by R. E. Butler
China giggled at the memory. She’d practically had to drag Demi away from the water tower.
“I’m so glad my bestie found her heart-match. I hope you know how amazing she is, Oz. She’s the best female I know.” Demi lifted her glass a little higher. “To China and Oz.”
The pride repeated the words and then clinked glasses in toast.
Angel stood and said, “I promised Oz I wouldn’t tell any stories about him from his childhood because he doesn’t want me scaring away his new bride. So I won’t tell you about the time we paid a group of acapella singers to follow the school principal around for a whole weekend singing showtunes. And I won’t tell you about the time we snuck out after curfew and ran amok with a group of wolf shifters. Or about the time we accidentally defaced a local farmer’s barn with spray paint and the words ‘O & A Rock.’”
“I knew that was you!” Teresa said. The pride laughed and China shook her head at her mate with a grin. He was definitely trouble, but she’d take him however she could get him. She was crazy about him.
“Ah crap, I got myself in trouble,” Angel said with a chuckle. “China, it sounds like you’ve got lots of practice keeping the people you love safe, just know that you’ll have your hands full with Oz. You couldn’t ask for a better mate, and I’m so glad you two found each other. To Oz and China!”
Cheers arose a second time and glasses were clinked.
They rose to their feet and kissed, and the pride clinked their glasses with silverware to keep the kiss going. When it finally ended, China was seeing stars and her lioness was purring so loudly she couldn’t really hear anything but her happy noises.
“Love you sweetheart,” he whispered against her lips.
“I love you too.”
* * *
After the meal—which was a buffet that held all their favorite foods—they cut the cake, a three-tiered white confection stuffed with strawberries and decorated with delicate peach-colored flowers. A plastic lion male and female sat atop the cake.
Once they’d fed each other some cake, they started the dances. She and Oz danced with each other first and then their parents. Oz took Teresa for a spin, and then China’s mom too, while she danced with her dad.
“It’s been a great day,” Lee said. “How do you feel?”
“I’m on cloud nine. It’s the best day ever. I can’t believe I’m married.”
“I can’t either. In my head you’re still a toddler, holding my hand when we cross the street.”
She laughed. “Well, I’m all grown up now.”
“You sure are. I love you, honey. Your mom and I are so very proud of the female you’ve become.”
She took her hand from his shoulder and fanned her face. “Gah, you’re going to make me cry.”
“Sorry.” He kissed her cheek. “Not sorry.”
The song ended and she and Oz met again on the makeshift dance floor, Rafe inviting the pride to join them as the band launched into another song.
The party passed quickly, and when she was sure they’d been there long enough, she gave a tug to Oz’s hand. “Let’s go, mate.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
They said their goodbyes to their family and friends, promising to meet for breakfast at nine with the family and bridal party. Angel and Teresa were staying at a local bed and breakfast, so they were sticking around until breakfast.
“Welcome to the family,” Vikki said, giving him a hug. “I have an idea for some new kitchen cabinets when you two get back from your honeymoon.”
“We’re not going on a honeymoon,” China said with a frown. “Not really.”
They’d just planned to take a week off from everything and lock themselves in the house.
“Oh?” Lee said. He pulled a thick envelope from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to Oz. “First class tickets to Orlando, five-star hotel stay for four nights and five days, and plenty of cash to do whatever you’d like, from the theme parks to the aquarium.”
“Oh, wow!” She squealed in laughter and hugged her parents. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome,” Vikki said. “The flight leaves at noon tomorrow.”
“Love you guys,” she said.
Oz looked stunned, but he still managed to say thanks to her family. Well, it was his family now too. “I’ll get on the cabinets as soon as we get back.”
“Just cabinets,” Lee said. “No full kitchen remodel, right?”
“We’ll see,” Vikki said.
“Uh oh,” Lee said. “Get out of here before she spends all our money.”
The pride cheered as she and Oz walked out of the tent, following them to the front of the house where someone—she was guessing Angel—had covered Oz’s truck in balloons and streamers, and painted “Just Married and Mated” on the back window.
“Holy hell, it looks like a clown threw up on my truck!”
He got the door for her, and she climbed in and sat down. “I love it.”
“He’s your family now too. Your idiot brother.”
“I heard that,” Angel said.
“I meant for you to.” Oz turned and shut the door, then bumped fists with Angel.
As they pulled away from the house, Oz laid on the horn and they both waved to the pride.
“How do you feel, Mrs. Krane?” Oz asked.
“Like the luckiest female on the planet. You?”
“I was just thinking the same thing. You’re super lucky.”
She barked out a laugh.
“I’m the lucky one, China. You’re the light in my darkness and the other half of my heart.”
“Aw, Oz,” she said. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“It’s true.”
“We’re both lucky, then. Lucky and happy.”
“With a wide-open future.”
