Adriana’s heart rate increased again.
Paige twisted her body to more fully face Adriana. She set a hand on Adriana’s shoulder and gave a squeeze. “I’m sorry I don’t know more. He did ask me to apologize to you. I’m sure he has some reason for all the drama and mystery. Please give him a chance to sort out whatever he has going on, okay?”
Adriana forced a small smile. “Do I have a choice?”
Paige grinned back. “I guess not.”
“Does he know who I am?”
Paige shook her head, her expression tight. “No. He…didn’t want me to tell him.”
Adriana tried to process that. One word kept running through her mind, over and over. Why? Why, why, why?
Paige stood. “I need to go talk to my parents. I’m sure they’re equally confused.”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
Paige hesitated. “Will you be okay? Why don’t you come back out to the party?”
“I’m fine. Just need a few more minutes alone.”
“I could send your brother in or his mate.”
“No. I’m fine. Really. Alton and Joselyn are having a good time. I’ll catch up with them later.”
Paige stepped toward the door, but before she opened it, she turned back and whispered across the darkness. “This was his room, you know. When we were growing up, I mean. He moved out over ten years ago, of course, but my mother didn’t change much. Some of his things are still in the closet and drawers. Whatever he didn’t take with him when he went to university and then got his own home.”
Adriana swallowed through her emotion. “Thank you.”
Paige bit her lower lip, nodded, and slid out of the room, shutting the door again with a soft snick.
Adriana continued to sit in the blessed darkness, the only sound in the room the pounding of her heart. The dull roar of the party down the hall tortured her with its happiness. From one second to the next, her world had changed so drastically she couldn’t catch her breath.
When she inhaled long and slow, she realized the faint scent of her mate lurked in the room. Until she’d scented him directly, she hadn’t recognized his scent in the house for what it was. Her mate. But now…
Taking the gift of suggestion Paige had left her with, she pushed off the edge of the bed and headed for the closet. When she opened it, she smiled and closed her eyes.
With one hand on the door frame for support, she leaned farther inside the confined space and fingered the first item hanging in front of her. A leather jacket. It was his. Probably from high school, but it had hung here all these years, his scent still gripped in its fibers.
She eased it from the hanger and held it up to her face, inhaling slowly over and over. The potency made her sway, her legs threatening to give out. Her body came alive at the same time, her nipples stiffening and her sex clenching. She was aroused. How absurd. Who got horny for a man they hadn’t even met?
She slid the jacket on. It was too big, the sleeves of the supple black leather hanging past her hands. But it took the chill away as she wrapped it tighter around her over the silk blouse she wore. Less than two hours ago, she’d gotten all dressed up in her favorite purple blouse that hung long over black leggings. She’d designed the shirt herself several months ago and loved the way it hung over her shoulders and draped across her chest. She also wore black heels.
She shut the closet and leaned down to slide her feet out of the shoes, and then her gaze landed on the dresser near the closet. The top had several framed pictures. How had she not noticed them earlier? In her subconscious, she realized they were family photos, but she hadn’t examined them closer.
Now she inched toward the dresser and lifted one trembling hand to pick up the first frame. She held it in the beam of moonlight and let her finger trace over the strong features of the man smiling back at her. A younger version of her mate, no doubt, but he stirred something deep inside her anyway, making the pucker of her nipples more pronounced.
He was blond like his sister. Blue eyes twinkled as they stared back at her. He stood in the middle of a meadow, the mountains in the background. With one foot lifted onto a large rock at his side, he had posed, his elbow on his knee, his chin in his palm. Damn, his smile took her breath away.
Her mouth was suddenly too dry, and she hadn’t blinked for so long her eyes burned. Staring longer would do her no good. She set the picture back on the dresser and headed for the bed. She needed to lie down, overwhelmed. So many emotions slammed into her.
This should be the best moment of her life. She’d just met her mate. Except she hadn’t met him. He didn’t know who she was. And she was alone with the knowledge that, for whatever reason, he hadn’t wanted to confront her.
She forced herself to believe his flight had nothing to do with her. He’d been just as blindsided as she had. Maybe he wasn’t ready? Maybe he’d needed time or space or something to wrap his head around things.
But that didn’t add up, either. Paige said he’d been with someone. A human man. What was that about? She couldn’t take this personally. After all, he had no idea who she was or what she looked like. Unless the man had an aversion to binding in general, his rejection tonight had nothing to do with her. He had something to take care of. It must have been important.
Adriana lowered herself onto the bed, curled up on her side, drew her knees up to her chest, and hugged the jacket around her tighter. Normally she was warm. Grizzly shifters ran hotter than regular humans. But a chill had taken over her body several minutes ago and wouldn’t let go.
She closed her eyes, thinking how fickle Fate could be. Was it pure coincidence that she’d moved to town two months ago to pursue an art degree at the University of Calgary? Did Fate not only decide who Adriana was meant to be with but also when the two of them would meet? No one would ever know the answer to those questions.
