Axel makes his way back to the front desk, regretfully leaving Chloe on the couch. Levi steps away from the computer as he walks up.
“All checked in?” Axel asks.
“Yup.”
Axel sees on the computer two rooms booked for two weeks. Danielle Wilkshire and Chloe Barker. Chloe. It’s the best name he’s ever heard in his life. Such a beautiful woman. Soft red hair coming past her shoulders, big doe brown eyes, curves that he wants to grab and rut into. He clears his throat to stave off his impending erection. There’s no time for that now, he has a job to do.
“One of the ladies, Ms. Barker, the airline lost her luggage. I let Ms. Wilkshire know I can go to town to get it once it’s delivered.”
No luggage. Her one heel had broken, leaving her with no shoes, and she was clearly cold in her outfit. It definitely isn’t proper Montana fall clothing.
“Thank you, Levi. I’ll see what we can do.”
Levi raps on the counter with his knuckles and walks away. Axel takes a deep breath. He can still smell the honeysuckle scent wafting through the lodge. His mate. Now that he has a moment, he can really think about this. She’s his mate, no doubt about it. At first, he had attributed the scent to the other woman, Danielle, but after he saw her, he knew. She’s everything he and his bear want. A soft form, long pale neck, plush lips. His pants tighten, and he knows he needs to stop thinking about fucking her before he gets so hard it hurts.
Making his way back over to the women, he sees Chloe’s head is laid back on the couch, and her eyes are scrunched tight. He never wants to see his mate upset, it tugs on his heart that she’s upset here in his home.
“Chloe,” he says softly, sitting down across from her on another couch.
She brings her head up immediately, locking eyes with him. He can’t help the smile on his face, and she matches it with her own.
“Levi told me you lost your luggage?”
“Ugh, yes, unfortunately.”
“It’s ok, Chloe, you can borrow whatever from me. You know I always pack more than I need,” her friend Danielle tells her.
Chloe’s eyes flit to Danielle, then down to the ground.
“I can’t, we don’t wear the same size, I’m too big.”
Axel can scent Chloe’s embarrassment, and he wants to pull her to him and tell her that she’s perfect, that he loves her size. That he wants nothing morethan to bundle her up in his clothes so she smells of him. His fingers twitch, but he holds himself still.
“Ma’am, I’d be happy to take you to town. We can get you some new clothes and shoes. My treat.”
She blushes again, and he can tell he’s flustered her.
“I’ll buy my own clothes, but a trip to town would be great.”
“I’ll stay here, look around, and get acquainted with the place,” Danielle says, and not so subtly nudges Chloe in the side.
Chloe purses her lips at her friend as Danielle scampers from the couch.
“Shall we go then?”
“Are you going to carry me again?” Chloe asks, before snapping her mouth shut. He guesses she didn’t mean to say that out loud.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll carry you everywhere.”
Chloe blushes again and stands as Axel scoops her up. She pulls the blanket with her as Axel makes his way back outside. He takes them over to his beat-up old red truck, and she helps him open the door. He sets her in like she’s precious, which she is. The most precious thing he’s ever touched.
In the driver's seat, he texts Gunner, one of his younger brothers, and lets him know to watch the front desk, that he’s running a guest to town.
In the cab of the truck, it’s quiet. He’s always been a quiet man, but now he struggles with what to say.
“You’re from New York?”
“Yes, the city, both Danielle and I are. And you’re from...here?”
