Chapter 5

DILLON

I stare down into her confused aqua eyes and fight the urge to kiss her until we're both too tired to fight this pull between us.

"I need some time to absorb all this. I'm not sure I'm ready to jump into a relationship that's going to last for all eternity." She bites her juicy bottom lip and shrugs. My inner polar bear urges me to hurry things along, but I force the fucker to shut up and let me do all the wooing. Making sure Emilia chooses me for her eternal mate is too important to fuck up by rushing.

It might kill me, but I'll do whatever it takes to convince her we're meant to be. "I'll give you time to adjust." While my inner bear goes slowly insane, I silently add, "Why don't we do this? You take the job as my office manager, and we can take things slow while we get to know each other. Could you possibly start right away and make sure it's right for you, and then we'll work on getting your belongings moved here?" I can't imagine how I'll be able to let her go if she wants to leave, but I'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

"That sounds reasonable." Emilia smiles up at me, and I barely resist the urge to pull her into my arms.

The next day, Emilia moves into the spare apartment while I make plans for our future. Keeping her safe and happy has become my top priority.

Early summer morning air in Glacier Pass carries a chilly bite. We have snow most of the year and only enjoy a few weeks of slightly warmer weather each summer.

Right now, the mornings start off brisk and slowly heat up a little bit throughout the day. My bear metabolism ensures I'm always comfortable, but I'm worried about my mate, so I have a fire burning inside the office fireplace to keep her comfortable.

Today is Emilia's first day as my office manager, and the sense of excitement is palpable. My inner polar bear paces restlessly, thrilled to have her close, while my human side is more cautious. I don't want to rush things, but my bear urges me to do just that—to close the distance, to touch her, to seal our bond.

Gianna blabbed all about my mate to my family, and they're dying to meet her, but I put my foot down and insisted they wait until Emilia has had time to settle in before they descend on us. The men took my order in stride while the women in the family have been chomping at the bit to come over and meet her.

While waiting for Emilia to arrive, I busy myself with routine tasks, organizing files, and going over the schedule. The cozy office has large windows that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. It's my happy place, but today it feels more alive, charged with the prospect of Emilia's presence.

The door swings open, and Emilia steps in, bringing with her the scents of vanilla and lavender that calms my soul while waking my cock the hell up. Her cheeks are flushed from the cool morning air, her eyes bright with determination. Seeing her framed by the rustic charm of the office makes my heart skip a beat while my bear roars, "mine," over and over in my mind.

"Good morning," I say, my voice sounding steadier than I feel.

"Good morning to you." Her smile is warm, and I feel that familiar tug in my chest.

"How did you sleep, little goddess?" I hand her the extra-large mocha latte I had delivered for her from my sister's coffee shop.

"I slept like the dead, but I can't get moving without my caffeine so I really appreciate this. Thank you." Her stunning blue eyes light up as that dimple appears on her cheek.

"A little birdy told me you love those." I wink down at her.

"I love your sister." She chuckles and takes a huge sip of the hot coffee.

"I'm glad you've become fast friends with Gianna." I can't resist the urge to lean over and place a soft kiss on her temple. Before I'm tempted to rush things, I change course. "Why don't I show you around and get you settled in?"

"I'd like that," she replies eagerly, shrugging off her jacket and hanging it on the rack by the door.

I walk her through the small office, showing her where everything is. "This is your desk," I say, leading her to the spot near the window that catches the best morning light. It's strategically placed to make her feel comfortable and welcome, and I'm pleased to see her appreciation as she looks it over.

"Perfect," she says, running her hand over the polished wood.

We move to the back, where the storage room holds our supplies and archives. "This back here is where we keep the older files and all our extra materials. Feel free to reorganize as you see fit," I explain, noting the urge to tidy things up just to impress her.

"I think this will work well," she says thoughtfully. "I've got a few ideas already on how to streamline things."

We return to the main office, and she takes a seat at her desk, her face animated with the excitement of starting anew. "I've got a few tasks to get us started," I say, handing her a neatly written list. "Nothing too intense for your first day. Just an overview of what we're working on."

"Great, thank you," she says, scanning the list. "It won't take me too long to get set up and running."

"I know," I reply, leaning against the edge of her desk.