The truth was Adriana already had a degree. In computer science. She’d been working fulltime at her family’s brewery since she’d finished her education. But she hadn’t felt connected to the work. She’d been bored and unsatisfied. She should have known. She’d been working at the brewery part-time the entire time she was going to school. However, the minute she finished her degree in May, she knew she’d made a mistake.
A few months ago, when she’d come to Calgary for a visit, she’d gone with Joselyn to a fashion show just for fun. And her entire focus changed from that day forward. She’d always been interested in fabrics and clothing and shoes, but she’d never pursued anything in the arts because it didn’t fit with her goals. With her family’s goals.
Designing outfits had been nothing more than a hobby she played around with at home. She’d gotten her first sewing machine when she was nine and had worn out three machines since then. Her latest had cost a fortune and would last her entire life.
Everyone in the extended Tarben family who was willing and able worked for Mountain Peak Brewery. It was in their blood. There was no call for someone with an eye for fashion. So Adriana had ignored the passion and gone for the practical.
It was Joselyn who noticed her enthusiasm and encouraged her to think bigger. And here she was, two months later, living in Calgary and attending classes at U of C to start her life over again. It would take several years and a lot of work, but she knew in her heart the decision was right. She’d never been as relaxed and calm as she’d been since making this choice, leaving her childhood home and heading to Calgary.
She was a grown woman, for heaven’s sake. She had never lived anywhere but home. The baby. The youngest of five. A homebody.
But not anymore. This new adventure had invigorated her.
Until an hour ago, she’d planned to find an apartment near campus, get a part-time job to help pay for her second round of education, and wrap herself up in her new career choice.
Until an hour ago…
Now? Her foundation was shaking.
She closed her eyes, inhaled Nolan’s scent again, and tried to calm her racing
heart.
Where was he? And why the hell had he left her like this?
Chapter Two
Nolan was pacing his hotel room as he made the phone call to his parents, Stanton and Oleta Osborn, two hours later. He hoped he’d given them enough time for the party to die down so they could take his call.
“Nolan?” His mother’s voice came through, but in the background, he could hear many other voices too. “Hang on. Let me find someplace quieter.”
He waited, listening to the rustling sounds of movement for a few moments.
The sounds died down, and then his father spoke. “Nolan. Where are you?”
“Hey, Dad. I’m so sorry. Is Mom with you?”
“Yes,” she replied. “We have you on speaker. We’re in the bedroom now.”
He’d intentionally called instead of reaching into their minds, wanting to hear their voices but also not wanting there to be any misunderstanding in his tone and inflection. “I’m in a hotel room for the night.”
“Why?”
He took a deep breath. “One of my clients at the law firm was laundering money. A lot of money. I stumbled on the inconsistencies last night and then spent hours making sure I was right. This morning I went to the police. It’s bad. I’m so sorry, but I’m a witness.”
His mother gasped. “So, what are you saying?”
“I have to lie low, Mom. Until the trial.”
His father cleared his throat. “How long will that take?”
“Not sure yet. They haven’t even arrested the guy yet. Could be months.” He rubbed his forehead as he stopped pacing to stare out the fifteenth story window at the bustling city of Calgary below. The lights twinkling all over the streets and buildings were a reminder that life would keep moving on while he hid.
“Months?” His mother’s voice rose, a pitch higher than it normally was.
“I wanted to at least see you for a minute this evening, give you and Dad a hug, welcome you home. I spent half the afternoon arguing with the officer to let me stop by. And then…”
“Oh, son,” his father said, “what a mess.”
“Yeah.” He leaned his forehead against the glass. There was no way to shake the memory of the scent of his mate from his mind. He needed to ask the hard questions now. “I communicated with Paige.”
“We know. She was pissed,” his mother said.
He smiled at his mother’s choice of words. Pissed wasn’t a word she normally used. It must have been bad. “I couldn’t explain things to her at the time. I was driving, and the officer was with me.”
“He’s human,” his father confirmed.
“Yes.” He took a deep breath and then forced out the big question. “Who is she?” His voice was weak, thready, unsteady.
“Oh.” His mother sounded surprised. “You don’t know?”
“No. Paige started to tell me. I cut her off. Her scent hit me like an avalanche. I’ve never met her.”
His father cleared his throat. “Addy is a wonderful girl. You’ll be pleased.”
“Addy?” He searched his mind for that name. How was someone at his parents’ coming-home party he’d never heard of?
“Adriana,” his mother corrected. “Adriana Tarben. She’s Alton’s younger sister. Her friends call her Addy.”
Adriana… What a beautiful name. Someday he would be her best friend, and he would not be calling her Addy. He smiled. Adriana Tarben…
He swallowed the lump in his throat, hating that he had not met her tonight. “So, she’s from Silvertip? What’s she doing in Calgary? What does she look like? Is she mad?”
His father chuckled.
Nolan winced. “I’m sorry. This is your night. I should be focused on you. How was your trip? Was the flight okay? Tell me all about Australia.”
His mother’s laughter reached his ears next. “Don’t be silly. We can discuss our trip another time. We’re home. We’re safe. The trip was great.” She hesitated. “This day is no longer about us, though. Yes, she’s from Silvertip. She moved here in August to start school at U of C. She’s been staying here in the house for the last two months with Alton and Joselyn, but she’s looking for an apartment now that we’re back.”