“And a paid-for honeymoon. Can you believe it?”
“I can’t. Your parents are awesome.”
“They’re yours now too.”
She leaned on his shoulder as excitement wove through her. It was their wedding night, and she was officially married and mated to the most amazing male she’d ever known. She couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
Chapter Fifteen
*One Month Later*
China got out of her car at her parents’ house and shut the door. Her mom was on the porch, watering a large pot of burgundy and gold mums.
“Hi, sweetie.”
“Hi, Mom. The flowers look nice.”
“Thanks. They were your grandma’s favorite, so I make sure to plant some each fall. Your dad just got me the planter, it’s a wine barrel.”
“Pretty cool.”
“I did find the book you asked for,” she said as she finished draining the water from the can. “I found some other things too. Come on in.”
“Thanks for checking.”
“Of course.”
She gave her mom a kiss on the cheek and then followed her inside the quaint ranch she’d grown up in. Two weeks earlier, she’d been asked to cater an eightieth birthday party for a pride member at the end of the month. She’d never catered a big party before, and she was excited to give it a try. Oz promised to help her with cooking and setting up at the party, and Demi and her mates had offered to help if she needed it too.
For sure she was going to use the band’s panel van to carry the food to the event, which was taking place at the pride member’s home. China would be cooking a buffet meal for twenty-three people, by far the most people she’d ever cooked for at one time.
“How are things going with yours and Oz’s business?” her mom asked as she set the watering can on the kitchen counter.
“Great,” China said. “I just finished a custom portrait for Demi’s parents.”
“You did?” her mom asked, brows raised.
“It was from a photo of the two of them in their shifts. They had it professionally taken twenty years ago, and the photo was pretty faded so they wanted a painting
of it. It was lots of fun.”
“That’s so neat.”
“Titus and Duke hired Oz to refinish the counters and tables in the bar, so he’s starting that project in a few days. It’ll keep him busy.” And her too, since she was going to be helping.
“It’s so wonderful that you can help with his business.”
“I love it. I never thought I’d get a chance to paint for a living, but it’s awesome. And the catering job is cool too.”
Her mom chuckled. “I’m so happy for you both. He’s a good male. I’m glad you found each other.”
“Me too.”
Clapping her hands together, she said, “All right, I found three things for you. One is my Aunt Talia’s cookbook, which is entirely handwritten. The writing is pretty faded, but you should be able to make out several recipes. Even if you can’t, though, it’s neat to see something so old.”
“Wow, so she’d be my great-aunt, then.”
“Yep. She died before you were born, but she would have loved you. She adored cooking and was the family baker. She made pies and cakes right up until she died; it was a passion for her.”
“Must be hereditary.”
“Indeed,” her mom said. She touched the thick cookbook with a red gingham cover. “This one was Mom’s and was given to her when she mated my father. She never really liked following recipes to the letter, she liked to experiment, so there are her handwritten notes all over the place.”
That was the book China had asked her mom to find. She’d used it as a kid when she was first learning to cook with Grandma Alice, and when she’d passed away, her mom had kept the book for China for safekeeping. When China had accepted the catering job, she knew just the recipe to use—one in that cookbook.
“It’s perfect,” China said.
Her mom touched the top of a faded hat box. “I found this in the attic the other day when I was looking for my winter clothes. I totally forgot about it.”
China lifted the lid. The interior was stuffed with handwritten cards, scraps of paper, and newspaper clippings with recipes. “Oh wow, this is great!”
“I thought you’d enjoy it. Fair warning, your Grandma Eugenia was known to clip any and all recipes she came across whether she thought she’d make them or not, so there’s no telling what’s in there.”
“I can’t wait to go through everything.” She gave her mom a hug. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Where are you off to now?”
“To Tails to make a tasting menu for the party.” She’d asked Titus and Duke if she could use the commercial kitchen in the bar to cook for the party and they’d happily agreed, so long as she shared the food.
China gathered the two books and her mom carried the hatbox. “What’s on the menu?”
“The party’s theme is a luau, because her favorite place to go on vacation is Hawaii. I picked Grandma Alice’s pineapple glazed ham, baked sweet potatoes, and pineapple coleslaw. I’ve got mango salsa with fresh chips and fruit skewers for appetizers, and for dessert she asked for cupcakes, and I found a recipe online for ones that are flavored like pina coladas and decorated with little pineapple wedges.”
“Sounds adorable. The ham will be a big hit, I’m sure. It’s delicious.”
“That’s why I wanted to make the recipe,” China said. “I always loved it.”
“Let me know how the tasting goes,” she said.
China opened her car door and set the books on the passenger seat, then took the box of recipes from her mom. Giving her another hug, she thanked her.
“I’ll let you know. Thanks for everything.”
“You’re very welcome, honey.”
