Page 11 of Night Grove Falls, Midnight Haven Volume Two

“Yeah? Is something wrong?”

“I just—I’ve never slept in so late.”

“Well, it was a long night after a long few days.”

She nods, chewing on her bottom lip.

I smile as her stomach growls. “I’ll get started on lunch. Is a sandwich okay?”

“Sounds good. I can help, I just need to⁠—”

“No, take your time. You can shower, change, whatever you want to do. I’ll make us some food.”

“I can help,” she insists.

“Let me take care of you, mate,” I whisper, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

Moving away before I’m tempted to do more than kiss her, I go downstairs to the kitchen. Usually, I hate being in this room. I’m a disaster at cooking, but I don’t mind one bit when I’m doing it for my mate.

My bear is content inside me, his ears perked as we hear the shower turn on above us. I try not to think about my mate naked and wet. I focus on making our food instead, layering cheese, meat, lettuce, and tomatoes onto bread. Finding some chips, I hear the water turn off and Daisy moving around, getting dressed.

A few minutes later, she pads down the stairs. I set her plate on the kitchen counter and pull out a stool for her.

She smiles. “Thanks.”

My hands go to her hips, and I lift her onto the stool. Daisy seems surprised by the action, and I worry I’ve overstepped. Then I see her trying to hide a smile, and I know she liked me manhandling her.

My bear licks his lips. Good to know.

“Do you want anything else?” I ask as I sit beside her.

“No, this is perfect. Thanks.”

Daisy grabs her sandwich and takes a bite. She eats slowly, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her head. Anxiety claws at my bear and me. After a few minutes, I can’t take the silence anymore.

“Please say something.”

She licks her lips, turning to face me. “About what?”

“What are you thinking about? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just—I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I mean, shifters are real! I didn’t even know that term a few minutes ago, and now I’ve learned that you’re one, and I’m your fated mate—another term I didn’t know half an hour ago.”

“I know it’s a lot,” I say, trying to somehow make all of this better.

“It’s too much,” she whispers.

“Hey,” I say softly.

“God, Knox! Are you sure you want me? I mean, my life is a mess. I’m a fugitive who just so happened to run right to where my fated mate would be? It seems so strange! It seems too easy.”

“It’s not. I’ve looked for you for years.”

Daisy doesn’t seem to hear me. “Nothing in my life has ever been easy. And I guess I don’t trust things when they are.”

“Daisy—”

“But I trust you! I feel good around you. I know I’m safe. You’ve been nothing but honest and kind and perfect. I just—I feel like I’ll be a burden to you. Either we clear my name, or we don’t. Either I go to jail or I’m on the run forever. I won’t be able to work or travel. I’ll just—I don’t know,” she finishes weakly.