Page 23 of Chomp's Challenge

Her smile lights up the room as she nods. “Absolutely. I was so nervous this morning, I didn’t eat any breakfast.”

That won’t do, my gator hisses. We will stop by Beanie’s every morning to get her a coffee and some pastries. Since I agree with him, I nod and hold out my hand. “Well, let’s get you fed then.”

While I wanted to put together a picnic, I thought it might be too much on her first day. So instead, we’ll go to the diner that the club owns. We don’t work it, we simply own it and once a week, Spike goes in and does the payroll for our employees. Most live in Yukon Bluff, but there are a few in Mercy Falls. Still, the food is good, and the portions are plentiful, which will sooth my gator’s need to eat.

The diner’s in walking distance and I silently cheer when she doesn’t let go of my hand. It’s a small thing, but huge in the big picture as far as I’m concerned. As we cross the threshold, Janie, one of the waitresses calls out, “Hey, Chomp! Your usual table is open.”

“You must eat here a lot,” Ariel murmurs as I walk us to the table in the back where most of the club prefers to sit. Unless the diner is packed out, it’s typically left open in case one of us comes in for a meal.

I release Ariel’s fingers and she slides into the booth while I sit across from her. My instinct is to slide in beside her, but I’m practicing restraint as much as possible, and I don’t want to push it since she held my hand.

Janie takes our drink order but doesn't offer me a menu since it isn’t necessary. She gives Ariel a smile and hands her one. “Would you like a few minutes to decide?”

“Yes. Thank you.” Ariel begins scanning the contents as Janie says she’ll return in a bit.

“If you want a recommendation, you can’t go wrong with the buttered grits or biscuits and sausage gravy. There’s also the best club sandwich in the damn state.” I pause because I don’t know what foods she likes, or even her favorites. “What do you want? Breakfast foods or lunch items?”

She blinks up at me over the top of the menu. “Hmmm. I’m the kind of girl that can eat breakfast anytime of the day or night. But, you know, I think I want to try the best damn club sandwich in the state,” she says with a laugh.

My heart is so fucking full. It’s the second time she’s joked around with me, and I’m ravenous for more. I’m seeing a side of her that I don’t think she shows often. Maybe it’s her tragic past that’s dimmed her light and humor, but I’ll make it my mission to encourage her jokes as much as possible.

“Then you have to get the onion rings as a side. They’re wickedly good.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She places the menu on the table. “What about you? What’re your favorite foods? I know you love meat and potatoes. I’m guessing breakfast foods are your thing too.”

“They are. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve come across a dish I don’t like.”

“Escargot? Caviar? Calamari?” She scrunches her nose and I laugh. “Sardines, too. All a hard pass for me.”

“I won’t get them on my pizza then,” I joke.

“But you better get ham and pineapple and cinnamon because I love Hawaiian pizza.”

Noted. “I think I can manage that for next time.” She probably thinks I’m kidding. I’m not. I’ll do it tomorrow.

Janie returns, takes our order, and sets down our drinks. After she leaves, Ariel sips on her sweet tea. I chug my Coke and reach for another. Janie knows I’ll drink at least three, so she brings multiple drinks at once.

Ariel smirks, but she doesn’t comment on it. Instead, she catches me by surprise with a question I don’t expect. “So, Chomp, am I your mate? And if so, how do you know?”

Chapter

Ten

ARIEL

I see him nearly choke at my questions and briefly think maybe I should’ve waited to ask him. Instead, I watch worriedly as he coughs multiple times until he gasps out, “I’m okay, just wasn’t expecting that.”

“I like to keep you on your toes, I guess,” I reply. Relief courses through me when he manages to swallow some more of his drink without any issue.

He smirks at me then shocks the hell out of me when he says, “I caught your scent a few months ago at the zoo. The club had given the foster kids from Mercy Falls Refuge a day at the zoo as a gift, and several of us went along to help keep the kids somewhat corralled. Callie is heavily involved with them as a volunteer, so since she’s Kodiak’s mate, the club now helps. We were in an exhibit when I smelled fresh linen, like when clothes are dried outside. It was mixed with how the air is after a hard, cleansing rain and I knew it was my mate’s scent. While the majority of us are single, it’s because we haven’t found our mates yet. But I remembered when I was young, and my mother told me that each of our mates would have a scent that was unique to them.”

“But before I could get through the throng of excited kids, you were gone. I drove myself crazy searching for you. So much so that Spike basically sent me ‘home’ to my cabin in the woods to try and reset myself, which is why I was in my gator form that night. I was checking out our campsites because when those two men checked in, I got a bad vibe from them. I never expected to find you there, and I’m sorry for any trauma I caused with what I did, but I knew you were my mate as did my gator, and he kind of took over because you were being hurt.”

Despite the flashback his words evoke, I reach over and place my hand on his “Yes, it scared me half to death, but I need to thank you for saving me. I probably wouldn't have survived that night if you hadn’t come by, Chomp. For that alone, you have my undying gratitude. Callie explained to me that when a shifter finds their mate, they become somewhat single-minded in their pursuit. I’m not denying what you say, I’m just asking for some time and for you to be patient with me. Please?”

Before he can answer, Janie is back with a huge tray covered with plates. I raise my brow at Chomp who just grins and shrugs. Janie, seeing my look says, “For Chomp, the sandwich is more of an appetizer, so the chef went ahead and made him a meal as well.”

Since I saw how much he ate the morning he cooked all the breakfast foods, I feel as though she’s correct. Still, I can’t help giggling when I look at my one lone plate then over to his side of the booth and see multiple plates piled around him.

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