Page 22 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
My mind fumbled with the question. Did she know I ran in here earlier? No, she couldn’t have. She would have immediately followed. It then clicked she meant did I need more time to gather my nerve to talk with the pack. She probably thought I was in front of the mirror practicing what I would say again.
I shook my head and put my gloss away in my pocket. Then I hugged her, because even if she didn’t realize it, I needed the comfort. “I’m good. As ready as I’m ever going to be.”
She gave me a reassuring squeeze. “I believe in you, sweetie. You’re doing the right thing for yourself. Those Alphas are going to jump at this chance. Just be clear about your boundaries. Don’t give them false hope.”
She’d told me that a hundred times, but I nodded. This was about me getting my heat over with as fast as possible, not about finding a mate. “Right. I’ve got what I want to say all planned out. Where is everyone waiting?” I headed to the door and held out a hand. “Here. Let me take one of your bags for you.”
“That’s considerate of you, dear, but you have your own bags to carry. Balthazar was sweet to hold them and wait for you.”
My throat went dry. First off, he waited? I was certain I’d pissed him off and scared him away. No right-minded person wanted anyone else’s drama. Balthazar was so laid-back and definitely a family man. We were too different for anything long term.
Second, he was holding my bags? I hadn’t bought a single thing.
I let Miss Eloise exit first and followed. Balthazar was leaning against the wall on the other side of the hall looking at his phone and holding three paper bags stamped with the market’s Christmas tree logo. He slipped his cell into his jeans’ pocket and straightened, his handsome face set in a careful neutral expression.
“All right, let’s get going. We don’t want to keep Liz and the boys out in the cold.” Miss Eloise took the lead and headed toward the resort foyer doors.
“Mom thought it best if they went ahead and made sure to get us a table. They’re going to meet us there.” Balthazar moved ahead of us and held the door open for us before falling into step next to me. I couldn’t see any irritation or anger in his eyes. In fact, what I saw scared me more: concern.
“That’s a good idea. Lots of people in town today with the market.” Miss Eloise continued forward with purpose.
After a minute or two, when she got about six feet in front of us, Balthazar leaned toward me and asked softly, “Are you okay?”
His gravelly voice caressed me, reigniting the arousal I’d felt earlier. “I’m sorry… about earlier. I shouldn’t have snapped and ran off. It was really nice of you to wait for me.”
A smile curled up his lips, and something in me celebrated that I’d brought back that gorgeous grin. “It was only an hour. You needed time. I’m good with it.”
An hour? Holy fuck. Guilt clawed at my chest. I hadn’t thought it’d been that long. Time had been a blur today, and I hadn’t checked the time on my cell since we’d been skating. A full hour. I’m surprised no one sent in security to check on me.
“And thanks for holding… my bags?” I glanced down at the stuff he was carrying.
“No problem.” His grin widened and then he reeled it in partially. “I hope you don’t mind that I shopped for you while I was waiting. These are for you to take home.”
They really were mine. Another layer of guilt raked through me. I didn’t want him spending a bunch of money on gifts for me, but I could tell if I said I couldn’t take them, it would offend him. Some people’s love language was gift giving, and I didn’t want to hurt him by refusing, even if I felt I didn’t deserve anything.
“You’re sweet, even after I…” Exploded and ran off like an over-dramatic bitch. Nope. I needed to keep my head in a goodspace with the conversation about my heat looming even closer now. Be gracious, not self-deprecating. “Thank you.”
I gnawed at my lower lip most of the drive to the restaurant. Elkhart Lake wasn’t a big town, and it was centered around summer tourism. Most of the places to eat were beach food and closed this time of year. We pulled into the Black Bear Inn and managed to squeeze into a parking spot near the back.
Large wood carvings of bears decorated the exterior of the log cabin styled building. The air was heavy with delicious smells of meat and fried foods. It wasn’t fancy fare, and I was glad for it. My stomach was flipping and flopping. I didn’t think I would be able to eat much at all with what I had to discuss with the pack.
Heat from inside washed over us as we entered. Varnished logs ran length-wise along the high ceiling and customers sat around tables that were cut from big stumps, each unique in shape and size. The centerpiece was a huge statue of a mama black bear at the bottom of a tree and her two cubs climbing upward.
There were a few families ahead of us waiting at the hostess’ station, but Lucian popped out from around a corner. He wore a charcoal thermal shirt which clung to his leanly muscled chest and shoulders and low riding jeans. His longish pale hair and eyes gave him an ethereal look that reminded of those hot elves from that fantasy series Emberlee loved.
Lucian’s smile grew as he neared, not taking his gaze off me. “Hi everyone. We’ve got tables already. Just follow me.”
God, I hoped I wasn’t drooling. I’d have to have an extra napkin sitting with a hunk in flannel and a gorgeous elf, and my jaw nearly dropped as we approached our table. Jasper had stayed in the background the last two times we’d met, but he sat in his seat as if he were the king and this his kingdom.
His rich auburn hair was brushed back, but a few locks tumbled over his forehead to frame his deep blue eyes. He hadjeans on too, and an emerald green sweater that looked so soft it had to be cashmere with a white button-up shirt underneath. Sleek and sexy Alpha lord of the castle.
Jasper stood as he saw us coming toward him. Graceful like a feline and with a look just as deadly as any wildcat. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to lunge at me to kill me or if he wanted to devour me in a much different way.
My panties were soaked, and I had to peel off my layers because lava seared through my veins. Hat, scarf, coat. I wanted my sweater off too, but I retained some modesty.
Lucian escorted Miss Eloise to a small table where Liz sat looking at the menu. It seemed I was to sit with the pack myself. There weren’t any bigger tables available, but it was probably something my housemother suggested. It would be ten times harder to talk about my heat with Liz sitting with us.
“Good evening.” Jasper dipped his head to me, his predator’s gaze still locked on me. He glanced at Balthazar, not offering a smile to him either. “Hey man.”
