Chapter 11
“She’s a lot younger than you,” Gerard said with a hearty chuckle full of implications.
Henry’s mouth flatlined, and he glared at his best friend. He wasn’t a coward.
“Coward,” Gerard taunted.
Henry’s scowl deepened, digging into his cheeks and his forehead.
Damn it. He shouldn’t have come home in this state.
Instead of returning to base, he should’ve gone for a run to burn off his angst. Now, they sat in their office, drinking beer while he spilled the emotions he usually kept tucked close.
“She’s an exceptional woman. Do you want one of the Mitchell cousins or local men to grab her while you run away?
Invite her to dinner. A date. You have the inside track.
Instead, you’re behaving like a teenage boy.
I’ve never seen you like this before.” His brow crinkled.
“Not since…” His expression froze, and his gaze shot to Henry.
“She’s my mate,” Henry said through the knot in his throat.
“But Jenny—”
“Yeah.” Henry closed his eyes, that knot growing larger. His mind darted through his memories. Jenny’s face didn’t hold the same definition, and he cursed at the realization. Maia’s visage came to the forefront instead, superseding Jenny. Henry wanted to hate Maia for this.
It wasn’t working.
“It’s possible to have two mates. Dad did. Your mother before he fell for Megan. Why is it so impossible for you to have another mate?”
Henry wiped his hands over his face and met Gerard’s gaze. “She’s so young.”
“Too young,” Gerard said, his green eyes narrowing.
Henry could see his friend’s brain ticking over and slotting facts together.
“Maia was present during the school trip. I remember her because her big eyes were full of tears after you left. You knew then.”
“Yes.”
“Hell,” Gerard said in an understatement. “No wonder you’ve been out of sorts since Maia arrived.” He tapped his fingers on his desk. “She’s how old now?”
“Still too young,” Henry said in a curt voice.
“Exactly how old?”
“I don’t know.”
“You should ask.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Henry snapped. “The age gap is too big.”
“What does Maia think? Have you asked her? The mate bond must be tugging her too.”
“We’re poles apart in age and experience. Maia won’t be in Middlemarch much once she heals and returns to training.”
“Minor problems. Besides, how will you cope with seeing her with another man?”
“I’ll… I don’t know.” Henry wanted to snarl, but Gerard wasn’t saying anything he hadn’t told himself.
“Talk to her.”
“I can’t lay this on her when she knows nothing of shifters. And someone is trying to hurt her. She’ll think I’m the one who’s crazy.”
“Ask her out on a date. Take things slow. Get to know her as an adult instead of telling yourself she’s that kid who drew you years ago.
Henry, she is an adult. She might not have the same years as you, but she’s mature.
You could have a sensible conversation without feeling like you come from different generations. ”
Henry groaned even as he allowed Gerard’s wise words to sink into his beleaguered brain.
Maia intended to make Middlemarch her permanent home—at least for the near future.
He had two options: he could stay the hell away from Maia, which wasn’t going well, or…
Yeah, he needed to go with his second recourse and embrace the chance of a mate.
“What’s happening inside that thick head of yours? You can’t walk away from Maia, not if it means you have a mate. I know you’re lonely. It can’t be easy when your friends have partners. Your dad.”
“That’s the part that gives me hope.” Henry ran with honesty. “I do feel lonely and left out, which is why I spend so much time with my dogs. They give me simple companionship. Maia is more—hell, she comes with complications, yet I can’t stay away. Not when someone means to hurt her.”
“Sounds as if you’ve made your decision. Your heart, at least. It’s that clever brain of yours creating roadblocks. Give the girl—the woman—a chance. My bet is she’ll surprise you.”
“Maybe.” Henry swallowed a mouthful of beer, savoring the amber liquid instead of using it as a prop.
“You should go home now,” Gerard said.
“I am home.”
“Your place is with Maia. If you’re to have any chance of a future, you need to keep her safe.”
Henry drank the last of his beer. “You’re right. I might park a distance from her house, shift to wolf, and do a circuit. That way, I can tell Maia no one is loitering outside.” He changed the subject. “I can pick up the puppy tomorrow. She’s recovered well, but Gavin said she’s skittish.”
“Not surprised. You keeping her?”
“One more makes no difference. Maia said she wanted a dog but can’t have one because she travels often. I might take one of the older dogs to her place. She can keep it while she’s at home, and if she needs to be away, she can drop them back with me.”
