Chapter 3
“Are you sure you don’t mind going with me? I have a bit of trouble with women.” She asked him if he was a plaything for them. “Plaything? I don’t know that I’d go that far, but women especially expect me to marry them on the spot simply because I’m a single guy with money. One of the main reasons that I don’t date much. Too much drama.”
“And you’re good-looking. That probably doesn’t help you, either. You have that boyish charm to you as well.” The man, she knew his name was Stone, asked her if she thought he was good-looking. “Yes. And while I think you know it, you’re not arrogant about it. I work in a grocery store back home and I see that type all the time. They think that just because they’re good-looking, they’re also charming. Which most men aren’t.”
“Thank you. I think.” He pulled into the drive of the house that they were sent to look at. “Odell said that it’s not even on the market yet but I can see it being snatched up quickly for the way it looks on the outside. Do you suppose that he believes that and hopes that selling it to me will be something that he doesn’t have to mess with later?”
“I don’t know. It seems to have a lot of…well, charm again, and most people want modern with cable and shit ready. Also, I’m betting this place has one of those really nice eat-in kitchens with a dining room that’s formal. Most people, at least I think so, want a kitchen to entertain in.” He asked her why she’d think that. “The wrap-around porch. Also, the rocking chairs and swing. They don’t look to me like they’re only there for curb appeal but they get used by the owners of this place. Like the couple would sit out there instead of watching whatever crap that’s on their phones.”
The realtor had been called away, which was fine by them, and using the key that Odell had given them, they walked into the house and she was blown away by the front entrance. It was like she had thought. Made for inviting people into your home—not a house but a home, and all would be welcome.
There was a double-wide staircase with the most beautiful railing that was on both sides. She could see a bride at the top of it, waiting for her life to get started with someone who would own the place. As they were going through the house, still furnished because Odell’s mother had passed away a month ago, and he was just now getting around to wanting to sell the home. She wandered around the place with Stone and kept her mouth closed. That had been her plan anyway.
“You know, I’d like your opinion about the place. You don’t have to bite your lips in not saying anything.” She told him that she’d buy this house if she had the money. “What about it that appeals to you so much that you’d buy it without looking at the rest of the place?”
“Are you making fun of me?” He said he’d never do that and that he really wanted her opinion. “All right. I can see from here that the dining room is one for entertaining not just getting together with people that you don’t know well. I’m betting that the books on the shelves in the library are well worn and all of them have been read. I noticed too that there are books of different genres too.”
“I noticed that as well. I love the big windows in this room. I’m betting that when spring is in full swing, it’ll be beautiful. All year round, I think.” The two of them were standing in the middle of the library, looking around, when he pointed out the chandelier. “Can you imagine holly hanging from here in the winter or even mistletoe? The trees, because I think this house screams for a Christmas tree in every room, would be a perfectly beautiful addition to this room, standing near the fireplace. And that is funny to me because since I moved out of the house, I’ve not put up one decoration for any holiday.”
She thought it was funny that he pulled out his phone and began taking pictures. Even putting notes on it as if he was making a list of things that needed to be taken care of. When they did enter the dining room, a very large one that opened out onto a deck with a pool in the back yard. She wanted to sit in one of the many chairs to see if they were as comfortable as they looked. The house was checking all her boxes in the perfect home to live in.
“On to the living room, I guess.” The room that she could see with yet another tree by the huge fireplace sparkling with lights, the room was lovely. In addition to the four large overstuffed couches, there were little sitting areas with a chair and a little table next to it if you wanted to read. Or to play a game or two while enjoying the crackling of the fireplace.
There wasn’t any television in the room, Odell had told them that he’d taken it out when his had broken, but it was something that sat over the fireplace. He told them that he thought that it was too small for the room anyway. It needed to be much larger than the forty-five inch one that had been there.
“I didn’t know they made much larger televisions than that one. I think that’s the size that I have, but I rarely watch it.” She told him that she thought they were about seventy-five and laughed when he found one on his phone for one hundred and twenty inches. “You’d feel like you were standing on the field—any field of any sports that you were watching with one that big.”
The kitchen was next to look over. Odell had told them that the kitchen had been updated recently so he didn’t think that they’d have to do that. It was up to date but it still needed some work, she thought. While it did have an eat-in table like she had thought, there was a pantry that she thought was much too small for the size of the house and room they were in. However, she loved the large room and the herb window that was filled with half-dying herbs. Sage got to work with watering them all while they were in the kitchen.
There was a study, too, that was devoid of any furniture. There were marks on the floor like it had held a large desk as well as some chairs. But again, Odell had forewarned them about that, saying that the desk had been in ill repair and had had it removed even before his mother had passed away.
“It had been my father’s desk and Mom thought that someone could make a go at it in cleaning it up. But once it had been to the place to have it repaired, it was found to be beyond restoration and had been thrown out.” Along with the matching chairs that too had been his dad’s as well. “Mother was devasted, of course, but whoever buys it wouldn’t care for it anyway. It was just a pine desk that someone had made for Dad a very long time ago.”