They said goodbye and China got into the car, started the engine, and backed out of her parents’ drive. She waved at her mom and drove off, heading for Tails. She had a couple hours of cooking ahead of her. The birthday girl, her daughter, and her daughter’s mate were meeting at Tails at four to taste the meal.
As excitement bloomed within her, she used the navigation screen to call Oz.
“Hey baby,” he said. “Did you get what you need from your mom?”
“You bet. Plus, she gave me a box of my dad’s mom’s recipes too, which is too cool. I have to stop at the grocery and get the stuff I need for the ham. Do you want anything?”
“Nah. Just a plate of your awesome food when you’re finished. The question is, do you need help?”
“Nope, I’ve got it covered.”
“I’m finishing applying a coat of varnish to your mom’s cabinets and then I’ll be over to the bar to lend a hand if you need one. I know you’ve got it, though.”
“Thanks. I’m so excited.”
“Me too. You’ll be great.”
They talked for a few minutes longer until she parked at the grocery store, and then she needed to end the call so she could look up the recipe and get the ingredients.
“I’ll see you in an hour or so,” he said.
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
She ended the call and picked up her grandma’s recipe book, turning the pages until she found the pineapple glazed ham recipe. She could’ve looked online and probably found a similar one, but she wanted to use the recipe she’d grown up eating because she knew it was great.
Using her phone, she double checked the other items she needed to finish the meal, and then hurried into the grocery. A half hour later, she was in the kitchen of Tails, the oven preheating for the ham and cupcakes, her stand mixer working on the batter, and several pineapples on the counter ready to be cut.
Titus opened the door to the kitchen. “Hey, I thought I heard someone in the kitchen. How’s it going?”
“Really great. I’m excited.”
“I’d offer to help, but unless you want me to burn everything, I’d recommend against saying yes.”
She laughed. “Thanks, I’m good. Oz is going to come when he’s finished working on my mom’s cabinets.”
“Very cool. So Duke and I talked, and we’d like to offer to let you use the kitchen whenever you need it.”
“Really?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice.
“Sure. The only thing we really use it for is for the deep fryer, and we’ve got ovens and a six-burner stove that rarely get used.”
“Would you want me to pay for the use?”
“Nah. I mean, if you start booking a ton of catering jobs and need to use it a lot then we’ll talk, but for now, if you could spare some leftovers for me, Duke, and Ree whenever you do cater, that would be fantastic.”
“I can totally do that. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. Good luck today.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m heading up to the office, so holler if you need me.”
“Will do.”
She turned back to the counter and lifted the large knife to cut one of the pineapples. She couldn’t believe her good luck. She was going to be able to take on catering jobs! Holy shit. It was too good to be true.
She loved working with Oz and getting to paint what was in her heart, but she loved catering too. She was getting all her dreams coming true in one fell swoop. She couldn’t wait to talk to Oz about it.
* * *
Oz picked up a piece of pineapple that China had pushed aside because it wasn’t a perfect triangle and popped it into his mouth. “Really?” he asked, after hearing the offer Titus had made.
“Yep. What do you think?”
“It’s awesome. I’m happy to help whenever I’m able.”
“The furniture and painting is my main focus, but it’s exciting to get to take catering jobs too.”
He snagged her around the waist and pulled her away from the counter where she was decorating cupcakes.
He kissed her neck and she melted against him with sigh. “We don’t have time for this. They’re going to be here in a half hour.”
“That’s plenty of time to make you scream my name,” he whispered a
gainst her neck, dragging his teeth lightly up her throat.
She shivered, her hands flexing on his shoulders. “Not fair. You’re too sexy.”
“Hey, don’t grope each other in the kitchen,” Titus said as he walked in. “I think that’s against the health code.”
“How’s it going?” Oz asked as he reluctantly released his sweetheart.
“Not bad. China tell you about our offer?”
“She did. It’s really nice of you two.”
“Our pleasure.”
“I love how things are changing and expanding in the pride. In the last year, we’ve added a hair salon with Barron and Mercy, got a new teacher at the school with Annie, and now we’ve got a furniture store, art gallery, and caterer between you two. It’s amazing.”
“It’s pretty neat how things are changing around here,” China said. She glanced at her watch. “I need to get back to decorating. I’ll have a plate ready for you in about fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll be back, trust me.” Titus smiled at them and then left.
Oz put his arm around her again and she turned to face him. She rested her hands on his hips. “He said no groping.”
Oz laughed. “I’m not going to grope you. Much.” He gave her a quick kiss and then said, “I’m just teasing. I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything. If we hadn’t met in the park that night when you tried to take Demi’s place, I’d still be in that awful pride led by that lunatic, trying to get my business off the ground and generally being miserable. You changed my life that day. Everything I have now is because of you. My life is a million times better because you’re by my side.”
She gave him a warm smile, her eyes glittering with happiness. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Oz. I love you.”
