by Ellis Leigh
I couldn’t deal with that just yet, though. I still hadn’t told her she was my mate. I needed to, wanted to especially in that moment—with her all warm and sated, damn-near boneless as she lay on top of me with my cock still inside her. Yeah, I wanted to tell her everything, but I’d seen shifters dealing with human mates over the years. The shifter always seemed to end up chasing the skittish human at some point, and some never caught them. I didn’t want to chase Coco. Well, I did. In fact, the idea of her happily running naked through the forest with me behind her appealed to me in many, many ways. But that likely wouldn’t happen right away. She’d panic, pull away, and my wolf and I would be crushed. I’d spend every waking moment trying to win her back, but there was always a chance that she’d leave for good. That she wouldn’t feel the same pull to me that I felt to her, and I’d lose her.
Not fucking happening.
“I need to shower, but my legs won’t work,” Coco said, her hair tickling my chest. Reminding me that I had her—even if only for right then, I had her. I just needed to figure out how to keep her.
I chuckled and grabbed her by the thighs before sitting up. “C’mon, my heart. I’ll help you stand up so you can get ready for the day.”
Not that I was thrilled she was going to wash off my scent. I’d just have to make sure she was covered in it again before she left. Such a hardship.
One shower, an abbreviated blow job that nearly had my wolf claws breaking through my skin, and a quick fuck against the tile walls, and we were ready to start our day. Well, mostly ready.
“Why are you doing that?” Coco swatted at my hip, laughing as she tried to move away from me. We stood at the elevator bank in the hallway, already outside of the little bubble of happiness we’d created in my room. I wanted to drag her back down the hall again, but she needed to work. I wasn’t letting her move out of my arms, though. I fully intended to make sure every male in town knew she was mine, starting with all the shifters. That meant making sure she smelled like me.
“I don’t want to stop touching you.” I held her against my chest, rubbing my body on hers as she laughed. I couldn’t help myself—she was so delicious and perfect and mine. I’d do anything to keep her that way.
Coco spun in my arms, looking up at me with a radiant smile on her face. Happy. My mate was truly happy. “Are you trying to make me smell like you?
I froze, unable to answer her. She was human—how did she know about scenting? “Yes, I am. Is that a problem?”
She shook her head before rising up to brush her lips against mine. “I think it’s adorable that you want to let the other males know to stay away.”
Adorable. Not what I was going for, but I’d take it. “You’re mine, Coco. I don’t share.”
Her smile fell a little, but I was already in motion. Already pressing my lips to hers and slicking my tongue between them to capture her mouth. Already losing what little control I had around her. I had her pressed against the wall, my hand gripping her thigh and my cock trapped between us as I kissed her as if I were starving for her. And maybe I was. Maybe I needed to tell her how much.
No more fucking maybes.
“Coco,” I said as I broke the kiss, resting my forehead against hers. “I need you to know—”
“Dad?”
My kid had the worst fucking timing in the world.
“Good morning, Nico.” I tore myself away from Coco, turning to face the man I was only beginning to know and the woman he was soon to marry. “Good morning to you as well, Fiona. Ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight?”
But Nico wasn’t looking at me. His eyes had locked on Coco, the surprise on his face turning my blood cold.
“Nico—”
“Wait… Coco, you’re dating my dad?”
My wolf responded to his tone, to the volume with which he spoke to our mate. To the way she trembled against my side. My growl rumbled through the hall, but Nico ignored me. The ignorance of a wolf shifter raised only in the human world.
“She’s dating my dad,” he said to Fiona, shaking his head. “I mean, man…talk about sloppy seconds.”
There was no holding back. I grabbed Nico by the collar and rushed forward, slamming his back against the wall when I reached it. My growl turned to a snarl, and my teeth lengthened. Son or not, he had no right to embarrass my girl that way. Not happening. “You are talking about my mate, son. I would choose my words carefully if I were you.”
A door opened down the hall, and I looked up just in time to see Coco disappear into the stairwell. Running. From me. Just as I’d feared she would at some point. Fuck.
“Magnus, please put him down,” Fiona said, sounding bored and tired. She’d grown up with shifters—she knew better than to make any sort of comments about another’s mate. She also didn’t deserve to have my son’s past sexual history thrown in her face.
“You have not earned the mate the fates have given you, and I seriously doubt you ever will,” I said, a growl rolling through my voice. “And you certainly have not earned the attention of mine.”
I set him back on his feet as he stuttered and coughed.
“Jesus, Dad. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Fiona’s eye-roll might as well have been my own. “You only say that when you get caught being a jackass. You owe your father and Coco an apology.” She gave me a small smile. “Congratulations on finding your mate. She seems like a really nice girl.”
I grunted, still staring at my son. The man I didn’t know well enough yet. The one I’d found out was part of me by accident. The one I was only starting to build a relationship with.
The man who likely knew more about my mate than I did. “Tell me everything about Coco and your relationship. Now.”
7
Coco
His dad. Magnus was Nico’s dad. I couldn’t wrap my brain all the way around that one. Or wouldn’t—it was totally embarrassing to have been caught in the hallway after sleeping with Magnus by his son whom I’d also slept with. Two generations…linked to me through sex.
