Page 4 of Eddie

“It is.” Eddie hesitated, then added, “You do any kind of work like that?”

“Kinda,” Matthias said. “I’ve done a little bit of everything, honestly. Right now, I’m mostly doing freelance handyman stuff. Whatever pays.” Whatever gave him the freedom to be available when his family called. He’d tried doing different things, but he’d been let go from his last job when his mother had come looking for him and made a scene.

Eddie’s expression softened. “That’s cool,” Eddie said. “If you ever need work in the area, we’re always looking for good people.”

The offer caught Matthias off guard. It was casual, probably just Eddie being polite, but it felt like more...almost like Eddie wanted him to have a reason to come back. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Matthias said, meaning it more than he probably should. He knew it wouldn’t happen, not with the family he had, but it was a nice thought.

Matthias’s chest tightened. This was dangerous. He couldn’t afford to get attached to someone he’d just met and who lived hours away from where Matthias needed to be. He had Jenna to pick up and a dozen other responsibilities waiting for him.

“So, uh...” Eddie started before pausing. He seemed to be trying to build himself up. “If you ever drive through again, you should stop by. The coffee really is good.”

It was a weak excuse, and they both knew it. But Matthias found himself nodding anyway. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”

He heard the way the words didn’t quite land as a promise. Matthias saw the way Eddie’s expression flickered as he lost hope. Eddie moved, just a half-step closer, and it happened.

His scent hit Matthias like a punch to the nose.

It wasn’t strong, hidden under the smell of coffee and the perfume of one particular lady, but it was there, curling into Matthias’s nose and lighting up every nerve ending in his body.

Mate.

The word slammed through Matthias’s mind. His buffalo surged forward, desperate and possessive, demanding that Matthias move closer to Eddie and do something. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and it took every ounce of control he had not to reach out and pull Eddie closer so he could bury his face against Eddie’s neck and breathe in more of his scent.

This couldn’t be happening, not when Matthias was on his way to pick up Jenna and had a hundred other things demanding his attention. He couldn’t afford to complicate his life any further, and meeting his mate would definitely do that.

But their bond didn’t care about any of that. It was there, pulling at Matthias. Eddie was his mate, and that was that. Eddie was the person Matthias’s buffalo—and Matthias—had been waiting for their entire life.

Matthias’s mind raced. Eddie couldn’t know because he’d have reacted differently. He smelled human to Matthias, although there were hints that he was in close contact with shifters.

Matthias opened his mouth, not sure what he was going to say, when Eddie’s friend called from the counter.

“Eddie! Order’s up!”

Eddie winced, and Matthias felt his buffalo get angry at the interruption. Eddie took a step back, and it took everything Matthias had not to follow.

“That’s my cue,” Eddie said, and there was genuine regret in his voice. “It was really nice to meet you, Matt.”

“You, too,” Matthias managed, and his voice came out rougher than he intended.

Eddie lingered for a moment, like he was waiting for something, but Matthias’s brain was still frozen from the mate bond revelation, and he didn’t know what to say.

Eddie turned to walk back to his friends. Matthias couldn’t let him just walk away.

Eddie reached his friends at the counter. They were loading up with coffee carriers, laughing about something. Eddie grabbed one of the carriers, then paused. He said something to his friends, and the tall one laughed. The other one shook his head but was grinning.

Eddie pulled out his phone, typed something quickly, then waved his friends toward the door.

Matthias’s heart stuttered. What was happening?

The two men gathered up the mountain of coffee cups and carriers between them. One of them said something that made Eddie roll his eyes, then both men headed for the exit, juggling their massive order. The same man glanced back once, catching Matthias’s eye, and his expression was knowing and amused.

The door swung shut behind them, but Eddie was still there.

He turned around, and their gazes met across the coffee shop.

EDDIE WAS GOING TO be teased endlessly, but for some reason, he was willing to deal with that if it meant spending more time with Matthias. He wasn’t sure what it was about the man, but this was the most interested Eddie had been in anyone in a long while, and he wasn’t ready to leave.

Which was why he’d texted his boss to tell him he had something to take care of and would be late for work.