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“My brother took care of me while I was away.” He held up a debit card with his name on it.
“Wow.”
“I’m not a kept shifter any longer,” he said with a low laugh.
“What if I enjoyed keeping you?”
“You still can, just in a different way.” His intent gaze met mine.
“Then get used to the idea, because I am.”
“Mazie,” he said again. “You keep dropping these bombs when I can’t show you in the best way how very much I appreciate hearing them.”
“Tonight.” Now I was the one making the promise.
He stood and tucked the card in his back pocket, shaking his head when he also found a wallet in the drawer. His license had been renewed each time it was due to expire.
“He really believed I’d come back,” he said, his eyes closing. “Kuunik’s the best.”
“He’s a wonderful guy. A great brother and dad.” Gravor would be a wonderful dad too.
“Let’s get going, then. I want to be outside, smelling the fresh air, feeling the sunshine on my face, and spending time with my favorite people.”
We left, locking the front door behind us, and got back into my vehicle. When I went to pull out onto the main road, turning right, a reflection off something to our left and up the hill caught my eye. A car was parked beneath the trees in the breakdown lane.
“What’s up?” Gravor asked, looking in that direction.
I shrugged. “Just a vehicle sitting up there.”
“Should we see if someone’s inside? Maybe they need help.”
The car pulled out onto the road and started in this direction, picking up speed until it pretty much flew past us.
“It looks like they’re fine,” I said, unease spiking through me.
“Yup.”
When the car passed, I swore I recognized the driver.
Was it the guy who’d asked questions at the general store?
Chapter 20
Gravor
We drove out into the forest, parking at one of the rest areas along the way toward the Canadian border. After having a snack at a picnic table, we started walking, taking the wide, flat trail weaving around the outside of a small lake. The map at the head of the trail showed it was just over a mile around, and an easy hike. Perfect for Asher.
He skipped and hopped ahead of us, pointing at every bird and squirrel he saw. Finding a stick, he started poking the vegetation along the side of the trail.
There couldn’t be a better day than today, and I sucked in the wonderful feeling.
I held my mate’s hand, so grateful I’d been given this second chance. I wouldn’t take it for granted.
We stopped in an open meadow partway through our walk, and I shrugged the backpack off my shoulders.
Mazie took a blanket out of the pack and spread it out. “Have a seat, Asher. Time to eat.”
He dropped down beside her on his knees, rocking. “I’m hungry.” Looking up at me, he grinned. “You hungry, too, Gravor?”