“Look at you thinking of the future,” Gerard teased.
“Please don’t tell London. I don’t want her sticking her nose into my business. She’d mean well, but I need to do this at my pace.”
“Got it. I’ll run interference. I won’t lie to London, but I will ensure she and Megan don’t pressure you. Neither are stupid. They’ll notice your behavior.”
“My behavior?”
“You’re lacking your normal confidence, and your temper is running hot when normally you’re Mr. Cool, and nothing rattles you.”
Henry frowned, not liking this. Yeah, he’d noticed his mood swings. God knows what Maia thought. “I better go.”
“Take one of your dogs. Let Maia think that is why you left her house.”
Yeah, that wouldn’t work, but taking the dog might help. At the very least, it would distract Maia.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Any time. You can always talk to Sam if you want impartial counsel. If Maia is playing up that way, go with her and take an extra day to visit Sam. Sam and Lisa would understand, especially if the person responsible for the graffiti keeps hassling Maia.”
“That’s a pretty decent idea.”
“I know,” Gerard said smugly.
Henry rose.
“Keep me in the loop. If anything happens, I’m nearby. Dad and Megan should be home in a few hours. Dad will help.”
“I know. Thanks.”
“Should I tell Dad what is going on?”
Henry considered this and nodded. “Please. Tell him I’ll talk to him tomorrow, but yeah, tell him what’s going on and not to tell Megan if he can help it.”
Gerard’s eyes gleamed with silent laughter. “I’ve got your back.”
Henry left with a wave and headed out to his dogs.
He wanted to decide which of his dogs would work best for Maia.
After a quick exercise run, rough and tumble, and ear rubs, he chose Juno.
If she didn’t work out, he’d try one of his other dogs, but Juno was older, well-mannered, and adaptable.
She was intelligent, and she’d quickly learn Maia’s routine.
An hour later, he set off with Juno riding shotgun, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Henry parked on a quiet side road near Maia’s house.
He exited his vehicle and let his night vision kick in, listening carefully for any out-of-the-ordinary sounds.
He heard nothing but a lone owl perched in a pine tree.
Satisfied no one lurked nearby, he let Juno out and stripped.
He didn’t bother locking his vehicle but placed the keys beneath an old log a few feet from where he’d parked.
That done, he shifted, letting the change slide over him.
The familiar pain-pleasure of the morph flared under his skin and through his muscles.
Hair sprouted on his body, and he arched forward, landing on all fours.
Henry took a few seconds to let the exhilaration of his expanded senses roar through him before he signaled Juno.
Like the well-trained dog she was, she trotted after him with a soft grunt.
They’d enjoy this run across the paddocks.
It would serve two purposes. He’d reassure himself Maia’s stalker wasn’t lurking in the darkness, and it would allow Henry to calm and center himself.
He owed Maia an apology. This time, he’d change how he interacted with her—starting with friendship and going from there.
They trotted around Maia’s house, finding nothing out of place. Perhaps the graffiti was a one-off thing. He hoped so, but his gut told him otherwise. He and Juno loped back to his vehicle, and the owl hooted twice before taking off to arrow through the sky and disappear into the gloom.
Henry shifted and retrieved his keys before dressing.
When he stopped at Maia’s house, the outside light blazed, and the three sensor security lights he’d installed at the front flicked on, illuminating a large area.
Excellent. That would make any would-be thieves or intruders think twice before proceeding.
Juno followed him up the three steps to the door and sat at his side.
When he tested the front door, he found it locked. Maia had listened to his lectures on security. He knocked three times and waited, hearing Maia’s light footsteps as she approached the door.
“Who is it?”
“Henry.” Approval filled him, along with relief. She’d taken his advice on board and was taking care of security.
“Do I know you?” she asked after a long pause.
Henry stiffened. She intended to let him inside, right? Perhaps he needed to ask since he’d left abruptly. He’d run. Hell, she probably suspected he was a fruitcake.
“Yes, I’m the idiot who left without telling you why and behaved as if I had a fire lit under my butt.”
“Ah! That Henry,” she said, humor lurking in her voice now.
Henry’s breath puffed out in relief. This was fixable as long as he stopped repeating the same mistakes. Since he was older, he should be the mature one, but he was striking out big time.
That had to stop.
It would stop.