“Why didn’t you call me?” I demand.
The idea she struggled and could have been hurt bothers me deeply.
“I managed,” she says. “You were entertaining guests.”
A growl comes up from my chest.
“It’s okay, big guy. I’m fine.” She pats my thigh.
I grab her hand and give her a look that shows my disapproval, but I also like her hand there, so I squeeze it affectionately and keep it there under mine.
“This is Riley, my nephew, and that’s Bailey, a good friend and part of our pack,” Cat says.
“Hi!” Bailey greets. “I run the library and maintain the pack archives. It’s great to meet you.”
“Hi,” Ivy gives Bailey a big smile. “Hello. Thanks for your help, Riley,” she says, giving Riley a nod.
“I’m glad we were able to get you to Aunt Cat quickly,” Riley says softly.
The coffee machine beeps three times and Bailey jumps up. “How does everyone take their coffee, other than Ivy? I’ve already got those orders.”
“I’ve never had it,” I say.
“Make Ty’s black first and see if he likes it,” Riley suggests. “That’s how I take it. These girls tend to take it like it’s dessert.” He makes a face of disgust.
“I like the sound of that,” I tell him. “Make mine like dessert, Bailey Blackwood.”
Bailey smirks and pulls cups down out of the cabinet.
Riley snickers.
“You might want to wash those. I’ve only gotten half his dishes washed and nothing up on that top shelf,” Ivy calls over.
31
Ivy
The coffee is amazing, and Ty is taking it all in. He was in a great mood before they got here, being all playful and sweet with his usual can’t-keep-his-hands-off-me edge. He’s listening to everything they say, and I could swear he’s cataloguing everything about them. Paying extra-close attention. I can only imagine that this is all strange for him, but I do think it’d be really good if he built a relationship with them.
Part of me thinks this because I know that it’ll be easier on him if I’m gone for him to have people. I don’t want to think of him simply going into the woods and a lonely wolf forever because there’s nothing else for him. When I let myself think that, it hurts. I don’t know how I’ve gotten so attached so quickly.
Maybe because he has. It’s hard not to respond to this kind of devoted 24/7 attention from someone.
I like Bailey so far. Cat is fantastic. And I’m sure there are many more of them in the pack. It’s a small village but they’ve got hundreds of people, apparently. Cat mentioned in passing yesterday at her clinic before Ty rushed us out of there that she took care of everyone as the town healer and that she had a couple hundred patients of all ages from newborns to the village’s oldest resident who is 102 years old.
Am I thinking about having them in my life long-term, too? Am I thinking about staying? It’s crazy. I don’t love the idea of being out here in no man’s land with barely any creature comforts, but I really am getting kinda lost in Tyson. He’s dreamy. Like, six foot four, probably, and with all those muscles and that sexy jaw line, those expressive eyes. There’s also those full lips that are strong, but yet pillowy-soft when he kisses me. Massive hands that know what they’re doing when they touch me. Abs for days and a body I can curl up and sleep on. And then there’s the sex. The supernatural vibrating locking-himself-inside of me sex. And the protectiveness. And the treating me like he worships me.
A girl could get used to that. Most guys that are this attractive certainly don’t act this way because they know they have the upper hand with women. No vulnerability, and usually so much ego.
Thinking like this is not real practical. I have a job, a life, a family. But then, people move away for love all the time, don’t they?
This guy thinks I’m his soulmate.
I don’t have a boyfriend and I always figured I’d want to be married and having kids before I hit thirty.
But I hadn’t met any contenders before. This kind of relationship is hard to come by.
Understatement, because of who he is, because of what he is.
Why me? What about me is so special that he’s sure we’re meant to be?
It’s crazy to be thinking this stuff over after just a couple days together. I need to just cool it and enjoy this. When these guys leave, I’ll turn my phone on, talk to my mom, check in about the boutique and go from there.
Yep: reality; it’s out there and I probably need to connect with it.
“Everything okay?” Bailey asks.
“Hm?”
“You look as if your mind is a million miles away,” Cat whispers.
Riley and Tyson are in conversation by the window, and they excuse themselves to go outside so Ty can show him the truck Riley asked about, obviously having seen it when I drove it almost to him, Cat, and the others that day. Tyson kisses me goodbye as if he’s going on a long journey and will miss me. My foot dressing has been changed and Cat tells me she wants another look on Friday. If anything changes, I’m to let her know right away.