Page 9 of His Fiery Mate

“For now,” Melisandre laughed. “Don’t get me wrong; I get where Cooper is coming from, but now, after everything that’s happened, I just wouldn’t be happy on Denali. I miss it, but I don’t want to live there. Does that make any sense?”

“It does. You could always stay with us…”

“Your place has a single bedroom, and the last thing I need is to get all jealous of you having howling good sex with your mate.”

Nicole laughed. “Point taken. Rick Blackthorne is a black bear-shifter. He’s got a nice place over his diner.”

“I’ve heard about that place. Isn’t it really popular? Wouldn’t it be noisy?”

Nicole shook her head. “No. When he decided to use that upper space to rent out, he made sure that you couldn’t hear or smell the diner below. Trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to smell the diner. It’s one of my favorite places in the world to eat.”

“High praise from a woman who plans huge weddings all over the world and employs some of the best caterers and chefs.”

“I do love great food. Thankfully Asher likes me a little plump. If you want, I can call Rick. The place has a beautiful deck off the back and the most amazing views.”

Nicole had made her calls and by the time Melisandre had driven her SUV off the ferry, Nicole had not only secured the place, but made deals with several of the local furniture and antique stores to loan her some additional furniture, including a firepit that would be safe to use on the balcony. From the moment Rick opened the door to show her the place, she was in love. The entire back of the space was floor to vaulted ceiling windows.

It also boasted a gourmet kitchen, one bedroom, one and a half baths, a fireplace, hardwood floors, and soaring ceilings. Melisandre had fallen in love and began to think seriously about seeing if she couldn’t base out of Kodiak and rent the space from Rick forever.

“Hey!” called Rick, coming out of the kitchen. “You need to eat…”

Melisandre laughed. It was hard not to like Rick. “You know way too much about my daily activities.”

“I do,” he said. “I own the local diner. Everybody expects me to know everything. If I didn’t they’d be so disappointed. Down here or upstairs?”

“If I could take it upstairs…”

“The special tonight is the smoked meatloaf with smashed potatoes and roasted baby carrots.”

She shook her finger at him. “You know me too well.”

“And I saved you a piece of chocolate chip peanut butter pie.”

“Okay, that’s it. I’m moving to Kodiak permanently, and you’re stuck with me as a renter.”

“That’s not much of a threat,” he laughed, and she had to wonder if he might not be inclined to let her stay. “You go on up. Want to take a shower first?”

She walked over, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Perfection. Give me about ten minutes.”

“Take fifteen.”

Melisandre grinned at him and headed up the interior stairs. There was a separate staircase that led to a private entrance off the back, but most of the time she opted to come in and access her apartment via the diner. After taking a quick shower, she pulled on her favorite purple leopard pajama pants and matching black cold-shouldered bulky knit sweater. She pulled on the mukluks Nicole had given her when they first met. She went out onto the balcony and lit the firepit before stretching out on the lounge and opening her laptop.

At the sound of a knock on her door, she hollered, “Come in,” fully expecting Rick.

“Whoa. I’d heard this place was amazing.”

It wasn’t that Melisandre was shocked that a hellhound would have the audacity to confront her in her own home; it was more that she had expected to hear Rick, although the nausea and disorientation had returned as strongly as it had been at the scene of the fire.

“How dare you,” she seethed, bringing up the fiery mist that would allow her to shift from human to drakaina.

“Hold up, Melisandre. I come in peace and bearing gifts.” He held up a tray with two dinners on it with one hand and two bottles of her favorite microbrew. “Rick made me promise that you got the chocolate chip peanut butter pie.”

Just the tiniest bit mollified, she said. “The pie is amazing.”

“I know. I used to work here.”

“You did?”

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