Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
“You have to let me carry something,” Sadie said as she and Gavin walked out of the mall. His arms were loaded with bags and he’d refused to let her carry anything during their marathon shopping trip.
He side-eyed her. “You suggesting I can’t carry clothes and shoes?”
“It’s a lot,” she said.
He held two fingers out toward her where a striped bag held makeup and body lotion that smelled like sweet pea flowers. “You can carry this.”
She took the light bag from him and chuckled. “I’m sure that lightens the load a ton.”
He grinned.
Damn, she loved his smile.
Sweet and sexy and filled with promise.
Devon strode ahead and unlocked the SUV’s liftgate so Gavin could put her things away. They hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere on their own, which was a rule in the pride to ensure everyone’s safety, so he’d reached out to his friend, who’d been happy to come along with them.
She put the small bag next to what she could only describe as a mountain of bags filled with clothes to take her through summer and fall at the very least and ducked away from the vehicle so the gate could lower.
“Where to?” Devon asked.
“Back to Whisper Creek,” Gavin said. He grabbed the passenger door for Sadie and then climbed into the second-row bench seat with her as Devon got in the front.
“You got it,” Devon said.
“How do you like playing chauffeur?” Sadie asked. Devon was, according to Gavin, one of his closest friends and they had grown up together in the pride.
“I don’t mind a bit,” he said. “It gets me out of the boring circuits around the territory.”
“Are you mated?”
“Nope, I’m waiting for my truemate even though my mom assures me that having an arranged mating is a good idea. She just wants grandcubs to spoil.”
“You don’t want to go that route?” she asked.
They left the mall parking lot and once they were on the road, Devon shook his head. “I think my truemate will be worth waiting for, so I don’t mind. I heard the wolves are having a gathering in the fall and Alpha Adam said that because he’s hosting this year, that not only are wolves welcome but any unmated shifters. I think I might go, along with some of the others in the pride. Might find our truemates in other shifter groups. Who knows?”
“That would be neat,” Sadie said. “I’ve never heard of a gathering like that.”
“I don’t think the pack has hosted in a really long time, but it’s just basically a big party for a long weekend with all the single people looking to find their truemates or, at the very least, hook up for some fun. The wolves usually only let their own kind in, but Adam’s an equal opportunity sort of guy and I’m sure it would be for everyone’s benefit to have other shifter groups there.”
“Do tigers do that?” she asked.
“We’ve never done it, but others do,” Gavin said.
She smiled at her mate. “Thank you for today. You really did so much for me, and I can’t express how grateful I am.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’m happy to share everything I have with you and it makes my tiger so happy to provide for you.”
Her mom had packed her bag for her and had included a few days’ worth of clothes and pajamas, plus some toiletries, but it hadn’t been enough by a long stretch.
“So what are the plans for tonight?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Well, can you tell me what I should wear? Is it casual or dressy? Do I need comfy shoes or can I wear those sexy heels you picked out?”
He let out a low chuff from his tiger. “You can wear those heels anytime. But we’re going to dinner in Whisper Creek so you don’t have to dress up too fancy.”
“There’s a restaurant in Whisper Creek?”
“Just trust me,” he said. “It’ll be the best first date of your life, I promise.”
“I do trust you.”
“That means the world to me.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles with a soft purr. “We’ve got a reservation at seven. I thought I’d get ready at my parents’ house so I can actually come and pick you up.”
“Aw, I love that.”
He gave her his thousand-watt smile and her stomach flipped.
She didn’t know how she’d gotten so lucky to have such an amazing mate, but she was thankful he was hers. Nothing was better than being with Gavin.
She and Gavin had spent a couple hours that afternoon cutting off tags and washing her new clothes. He’d had to organize his closet to make room for her clothes and she’d loved seeing her feminine clothes hanging next to his masculine ones.
Since they were staying in town, she’d decided to dress casual but with an eye on looking special for their first date. She’d chosen a flowy sundress and sandals and had used her new curling iron to add some volume to her long hair. After applying some lip gloss and mascara, she’d stepped back to look at herself in the mirror over the bathroom sink.