He interrupted. “U of C? How old is she?” Please tell me she isn’t eighteen.
“Twenty-three,” his mother added. “Sorry. I didn’t say all that quite right. She’s already got a degree. It’s in computer science. But she hated it. She’s gone back to school.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. He was thirty-one. He didn’t think he could possibly start a relationship with someone who was eighteen. In fact, he shuddered. Twenty-three was far more palatable.
His father spoke again. “Would you like to speak to her?”
Nolan closed his eyes. “No. Not yet. Let me figure something out here. It’s going to be difficult. I mean I told the police this morning I didn’t have a girlfriend. No attachments. I don’t know how I’m going to handle this.” He hated for his first communication with Adriana to be by phone. It was so cold. How could he possibly express himself appropriately? His chest tightened. He needed to see her. Touch her. Kiss her.
Damn. His cock stiffened at the memory of her scent.
“Is she…” He didn’t even know what to ask.
His mother’s voice was gentle. “She went straight to her room when you left. Your room, actually. Paige went in to talk to her for a while. I’ll go talk to her after we get off the phone.”
My room… A burst of jealousy rushed through him. She had access to pictures and information. His sisters and his parents could fill her with information. He had nothing.
Hell, she had his childhood in that room…
For the first time in his life it annoyed him that only family members and bound couples could communicate mind to mind from a distance. Until they completed the binding, he would only be able to communicate with Adriana telepathically if they were in close proximity.
His mother must have read his mind, possibly even literally, since he doubted he was blocking well.
“Honey, pull up her social media. And, well, call her. I’ll text you her number.”
Right. Why hadn’t he thought of that? So far, he’d done nothing but panic. His hands were shaking. It was a wonder he hadn’t dropped the phone. This was so unprecedented. What the hell was he supposed to do? No way on God’s green earth was he going to be able to sit in this hotel room for months on end without meeting her. He needed to figure something out. Fast. “Can she stay with you?”
“Of course,” his father confirmed. “But I don’t think that was in her plan. She would have moved out already if she’d found a place. She’s been looking for a roommate, hoping she would meet someone at school to share the rent with. She didn’t know a soul at the university when she arrived.”
“Well, things are different now. I’d rather she be with you.”
His father chuckled again.
“What?” Nolan stiffened. Was his request so strange?
“So possessive. You haven’t even met her or spoken to her, and already you’re giving orders.”
Was he? He shook his head. “Of course not. I just want her to be safe.”
His mother’s soft giggles filled the air. “I remember when I met your father. He did the same thing. I’m pretty sure he was only about six-foot-three when I met him, but that day he grew four inches.” She laughed harder. “His chest puffed out, and he got all alpha on me before I even caught his name.”
“I’m not getting all alpha,” Nolan contended, his shoulders squaring. He immediately released the tight muscles when he understood what his mother meant about his father getting taller.
His father spoke again. “It’s normal. The impulse to protect., but take my advice, from experience, you won’t win any points if you start ordering her around right off the bat. She’s a grown woman. She won’t take it well. Trust me.”
“Who’s ordering anyone around?” Nolan knew he was getting defensive. Dammit, she
was his mate. He just wanted her to be safe. His life was upside down. If anyone found out he had someone in his life who was special, she could be in danger. But even without the threat of his stupid money-laundering client, he would still prefer his woman not be living in an apartment alone. Why was that so unreasonable?
“Just a suggestion,” Stanton added. “She’s welcome to stay here as long as she likes, son. You know that. But I’m sure we’re cramping her style.”
“Her style?” Nolan stiffened again. What style? It wasn’t like she was going to go out late carousing around with friends and come in drunk or bring men with her. He gritted his teeth. Did she do that before today?
“Nolan,” his mother soothed, “calm down, honey. We just got here this afternoon. We don’t know her well yet. Your father is simply suggesting you choose your words wisely, especially if you aren’t able to meet her face to face.”
He sighed. Arguing about this subject was ridiculous. He was inventing imaginary problems for no reason. When did he get so damn possessive?
When you stepped out of that car earlier and inhaled your future. That’s when.
“We should get back to the party, honey,” his mother continued. “Is there anything you want me to say to Addy for you?”
“Tell her… Just tell her I’m sorry.”
“Okay.” Oleta’s voice was soft. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
“Bye, son,” his father added. And then the line went dead.
Nolan lowered the phone, breathing heavily. He needed to get a grip on himself and fast before he fucked up the most important thing that would ever happen to him.
»»•««
It was after midnight when a soft knock sounded on Adriana’s door. She hadn’t moved from her fetal position on the bed for hours. “Come in,” she said as she inhaled the scent of Nolan’s mom.
Oleta stepped into the room and shut the door behind her with a snick.
Adriana’s eyes were well-adjusted to the dark, and she could see the smile on Oleta’s face. The blonde-haired woman looked so much like her daughters, it was uncanny. She also didn’t look old enough to have a child as old as Nolan. He had to be over thirty.
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