Renee pushed her into one of the oversized chairs near the unlit fireplace. "Not a word," Renee cautioned. "Not until I get some tea for you."
The motherly command in her tone brooked no argument. Harper sank deeper into the cushions, her lips quirked into a small smile.
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say tea is your love language?"
Renee laughed. "You've got that right, sugar."
Harper watched Renee cross the floor to the sideboard, her movements graceful and purposeful. The familiar blue light of the electric kettle glowed from the side table. Her fox's earlier excitement had settled into a warm contentment, though Harper's own thoughts still raced.
"Here we are." Renee placed the cup in Harper's hands a few minutes later. The warmth seeped through the fine china, grounding her. "A special blend - chamomile, lavender, and a touch of something extra."
The 'something extra' sparked Harper's curiosity, but the knowing gleam in Renee's eyes suggested she wouldn't elaborate further. Harper breathed in the aromatic steam, detecting subtle notes she couldn't quite identify beneath the familiar flowers.
Safe here,Reyna murmured in her mind.Good den-mother.
Harper sipped the steaming tea, savoring unexpected flavors. She couldn't identify anything beyond the chamomile, but it was earthy and rich, soothing.
"This is delicious," she murmured, cradling the delicate cup. "I've never tasted anything quite like it."
"An old family recipe." Renee's eyes twinkled. "Don't worry about staying up late - this blend will help you sleep like a baby."
The innkeeper settled into the adjacent armchair, her movements fluid and graceful. "Now, what's got you looking so wonder-struck tonight? You were practically floating when you came through the front door."
Heat rushed to Harper's cheeks. The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "I met my mate this afternoon."
Her fingers tightened around the teacup as if it could anchor her spinning thoughts. "But that doesn't make any sense, does it? We don't have fated mates - that's just something from romance novels." She drew a shaky breath. "Except... Reyna claimed him the moment she saw him. Just declared 'mate' like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And I don't evenknow him, but there was this... pull. This instant connection I've never experienced before." She shook her head. "How is that even possible?"
Good mate,Reyna chimed in dreamily, making Harper want to roll her eyes.Perfect for us.
"I mean, Nathan is wonderful with Jill… that's his pet," she hurried to say. "And he's kind, and talented, and..." Harper trailed off, realizing she was gushing. "But we just met. How can Reyna be so certain?"
"Nathan?" Renee's smile widened. "Ah, the young music teacher who found our little jackalope."
Harper's shoulders relaxed and she gave a sigh of relief. "Oh! You know about her then?"
Renee smiled, her dark chocolate eyes warm with understanding.
"Of course. Not much happens around here that Angus and I don't know about." Renee settled deeper into her chair, her expression thoughtful. "Sometimes it's as simple as meeting the right person and recognizing them for who they are. Your heart knows before your head catches up."
Harper took another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through her. "But how can you be sure?"
"When you know, you know. It was like that with Angus and me." Renee's dark eyes grew distant with memory, a soft smile playing at her lips. "I was just a young girl, barely eighteen, down by the waterfront in New Orleans. There was this riverboat coming in to dock, and I happened to look up." She paused, her smile growing wider. "There he was, leaning on the railing beside the paddle wheel. Our eyes met across the water, and I knew right then he was the one for me."
Like us,Reyna chimed in, and Harper had to agree - the certainty in Renee's voice matched what her fox had felt upon seeing Nathan.
"And Angus?" Harper asked, drawn into the story.
"Oh, he felt it too." Renee chuckled softly. "You should have seen the way he nearly tripped over his own feet trying to get down that gangplank."
Harper winced, her cheeks burning at the end of Renee's story. "At least Angus managed to stay on his feet. I couldn't even look Nathan in the eyes." She stared into her teacup, watching the liquid ripple. "Reyna was howling 'mate' over and over in my head, and I froze. Just stood there like a statue while my fox went completely wild."
The memory of those first moments made her want to sink through the floor. She'd been struck dumb by Nathan's warm brown eyes and gentle smile, while Reyna's excitement had short-circuited her brain.
"I kept opening my mouth to say something - anything - but nothing came out." Harper groaned, covering her face with one hand. "He must think I'm completely unhinged. Who acts like that when meeting someone for the first time?"
Mate understands,Reyna protested.He likes us.
"You don't know that," Harper muttered under her breath, then realized she was talking to her fox out loud in front of Renee. Perfect. Another thing to be mortified about. But Renee's encouraging smile had her continuing.
