Page 5

I am driving, he replied.

Yes, but you have slowed down when we should be going faster.

Wes checked the speedometer and laughed again. If I drive into a ditch, we’ll never get to meet her.

His bear considered that. True. That would be unfortunate.

As he drew closer to the Harlands’ orchard, he knew he was drawing closer to his mate. Wes had meant to stop there anyway, so as he turned into the driveway, he was thankful he didn’t have to come up with an excuse. His brain was not working well enough for that.

When Wes reached the house, he spotted Alan near the packing shed, moving a stack of empty crates. Wes parked beside the shed and got out. “Morning,” he called, trying to sound normal.

Alan straightened and smiled. “You’re back. I wasn’t expecting you this early.”

“Traffic was kinder coming out than going in.” Wes glanced toward the farmhouse almost without meaning to. His bear was so alert inside him that it was difficult to concentrate on anything else. “I got the part.”

“Good. Maybe between your tractor and mine we can get one machine that works properly.”

“Let’s hope we don’t have to combine them,” Wes said.

Alan laughed and went on talking. Wes barely heard him as the farmhouse door opened.

A woman stepped outside, and for one moment Wes simply watched her walk down the porch steps.

Dark hair drifted around her face in the light breeze. She wore jeans, boots and a sweater that fit closely enough to make him immediately aware of her curves. But it wasn’t her body that held his attention. It was her. His mate.

She paused at the bottom of the steps and looked toward the packing shed. Her gaze found Alan first and then moved to Wes.

His bear gave a low sound of pure happiness. Go to her.

But Wes’s feet refused to move. He was as stuck as Alan’s tractor had been.

Oh, it’s okay. She’s coming this way, his bear said.

And she was. After all these years of wondering if he’d ever meet her, his mate was walking toward him, and she had no idea what they were to each other. What was he supposed to say to her?

Hello seemed too small, and everything else was too much. Wes wiped his palm on his jeans. At least she looked curious.

We want more than curiosity, his bear said. We want her to love us.

Wes almost smiled. Then we’ll have to give her a chance to get to know us first.

Alan glanced between them. “Perfect timing. Kate, this is Wes Doran. Wes, my daughter, Kate.”

Kate. He liked her name immediately.

You already know it, his bear huffed. Alan and Janice have talked about her enough.

They had, but right now his brain had short-circuited. He doubted he could even recall his own name.

“It’s good to finally meet you,” she said. “Mom and Dad have told me a lot about you since I got here.”

He liked her voice. Wes had the ridiculous urge to ask her to say something else just so he could hear it again. Instead, he managed, “Good things, I hope.”

Kate smiled. “Absolutely.”

Alan shook his head. “You have been a savior more than once, Wes.”

“Mom has mentioned the tractor episode several times.” The affection in Kate’s voice softened the words, and she looked at Wes again before holding out her hand. “Seriously, though. It’s nice to meet you.”