by Lola Kidd
And the person was always sure as soon as they shifted around their mate. Their animal side could always spot its mate.
That was all how Dottie felt. This was it. He was her mate!
There was a knock at the door. “Are you okay in there?”
“I’m fine!” Dottie called back quickly.
She put her fingers to her mouth. What was she going to do? She couldn’t just tell him. He would think she was bonkers. Wy was a really nice guy, but no man wanted to hear “I love you” after less than three weeks. She was going to look like a nutcase.
Unless he felt the same way. If he did, it wouldn’t be strange at all.
Dottie put her head in her hands and groaned. She couldn’t spend the rest of the night in the bathroom talking to herself. She had to make a decision and get out there. She didn’t want to look crazy, but her heart was telling her to be honest with him. He liked her. He had asked her out, after all. Even though they had agreed to just be friends, there was a good chance that he still wanted something more. They were clicking on every level. He had to feel that too.
Plus, if she was pretty sure that he was her mate, his animal had to feel the same way. There was no other way to find out but just to ask. Even things didn’t turn out the way she wanted, it would be okay. She didn’t even live in Maple Creek, really. Their jobs would be ending soon, too. It would be fine. She could never see him again. But she really hoped that wouldn’t happen.
She took a deep breath and left the bathroom. Wy was waiting for her in the living room.
“How are you doing?” His forehead was wrinkled, and he was twisting his hands. “I didn’t do something wrong, did I?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Nothing wrong.”
She sat down next to him and scrolled through the movies. She picked a Christmas cartoon. They watched it quietly while she worked up the courage to say what she was feeling.
“Wyatt, I really liked shifting with you,” she began suddenly. “I haven’t felt that good while I was shifted in a very long time. I was starting to panic, and then I calmed right down when I was close to you.”
He beamed. “Good. I’m really glad. I shift all the time, so I’m happy I got to be with you the first time you shifted in Maple Creek.”
She took his hand before continuing. “I’m happy too. Really happy. That’s why I have something to say to you. I think…I think you’re my mate. When I was shifted, my butterfly felt such strong feelings for you. I’ve never felt that way about anyone before. You don’t have to say anything back, but I think I love you, Wyatt. It’s cool if you don’t feel the same way, but I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t tell you how I was feeling.”
He didn’t say anything for a few moments. Dottie felt herself die a little inside while she waited for him to say something.
“You think you love me?” he said finally.
She nodded and bit her lip.
He pulled her close and kissed her softly on the mouth. “I love you too. I didn’t want to seem crazy, but I love you too. My gorilla liked you the moment I saw you. I think I loved you from the first moment I saw you.”
Dottie giggled. “Well, at least we’re both a little crazy.”
“For sure I’m crazy about you.”
His voice was thick with emotion. The smile slid off Dottie’s face. Mate, she thought. This was her mate, and they were all alone in the middle of a snowstorm. This was so romantic.
“I can’t believe how lucky we are.” She kissed him. “We got to find each other during the most romantic time of the year.”
“Christmas?” Wy asked, surprised. “I thought Valentine’s Day was the most romantic holiday.”
Dottie shook her head. “It is a romantic day, but the Christmas season is more romantic to me. There’s something so loving about the whole holiday.”
“If you say so.”
They held hands and watched the cartoon. Dottie stayed nestled in the crook of Wy’s arm with her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t stop looking over at him when she thought he wasn’t looking.
“What?” he asked when he caught her.
“You are so handsome. I can’t believe someone as handsome as you is my mate.”
“What? You’re way too beautiful for me. When I first saw you, I didn’t think I had a chance. I was so happy to even be your friend.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You have to meet my parents. I’m lucky to have you as a friend, but you’re so much more than that to me now. You have to meet them as soon as they’re back in town.”
He nodded. “Of course. I can’t wait. They’re important to you, so I want to get to know them too. They are the best roommates after all, right?”
“Yeah, but I think you would make a great roommate too.” She clamped her hand over her mouth and felt herself blush. “I don’t mean I want to move in with you already or anything. I just meant that you take good care of your home. I’ve had roommates who were slobs and made it hard to live with them. I don’t think you would be like that.”
He laughed and pulled her close again, wrapping her arms around his middle. “You’re my mate. Of course I want to live with you. There’s nothing you could say that would make me run away. I love you, Dottie. I love you so very much.”
Her heart melted to hear him say it again. “I love you too.”
She kissed his cheek and put her head on his shoulder again. The next cartoon started, and as they watched, she let her hand wander around his stomach. He was her mate. She could touch him anywhere she wanted now, and she had been dying to touch his perfect abs ever since she got there.
They felt even better than they looked. The more she touched, the warmer she began to feel. She was licking her lips and running her hands along the line of his jeans before long.
“Dottie,” Wy said in a strangled tone. “What are you doing?”
“I’m touching you. You’re my mate. I get to touch you now.”
“Does that mean I get to touch you too?”
“Yup. If you want to.”
He tightened his grip on her waist and moved so he was over her. He put his other arm around her too and pulled her down to the carpet. He kissed her and ran his hands all over her body.
