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The real problem was that before I could even consider agreeing with my bear, the rabbit hopped away as fast as he could, leaving us alone. No matter how much my bear wanted him, and even if we were in full agreement on that matter, it didn’t matter in the least if the omega in question did not share that opinion.
Maybe we were just reacting to the atmosphere of the Bearclaw. The comfortable atmosphere, good food, a great night’s sleep. Those were things I’d probably been starving for, for years. Enter a very good-looking and funny and sweet Olympic medal winner, and I’d have to be made of ice not to melt at his feet. The best thing to do would be to go back to the inn and pack up, head for home. I did need everything the place offered, but if I had to spend that time with someone who did not share my feelings, or what I thought were my feelings, then I would not be able to enjoy any of it.
It was better to head home and lick my wounds, throw myself back into the work that would fill the hours of the day. My bear would keep me awake at night, hurting, too, but there was nothing I could do about that.
But instead of calling for the car to come and pick me up, take me back to the Bearclaw, I walked the streets of the quaint little town. Leaving Main St. behind, I roamed the residential streets, taking in the homes with their neat yards, raked leaves, and final flowers of the year. As the afternoon went on, people were pulling into their driveways, piling out, and heading into their homes. Families and couples greeting one another, carrying bags of groceries or the children’s backpacks from school. I never wanted any of that, figuring if the time ever did come when I could make room for a mate in my life, we’d live in the high-rise apartment building and probably not have children. If he wanted one or two, we’d work it out, but my job did not make me material for a father of the year.
No, I never wanted what the man getting out of his car only to be tackled by a little boy with sparkling eyes calling out, “Daddy!” and already launching into the story of his day at preschool.
I never wanted it until now when the man became me and the one standing in the doorway drying his hands on a towel and grinning at the scene took on the face of Sheppard.
I needed therapy. Nobody changed like this.
Did they? Or maybe it was the natural next step for my life.
Except he didn’t want me.
Or maybe it wasn’t such a big change so much as an expansion of my world. Or maybe it didn’t matter because Sheppard didn’t want that with me. He wanted kids. Why did he tell me about the Bearclaw? Was it a warning that he didn’t want that with me?
But by the time I called for the car and climbed in to ride back to the inn, I’d decided I wasn’t going anywhere. I’d stick it out for the weekend and see what happened. Maybe Sheppard would like us, maybe he wouldn’t. But for once, I was throwing caution to the wind and just sticking something out for a non-business reason. Like the signed books, this was for pleasure, and I intended to squeeze as much of that out of my stay here as possible.
And, who knew? If Franklin truly did match every alpha and omega who came at his invitation, I might be underselling the magical element.
Magic!
Okay, now I truly was falling under some kind of spell.
Back at the inn, I went upstairs and got cleaned up before dinner. I’d do my very best not to make things weird or in any way uncomfortable. At the bottom of the stairs, I started for the dining room, but Sheppard came out of the kitchen.
“Dinner is set up on the patio. Franklin isn’t going to be able to make it tonight.” He paused, as if wanting to say something more but then continued back the way he came.
At least he talked to me. Determined to unweird the situation as much as possible, I followed him and sat down at the table outside. The meals were more restaurant style, the grilled chicken, pilaf, and broccoli already on the plate. But… “Please tell me there are rolls in that basket,” I moaned and picked up the napkin to peer underneath.
“Are there?” Sheppard, who had managed to put away several the night before, leaned over to see. “Oh, yes.”
His fervor at the rolls broke the ice, and I burst into laughter. Sheppard froze, two rolls already in his hand, and I watched emotions cross his face. Outrage, confusion…and then humor. “You like the rolls, too,” he grumbled.
“I certainly do.”
From that point, we eased a bit, and by the time we were eating the tiramisu for dessert, we were doing much better. More back on the ground we’d been in before lunch. Then I noticed a note on the edge of the table, under the coffeepot. “What’s this?” Unfolding it, I saw a single sentence.“The forest is there for a run.”
That’s right, it is.” Sheppard smiled. “I’m up for it.” He set his fork down and studied it on the table. “Locke, I don’t think it’s because of the location or the matchmaker. I just like you.”
I reached for his hand and brought it to my lips. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
Chapter Twelve
Sheppard
“Are you sure?” I asked him, never feeling so vulnerable in all my life. My chest was cracked open and at that moment, he had the power to mend it or make me bleed.
“I’m absolutely sure. I want to see that adorable rabbit of yours. My bear wants to run with you, Sheppard.”
“Okay.” I took off my shoes and then my socks and pants, well aware Locke’s eyes were fixed on me the entire time. I may have stripped down slowly, loving the way he assessed me. With a shimmer of power, I shifted into my rabbit and hopped over to my mate, who was still in human form.
He crouched down and ran his hand over my head and ears. My leg thumped with contentment. Our mate was stroking us. He thought we were cute. “Sweet little thing, aren’t you? I bet you can run like the wind. Let’s see.”
While he undressed, I watched in awe. Nothing about his human form was less than perfect. Chiseled abs, just the right amount of muscle to indicate he took care of himself without being too muscly for my taste. And then he shifted. My animal shuddered with the immense power popping and crackling in the air.
