“I guess so.” He kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his paint-splattered jeans. “It’s getting dark, too.”
“Chill, omega. It’s fur time.” I left the rest of my clothes on the bench by the front door and stepped outside.
Chapter Fifteen
Oswald
Everything had changed over the last day in the best way possible. Greg and I shifted together, and our animals made the move our human sides hadn’t yet. They bonded on that run and after that, everything fell into place.
We were mates. I knew that for sure now.
“Oswald?” Greg asked, covering my hand with his. Always such a warm alpha, even for a shifter.
“Yes?” I said, looking down to find our food had been put on the table, and while Greg had gotten halfway through his potato soup, I’d barely touched mine. “Sorry. I was in a daze. Thinking.”
“Want to share?” he asked.
I took a bite of the soup. It was still warm and gushing with savory flavors. The café wasn’t on the maps yet or the website. Greg said it had opened only days before.
“When I first got into town, I was a bit overwhelmed, and I stopped my car near your inn. I stared at you for a few minutes.” I chuckled, shaking my head. I could feel the heat blooming in my cheeks. “I thought we made eye contact. I thought you were the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen and now, we’re here, on a date, and we’re…”
“We’re mates,” he finished for me. “And we did make eye contact. I’m not happy about the way your apartment and job were delayed, but I sure am glad for the way things turned out.”
“I am too. What’s on the agenda today?”
Greg pulled out his phone and we went over things to do. It was time to start the floors in the kitchen and the new countertops would be delivered soon. We still had a ton to do but had made fantastic time so far.
While we were finishing up our dishes of brownie pudding, which was divine, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
“It’s Troy, from my job.” My chest tightened. This could be amazing news or awful news. I braced myself. “Hello?”
“Oswald, I was calling to let you know the library is finished. I just completed a walk-through of everything, and the crew is packing up to leave. We can open in a few days. I thought you might want to come over and see how everything looks.”
I almost jumped out of my chair. “Are you serious?”
Troy laughed. “I am. Come on over if you are free.”
“I’m on my way.”
Greg paid the bill for our lunch, and I updated him on everything. He smiled from ear to ear. My alpha was as excited for me as I was.
The café was only a few blocks away from the library, and I made a note of that for future reference. Not that there was a scarcity of places to eat in Oliver Creek, but I wanted to get the map in my head anyway.
When we approached, the mayor and Troy were waiting out front. I introduced Greg and was given the keys to the library and offices inside.
It was official.
“Can I start tomorrow?” I asked, bouncing on my heels once we finished the tour. I could already imagine the changes I would make and how this place, small as it was, would be bustling with families and people looking to read and learn.
Everyone chuckled. “You can start today if you want,” Troy said. “It’s in your hands. We’ve sent over the budget and information for you. Call if you need anything.”
Troy and the mayor walked away, and I threw myself into Greg’s arms. He hugged me back and whirled me around. “I’m so damned happy for you, omega. You deserve all of this. Are you bubbling with ideas?”
He set me down, and heat flowed between us. “I’m gonna miss having you all to myself during the day,” he whispered. “But I’m so damned excited for you and this place.”
“I’m going to miss you too.”
Greg grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. He pressed his lips against mine and I closed my eyes, taking in this moment. A new life. A new job. A new place to call home and now, a new alpha. Maybe Fate knew what she was doing after all.
