Page 69 of Forever Mine

“Don't,” I said. “It was our first try. I'm guessing your first try since—since it happened.”

She nodded, the tears flowing down her cheeks now.

“We've got some obstacles, for sure, but we're going to make it,” I told her, wishing out into the universe for it to be true.

I held her for a while, trying to reassure her as much as myself. I didn't know what the future would hold for us, but I knew I damn sure wasn't giving up on us.

“I have to go into the office today. Are you going to be okay?”

She nodded. “I was thinking of calling Annie today. I didn't like how I left things the last time I spoke to them, and there're so many questions I need answers to. I wasn't going to tell you, because I wasn't sure you'd agree,” she confessed. “But I don't want there to be secrets between us. I've had too much of that in my life already.”

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” I said honestly. It meant a lot to me that she didn't want to keep things from me. “Tell you what, why don't you get dressed, and come to the office with me? We can call Annie from there. My office is buffered with the same device as Kyle's office here.”

“I don't know. I really should check on Oscar.”

“I'm sure he's still at Jessica's. Drop me off and you can have the car. I'll give you directions to where he's staying. Maybe the two of you could come by for lunch? I'll get one of my sisters, or Christine, to watch him while we call Annie.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

I went to shower quickly and change for work. I was looking through my ties, trying to decide which to wear, when she walked up behind me and pointed out a blue one.

“That one,” she said, pulling it off the rack. She wrapped it around her neck and tied it into a perfect knot. It was definitely one of the top ten sexiest things I'd ever seen. She removed it from her neck and placed it around mine, shifting it into just the right position and fixing my collar. “What?” she asked, and I knew I was staring in surprise.

“That was incredibly sexy,” I confessed.

She laughed and playfully slapped me. “Sorry, I'm used to tying them for Oscar on the rare occasion he's needed one.”

“This could become a new daily routine,” I teased, making her blush. I loved making her cheeks flush like that. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. There was no hesitation or fear in her response and it settled my wolf and relaxed me, too.

Mom wasn't even up as we raided the fridge for something quick to eat. All of San Marco would be slow to rise after the pack run. I didn't need to be in the office so early, but there were things I needed to get done, and the sooner they started, the better.

When we reached the Westin Foundation, I invited Maddie in. I wanted her to see where I worked, and to be a part of every aspect of my life. She looked around curiously as we made our way down the halls to my office.

“I knew you couldn't stay away,” Christine said, startling me as we entered the reception area to my office.

“Hey Chris, what are you doing in so early?” I asked.

“Well, I heard some pretty crazy rumors about my boss man, and I knew you'd be in early today. Just can't stay away.” She glanced over my shoulder where Maddie stood behind me. “Maybe the rumors aren't quite so crazy after all.”

I laughed. “Chris, this is my mate, Madelyn. Maddie, Christine Canine, my assistant.”

“You're really Madelyn Collier?” she asked.

“Yes,” Maddie sighed.

“Well, congratulations, you two! This is all pretty exciting stuff. No worries,” she said, holding up her hands. “I've learned my lesson about going after other women's men. I'll never cross the line between true mates ever again.”

I laughed. “Chris challenged Kelsey for Kyle during their mating trials.” I filled Maddie in. “I'm going to finish up our tour, then I have a few phone calls to make before you hit me up with anything this morning.”

“Sure thing, boss. It was nice meeting you, Maddie,” Chris said as the two of us walked into my office and closed the door behind us.

“So, this is my office,” I told her before swooping her up in my arms and kissing her senseless as she giggled.

“I love it,” she finally said, slightly breathless.

I let her go, grinning like an idiot. At my desk, I jotted down directions to Jessica's and hit the speaker on my phone. “Hey, can you get me a number for Jessica Moore, please?”

Chris quickly rattled it off as I wrote it down with the directions and thanked her before hanging up. I handed the note to Maddie.

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