Page 13 of Heart of Stone

His heart sank to a point somewhere around his navel. “You’re not coming, are you?”

“Don’t be dramatic. I’m in my car on the way there right now.” August sounded highly exasperated by the entire exchange. “I figured Ian would be there, and I didn’t know how much you’d told him.”

The knot in his stomach loosened, and Micah breathed deeply through his nose as he thought through his reply. “You told me six hours ago. Exactly when would I have had time to tell him?”

“You are aware that you’re kind of a dick, right?”

Micah snorted. “I’m aware.”

He knew it probably seemed that way, but in reality, he’d never tried harder to be cooperative and accommodating. After everything that had happened, after all that he’d done, he knew they couldn’t go back to the way things had been. On the other hand, he had no idea how to move forward.

“Wait, you’re in the car?” Digging through the mountain of papers on his desk, Micah searched for his car keys while he mentally calculated how long it would take him to get home, shower, and change. “How close are you?”

“Maybe twenty minutes if traffic’s not bad.”

Shit. “Sounds good. I’ll see you then.” It would take at least fifteen minutes for him to drive home, and then he still needed to shower. “How do you like your steak cooked? Don’t worry, Ian’s doing the grilling, so I promise it’ll be edible.” Lifting his left arm, Micah sniffed at his armpit and winced. Yeah, he definitely needed a shower.

“I like my steak medium rare.” A long pause followed, and then August began to laugh again. “You’re not even close to beingready are you? I bet you’re covered in grease and dirt and smell like a sewer rat.”

“Guilty.” A ridiculous grin stretched his lips, and some of his anxiety ebbed. “How do you do that?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” August answered innocently, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. “Hey, I actually need to make a stop before I get there, so it’ll probably be more like forty-five minutes. Cool?”

Gods, he loved this man, and he’d walk through hell and back set things right with him. “Okay, Ant. I’ll see you then.”

After a brief goodbye, Micah placed the receiver back its cradle and sighed. For the first time in a long time, he felt like things might finally work out for him.

Chapter five

Though August hadn’t reallyneeded to make a stop on his way to Micah’s, he’d recognized the growing panic in his mate’s voice. He didn’t understand it, didn’t know where it had come from, but the part of him that still loved Micah had wanted to ease the man’s discomfort.

As luck would have it, though, only a few minutes after he’d disconnected the call, he’d passed by a Starbucks. Of course, he didn’t stop at the over-hyped chain store, but it did give him an idea. Taking a slight detour, he headed south, past Micah’s family farm to the outskirts of Greenfield.

Gravel crunched beneath his tires and dust billowed behind him when he pulled into the small parking lot. It didn’t look like much from the outside—just a small clapboard building with a faded green door—but the little diner had sat just off thehighway for as long as he could remember. Likely, because Miss Lula made the best pies in three states.

“August Tucker?” A stout, elderly woman wiped her hands on her apron and rounded the speckled counter when August stepped into the diner. “As I live and breathe.” Smiling fondly, she pushed her silver curls back from her face and wrapped her arms around August in a warm hug. “Where on earth have you been keeping yourself, boy?”

“Hey, Miss Lula. It’s good to see you, too.”

“Don’t you sass me, son. You’re not too old for me to bend across my knee.”

“No, ma’am.” Chuckling, August bent to place a kiss her weathered cheek. “You look as beautiful as ever, Miss Lula.”

“Flatter.” She blushed a pretty shade of pink, though, as she led him back to the counter. “Where’s that mate of yours? Good heavens, that boy should could eat.”

“Uh, I’m on my way to see him.” It was the easiest answer without outright lying. Besides, she didn’t need to know all the sordid details of their relationship—or lack thereof, for that matter. “It’s my birthday tomorrow, and we’re kind of celebrating.” Again, not exactly a lie. “I thought maybe I’d stop in and get one of those famous caramel apple pies of yours.”

“Now, you sit yourself down right there and let me check in the back. I think I just might have one left.” She steered him towarda chair at the counter. “Macy, don’t just stand there,” she barked at a tall, curvy blonde standing near the register. “Make yourself useful and get this boy something to drink.”

Miss Lula toddled off toward the kitchen while Macy put the finishing touches on a mug of steaming hot cocoa. “It’s good to see you again, August.” She slid the cup in front of him and leaned her hip against the bar. “You probably don’t remember me, do you?”

“You’re Miss Lula’s granddaughter. We had sixth period French together.” True, he hadn’t recognized her at first, but she’d always been a sweet girl. “How have you been?”

“I’m doing okay. I guess you know about Alpha Hayden. Is it true Micah’s back in town to take over the pack?” She worried her plump bottom lip between her teeth. “People are getting antsy. They’re saying Micah’s not ready to lead the pack.”

“Don’t listen to the gossip, Macy. Micah’s a good man, and he’s going to be a damn good Alpha. I’m sure he’s still dealing with family business, but he’ll call for a meeting soon.”I hope.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Her expression cleared, and her smile returned to its mega-watt brilliance. “You sure are lucky, August. I mean, every girl in school used to swoon over Micah. He didn’t want anyone but you, of course, but damn, he was pretty to look at.”

---