The stairs in the back of the house were there for them to use. A set had been for the help, they’d been told, and it not only led right to the kitchen but there was a small elevator to take things from the first floor to the second. On the second floor, they were both surprised to find that there were six bedrooms, not including the master suite, and each bedroom had its own bathroom. It was beautifully laid out.
“Here’s the elevator.” The gilded elevator was just at the back of the house nearest to the master suite just as they’d been told. Not only did it seem to be large enough for several people to be brought up or down in it, but it was also beautifully decorated as well. They were going to use it when they decided to go back down, just to test if it still worked. “I can see this being used to bring furniture up here, too. And anything else that would be brought up that would be too heavy for the stairs.”
She agreed with them as they looked into each of the bedrooms after seeing the master suite and marveling at the large window that was in the back of the room so that a person could see out the back of the house and into the yard below.
After glancing into each of the bedrooms, all of them in soft hues that seemed to be in the bedspread that was on the large king sized beds that took up space in the big rooms. She wanted to fling herself into the bedroom and have a nap. She figured that the rooms, all of them, were perfect for taking a long nap in them. Even to snuggle deep within the blankest on a cold winter night too.
“I think you love the house as much as I do.” She was slightly embarrassed about how much she’d gushed about the home when they were riding down the quiet elevator. “And I do love everything about it. I wonder what the price will be with all these things, too.”
“I would imagine that the house will cost a great deal anyway. All the things in it? Well, it’d probably double whatever he has as the asking price. Do you have furniture to fill it out?”
“Nothing. A bed with some odd blankets but nothing like this place has.” They were in the living room again. “I can see my family coming over here to watch any game that’s on, especially with the television that would go up there. Staff would be helpful, too, but I’m guessing that they might stick around if someone were to buy the house like it is. I shouldn’t say this, but I’m thinking that he’ll be able to charge me double the price, and I’d pay it simply because the house is everything that I want.”
“I don’t know that I’d say that to him. You don’t want to tip your hand just yet.” They both laughed and she found it hard to leave the house. “You’ll be happy here, I think. And be able to have this as a forever home. With the elevator, you won’t have to worry about steps when you get too old to climb them.”
“I’m immortal. The stairs wouldn’t be an issue because I’d stay just as fit and strong as I am right now.” She didn’t know what to say about that, so she said nothing. “Did you notice too that I’d be living a bit from my family? That would be nice if I wanted to have some privacy. Also, having them close enough—what’s wrong? Did I say something that upset you?”
“No. Why would you ask that? I think it’s about time that I got back to your brother’s house. He must be worried that I’d gotten lost or something.” He said that he spoke to his family as they were touring the house. “That’s good. I should have remembered that you have that link thing going on. I should be heading home. Don’t you think?”
“I said something wrong. What did I do?” She just stared at him. “Come on. We were having such fun until now. Is it the house or me?”
“Neither. I don’t know…it’s all right. You and some very lucky woman will enjoy this house, and I’m happy for the two of you. I think that I should be headed home.” She made her way to the door and was stopped because it was locked. “Do you have a key still? I think that we’re locked in.”
“I have the key.” He seemed upset with her, and she was fine by that. He needed to find himself a wife so that he could have this beautiful home to raise little wolves in. She was nearly to the car when he stopped her by pulling her around to look at him. “Please tell me what has you so upset. I hurt in thinking that I’ve done something wrong to you. Please tell me so I can fix it.”
“There is…” She sighed heavily. “You have money. I’m aware of that. And I love this house just as much, if not more, than you do. I’m jealous, I guess you could say. Whoever lives here, you or someone else, will be able to afford all the things that will fill this house out as a home. It’s no big deal. Really. I’m just being my usual self right now.”
He helped her into the car and she wanted to cry for being so stupid. As soon as he started the car, he turned it off and looked at her. Not sure what she’d done now, she asked him if he was all right.
“No. I mean, yes. I’m a little dense.” She told him that he was far from that. “I’ve spent the entire day with you and didn’t even think about why it felt so right. Why you being with me was the perfect thing to have.”
“I don’t know what it is you’re talking about. Don’t you think that…your parents are having dinner with me tonight so that I can finally meet the little girl that I’m bringing back to the Danielsons.” She turned away to wipe at the tears that seemed to be falling for no reason—there was a reason, but she didn’t want to think about it right now. “I think that I’ll walk to your brothers if you don’t mind. I’m sure you have someone that you need to—”
“You’re my mate, Sage. I didn’t understand this before now but you are. May I smell you?” She decided that there was something wrong with him and asked him why he’d want to smell her. His laughter wasn’t doing her temper any good. “No, what I meant, can I smell your neck? There are other ways that I can figure out if I belong to you, but that’s the simplest way that I can think of.”
