“Excellent.” She leaned back comfortably in her seat. “I cannot wait to hear about therapy,” she said. “Share whatever you want to share.”
I started the engine. “I learned a lot tonight.”
“Good.”
“And Connor explained something to me.”
Zoey frowned at me. “What?”
“Something called a fated mate bond.”
Her expression shifted slightly. “That sounds intense.”
“It is.” I explained it carefully, told her about the instincts, the connection, the possibility of sealing the bond if both people chose it.
Zoey listened without interrupting, staring out the windshield. “Is that why we have this insane attraction and chemistry?” she asked when I stopped talking.
“No.”
She looked over at me.
“That’s all you.”
She laughed softly. “Good.”
I studied her carefully. “You’re not freaked out?”
Zoey shrugged slightly. “No.”
“That surprises me.”
She turned fully toward me now. “I trust you.”
The words landed with quiet certainty.
“We would make every decision together,” she said. “Nothing gets rushed.”
“Of course.”
“And honestly,” she added thoughtfully, “the fact that you immediately said you wouldn’t push anything kind of confirms that I’m not scared.”
I sat there, watching her beautiful face. “You’re taking this very calmly.”
Zoey smiled slightly. “That’s weird for me.” Then she reached across the center console and took my hand. “But it feels right.”
Chapter 26
Zoey
Five Months Later
My living roomhad been overtaken by a board game that involved an alarming number of tiny wooden sheep.
I sat cross-legged on the rug in front of the game board while Bobbi leaned forward on her elbows, studying the situation with the concentration of a general planning a campaign.
Liam occupied the couch behind me.
Markie occupied Liam. Specifically, Markie had settled onto Liam’s shoulder with the full authority of someone who believed that was his natural place in the world.