She’d never been on a date before. Wolves in her pack didn’t date unless they were mated, and since no one had ever wanted to mate with her after the color of her fur was revealed, she’d never been asked out.
Which was kind of depressing, but in a way she was glad for it because it meant that tonight with Gavin was extremely special and important. It was her first ever first date, and she couldn’t imagine a sexier guy to share it with.
She wanted to talk to her mom and share her excitement, but her mom hadn’t returned any of her messages, not even after Gavin had bought her a cell phone and she’d reached out with her new number and email address. She’d texted Alli as well, who hadn’t heard from her mom either.
She felt unsettled at not getting a reply from her mom but hoped everything was okay and that she’d hear from her soon.
There was a loud knock on the front door and Sadie smiled at her reflection then shut off the light. Grabbing her cell, she put it in a small purse and walked through the house to the front door. When she opened the door, she felt like she hadn’t seen Gavin in ages even though it had only been an hour.
It was an hour well spent though, because he looked amazing.
He was wearing a dress shirt and slacks, and he looked mouth-wateringly good.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said, lifting a bouquet of wildflowers.
She took the bouquet from him and smiled at the colorful flowers tied with a white ribbon. “Do you have a vase for these? I want to put them in water before we go.”
“Um, crap, no. But I do have a beer mug that should work.”
He led her to the kitchen, pulled a heavy-bottomed mug from a cabinet, and filled it with water. After arranging the flowers, she set the mug on the kitchen table and gave him a kiss. “Thank you, they’re so pretty.”
“Are you ready for our date?”
“Very. I missed you, but you were only away an hour.”
“It definitely felt longer.”
He took her hand and they left the house and walked to his truck that was idling in the driveway. “It’s not too far,” he said. Then he shut her in the truck and got behind the wheel.
They turned right out of the street and drove for a few minutes, turning here and there, past similar homes. They’d discussed finding another home in the pride, but she really liked the home he had and didn’t want to be anywhere else.
He stopped in front of a quaint home that was bracketed on either side by towering pines. It had weathered wooden siding with ivy clinging to the walls and flower boxes filled with bright flowers. The sunset lent a golden glow to the home which made it look charming, like something out of a fairy tale.
Gavin turned off the truck and got out, coming around to help her out and onto the street. They walked up the gravel drive and the front door opened as they approached. A female stood in the doorway with rich auburn hair streaked with gray that cascaded around her shoulders in loose waves. She wore a long, flowing dress in a gauzy, earth-tone fabric with a shawl around her shoulders.
“Gavin, Sadie, welcome,” she greeted them, her voice as warm and inviting as the house itself. She stepped aside so they could enter. “Sadie, I’m Nora.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Sadie said.
“You as well,” she said.
As they crossed the threshold, the scent of the cottage enveloped Sadie, from an earthy aroma of dried herbs to the faint yeasty smell of baking bread. A large, hand-woven rug covered the wooden floor, softening the sounds of their feet as they walked.
Nora led them through a homey kitchen with brick walls and a dark stone floor to a wooden door. “I’m so glad you could come,” she said. “It’s been a long while since I’ve had the chance to host such a special evening.”
Sadie looked at Gavin. They were going to have their first date at Nora’s home? That was so incredibly cool.
Nora opened the wooden door and gestured toward a back porch. Gavin gave Sadie’s hand a squeeze and they stepped out of the house. It felt like they’d walked into another world. Twinkle lights were strung above the porch, casting a gentle glow over the intimate setting. Sheer curtains enclosed the space, billowing in the light breeze and giving a sense of privacy. A small, round table was set in the center with a lacy tablecloth and a small vase of flowers in the center. A few candles flickered on the table, lending another element to the romantic ambiance.
“I’ve prepared a meal that I hope you’ll both enjoy. Steak with compound butter, mashed potatoes, fresh baked sourdough bread, and chocolate bread pudding with honeyed fruit for dessert.”
“It smells incredible,” Sadie said as she and Gavin sat.
