Makeshift Mate
Page 12
We were both laughing when his cell rang. He asked with his eyes if he could answer and I waved for him to go ahead. I knew his wife needed to be able to contact him.
“Okay, okay. It’s okay, honey. Just calm down…. Me? I am calm. Okay. Okay. I’m on my way.” Trevor’s gaze lifted to mine and widened. “I’m having a baby.”
Already up and striding around my desk, I grabbed Trevor’s arm and led him out of my office. “You need to get to the hospital. Is Kathleen already there?”
When he didn’t answer, I looked at him and he nodded. “Yes, her mother is driving her there.”
“Good.” I helped him with his coat, then led him to the elevators, where he just stood there, mumbling, “It’s time. It’s time.”
“I’ll have a car take you to the hospital,” I told him, then dialed the driver I used from time to time. He assured me he would be at the front entrance in less than two minutes. “Perfect. Thanks.”
The call had snapped Trever out of it and he turned to me suddenly. “No, no. I can drive.”
“No. You can’t.” I pointed my finger when he narrowed his eyes at me. “No arguing or you won’t have a job when you get back from your six-week vacation.”
“You wouldn’t fire me,” he said, but was smiling when he stepped into the elevator.
“You’re right. I’d be lost without you. Call me if you need anything. I’ll drop by and see Kathleen and the baby once the excitement settles.”
“Thanks, Isa,” Trevor said. “You’re the best boss.”
The elevator doors closed and I sighed with happiness for my employee and friend. One day I’d have that. Maybe I wouldn’t experience birth, but I would have a family. When the time was right, it would happen.
A few steps down the hallway and the elevator doors opened again. “Forget something?” I asked turning around.
“Yes, I forgot to tell you… I love you.”
Feet frozen to the tiled floor, all I could do was gape at the man stepping out of the elevator. Hair a mess, coat askew, and eyes blazing, he looked… amazing.
“You’re catching flies, Isa.”
I snapped my mouth shut, then opened it again. “You already told me you loved me.”
Holding my gaze, he nodded slowly. “I did,” he acknowledged. “But I should have told you again. And again. And again.”
Pulse racing, I asked, “What are you doing here, Locke?”
“Hoping like hell you’ll give me another chance.” He held out a bouquet of flowers.
“You didn’t want to talk to me before. What’s changed?”
His arm dropped as he looked to his left. People were milling through the hallways. A few sent us curious glances but kept going.
“Can we go somewhere private?” he asked.
“We’re fine here,” I said, crossing my arms. I had a feeling I knew why he was here. Having witnesses would keep me from breaking down when he broke my heart again.
“Okay…”
He stepped into my personal space, crushing the flowers between us. Then he looked at me, and in his eyes, I could see everything he felt for me. For the first time since I’d met him, he looked vulnerable, and it made my chest hurt.
“I’ve done a lot of not so great things in my life over the years. The worst of it I did to Sara. I’ve been a shitty dad. But I’m working on that. I promise. Sara and I are getting along better. And my Beta is grateful that I’m giving him more responsibility.”
His voice lowered into an almost whisper. “When I met you, I knew you were it for me. My wolf knew it, too.”
His gaze dipped to my lips, then he leaned forward and rubbed my nose with his. He nipped my lips and I gasped.
“I should have listened to you that day in the diner,” he said. “I was hurt and angry, but that doesn’t excuse my actions. You’re my mate.” He held my gaze until he became blurry with my unshed tears. “I should always listen before walking away. It’s a mistake I’ll never repeat. Tell me you forgive me.”
“I do forgive you, Locke, and I’m sorry. I should have—”
He cut me off with a kiss. A soft, slow kiss before trailing kisses across my temple, then jaw.
“I know you’re sorry,” he whispered. “I read your messages.”
My cheeks heated, but didn’t let his teasing distract me. “I knew I should have told you, then I thought it might be better to wait.”
“Shh. I trust you.”
“What about Robert? I had no idea he was the one you told me about. The one your father saved.”
Locke’s chest rose as he took a deep breath. “I know. And I also know Robert wasn’t at fault. My father did what anyone of us should have done in that situation, and I don’t blame your uncle. Not anymore. In time, I’m sure we’ll even be friends.”
Though my heart soared at both his words and his smile, I retreated a step, still worried this wasn’t real.
“Is this about the land?” I asked. “Because that was a gift.”
The minute Robert’s land had been turned over to me, I’d had half of it put into Locke’s name. The lawyers had bitched about me rushing the contracts. Something like property sales took longer than a week to finalize. But when money was no object, suddenly things got done.
Giving me an exacerbated look, Locke closed the distance between us again and gently cupped my cheek in his palm. “No. But Isa, you can’t just give me that land. It’s worth too much.”
“I don’t care about that,” I said.
“Well I do.” He growled.
I bit the inside of my lip so I would laugh. “Is it worth marriage?” I asked him.
