Page 8 of The Tech Guru's Heart

If Ezra will take my call.

“You didn’t set up another date?”Mammy sounded just as surprised as Luke’s expression.“Whyever not?”

Why not indeed.

“When I walked him to the car, I put a tracker on it,” Link explained softly, rubbing his free hand down his beard in agitation.“But when I leaned in for a goodbye kiss, Ezra dove into his car.”Recalling his mate’s withdrawal hurt.“I got flustered and, uh, just saidsee ya.”

“Oh, my poor dear.”Mammy came over and wrapped her arms around him.“I’m sorry, sweetie.”

Link returned his mother’s hug, enjoying the warmth of her embrace.It didn’t matter how old he became, he knew he always had her love and support.His family was always there for each other, and he would always be grateful for them.Link knew they would help in any way he asked.

Easing away from Link, his mammy looked up at him and asked, “How can we help?”

Except, Link didn’t know what to ask for.“I’m not sure.”

“What are his interests?”Luke asked, handing him a plate with a big brat in a bun already on it.“You checked his bank account, right?Where does he spend his money?”

Link’s family didn’t blink an eye at the fact that he’d already hacked bank systems to check him out.It was just what he did.

“And what’s his name, dear?”Mammy asked, placing a big spoonful of potato salad on first Link’s plate, then Luke’s.“Do you have a picture?”

Placing his beer and plate on the table, Link pulled out his phone and woke the device.“He’s recently purchased a new two-person tent and a number of different food supplies,” he told them.Pulling up a picture of Ezra, Link held it out to his brother and mammy.“This is him.Ezra Pendle.He works as an accountant, but it’s obvious he doesn’t live his life behind a desk.”

“Like you?”Luke teased before admiring Ezra’s picture.“He’s a good-lookin’ guy, man.”He punched Link on the upper arm.“I’m a little jealous, but happy for ya, too.”Luke’s expression turned wistful.“We all want to find that special someone.”

“So much for us finding them in order,” Naomi stated with a sigh.“I know you thought you were going to be next, Luke.”Smiling wryly, she added, “Then me.”Sticking her tongue out at Link, Naomi grumbled, “Instead, you just had to butt in.”

Link chuckled, appreciating the bit of levity.“Sorry, sis.”He shrugged his wide shoulders and added, “You know Fate works in her own time.”

“That she does,” Mammy agreed with a nod.“So, your handsome young man likes to camp.That’s good for you.”With a grin, she pointed out, “Your animal will like spending time with him out in the wilds.”

Link thought about spending time with Ezra in musk ox form, and his animal rumbled deeply in his mind.His beast liked that idea.While in human form, Link wasn’t much of an outdoorsman, but that didn’t match his animal half.He would be more than happy to hang out for hours in the wilds with his man.

Wonder what he’ll think of shifters and my animal form.

While Link was worried about it, he looked on it with anticipation, too.He wanted to share both sides of his psyche with his human.That was just the nature of shifters.

“So, what did you talk about on your date that you think it went poorly?”Naomi asked, pouring a stack ofPringlesonto her plate.Cocking her head, she added, “I mean, I know you’re not the most chatty fellow, but surely it couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Really don’t wanna talk about it,” Link grumbled, dressing up his brat with mayo, ketchup, and relish.“Just couldn’t seem to get a good conversation going.”

“Talk about the outdoors next time,” Luke counseled.“Trees, plants, hell, even weather formations to watch for while out hiking.”With a scoff, his brother added, “We’ve been around a lot of years.Surely, you’ve read up on that sort of stuff at some point.”

“Will now,” Link assured, liking that idea.“And find hiking trails around here.”Thinking back on what he’d seen Ezra purchase, he commented, “He bought an inflatable kayak, too.Wonder where he intends to use that.”

A backwater lake that they had to hike to would be a great place to introduce Ezra to his musk ox.

“Good idea,” Luke encouraged.Grabbing his plate of food, he started toward a side table, and Link joined him.His sister stayed back talking with their mammy.“If you need help acclimating Ezra to shifters, ask Bruin’s mate.I’m sure Juan would be able to help.”

Link nodded, liking that idea.His older brother, Bruin, had recently found his fated mate.While Juan was a human, he’d already known about shifters.His stepfather had been an armadillo shifter, so he’d been aware of what being a fated mate to one meant.

A shifter’s mate was the other half of their soul—the one person they could bond with and bind and entwine their lives with.Finding a mate was the greatest blessing a shifter could receive.They would devote their life to that person, and their instincts to please and care for that person were damn near undeniable.

Not that a shifter should ever want to deny that instinct.

At least, no sane smart shifter.

“Can’t believe you put mayo on your brats,” Luke teased, eyeing his dog.“Mixed with relish?”His brother grinned broadly at him.“So weird, man.”

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