Chapter Seven
Very early the next morning, Mairi clutched the folder with the signed divorce papers as she stared at the demure sign announcing the LAW OFFICE OF CORBIN LEONELLI.
All she had to do was walk through the door and start the process that would sever the tie legally linking her to Tavish. Breaking her heart all over again.
So, why couldn’t she move?
The door to the law office opened and Asher Reidman walked out. Asher owned The Unicorn, which was much more than just a bar. The swanky atmosphere, good food, and charming owner made it a favorite hangout among locals and tourists alike.
“Good day, Mairi,” Asher greeted with a smile.
“Hello,” she responded. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you.” His crystal-clear blue eyes sparkled. “Are you here to see Corbin?”
She glanced at the folder in her hand and bit her lip.
Was she ready for this? Ready to cleave the tie to the man she loved?
They’d been childhood friends, but she didn’t understand why he’d said the thing he did.
Why he hated her. When her grandmother died, Mairi had no reason to stay in Scotland.
Once she knew his company had been turned over to him, and that he was the single owner of the closely held corporation, she had moved to America.
It had been a desperate move to hide, making it difficult for him to find her and serve the divorce papers she held in her hands.
Yet, here she was. Ready, not ready. “Nae, not today.”
That had not been what she was going to say, and she didn’t know why she said it. It was like her mouth worked independently from her brain, but she couldn’t deny it was also the truth.
He offered his elbow. “Then, may I have honor of escorting you to the coffee shop?”
She smiled. Asher was nothing if not a gentleman.
He was human, but he knew about the shifter world.
Mairi linked her arm with his and they walked leisurely down the sidewalk, the cool air a hint that winter was fast approaching.
The entire time she mentally berated herself for not following through with her plan because her traitorous heart still had hope that Tavish would fall in love with her.
“Deep in thought,” Asher mused, jolting her.
“Sorry,” she said. “Just, you know, reflecting.”
“Need to talk about it?” he asked. “I’m a real good listener.”
She sighed. “Didn’t know if you heard, but my husband, Tavish, came here to divorce me, and now that he’s discovered we’re moon-fated mates, he’s changed his mind and wants me to move back to Scotland with him.”
“I see. You don’t want to move back to Scotland?”
“It’s not that. It’s ... he doesn’t like being a wolf.” She blinked, surprised she shared that information. “He thinks I married him for his money and title.”
“Sounds like he’s confused.”
There was something about Asher that made him extremely easy to open up to.
“Perhaps,” she murmured. She waved the folder. “I have the divorce papers, and he signed them. So why couldn’t I walk through Corbin’s door?”
“Sounds like you’re confused.”
“Maybe.” Turmoil still churned in her heart. “Maybe I still have hope that he’ll suddenly like being a shifter and won’t mind passing it along to pups. And wow! I can’t believe I just told you my desperate fear. Are you a priest sent so I can confess my deepest, darkest secret?”
“A priest? Absolutely not. I enjoy sex too much.” He laughed. “I’m a bartender, so easy vibes are built into my DNA.”
Thinking about him and sex caused her cheeks to heat. Asher was a good-looking man. He was no Tavish MacAlary, but she was probably a little biased.
“Let me ask you something,” he said. “What do you want?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want a divorce?”
“Aye,” she answered, and then paused. “Nae.”
“Why?”
“Because ... because I love him.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“He never wanted me before. Not until he discovered I was his moon-fated mate, and that’s just hormones. Right?”
“Well, yes. Technically, you’re right, sexual attraction is hormones, and it can be confused with love.
However, it’s driven more from physical responses of appearance and chemistry.
How good he or she looks, like brawny shoulders or gorgeous legs.
” He patted her hand still curled around his bicep.
“Love is about a deeper connection. Shared values, emotional intimacy rather than simple desire. The need for a long-term commitment.”
“He never wanted a long-term commitment before, not until he scented me.” She shook her head as a wave of sadness rolled through her.
“One sniff and he declared we’re staying together and not divorcing, despite the fact he was carrying around signed divorce papers.
That right there fits the description of lust, not love. ”
“Love co-exists with lust. They aren’t exclusive to one another.”
“So, back to square one.”
They turned the block and headed toward the coffee shop.