His face pulled back as he blinked at me. “What?”
“I have a proposition for you. Marry me, and you can have half the land.”
I heard his intake of air and smiled. “You’re catching flies, Locke.”
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction. “A deal huh? I marry you and get five acres of land. What’s in it for you?”
I leaned into him and whispered, “You.”
With a growl, Locke had me in his arms, flowers forgotten at his feet. “Deal,” he said, then sealed it with a kiss that was both unrelenting and bursting with passion.
It felt right. We felt right. Like we were two puzzle pieces finally fitting together. We’d been made for each other. We were each other’s perfect match.
Epilogue
Locke
“Dad!”
I pounded the metal rod into the ground, before moving onto the next. One more and I would be finished.
“Dad!”
Last one. And Perfect. I stood up from my crouch and eyed my work, giving myself a pat on the back. I hadn’t set up a tent in years and finished two within the hour.
In the past, camping meant sleeping under the stars in my wolf form. That wasn’t as appealing to me this trip. Not when I had a roommate who looked as delicious as my wife sleeping next to me.
“Looks great, babe.”
I turned to Isa with a grin, my gaze moving over her lovely form. She wore short cut offs and a tank top that showed off my mark. My body heated and my cock stirred at the small, shiny scar. It meant she was mine and she would be mine forever.
When I’d mentioned that one of the benefits of my mark was a longer lifespan, she still hadn’t hesitated, stating, it was a relief to know she could keep me longer. I knew the feeling.
“And it only took you an hour.” The love in her eyes softened the sarcasm.
I growled at her and she laughed. She had a great laugh. When Isa laughed, it was like clouds parting on a rainy afternoon. My day got a whole lot brighter.
“Dad!”
“Oh sorry, June Bug. I got distracted. What’s up?”
Sara ran up to me, her chest heaving from her efforts. “I’m ready to go fishing.”
“Sure. I was hoping for a run, but we can fish first. Let me grab our stuff.”
Isa leaned over and plucked the fishing poles out of my ha
nd with a wink. My mouth turned dry, and my palms itched to touch her.
“Later,” she whispered, then for Sara’s ears, she said, “I’ll carry the gear down to the river. You go run. Both of you.”
I gave Isa a quick, hard kiss, ignoring Sara’s exaggerated gagging behind me. Reluctantly, I pulled away from the love of my life and turned to my other love.
“Race you!” I called, then sprinted toward the trees, stripping and changing into my wolf at the same time.
“Not fair!” Sara called.
She howled and I looked back to see her small wolf shape running after me. Tongue rolling out, my wolf smiled, then our eyes shifted to behind our daughter.
Our mate stood in the distance, watching, and waiting. We would return. We would always return for her.
Next in the Alpha Singles Series by C.E. Black:
LION EYES
“I’ll take no for an answer. But I’ll do my damnedest to make sure she wants to say yes.”
Lion-shifter quarterback Shaw Bremer has everything a guy could want. He gets paid to play his favorite sport and he never lacks in female company. His nickname is “Catnip” for a reason. But these kittens can’t keep his attention. His thoughts keep turning to the one woman he shouldn’t be thinking about—Grace St-Fleur. She’s everything he wants. She’s exquisite, graceful, beautiful… So, what’s the problem? Grace is his best friend’s little sister. Oh, and she hates his guts.
When Shaw finds out Grace joined an online dating site called Alpha Singles, he leaps at the chance to be anonymous for the first time in years. This is it. The last straw. No more hiding. No more arguing. It’s time for Shaw to show Grace exactly what she’s been missing.
Coming Spring/Summer 2018
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About the Author
Maggie Award winning author C.E. Black self-published her first book in 2011 and has since published several novels, novellas, and short stories in the Paranormal Romance genre. Though steamy romance, hunky heroes, and feisty heroines are C.E.’s specialty, she enjoys surprising her readers with action-filled plots and exciting twists that make for a fast-paced read.
If you enjoy heart pounding romance with a preternatural twist, stop by her website and sign up for her newsletter so you never miss an update.
Connect Online:
https://www.ceblack.org
Also by C.E. Black
Alpha Division
Shifted Temptations
Shifted Perceptions
A Shifted Wedding
Shifted Obsessions
Shifted Illusions (Coming soon)
Shifted Undercover
Shifted Under Construction
Meet Your Alpha/Alpha Singles
How To Meet Your Alpha
Makeshift Mate
Lion Eyes (Coming Soon)
Jane Thornton Trilogy
Hunger
Starved
Sated (Coming Soon)
Enduring Kiss Series
Enduring Kiss
The Perfect Mate
Second Chance
Embraced
Standalones
Her Panther for Hire
Behind The Mask
Cursed Desires
The Wolf Who Stole Christmas
Short Stories, Anthologies, & Boxed Sets
A Dragon’s Gift
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