Page 103 of Fated to the Hunters
“Of course,” he snarled.
“Don’t be a jerk about it.”
“She won’t see or hear anything she doesn’t want to,” Ezra promised, though his voice had lost that rumbling purr that came with him promising things to Scarlett.
“We can sit down with her tomorrow—after we spoil her a little.”
Ezra gave a quick nod and turned on his heel to head upstairs.
“Do you need help taking your cabinet to your customer?”
“I’m taking Ezra.”
“Don’t trust him alone with Scarlett, huh?”
Vince’s silence—and the ghost of a smirk across his lips—was enough of an answer, so Mateo left himself and retreated to his room.
The next morning, they took Scarlett to their regular hunting and outdoors store. Once again, she seemed rather nervous. Clearly outings would give her anxiety for quite some time, so maybe a small village setting would help with her exposure to being out in public.
They entered the store and while Vince wandered into the fishing department, Ezra led the way to the hiking clothes where he sat Scarlett down on a bench and started pulling boxes of boots off of the shelves. He then continued to take off her shoes and lace her boots before making her walk in them. He earned himself a few curious stares, especially because they were total opposites again. Her white, floral dress contrasted Ezra’s all-black clothing, only accented by the gold shining on his arms and fingers. In short sleeves, her arms were a striking difference from his exposed runes, scars, and tattoos—modifications he wore with pride.
Scarlett meekly pointed out that the boots pinched her toes, so Ezra snatched them off to swap them for another pair. After all, she was his princess. How dare anything hurt her? Even a measly pair of shoes.
“Ah, you guys always come in threes.”
Mateo turned, seeing the store owner approach. Randy had grown rather fond of their large purchases over the years. He held out his hand and Mateo shook it. “Good to see you.”
“What are you looking for today?”
“Hiking gear.” Mateo indicated Scarlett and Ezra. “We’ll also need a crossbow and some fishing gear, but I think Vince already went off to search for the latter.”
Randy’s eyes lingered on Scarlett for a moment, and Mateo didn’t miss it. “What will she need?”
“Everything. And because I like you, I’ll advise you not to stare too much. Ezra is rather possessive.”
Randy snatched his gaze away, blushing like he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I’ll have Linda help them out.”
“Wise choice.” He turned to Scarlett and pecked her cheek. “I won’t be far. Get whatever you need and more.”
“I don’t even know what I’ll need.”
“Don’t worry, Ezra will make sure you’re all set.”
Mateo turned to Randy again, who was clearly losing his mind over what he’d just witnessed. He led him to the crossbows where he gave his input, though Mateo kept their plans rather vague. He picked up a few grizzly traps, then moved on to the guns—his favourite. Though Vince appeared and “rescued” him from buying things that he already owned.
When they joined Scarlett and Ezra again, her eyes lit up as she stepped out of the dressing room in her new hiking outfit.
“Perfect,” he complimented, taking her hand to spin her around for a full view.
“But you like the dresses more,” she laughed, looking at herself in the mirror.
“You could be wearing a garbage bag and still look sexy as sin,” Ezra offered from his seat.
Linda’s eyes darted between them as she tried to figure out what was going on, but kept quiet when Randy subtly shook his head from the corner.
“Do you have everything you need?” Mateo asked.
“I think so, but I have no idea.”