“May I ask, do you want a long-term commitment? If Tavish proved what he feels is real, and not just a biological response, would you go back to Scotland with him?”
Mairi thought for a moment. Deep in her heart, she knew what she wanted. “Aye. All I’ve ever wanted was to be his, but I couldn’t stomach the thought he was forced to be with me. Especially when I overheard him accuse me of being a gold-digger.”
“You knew you two were mates, right?”
“Aye.”
“So, are your emotions nothing but a physical response?”
“No.” Then she caught on to what he was implying. “Oh, I see. You’re about to point out how could I know if what I feel is love or just wolf hormones, aren’t you?”
“You’re catching on fast,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe Tavish is, too.”
She hadn’t thought about it from that perspective. Did she run too quickly after overhearing his conversation? Did she take the coward’s way out, instead of confronting him and insisting he give them a chance? Had she sabotaged her own happiness by burying her head in the sand?
“I understand your point,” she murmured. “He mentioned he’d just connected with his wolf. Do you think that had anything to do with it?”
“Not connected with his wolf ... that’s unusual, right?”
“Aye. I mean, my parents and gran were wolves and taught me, so I can’t imagine his own father wouldn’t have taught him. Families keep young pups close because there’s been a ban on packs for eons.”
“Not all of us are lucky enough to have a family member to help ease a transition.”
She glanced at him sharply. It almost sounded like he painted himself as a shifter, but she didn’t scent a duality to his soul. Maybe he was just an empathic sympathizer.
“You think I should talk to him,” she concluded.
“Definitely. What have you got to lose? Or perhaps I should ask, what do you have to gain?”
They reached the coffee shop, and they stopped. She let go of his arm and smiled at him.
“Thanks for the talk,” she said. “Would you like a coffee? My treat.”
“Not today, but thanks.” He smiled at her. “My bartender psychology is free. Ciao, my friend.”
With a wave of his hand, he continued down the street. She watched him for a moment before entering the coffee shop where Keegan was helping a customer. Another person waited in line, so Mairi rushed to help. For the rest of the day, Asher’s wisdom played on repeat through her head.
****
When the coffee shop closed and she stepped out, Tavish stood there, waiting for her.
Her heartbeat sped up as happiness bloomed, and she tried to suppress it by reminding herself that maybe he really doesn’t want her, just the moon-fated mate that sprung his alpha out.
Still, when he pulled a single red rose from behind his back, she was mesmerized by the sexual warmth radiating from his eyes.
He held the rose out to her, and she took it, noticing that the thorns had all been removed.
“Thank you,” she said as the sweet scent tickled her nose. Their gazes met, and the entire world around them disappeared.
“May I escort you to our date?”
He held out his elbow in a gentlemanly way. Charmed, she took hold of the crux and they headed to the diner.
“I see the black eye is gone.”
“Word spread quickly.”
“It often does in a small community.”
“It wasn’t even a fight. Just clearing up some information.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, clearly not buying what he was selling.
“How about I promise no more punches if you tell me everything about yourself.”
“Everything?” She decided to let the fight go.
Although she should be mad that the two of them fought over her, she couldn’t help but be a little honest and admit she was flattered.
Maybe Tavish was really starting to accept the mate bond.
“Well, I’ll warn you. I’m boring. Probably one of the most boring people you’ll ever meet. ”
“That I highly doubt. How about I start?”
She glanced up at him. “All right.”
“I do nothing but work,” he said. “My life has revolved around the company my grandfather started, and in the three years I’ve had total control, we’ve gone from a multimillion profit margin to just over a billion this past quarter.”
Her eyes widened. “Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what type of company is it?”
He glanced at her in confusion. “You don’t know?”
She shook her head. “Nae, sorry.”
“Mergers and acquisitions,” he replied. “I consolidate companies through the sale of assets or stock. Basically, I create revenue and cost synergies, plus I expand into new markets and acquire new technologies and talent when I think it’s a valuable commodity.”
“I’ll be honest,” she mused. “All of that went right over my head, but you speak so passionately about it. You enjoy what you do?”
He thought for a moment. “Aye. I’m good at it. Every time I acquire a business, it’s a puzzle to pull apart. See what makes them tick and where each division can be best categorized.”
“Good. There are so many people who never find their niche. I’m glad you found yours.”
“What about you?”