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You know exactly why, his bear said.

He did. He had been standing in the middle of his own kitchen thinking about a trail full of lanterns and Mara’s hands inside his. He had held them and waited, and she had been the one to step closer. Did she have any idea what that had meant to him? She didn’t know what he was, or what she was to him, and she had chosen him anyway. And that kiss.

More than one, his bear reminded him.

“Is that coffee for me, or are you keeping it?”

Gabe looked down at the mug in his hand. He had no memory of pouring it. He carried it across to the table by the window, where Joel had stayed on after the others left for work and spread out a laptop, two folders, and enough loose paper to make Gabe nervous.

I think the lists breed overnight, Gabe’s bear said.

I think you might be right, Gabe replied.

“This is getting worse, Joel.” Gabe pointed in the general direction of the mess of pages.

“It’s under control.”

“It isn’t.”

“No. It isn’t.” Joel took the mug without looking up, drank some, and looked down at the papers with dismay.

“What can I do?” Gabe asked.

But before Joel had a chance to answer, his bear sat bolt upright. She’s coming.

Gabe didn’t need to ask who as he turned to face the window, waiting for the first glimpse of her car. He was getting used to the sense of her now. This morning, everything about it felt different.

A kiss will do that to a man, his bear observed.

“So this is what it looks like,” Joel said, his lists forgotten as he leaned back in his chair, coffee in his hands, and watched his friend.

“You have no idea,” Gabe murmured, stepping toward the door as Mara’s car appeared down the street.

“No, I do not,” Joel said. “But I sure want to.”

“One day, my friend.” Gabe glanced down at Joel and placed his hand on his shoulder. “One day.”

“So does this mean I’m about to meet her?” Joel asked and turned in his chair as the bell over the bakery door rang.

“It does.”

Mara stepped inside wearing her jacket over a soft sweater, her hair pulled back loosely. She carried a small bag over one shoulder, and when she saw him, her face brightened.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Gabe reminded himself to breathe.

Neither of them seemed quite sure what came next. Last night had ended with a kiss goodbye outside the bakery beneath the stars.

This was daylight, in the bakery, with Joel at the table by the window, pretending, very badly, not to watch them.

Mara smiled. That decided it.

Gabe went to her. She met him halfway. The kiss was brief, warm, and completely different from the ones beneath the lanterns. No hesitation. No question. Just Mara’s hand pressed lightly against his chest while his rested on her arm.

When he drew back, she looked up at him. “Hi,” she said, softer this time.

“Hi.”