What? Is there a fire?
No.I’ll let you know if we set the place on fire.
“Roscoe!” one of the pack members called. “Can you help us with this beam?”
“Coming.” I dawdled, inhaling Reed’s delicious scent before pulling myself away, which irritated my reindeer.
By late afternoon, the pack was preparing to head back to our temporary housing in town. The barn frame was complete, and everyone was pleased with the progress.
“We'll be back tomorrow to finish the roof,” Erik told Reed as he loaded equipment into his truck. “If the weather lets us.”
The temperature had dropped and there were angry dark clouds headed this way. The road between here and town was known for getting blocked after aheavy snowfall.If it snowed, we’d be stuck in town and I wouldn’t see Reed.
I could get us here.
True. But me arriving naked in the middle of a snow storm would need an explanation. Reed knew who I was but not that he was my mate.
“The weather around here changes fast,” Reed noted.
As the pack prepared to leave, Zelda approached me, holding a folder. “Don't forget these.” She grinned. “Reed will need to see the permit applications before we can proceed.”
I took the folder and frowned. We'd already handled the necessary permits, but Zelda’s smug expression suggested this was part of whatever scheme she and the others had been hatching.
“There are very important details that require concentration and a long discussion.” She smiled at both of us. “Take your time.”
After the vehicles disappeared down the drive, Reed and I stood shoulder to shoulder while I held the folder. I didn’t want to open it in case it was a bunch of blank paper with one word, “Surprise” written on it.
“Permit applications.”
I bounced the folder in one hand. Reed had scribbled his signature on page after page of permits and I suspected he’d read every one. I couldn’t pretend therewere some he’d missed, only to reach his office and discover there was nothing in the folder.
“I don’t think there’s any need to do this now.” I had opted not to tell Reed I had a friend at city hall who’d fast-tracked the permits which was why we were able to build the barn now. I was surprised he hadn’t questioned us, because even though he’d lacked money and his office was a mess, all his paperwork was in order.
“Maybe we should. With the holidays coming, we should submit the ones we forgot.”
My pulse sped up at the thought of being alone with him. The first and last time that happened, I’d run away to prevent a shift. But that was no longer a concern.
“If you think we should.”
“I do. And Erik has been showing me how to make coffee. Do you want to take a chance and try some?” He shivered as the wind picked up.
A snow storm was headed this way and the smart thing to do was to go back to town now. But smart went out the window in favor of one on one time with my mate.
“Let’s do it.”
We walked toward the farmhouse and my shoulder brushed against his. Before my beast could bug me about mating, I told him to sit this out and sleep. As areward, I’d let him shift late tonight when we got home.
As we climbed the porch steps, it occurred to me I’d never been in Reed’s home, only the office. The front door creaked but his hand remained on the knob.
“Your family wants us to spend time together.”
Damn. He’d picked up on that and he’d still agreed to this sham meeting. Maybe that was because he liked Zelda and the others and didn’t want to disappoint their efforts. Though as I said the words in my head, it didn’t seem likely.
“They think I’m lonely.” I could hardly get on bended knee and admit he was my fated mate. “I hope you don’t mind.” Please don’t say do you because my heart would shatter.
“No.” He didn’t avoid my gaze but looked directly at me. “I don't mind.” He bit his bottom lip.
Now what? Saying it didn’t bother him wasn’t the same as throwing himself into my arms.
