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“Thanks, sweetie.”
She watched her mate stand and tuck his work gloves into his back pocket. He headed for the shop, and she noticed his limp, which seemed more pronounced.
The wolf couple – Winnie and Rudy – motioned Em over to the table where they liked to sit every week. They were so sweet and kind.
“Do you need a refill?” she asked as she joined them.
Winnie shook her head. Her voice was low when she spoke. “Is that your beau? The lion male coming inside?”
“Yes. Why?”
“We noticed he has a limp, but we don’t want to pry,” Rudy said. “Is it an old injury?”
Em nodded.
Winnie opened her purse and withdrew a brown plastic tub from a white paper sack. “Bring him over to meet us, okay?”
“Sure.”
Diesel had stopped at the counter after coming inside, and Em took his hand and brought him over to the couple.
“This is Rudy and Winnie Wolcott, my favorite regulars. This is my mate, Diesel Cowan.”
“Nice to meet you,” Diesel said, shaking their hands. “Em speaks highly of you. I’m glad I finally got a chance to meet you.”
“Sit, please,” Rudy said.
Diesel gave Em a curious look and sat next to her. “What’s up?” Diesel asked.
“I was in a car accident as a teenager,” Rudy said. “Broke my leg so bad I had a cast from ankle to hip. I was fifteen, hadn’t quite shifted yet, you see. I was walking in my mother’s kitchen and slipped on the rug and broke my damn leg a second time through the cast.”
“Ouch,” Diesel said.
“Tell me about it. So I have one leg that’s an inch shorter than the other. No amount of shifting would fix it. Our pack doctor’s been working on special salves for me ever since. He’s always trying something new to help with the pain. Pain meds don’t work much, you know. We burn through them too fast with our metabolism.”
Diesel went quiet next to Em. She looked at him and gave his hand a squeeze.
“Anyway,” Winnie said, “Doc just gave us some new salve, and we noticed you have a limp and Emberly said it’s from an old injury. We think you should try it. It might make a big difference for you and your pain.”
Diesel’s gaze dropped to the brown tub. He didn’t say anything for a moment, and then he cleared his throat. “Our pack doctor gives me an oil. While I appreciate the offer, I don’t want to take something you need.”
Rudy pshawed. “I already texted Doc to tell him to make another batch for me.” The old man reached across the table and put his weathered hand on top of Diesel’s. “Young man, living in constant pain is no way to go through life. You’ve got a lovely heart-match and you’re both still so young. If this salve can help you find some relief, then it’s worth it for me to share it with you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Diesel said.
“Say you’ll take it and try it,” Winnie said. “And come see Doc in a few days and let him take a look at your leg. He might have some ideas for pain management.”
Diesel sucked in a harsh breath and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you really want to thank me, make me and the missus a couple of Ems on the house.”
Em chuckled. “You got it.”
Diesel took the salve and walked with Em back to the kitchen, where he pulled her into a bear hug that made the breath whoosh out of her lungs. She hugged him back tightly and rested her face in the crook of his neck. “You okay?”
“Better than okay. I’m humbled.”
He eased away from her enough so she could look into his eyes, which were bright with unshed tears. Her sexy, gorgeous, strong mate was overwhelmed by the wolves’ generosity, and she was touched by their kindness, too.
