Auburn had put down two cups of coffee, and my bear could feel the energy buzzing from him. “I have to go into the shop. Make sure last-minute things are handled. Get the computer system up and running for orders and making sure it’s synced to the inventory so I know what to order and when. A lot of little boxes to check.”
“Do you have an actual list?” I asked. “Maybe we can tackle it this morning. I don’t have to go in to work until one.”
“I actually do. Want to see it?”
I did. He pulled my chair over closer and we hunched over his list on his phone. Some things were easy to check off like sweeping and mopping, but other things were depending on a secondary list and vice versa. Things like health inspections and code enforcement.
“Let’s tackle the easy things first. That way we get things checked off and gain momentum.”
When I looked up, Auburn was staring at me with the biggest grin on his face.
“What?” I asked.
“You amaze me. I just realized that now, everything is we and us and our. I’m so damned happy we found each other, omega.”
I leaned up and kissed him. “Keep sweet-talking me like that and nothing will get done today outside of the bedroom. Come on,wehave an ice cream shop to get to.”
Chapter Seventeen
Auburn
We were spending nearly every night together now, neither of us wanting to be apart, but my little apartment was not suitable for more than one person, and the cabin where Oakley lived belonged to his employer. It was also on the small side. If we were going to have a life together, if my omega wanted that, we’d need something more than either of us currently had in our space. I’d planned on buying something anyway, when the time was right.
One random Tuesday, we went out to dinner at Table for Two, a restaurant just built for dates with wonderful food, a romantic atmosphere, and nearly all the tables taken up by people out for a nice time just the two of them. It was special, and the first time we’d gone anywhere in town where our presence together would should “couple.” I would have done it anytime, but I didn’t want Oakley to feel pressured in any way.
Tonight, he looked so handsome and relaxed, I just wanted to hug him forever, but we had a reservation, and if we didn’t show up, it might cost Macsen and Jett a table’s worth of profit for the evening. So, I settled for a long, deep kiss, and then we started off for the restaurant. As I took a shortcut down a residential street near the edge of town, we passed a house with a for-sale sign out front. It was a Craftsman that someone had put a lot of love into restoring, and it surprised me that they would have put it up for sale.
“Alpha, look.” Oakley had his face pressed up against the window. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“It sure is. I’ve always loved homes of that era. The deep porches and all the detail. Built-ins everywhere. Lots of wood.We have a few minutes. Want to see if there is anyone to show us?”
“Oh, we couldn’t do that,” he said. “They probably want their privacy, and it’s not like we’re real customers.”
“Well, maybe another time.” I would be back for sure. “What do you plan to order tonight?” I was about to drive away when a man came out on the porch. “Wait. Look. There’s someone out there. What could it hurt to ask, right?”
“I don’t know.” He looked so distressed, I was about to tell him to forget my suggestion, when the man seemed to notice us. He came down the drive to where we were parked at the curb and leaned down to look in the window.
“Can I help you folks?”
“We were just admiring the house,” I told him. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks. We are only selling it because my mate’s parents are ill and need us to come to their sleuth and take care of them while they recover…or forever.” He didn’t sound too enthusiastic, but at least he was going to help.
“That’s nice of you. We were talking about taking a tour when there’s a convenient time.”
“Now is great.” The man stepped back and waved at the house. “If you have time.”
We didn’t, not really, but I placed a quick call and was able to move our reservation by a half hour, assured I wasn’t causing any kind of problems, and we followed the bear shifter into the house.
It was everything a Craftsman should be, and I could have spent hours looking over all the features, but instead, I hung back and let my mate explore as he wanted to. He loved the place, asked all kinds of questions, and was thoroughly enchanted by all the built-ins.
When we were in the car, he sighed and leaned back in the seat. “It was nice, wasn’t it? Just the kind of home for a family.”
“It sure was.” I listened to him talk for a while about how much he liked everything about the house but, “We were just looking for fun, after all. It’s not something I’ll ever have beyond in my dreams.”
I let it drop there, but while we ate dinner, I was forming a plan in my mind. What held me back from buying this for my mate? If I bought it, I’d be able to invite him to move in with me in good conscience. Plenty of room and a home he’d already fallen in love with. Table for Two was not so crowded tonight, and we didn’t feel like we had to rush, so we stayed for dessert and coffee as well. It was nice to be in a restaurant where we could sit quietly and just be together or talk without having to shout over other noise and chatter. The people who came to Table for Two did it because they wanted this atmosphere.
“We should come here again,” I said. “Everything was so good.”
