Chapter 17
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.”
“Yes, it was.” Oakley patted his stomach. “And we got the local discount.”
“And there was that.”
We drove home while I tried to decide if it was all right to buy someone a house without telling them in advance. He liked it, no question there, but shouldn’t I ask him if he wanted it?
Mate wants house. My bear had no doubt of that, apparently. We’ll get it for him.
We will see. I don’t even know how much it costs.
But I knew the next day, when I called the Realtor and asked. The price was quite fair, and I immediately offered full. Then I had to wait to see if it would be accepted.