Page 79 of The Finder

“Ready for what?” Emma asked in exasperation. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

Garrett laughed a deep sexy laugh behind her. “Open your eyes,” he said in a low voice.

Emma did as he said. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked all around her. “Garrett,” she said in shock. He stepped close behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“I know how much you loved working at Sip and Drip. I wanted to recreate something similar for you but on pack lands where you will always be protected. So, we made this. It’s our very own Northwoods Pack Coffee House. It’s got commercial ovens so you can make your cinnamon rolls and whatever else you want to make. It’s got all the fancy machines that Helen had and all the same products to make the drinks. I ordered everything from the same company Helen does so it’s all the right stuff.” He was quiet a moment. “Do you like it?”

Emma stared at the most beautifully designed coffee shop she had ever seen. There were large windows, making the entire coffee shop sparkle and shine. There were small café tables scattered throughout the shop. The floor was a beautiful gray hardwood floor that was contemporary and paired perfectly with the long white serving counter that doubled as a serving counter and an eating counter with tall bar stools. There were several hanging white pots with beautiful greenery around the shop. White lights hung from exposed wooden beams in the ceiling. There were a few wall art pieces scattered throughout the shop with little pops of color.

“This is the most beautiful shop I’ve ever seen,” she said.

“I tried to make it similar to the outside oasis you liked outside of the restaurant we went to on our date,” Garrett said.

Emma turned and threw herself into his arms; he caught her and held her tightly against his chest. “I can’t believe you did this for me,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest.

“Get used to it, baby. I’m planning on spoiling you for the rest of your life.” He tipped her head back and kissed her. Then he pulled back and Emma watched in confusion for a moment when he kneeled in front of her. Then it hit her. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

“Emma, you have made the happiest man in the entire world. Would you do the honor of becoming my mate? We don’t usually propose and do the whole ring thing; that’s a human tradition. But I figured maybe that would make it more real in your mind,” Garrett said, and Emma could see the slightest uncertainty in his gaze.

“Yes,” Emma said through her tears. She had never been more sure of anything in her entire life. She watched as Garrett slid the most incredibly beautiful ring onto her finger. She looked down at the intricate design. There was a beautiful large diamond in the center. Wrapped around the diamond on either side were two beautiful silver bands filled with small black diamonds that braided together and then curved around the large diamond in the middle. She looked up at Garrett.

“The large diamond is you. The intertwined band with black diamonds represents my wolf and I. It’s wrapped around the diamond because you are the center of our world. We will always protect you and cherish you,” Garrett said.

“It’s so beautiful, Garrett. Thank you,” she said. She threw her arms around his neck and he pulled her tightly against him. She pulled back after a moment. “I feel like I don’t deserve any of this. You’ve done so much for me, and I have nothing for you. I haven’t been able to give you anything.”

“I don’t want anything from you, Emma. I simply want you. You giving yourself to me is the greatest gift I could ever ask for,” he said.

“I love you, Garrett,” Emma said.

Garrett closed his eyes and brought her close to his chest. “Then I have everything I could ever want.” He opened his eyes. “I love you, Emma,” Garrett said simply.

“Will you bite me now, mark me as yours?” Emma asked softly.

He pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes lightening in color. “Why now?” he asked in a low voice.

“I’m wearing your ring. It’s only right that I wear your mark, so it’s official in my world and in your world. Besides, I want the challenges to stop. I don’t want you to have to go through one more challenge if I can do something to stop them,” she said, reaching up and putting her hand on his cheek.

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his eyes were almost fully glowing. “There’s nothing I’d like more,” he said, his wolf present in the gruffness of his voice. “But not here. We will do it at the house. And Paul needs to be there. I’m not sure what’s going to happen when I bite you because you’re a human. A wolf heals from the bite quickly; I don’t know about a human. The bite needs to be deep enough so the bite stays permanent. So, Paul definitely needs to be there.”

“Then contact him and tell him to come to the house tonight,” Emma said.

“Are you sure?” Garrett asked.

“More so than of anything else in my life,” Emma said honestly.

Garrett pulled her in for another searing kiss. Emma stood on her tiptoes, trying to get closer to him. He must have understood her need, because he lifted her a moment later. “Wrap your legs around my waist, baby,” he whispered.

Emma did what he said, and he deepened the kiss. Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Garrett finally slowed down and eventually pulled back. He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Let’s get back to the house,” he said. Emma couldn’t agree with him more; she wanted to as well. But she also wanted a few answers to some questions, and she wasn’t sure when they would get privacy like this again.

“Before we go, can I ask you a few questions?” she asked looking at him. She could get used to this position. She was eye-to-eye with him.

“Anything,” he said.

Emma wiggled to get down. “Want to try a coffee?” she asked, her eyes sparkling in delight.

Garrett smiled. “I’d love to.”

Emma grabbed his hand and pulled him with her behind the new coffee bar. After a few minutes of orienting herself to where everything was, she ground some fresh dark roast beans. She made a small pot of dark roast for Garrett and made a latte for herself. She just put vanilla syrup in it for now until she got used to everything. When both drinks were ready, she handed Garrett’s his and took hers. He led them to a table. Emma pulled out her chair to sit down, but Garrett pulled her onto his lap instead. Emma looked at him in surprise.

---