Dottie couldn’t stop touching him. She pulled his sweater off and ran her hands down his back as they kissed. He smelled so good. She didn’t think it was all his cologne. There was a smell underneath it that was distinctly Wyatt.
He put his hands on the button of her jeans. “Can I…”
She nodded, and he slipped his hands inside her jeans. It was a tight fit, but he managed to get his fingers down between her legs. He rubbed her through her panties until she moaned and bucked against his hand.
“Don’t stop.”
“I’m not going to,” he promised. He pushed her panties aside and rubbed her slow and hard.
Dottie started to shudder and closed her eyes tight. She wrapped her hand around his bicep and rode his hand until she saw stars.
He kissed her nose. “God, you’re beautiful.”
She unbuttoned his jeans. She couldn’t believe this was her life now. She had a mate. A gorgeous, hulking beast of a mate.
“I love you, Wyatt.”
“I love you too,” he groaned. “You’re going to stay here tonight, right?”
“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I don’t want to leave your side until I absolutely have to.”
“Good.” He took her hand out of his jeans and lay down on top of her. “Let’s take this real slow, then.”
She nodded and kissed him. “We have all night. We can do whatever you want.”
And whatever she wanted. She wasn’t going to let him go until long after the sun came up. He was hers and hers alone, and she wanted to enjoy him.
Chapter 10
Wyatt straightened his tie and then untucked his shirt. He retucked it and straightened his tie again. He knew the tie was a mistake. He should have worn one of his favorite outfits. He’d alrea
dy picked out the red sweater and nice slacks days ago. At the last minute, he’d thought it would look better if he wore a tie. He had only worn the stupid thing at funerals and when he’d interviewed for his job over a decade ago. He wondered if there was time to go home and change. This tie and shirt were not working. He couldn’t get them to look right.
“Stop fidgeting.” Dottie put her hand over his before he could pull his shirttails from his pants again. “Don’t worry. They’re going to love you. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
That was easy for her to say. These were her parents. They had to like her.
There were many, many things for Wy to be nervous about. His shirt and tie were the least of his problems. He wasn’t even sure how he was supposed to greet the Harts. Was he supposed to shake both of their hands? He knew you shook a man’s hand when you met him, but what about her mom? Was he supposed to kiss her cheek? If he didn’t shake her hand, would that be sexist? Should he say “hello” or “hi”?
There was so much that could go wrong. He wished he could shift and meet them as his animal. In human form, there was a good chance he was going to mess this up, but his gorilla wouldn’t. The animal acted on instinct and always got it right. And he needed to get this right.
After Dottie had spent the night at his house, he was positive that she was his mate. He loved her, but he knew her parents were his biggest and final hurdle. From the way she described them, they were very protective of their little girl, and she valued their input. That much was obvious. They had a say in almost every aspect of her life.
Even though they had both said “I love you,” if her parents hated him, it would all have been for nothing. Dottie would never agree to marry him. She kept telling him that since she cared about him so much, it was impossible that her parents wouldn’t like him. But that wasn’t true. People had not liked him his entire life. He was used to it. Heck, his own parents hadn’t even liked him that much.
“Want to go inside now?” she asked him.
He checked his reflection in the mirror by the door one more time. He looked as good as he could.
“Okay, I’m ready,” he told her.
She took his hand and led him from the foyer into the living room. A man with salt and pepper hair and a blonde woman were waiting on the couch. They both stood up when Dottie and Wy entered.
“I’m Dave,” Dottie’s father said, extending his hand. He pumped Wyatt’s hand twice in a firm handshake. “We’ve heard so much about you that it’s nice to finally get to meet you.”
Dottie’s mother came forward with a nervous smile. She put out her hand slowly. “Yes, it’s very nice to meet you, Wyatt. I’m Donna.”
Wyatt shook her hand gently and nodded. “Great to meet you both. You raised a lovely daughter.”
Both of their smiles widened, and they beamed at Dottie. Clearly, he’d said something right. Maybe Dottie was right. This could be fine. He had forgotten the most important thing he had in common with her parents: they all loved Dottie.
“Please have a seat,” Mr. Hart said, pointing to the loveseat near the fireplace.
There was a loud, screechy sound as they sat on the plastic-covered furniture. Wy hadn’t seen furniture like that since he’d been to his grandmother’s house as a boy.
“Please excuse the sofa,” Mrs. Hart said. “This is my aunt’s house, and I haven’t changed a thing.”
“Sorry for your loss,” Wyatt said automatically.
“It’s no big deal,” Mr. Hart said. “We didn’t know her very well, but it was kind of her to leave us this house.”
“She didn’t really get out much,” Wyatt said. “I know she lived here her entire life, but I only saw her outside two or three times. She mostly loved going to the art fairs that are held just outside of town at the fairgrounds. That was the only place I ever saw her.”
“Interesting,” Mrs. Hart said. “There are boxes of art downstairs in the basement. That would explain where she got all of the paintings. We never knew that she even liked art.”