“What will that mean? Whether or not I’m your mate? Does it mean that you’re settled with me or something?” Before he could answer her, if that was what he was going to do, she tore open the door and got out of the car. Just as she was reaching into the car to get her things, the glass to the window shattered. The next thing she knew, she was on the ground with a very large…”You’re smashing me. Are you—” The paw over her mouth made her a little pissy but she allowed it when she realized that she was getting loud.”
There was a second shattering glass, and that was when she realized that someone was shooting at her. Not moving, she nearly cried out when the big wolfman licked her face. She was going to murder him if he didn’t stop—
“I need to find out who that is.” Before she could nod at him, or, more importantly, ask him how the hell he was talking to her, he was gone. Coming back when she started to sit up, he licked her once more. “You’re my mate, love. Don’t move, or whoever it is might just test the theory of whether or not you’re immortal, too.” Then he was gone. She was going to kill him. Or he was going to get killed, she realized.
~*~
Just as he was running toward the tree line, he realized what he was doing. First of all, he had no idea where the shots had come from and that he’d left his mate there veritable and bleeding. Turning around, he made his way back to her only to find that she was lying very still with her eyes closed. She was dead. He just knew it.
He got close enough to her to be able to smell the blood again when she smacked him on the nose. Sitting up, she looked at him with so much fire in her eyes that he felt his cock get hard. It was the stupidest reaction that he’d ever had before. Being turned on by a woman’s anger.
“You just left me here.” He nodded, backing away from her, when she got up on her knees. “What would have happened had the person come up behind you and killed me?” Stone thought that he’d be better off without saying that she was an immortal again. He might just be able to have sex again someday if he didn’t. “I know you can talk to me. You did it already—and that’s another thing. What makes you think that I’d be thrilled to death knowing that all you had to do was to lick my face and be able to speak to me? You didn’t in the event you were going to say something stupid.”
He watched her as she sat on her knees. Stone also thought that it was best if he didn’t mention that he thought that she was sexy, being as pissed off as she was at him. He also thought it was cute. He might be in love with her, but he wasn’t going to mess up his body when he happened to tell her that.
“Well?” he shifted, thrilled beyond words that he was dressed. There was no telling what she might have done to his poor body had he not been. “You’re human again. I asked you a question.”
“I don’t know what it was. I’d have an answer for you if I knew, but I don’t.” When she stood up, he realized that someone was still out there and begged her to sit down. “While I have no doubt that you could take on someone who is trying to kill us, I’d rather you didn’t do anything but sit on your pretty bottom and wait for my brothers.”
She growled at him. It was adorable but scary, too. Again, he kept his mouth shut and decided that he’d let her cool down—another thing he wasn’t going to tell her—before he mentioned that he loved her and found her growling at him to be off-the-charts sexy.
It was then that he decided to contact his brothers. “I’ve been shot at. So has my mate.” It was Garfield who asked him if it was Sage. “Yes. She’s none too happy with me right now but I’m not going to mention to her how beautiful I think she is right now. But we’re now hiding behind my car, which has been shot up, waiting for someone to come and save the two of us.”
Edwin told him that he was coming into the driveway now. Almost as soon as he said that, he could hear the crunch of gravel as someone pulled into the house. Not standing up, he was glad that his family was there for him but he didn’t know what to do about getting someplace safe. Edwin didn’t get out of his truck but did tell him that the police were on their way as well.
They were ushered into the house in a very short time, and he was glad, too, that they were safe from the shooter. At least, he hoped they were. As soon as the door closed behind them, he pulled Sage into his arms and held her. She started crying then, and he was at a loss as to what to do next.
“Storm and Rain are looking for him. Whoever he was, he won’t get far now that they’re looking.” Stone believed that. “The good news is that you have your mate, and you’re both all right.”
“All right? Did you just say, all right? You’re saying that someone shoots at us, and it’s no big deal because we’re all right?” Edwin took a few steps back when Sage started for him. “I got cut, you moronic fuck. From someone shooting at me. How is that remotely no big deal that—I think I’m going to be sick.”
Stone was glad that she remembered where the bathroom was on this floor, as he had been drawing a blank. When the door slammed behind Sage, he looked at Edwin, telling him that he might have a clue as to who it might well be. He thought it was the principal of the school, Roland Jorden.
“Because you quit or because he’s going to get fired?” He said he’d not known about him being fired. “Mom contacted me a little while ago. The board voted to have him fired because he gave you such a hard time that it caused you to quit. Are you going back if he’s gone?”
“To be honest with you, I don’t know. I’ve been teaching since before I graduated from college, and I never take a vacation unless it’s over the summer months. I don’t know, but I think I don’t want to—I found my mate, and I find that I want to do things with her that we did today. Just hang out. We won’t be able to do that if I have to work too.” He asked him if he was going to buy this house. “I think we are. We both love it very much. And it’s perfect for the two of us.”
When Sage came toward him, her hand over her mouth like she was going to be sick again, she told him how she had puke breath and didn’t want to breathe on them. Nearly laughing, he caught himself just as he was about to let it burst out. Christ, there had to be something wrong with him if he thought that pissing off his mate was funny.