Page 22 of Rugged

First though, was introducing her to Rob.

She was the reason I didn’t communicate with him as I should have. Plus, she was human, and she knew nothing about shifters. The only way I wasn’t going to get my head ripped off by him–figuratively and perhaps literally–was that she was my mate. I’d seen one guy after another involved with the ranch do stupid shit when they found their mates. Including Rob himself.

Still, I feared my alpha’s wrath but also had a newfound disregard for him because Lyssa was my mate. MY MATE. She came first. She was my priority. She was my life now.

Lyssa stirred, blinked. Looked around as I bumped down the long drive to the main house. “We’re here?”

“Yeah. I gotta stop in and talk to my boss.”My alpha.“You can meet everyone.”

Her eyes widened. “Meet everyone? Who iseveryone? I’m not dressed to meet a bunch of people. I didn’t even have a chance to dry my hair before we left and–”

I couldn’t help but be amused but could understandher nervousness. “They’re going to love you. And I like your hair like this.” I reached out and tugged gently on a thick tendril. “Wild, just like you are.”

She blushed then tugged down the visor to look in the mirror. After a bit of tussling with her hair, she seemed satisfied with it although it looked exactly the same to me.

I parked at the side of the house. Based on the other trucks, Rob and Colton were here. Boyd might be, too, but he often parked by the barn.

Coming around the truck, I helped her down. Kissed her once to reassure her although it was more because it’d been a few hours since I had my lips on hers.

I knocked on the side door then walked into the kitchen. While this was where Rob, Willow, Colton, and Marina lived, it was also the backbone of the ranch. Everyone, regardless of role, often ate around the huge kitchen table. It sounded so obvious, but this was how everyone connected.

“Hey!” Marina stood on the far side of the island in front of a stand mixer. It was spinning, kneading something delicious. The room smelled of vanilla and coffee. Marina was Colton’s mate, and Audrey, Boyd’s mate, was her sister. And human. She was much younger than Audrey–and Colton. Closer to my age, she had long brown curls and a delectable interest in baking.

“Morning.” I tugged Lyssa close and wrapped myarm around her waist. “Marina, this is Lyssa. Lyssa, this is Marina. She’s… dating Colton Wolf.”

Marina eyed Lyssa with nothing but warmth–and curiosity. The fact that I saiddatingwas an easy tell to Marina that Lyssa didn’t know about shifters, otherwise I would’ve called Colton hermate. “Hey there! Nice to meet you and happy to have another girl around. Want some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

I looked down at Lyssa, who nodded, so I went and made us both a cup.

“What are you making?” Lyssa asked Marina.

“Oh, this is for a five-year-old's birthday cake. It’ll be space-themed. Then an anniversary cake.” She cut herself off. Laughed. “I make a lot of cakes.”

“Is this your business?”

Marina nodded. “Yeah, but not officially. Just word of mouth. I don’t want a storefront in town as that’s a ton of work, and, well, I like to be here with Colton. But in a small town like Cooper Valley, I get plenty of requests.”

“I’m impressed.”

Marina cocked her head. “Do you like sweets?”

Lyssa waved her hand through the air. “Who doesn’t?”

“Johnny, I like her already.” Marina winked at me.

I gave a sly grin in return as I handed Lyssa a mug. “Want milk or sugar?”

She shook her head. “No, black’s fine.”

Colton came in and kissed Marina on the temple. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, his usual work clothes. At this time of day, I wasn’t sure if he’d recently come in from chores or was heading out.

Rob and Willow followed not far behind, hearing the conversation. I introduced each of them to Lyssa, and Rob and Willow poured themselves fresh coffee.

“So, where did you and Johnny meet?” Colton asked. It sounded like an innocent question, but I knew they all hung on the answer. I wouldn’t have brought a female back here unless she was my mate. Not to the main house especially.

“She, uh, works for Mitch Chapman up at his ranch.”

“Oh?” Colton’s brows shot up, clearly having heard about him from his brother. He turned his attention to Lyssa. “How long have you been working for him?”

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