Nora left them on the porch.
“What do you think?” Gavin asked.
“It’s…amazing. When you said we were staying in town I thought there was a restaurant here.”
“There is one,” he said, “but I talked to Maya and she suggested that I ask Nora if she’d prepare something for us. The restaurant is nice but it’s not as private as this. Nora’s my mom’s friend and she was happy to host us. The only thing I told her is that it was our first date and I wanted it to be spectacular.”
“It is,” Sadie said. “This is…much more than I ever expected for a first date.”
“You’re important to me,” he said sincerely. “The most important female in my life and I want to treat you like a queen.”
Nora returned to the porch, filling goblets with ice water and glasses with wine, then she set filled plates before them. After fetching a basket of sliced bread and a dish of butter, she said, “Make yourselves at home. If you need anything, please call and I’ll come right out. I’ll bring dessert when you’re finished. Otherwise, enjoy the evening.”
As Nora left, Gavin stared at the curtains that covered the space. He got up from the table and moved to the curtains, pulling one section back to stare out into the coming darkness as the sun set. The woods were thick around Nora’s home, and Sadie didn’t know if he’d be able to see much of anything. But he sure seemed to be staring intently into the woods.
“What is it?” Sadie asked as her skin prickled with unease.
He waited a moment before answering, letting the curtain drop back into place. “I don’t know,” he said. He sat back down and picked up the glass of wine to take a drink. “I just felt like we were being watched.”
“Someone from the security team?”
He hummed. “Maybe. Just a strange feeling.”
“Do you want to call someone?”
He shook his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Yes, let’s enjoy this meal that Nora made.”
“It’s perfect.”
“It sure is.”
Conversation flowed easily between them as they ate Nora’s delicious food. Sadie swore it was the best meal she’d ever had in her life, and she could tell that Nora not only knew her way around the kitchen but genuinely enjoyed cooking for others. When they’d finished their dinner and amazing dessert, they thanked Nora for her time and effort, and Sadie gave her a hug.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Nora said. “I heard that you worked at a library.”
“I did, I loved it,” Sadie said.
“I have a library in my den, you’re welcome to come peruse my books anytime.”
“That’s so sweet, thank you.”
They left her home and as they walked to the truck, Gavin kept looking over his shoulder.
“You still feel weird?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
He opened the truck door for her. “What are you going to do?”
“Call Ryan and then talk to Midas if I need to. I feel like I’m just being paranoid, but we are at the edge of the territory and Nora’s home is pretty isolated.”
“Will she be okay out here alone?”
He nodded. “I’ll be sure to ask Ryan to send a patrol out here to keep an eye on things.”
He shut the door and lifted his phone to his ear as he made his way to the other side. He didn’t get into the truck until he’d finished talking to not only Ryan but Midas. When he got in the truck, he set his phone in the cup holder.
“Ryan said no patrols were in this area while we were here, so whatever I was sensing could be just general wildlife or it could be someone was watching us that shouldn’t have been.”
“How would anyone know we were there? And why would someone want to watch us ?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but Midas agrees with Ryan. They’re going to increase patrols and check the footage from the security cameras we have in the woods around the town. Maybe it was nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“Definitely.”
When they were back in their home, Gavin’s phone buzzed. “Hold on, sweetheart, I left a message for a wolf in Adam’s pack.”
He answered the call and spoke to the male named Brick, who she remembered as being Alpha Adam’s second in command.
“No worries, I just wanted to keep you updated. I didn’t see anything, but I sure as hell felt like we were being watched so I told Midas I’d pass along the strange vibes. If anything comes up from our security team investigation, I’ll let you know. Hey, thanks. Talk to you later.”
He ended the call and put the phone on the kitchen table. “Brick wished us well on our mating. He’s a good male.”
“That’s nice.”
“I’m sorry if things got kind of messed up at the end of our date.”
She shook her head. “Date’s not over yet.”
Taking his hand, she walked backward slowly, bringing him with her as she made her way to the bedroom.
“You’ve got the best ideas.”