She nods, her attention focused on the tasks at hand. I watch her with my heart expanding in my chest. My bear growls possessively, wanting to close the space between us, but I clamp down on the impulse. Patience is crucial. I need her to feel comfortable here, and that starts with me giving her time to adjust.

We spend the next few hours going over various details, settling into a rhythm. She's a quick learner, adapting seamlessly to the workflow, and I can already see the positive impact she's going to have.

As noon approaches, I realize we've been working non-stop. "I think it's time for a lunch break," I suggest. "There's a great place downtown I want to take you to."

Her eyes light up. "I'd love to."

We bundle up and step outside into the warmer air. Glacier Pass is stunning with its emerald green valleys and the snow-covered mountains off in the distance, standing tall and regal against the clear blue sky. With Emilia beside me, everything seems even more vibrant.

We reach the small diner that serves as a community hub of sorts. The warm, rustic interior is inviting, and I lead her to a corner booth that offers a view of the busy streets. The waitress recognizes me and comes over with a friendly smile, handing Emilia a menu.

"I already know what this big lug is going to order," Jolene tells Emilia before turning to me. "I heard you'd hired a new employee." The fucking town grapevine has been working overtime.

"That's right," I tell her. "This is Emilia, my mate and office manager." I want every motherfucker in town to know my mate is off-limits. Telling the town gossip is the best way to get this done efficiently.

Emilia takes my announcement in stride and runs with it. "I'll have a double cheeseburger and fries, please."

"I'll get that order right in." The waitress nods and heads off, leaving us in the cozy booth.

"This place has the best cheeseburgers," I assure her.

Her blue eyes light up. "I freaking love cheeseburgers."

As we wait for our food, the conversation naturally shifts away from work. "So, how do you like Glacier Pass so far?" I ask, wanting to make sure my mate is comfortable.

"It's wonderful," she admits. "It's so different from the city. More peaceful, slower-paced. People are friendlier, too. It feels like I'm where I'm supposed to be."

Her words echo what I feel, and I almost fist-bump the air as relief cuts through me. It takes every ounce of control to keep my bear from reacting. "I'm glad to hear that. I know it's a big change."

The food arrives and we eat in comfortable silence for a while, savoring each bite.

"Thank you for giving me the time and space to settle in. It means a lot."

"You don't have to thank me, little goddess. I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy."

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, I'm acutely aware of the chemistry flowing between us. My polar bear pushes forward again, urging me to close the distance, but I hold back, not wanting to scare her off. There's a lot riding on my patience.

We finish lunch and head back to the office. The afternoon is filled with more work, but it flows easily, Emilia taking on each task with enthusiasm. By the end of the day, we've covered a lot of ground and I can see she's settling in well.

"Well, that's a wrap for today," I say finally. "You did great. This place already feels more organized with you here."

"Thank you," she replies, a pleased look on her face. "I'm really enjoying this. Can't wait to see what we accomplish."

"We'll make a good team," I say, feeling the truth of my words.

As she gathers her things to leave, that familiar urge rises again, stronger this time. I want to kiss her, to show her how much she means to me already. But I push it down, reminding myself that she needs time to adjust, to find her footing here before anything else.

"Same time tomorrow?" I ask as I walk her down the stairs and around the garage to her apartment.

"Absolutely," she says with a smile that makes my heart skip a beat.

When we reach her door, she leans up to place a soft kiss on my cheek, and my bear stretches under my skin, urging me to take it further. I ignore the fucker and smile down at my mate. "I'll see you tomorrow." I'm tempted to ask her to have dinner with me but decide she needs more time before I push too hard.

"Bye." She steps in the door, and I wait until I hear the lock turn before heading back to my home. My bear grumbles in dissatisfaction, but I know this is the right way to go. One step at a time. She's here now, and that's a start. The rest will happen when it's meant to.

As I prepare to go for my evening run, I feel a deep sense of contentment. Emilia's presence has brought a new energy to this place and to my life. I'm excited for what the future holds for us.

For now, patience is key. I'll let her settle in, support her, and build trust. When the time is right, I'll make my move. Until then, I'm content to let my human side run the show. I have a feeling it's only a matter of time before everything falls into place.