I did.”

She gave him a curious look. “Because you’re hungry or because you hoped I’d ask you to join me?”

“Both.”

“Fair enough.”

He carried the bags to the picnic table. He heard something jingle and an old hound dog waddled over, his tags clinking together. “That’s Kevin.”

He scratched the dog’s head and Kevin grumbled happily. “Hey, Kevin.”

“My parents rescued him last year after our last rescue passed away. He loves people, but he also has a sixth sense about food. And he will always sit by the weakest link.”

Luke took a seat across from her. Kevin sat next to him, resting his chin on his knee. “Dude,” he said to the dog.