I was going to puke.
I hadn’t gone to work, instead, texting Ginger that I wasn’t coming in. Not until later—after the storefront had closed. I’d finish the damn macarons for tonight from my own kitchen if I had to, but there was no way I was facing the town or the possibility of seeing either Magnus or Nico. I couldn’t.
And Magnus…I’d really felt something for him. Something deep down in my soul. What we’d done hadn’t just been sex, but that didn’t matter anymore. I’d slept with his son. He’d never speak to me again. And even if he did, I couldn’t be with him. Not after that. I couldn’t come between the two men. I couldn’t have Magnus because I’d had Nico.
Fate was a cruel, cruel bitch.
“You had better be dressed,” Ginger hollered, storming into my bedroom with a frown on her pretty face. “What is this? What’s happening? Why are we hiding? What did that man do?”
Madeline crept in after her, much quieter than our brash sister. Looking more concerned than mad. “What happened, Coco?”
I grabbed a pillow and shoved it over my face, unable to look at them. “He’s Nico’s dad.”
Ginger snatched the pillow away, climbing onto the mattress to hover over me. “Try that without this thing in the way.”
I swallowed hard and closed my eyes for just a moment. “Magnus is Nico’s dad.”
Silence. Neither woman said a word for a solid ten seconds as they stared at me. It was Madeline who broke it, surprisingly.
“That explains so much.”
I bolted upright. “How does that explain anything other than that I slept with father and son?”
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “It just does. Nico was sort of a jerk, and I never understood what you saw in him. But Magnus—he’s kind and caring and absolutely perfect for you. Maybe there’s a part of Magnus in Nico that was what attracted you to him.”
Ginger snorted. “Half his DNA is from Magnus—that’s mo
re than a part.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, trying to cover myself with the quilt but having to fight Ginger for it. “It’s done. Over. Nico can run off and marry Fiona, and Magnus can go back to…wherever he’s from. And me? I can sit here and be humiliated for the rest of my life. And celibate. Maybe I should join a nunnery.”
Madeline scrunched her nose. “We’re not Catholic.”
“And you look horrible in hats.” Ginger sat down beside me with a huff. “Look, so you slept with father and son. It’s not like you knew they were related or you did it intentionally. It’s nothing more than a weird coincidence. You’ll forget about it in no time.”
But I didn’t want to forget—if I did, that would mean I’d be forgetting about Magnus. About the way he had made me feel last night. About how much my heart beat just for him. The very thought broke something inside of me.
“I really, really liked him,” I whispered as the first tears began to fall.
Madeline settled in beside me and patted my hair, offering comfort in her own quiet way. “We know, Coco.”
No promises. No empty words like he’ll come back or maybe things will work out…because they both knew how unlikely that was. And so did I.
“I can’t face them. If they come to the bakery, I won’t—”
A sob ripped from my chest, a picture of Magnus looking at me with disgust slamming into my head. No, I couldn’t face them. Couldn’t deal with Nico’s mocking or Magnus’ disgust. None of it. I simply didn’t have it in me to stand strong right then.
“No one is saying you have to face them at all, sweetie,” Ginger said as she grabbed my hand. “I wouldn’t even ask you to come to work, but we need you. The rehearsal dinner is tonight, and there’s no way we can get the macarons done without you.”
“Please,” Madeline added. “I can’t make the filling taste like you do, and Ginger has no patience for almond flour anything.”
“It’s true. Almond flour is bullshit and hates me. All my macarons crack and dry out worse than some old spinster’s vag.” Ginger inched closer, cocking her head and looking serious. “We need you at the bakery or else we’ll fail at this job. You can hide in the back—no customer service required. But please come make the cookies.”
I had two pleading sisters and a heart that wouldn’t stop aching no matter what. Maybe being busy would do me some good. “Fine. But no customers—none. I don’t care who it is.”
“Pinkie swear,” Ginger said, holding out her pinkie as we’d done since we were kids. The three of us joined fingers, dissolving into giggles as we tried to hold on to one another.
Maybe this day wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
Four hours, three hundred macarons, and way too much red food coloring later, and I had to admit—my day hadn’t been too bad. Save for being caught post-sex by my date’s son whom I’d also slept with and the fact that my heart was completely shattered from the idea of never seeing Magnus again. But, hey—I had my iPod blaring in my ears, and all the trays of pink macarons looked amazing. What more could I ask for?
Yes, that was actually the saddest thing I’d ever thought in my entire life. Positive thoughts and all that.
Misty popped back to check on me a few times, but my sisters shooed her away to the customer area. They were taking their promise of me not seeing anyone seriously—and that anyone included our foxy customer service person, apparently. That was fine with me—I wasn’t ready to explain what had happened.
Of course, no plan ever went perfectly. Especially not when dealing with a wily fox. At one point, as I was lining up pink macarons to place into the delivery boxes, a hand appeared in front of my face and ripped out my earbuds.
“Hey,” I squeaked.
