“Sure, but then you’d be waiting a year for that dinner.”
“A year?”
“Yeah. One of those ‘experience of a lifetime’ things. I booked it ages ago. When I finished school, I never had a chance to see the world because I started working right away. I needed the money. When I turned thirty, I decided it was about time I started treating myself. So I’m going to do what I wished I could have done after college. I’m going to backpack through Europe. I start in France and then head to Germany, Italy, and finish off with England and Scotland.”
“That’s amazing. I’m glad you’re taking some time for yourself.”
No, we’re not, grumbled his bear.We like her. We want her to stay. She has cute knees.
Shut up.
“A case of bad timing, huh?”
He nodded. “Very bad timing.”
“Anyway, maybe dinner isn’t such a good idea.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I like you, Josh. If we had that dinner, I have a feeling I’d grow to like you even more. It’s probably not wise to get involved with anyone right now. I’d hate to start something I can’t finish.” She glanced at her coffee cup “I just wanted to have that drink. Any sort of drink.” She stood and frowned.
No! Make her stay.
Josh jumped to his feet, almost upending his coffee. “Marcelle.”
“Yes?”
“I, um, I think you must have looked beautiful in that dress.”
Her face softened. “Thank you. I hope everything goes well for Elaine and her kids.”
“I’ll let her know you said so.”
“You’re a good man, Doctor Douglas. Don’t work too hard.” She stood on tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “I hope we meet up again someday. If some smart woman hasn’t snapped you up by the time I get back, maybe I’ll bring you a latte.”
A terrible, amazing heat swarmed Josh’s every limb, starting at his toes and washing toward his head. His bear reared up on its hind legs, forlorn, growling, and a sharp pain cut through his stomach. His clinical mind analyzed the strange symptoms. He’d seen them before but had never experienced them personally. He felt feverish and unsteady and never more alive than in this moment. Based on his cursory findings, he could arrive at only one conclusion.
Marcelle was his mate.
And she was about to disappear.
No. He had to be wrong. This was insane. In his experience counseling fellow shifters, he’d learned it usually took longer to recognize one’s mate.
Only sometimes it didn’t. He’d seen anomalies. His entire existence was an anomaly.
Perhaps he’d been working too hard. He’d been putting in a lot of hours. His bear just needed a vacation. A release.
Marcelle was gorgeous. Surely this was just a case of good, old-fashioned lust.
“Marcelle.” His voice sounded high and strange.
“Anyway, I’ve got a boat to catch. Lex is waiting for me. See you around.”
As Josh struggled with words, his bear howled in agony.
Perhaps they needed to talk a bit longer. Maybe if he gazed into her dark eyes some more, he wouldn’t feel as if he was drowning in them. He had to say something to make her realize she needed to stay.
Only he was worried if he opened his mouth, the only sound would be the infernal noise of his bear.
She’s our destiny, the creature wailed.
Awestruck, Josh could only watch as his apparent destiny turned and disappeared into the woods.
He clutched his lukewarm coffee cup, his only remaining connection to Marcelle. All the while, his spirit animal shook with frustrated need.
