Page 67 of Facade

Heath ground black pepper, fresh tarragon, and fennel into a bowl with a few drops of water, and mixed it into a paste. He rubbed it into the chops so they would absorb the flavor. Then he placed them in a container, and put it in the refrigerator. He enjoyed cooking, but didn’t often bother unless he had other people to feed.

Satisfied that they would have a nice lunch, Heath wondered if he should change his clothes. He was wearing an old pair of jeans and a plain, long-sleeved t-shirt. This was his first official, scheduled meal with his mate. That was special.

On the other hand, it wasn’t really a date. Jace would be here, and he was probably allergic to dress clothes. They were meeting at Heath’s house, not a restaurant.

The primary goal was to work with Clarke’s power, and learn the most efficient ways to utilize it. Her priority was finding Charlie. Heath would never hinder or subvert that.

Yeah, dressing up would come off as fussy and inappropriate. It could even give the impression that he was trying to outclass Jace. There should be solidarity among bond brothers.

Heath chose to compromise by changing into newer jeans, and putting on cologne. Now he was casual, but presentable. The sound of a car pulling into the drive forced him to stop second-guessing his apparel choices.

Striding into the entryway, Heath opened the door for Jace and Clarke. The latter carried three cloth grocery sacks. They were also dressed casually, causing Heath to relax.

“This is a beautiful house, Heath. I should have mentioned that Friday night,” Clarke said with a glance at the beige stone tile that carried into the kitchen.

“Thanks, it’s a fixer-upper, and a work in progress,” he said honestly, placing a hand briefly on her shoulder. “You’ve only seen the finished rooms.” Heath wanted to touch her, but a hug might seem invasive.

“Well, what I have seen is tasteful, homey, and appealing,” Clarke said. “It’s lovely.”

Jace walked into the kitchen, and placed the bags on the quartz counters. Heath followed, and lifted the makeshift vase.

“These are for you,” he said to Clarke. “I know you can’t take them home, and I didn’t feel like I could go to a florist. But bonding should be celebrated. It’s special.”

“Oh, Heath! You picked these yourself?” Clarke asked, sounding astonished and emotional. “They are so beautiful, and you made me feel like a woman. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Heath said as he set the pitcher back on the counter.

Clarke hurried over to hug him. He held her tight for a moment before she pulled away to smell and touch each flower with appreciation. Clarke didn’t seem to care that they were wildflowers without a fancy vase.

She discarded the charm bracelet as she moved, dropping it on the counter. Jace gave Heath a nod of approval before turning to watch their mate with adoring eyes. Those flowers had eroded the awkwardness and uncertainty of how to navigate this new dynamic.

It still astounded Heath to see her without the charm. Everything about Clarke was so feminine, from the subtle sway of her hips as she walked, to her smile, and the delicate bone structure of her face. That was one powerful trinket.

After admiring the bouquet, Clarke stood back with her phone raised, and took several photos. Seeing how much it meant to her had Heath feeling like a hero. He was very grateful that he’d thought of it.

Heath started digging through the bags, and putting things away. He opened the container to see what was in it, then closed it.

“Potato salad will be perfect with the pork chops and green salad,” he said.

“It goes with everything. We should probably get started,” Clarke said. “Where do you want to do this?”

“The living room should be comfortable,” Heath said. “I got a sketch pad and pencils for you, and put them on the coffee table.”

“That sounds good,” Clarke agreed, and began walking in that direction. Rascal trotted next to her, then jumped up to one of the chairs.

“We can bring the flowers there, so you can see them,” Jace offered.

“You’d better not,” Clarke said. “I would keep looking at them, and might not be able to concentrate on the questions.”

If he was a cat, Heath would be purring loudly right now. He’d made his mate happy, and was proud to have done so.

Clarke and Jace sat on the couch. Heath took a chair facing them. He handed Jace a notebook with questions written down, and a pen to record the answers they would hopefully get.

“I don’t want Clarke looking at the questions,” Heath said. “That could distract her from the meditation. 007, you can sit close, but maybe turn so you’re facing her side.”

“Ok,” Jace replied, and moved until his back was to the armrest.

“Clarke, if you agree, I’d like to cast a tranquility spell,” Heath said. “It should induce calm, and make it easier for you to clear your mind.”