Misty stood on the other side of the prep counter looking almost livid. “What the hell happened?”
I glanced around, not seeing my sisters. Of course.
“The duo of fox blockers is dealing with a wedding cake crisis,” she said, looking almost smug. “You and I are alone, and you’re going to tell me what happened before I assume the worst and call for my family to hunt down that dog.”
I loved her protectiveness, I really did, but it was so misplaced. And I so wasn’t telling her anything. I couldn’t. “Nothing happened. I don’t know what you mean.”
The glare Misty shot me practically sizzled. “Oh, really? You have no idea what might have made you hide out like some sort of felon on the run from the law? Or what caused your sisters to block me from the back of the bakery because, and I quote, ‘Coco can’t deal with life right now.’”
Okay, that was a little much. “I can deal with life.”
“But not me. And not Magnus.”
My heart lurched at his name. “There’s nothing to deal with there.”
If her eyebrow rise could talk, it would be saying “Bitch, please.”
“Really? Then why has he shown up at our door five times today, looking like a man whose heart’s been shattered? Why does he keep coming back even after I told him you won’t see him?”
Won’t…couldn’t was the better word. I couldn’t face him after that morning. Couldn’t deal with seeing the disgust on his face. Couldn’t deal with having to listen to him end whatever it was we had. I simply couldn’t. “He’ll leave town after the wedding. Everything will settle back down.”
Her face—always so expressive—went slack. “Leave town.”
“Yes, leave town. Look, Misty—I know things are a little weird today, but I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to get these cookies for tonight’s rehearsal dinner finished so I can go home and drown myself in a hot bath, a bottle of Malbec, and maybe some sort of ridiculously sugary ice cream. Is that too much to ask?”
“You have no idea,” she said with a shake of her head. “He won’t stop coming to see you, and he’s certainly not just leaving town. I’m going to kill him for not telling you.”
“Telling me what?”
She pursed her lips. “It’s not my place to say.”
“Then skip it altogether because it doesn’t matter. I screwed up. Either that or your beloved fates have a really sick sense of humor. Either way, it’s over. There’s no coming back from…what happened.”
We stood staring at one another, silent…battling with our eyes. I refused to give in, and she refused to back down. At least until the ding of the bell announcing a customer chimed through the shop. Pulling the boss card might have been a low blow, but I took it.
“I think you’re needed up front.”
Misty scowled but turned, walking away without another word. At least not until she made it to the doors separating the kitchen from the sales floor.
“He won’t stop, he won’t leave, and that pain gnawing at your chest will only get worse. You don’t want to tell me what happened…fine. But you will eventually. When you’re ready, I’ll still be here for you even if you are being a bit of a jerk right now.”
I crumpled the second the door swooshed closed behind her. I was being a jerk. But I was hurt and embarrassed, and the last thing I wanted to do was relive this morning over and over again. Better to forget—to push everything out of my mind and let myself fall into my work.
Misty was right about one thing—someday, I’d tell her what happened. But she was wrong too. No way would Magnus keep coming after me. He had an entire life outside of Kinship Cove to live. He wouldn’t give that up for me.
Especially not after finding out about Nico and me.
But I couldn’t focus on all that. Instead, I slipped my earbuds back in and cranked up the volume. I still had cookies to finish. A job to do. The perfect distraction from the shambles my life had become.
Macarons to the rescue.
8
Coco
The day dragged by, the macaron-building only keeping my mind off the mess of my life for a few hours. Once done, I had nothing to do but wallow. My head and heart refused to let me ignore how much I missed Magnus, which was sil
ly. I’d only known him two days—not even a full forty-eight hours yet. I should have been able to forget about him and deal with the lingering humiliation of being caught performing the walk of shame. By my current partner’s son. Who was also my ex-boyfriend.
I mean, really…that really seemed to be where my attention should sit.
Instead, all I could think about was the fact that Magnus had come to the bakery looking for me. That he had wanted to talk to me after everything. That he hadn’t stopped showing up and trying to reach me. Well, he hadn’t stopped until it was time for the rehearsal dinner to start. Of course.
I sat in the kitchen of the bakery with the lights dimmed and the space silent. My sisters had already left for the night, along with Misty. They’d delivered the macarons and groom’s cake—a sculptured confection of a wolf howling, of course—to the banquet facility where the rehearsal would be held. They’d probably made it home hours ago. Me? I’d stayed at the bakery, claiming a need to clean up. I’d really just wanted a little time to wallow before I had to deal with my empty house.
I was a full-time wallower, apparently.
The ringing of the kitchen phone interrupted the quiet I’d been sitting in. I almost didn’t answer it—we were closed, after all—but not a lot of people had that particular number. Customers called the phone out front. It could have been one of my sisters needing something, which was the only reason I even considered picking it up. Still, I looked at the phone sideways as I approached it. I’d never dreaded a hunk of plastic more.
Deep breath. “Cake-ily Ever After Bakery, this is Coco. How can I help you?”
“Oh, thank the fates. Coco, it’s Misty.”
She sounded harried. That couldn’t be good. “What’s wrong?”
“The groom’s cake isn’t here.”
