Page 14 of Seducing His Mate

“And you will soon be the sole owner of your parent’s restaurant.”

“Really?” Jenna turned in a circle.

“Really. There’s something else as well. Something I don’t think you expect.”

“What?”

Trent pulled an envelope from his back pocket and held it out for her. “It seems my father purchased a life insurance policy for your mother. It was part of the deal and was to be delivered to you and any siblings upon her death. He hadn’t been able to locate you until now.”

Jenna gently pulled the envelope from his hands but didn’t open it. Her eyes watered with unshed tears. Trent thought this would make her happy and she would rip it open immediately but she didn’t. Instead, she laid her open palm over his heart. “There’s something I want you to know first.”

Trent inhaled a deep breath. That she touched him was her infamous sign of affection. He knew that now. “Go on.”

Her gaze lifted to his. “I intended to leave the other day when we fed the puppies, and I intended to leave in the morning, but I’ve had a change of heart. You’ve shown nothing but kindness and compassion since my arrival. I was wrong about you. You are everything I could possibly want in a mate. I may not have any money to renovate this place, I may not say or do the right things, but I don’t want to leave you. I know that now. Whatever amount of money is in that envelope doesn’t change how I feel.”

He tilted his face, smiled, then wrapped his arms around his feisty, adorable mate, and lifted her off the ground until they were nose-to-nose. “Well, that’s a good thing because I wouldn’t allow the lawyer to dissolve the betrothal contract, so you’re stuck with me.”

Jenna shrugged with a sheepish look on her face. “I did some checking on that betrothal. It’s not even recognized in this country now.”

“I recognize it.”

“And all those women groveling for your attention?”

Trent kissed his mate long and deep, putting every emotion into one kiss. A growl of approval rumbled from his chest along with a growl from the she-grizzly in his arms. They were both breathless when he finally pulled away. “What women?”

“Welcome to the family, Jenna.”

Trent laughed when a blush stained her cheeks as she realized Lucas and Diana watched from the corner. Her forehead dropped against his sternum with a groan, but quickly snapped up. “Thank you,” she whispered, her gaze not straying from his when she answered his older brother.

“We’re just going to go now,” Diana laughed, making their goodbyes.

Trent stared into the beautiful eyes of his mate. “Since we’re now rid of our company, would you consider a tryst in the honeysuckle patch with me?”

“Are you trying to seduce me…again? What kind of girl do you think I am?” Jenna teasingly replied, with the lift of her chin.

Trent squeezed her bottom and kissed her once more. “My girl. That’s who you are. And by the way, I absolutely adore it when you call me,Mr. King.”

EPILOGUE

It’s amazing how much could change within the span of a few months. The restaurant had been transformed into a modern bakery complete with new commercial-grade appliances, but she chose to keep many of her parent’s personal touches. It seemed right, customers enjoyed the memorabilia, and it kept the memory of her parents alive.

Jenna circled the wedding cake, dominating the middle of her workspace with a critical eye. Four round tiers rose proudly with chocolate buttercream icing coating them, and bright yellow honeysuckle flowers trailing from the top to the bottom of one side. A simple, yellow, lace ribbon encircled the bottom of each tier.

A small smile lifted the corner of her lips when she imagined her upcoming wedding. Their engagement had lasted six months at her insistence, and Trent had impatiently grumbled the entire time. Only four hours remained until she became Mrs. King.

“Is it ready to go?”

Jenna smiled at Trent’s three younger brothers when they strolled into her kitchen. “Yes. Just be careful.”

“That’s amazing,” Diana commented, walking in behind the brothers. “What a beautiful cake. You are so talented.”

Jenna beamed under the praise. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready for the big day? I have everything at the house.”

After a deep breath, Jenna smiled at her friend and soon to be sister-in-law. “Yes. I’m ready to go.”

*****

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