“She didn’t talk much,” Wyatt recalled. “My mom liked those art fairs too, and I remember seeing your aunt there, talking to the artists and not anyone else. She was always dressed in so many layers that it was hard to miss her.”
“Yes!” Mrs. Hart laughed. “She was always dressed in at least a scarf and a cardigan, no matter how hot it was.”
Mr. Hart nodded. “I do remember that too. We never took Dottie to any of those fairs. Maybe we should go as a family. Does your mother know of any good ones coming up?”
Wy wasn’t sure how to answer. He could feel Dottie stiffen next to him. He didn’t talk about his parents much. From her dad’s question, he could tell that she hadn’t told Mr. and Mrs. Hart about his parents running off. He wondered if she didn’t want him to talk about it. Maybe it would turn her parents against him. If his own parents didn’t like him, that might make him look suspicious.
“There are no art fairs in the winter, Dad,” Dottie said. “They only have them during the spring and summer.”
“That’s fine,” he said. “We can go in the spring. I can’t imagine we’ll have this place on the market and sold before then.”
“Will you guys be able to stay here, not working, for so long?” Wy asked him to change the topic.
“I should hope so,” Mrs. Hart said. “I wouldn’t want to leave Dottie on her own again for so long. We really missed her when it was just the two of us alone in that big house.”
“But won’t your job miss you?” Wyatt asked her parents. He had a lot of vacation time, but there was no way he’d be able to take off a whole winter and spring. “If you guys have to go back, I can always keep Dottie company.”
“I think we’d miss Dottie far more than she’d miss us at this point.” Mr. Hart winked at Wy. “Luckily, as long as we have a computer, Donna and I can do our jobs from anywhere.”
“We’re both consultants for a security firm,” Mrs. Hart explained. “Basically, we try to break websites. If we can break it, there is a problem, and we help the owners of the site fix it.”
“I don’t know anything about computers,” Wyatt admitted. “But it’s cool that you guys do that. I guess. Right?”
Mr. Hart laughed. “Don’t worry, most people don’t have a clue what we do.”
“I don’t know anything about it, either.” Dottie squeezed his hand. “I’ve been hearing about it my whole life, and I’m still confused. I have no idea what exactly it is that they do all day.”
“Oh! Where are my manners?” Mrs. Hart stood up. “Wyatt, would you like something to drink, or an appetizer?”
Wyatt smiled. “Do you have any lemonade? And I’d love some food.”
Mrs. Hart left for the kitchen and came back with a plate of cheese and crackers and cold cuts and a glass of lemonade. “I think this should hold us over until dinner is ready. I really don’t like the oven. It takes much longer than what I’m used to.”
“You think we need to replace it?” Dottie mused. “At the least, it needs to get serviced.”
Her mother shook her head. “I’m not replacing anything in this house if we can help it.”
“But what if I wanted to stay here?” Dottie asked.
Her mother pursed her lips. “I guess if you’d like to stay, we could work something out.”
“I think it’s a little early to be talking about staying,” Mr. Hart said. “But I do like Maple Creek. It wouldn’t hurt to have a nice house to retreat to when things get too hectic in the city.”
“Do you like living in the city?” Wyatt asked.
Mr. Hart held up his hands like a scale. “On the one hand, it is nice to have all the conveniences close by. But on the other hand, it can get so noisy. We can barely see the stars there, the light pollution is so bad.”
Mrs. Hart nodded enthusiastically. “I could get used to coming out here for the holiday breaks. The quiet life out here is so relaxing. Especially since we can do our jobs from a
lmost anywhere. We could even come down for long three-day weekends.”
Wy wouldn’t mind if they all decided to live out here. He and Dottie had talked about it, and she wanted her parents to visit often.
“So, have you lived in Maple Creek your whole life?” Mr. Hart asked him.
“Yes,” Wyatt said. “And I don’t plan on moving away, ever. I love living here.”
“What do your parents do?” Mrs. Hart asked.
“I don’t really—” Wyatt was at a loss. What an odd question to answer. He’d never been asked that as an adult.
“Wyatt works for the city most of the year,” Dottie jumped in. “He gets laid off once a year, but most of the time, he’s doing construction work.”
“A man who works with his hands,” Mr. Hart said. “You have to respect that. I’m pretty useless when it comes to anything with tools.”
Wyatt smiled. “Thanks. It comes in handy when something breaks on the trailer.”
“That’s right,” Mrs. Hart said. “Dottie mentioned that you live in the trailer park. It must get cramped living out there.”
“It can,” Wy admitted. “We’ll probably need to get a different place pretty quickly. There’s not much room for more than one kid. And I’d like to have at least three or four.”
Dottie blushed. “I think the trailer will do for at least a year or two. Houses can be expensive.”
“Not here,” Wy said. “We can get a big house, and the mortgage will be almost the same as I pay to rent my land.”
Her parents exchanged looks. Her dad cleared his throat. “What do you mean? Are you two planning on moving in together?”
Dottie giggled. “Well, we’ve only been talking in the abstract, but I would like that.”
Wy nodded. “I would like that, too.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Hart said. “Maybe we’ll have to rethink our plan to sell this house, then.”