Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I’m not the simplest man, but for Goldie, I’ll try to be better.
“We’ll need to clear the outbuilding and make sure it’s watertight. We could add storage shelves and a long table for packing orders,” I say.
“We can put some new flooring down.” Evan takes a big bite of the sandwich and moans loudly with appreciation.
“We should check the electrics and get a heater fitted for the winter.” I don’t want Goldie to get cold while she’s working.
“And a radio,” Goldie says. “I like to listen to music while I work.”
“What kind of music?” Evan has a million playlists and always dictates the music any time we take a car ride.
“Dolly Parton,” Goldie admits with a smirk. “The Civil Wars, Johnnyswim, and this band I found online called Paper Aeroplanes.”
“Interesting.” Evan wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Want to share a playlist?”
“Sure.” Goldie seems pleased that no one criticized her music taste.
“The roof might need shoring up,” I say. “We should take a look.”
Robert nods. “That all sounds doable.”
“Is there anything salvageable from my store,” Goldie asks hopefully.
“No.” Evan rests his hand on her arm. “But that doesn’t matter. Make this a fresh start, a new beginning. You’ve done it before and created something successful. You can do it again.”
We all nod, and Goldie’s cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink.
This is a fresh start. It’s a new beginning for all of us. Maybe it’s time to put more than just an old business behind us. Maybe it’s time to draw a line over everything.
31
EVAN
The earth is cool beneath my feet, and the air is scented with the dampness of early morning dew and the musty scent of the leaf-covered ground. Hunter prowls in front, his nose low as he checks for the stink of wolf. Since we fought to retrieve Goldie, we’ve been waiting for the pack’s return and attempt at revenge, but there’s been no sign of them.
“It doesn’t make sense.” Robert’s thoughts echo mine. It doesn’t make sense. We’ve had skirmishes with the wolves before. So many that I couldn’t count them if my life depended on it. So what’s different now?
“Maybe they left for good,” Hunter muses. He’s voicing what we’re all hopeful for but don’t believe could be true. Wolves don’t give up territory any more than bears. Not unless they’re forced, it becomes totally inhospitable, or they find somewhere better. Our own clan chose to move to a new territory where they wanted to set up a new kind of living arrangement. They bought land they could build a small settlement on, with accommodation close, like a commune for bear shifters. Before we found Goldie, I wished Hunter would have been more receptive to the idea. Getting left behind by our support network wasn’t easy. It’s been just us rattling around in that house for three years, and in that time, we started to lose hope. Now that Goldie’s in our lives, that hope has returned, but we’re still under more pressure from the wolves than we would have been if the others in our clan were nearby.
“We should take a visit to Connor. See if he’s heard anything,” I suggest, expecting Hunter to disagree.
“Tomorrow,” he says, catching me off guard.
“Tomorrow,” I repeat.
When tomorrow comes, we can’t leave Goldie by herself. The danger feels uncertain. We’re not worried that she’ll run again; she learned that the dangers outside our home are significantly worse than inside. We leave Robert to keep her company.
I ride with Hunter, selecting Goldie’s playlist. I usually chatter to fill Hunter’s brooding silences, but I can’t be bothered today. Outside the window, the world rushes past in a stream of green, brown, and blue. With our mate not yet claimed, a sense of unease rests inside us all. It makes Robert more serious, Hunter more pensive, and me quieter. My bear wants to know her in all ways. He wants to discover her truth and share his own, but she’s still holding us at arm’s length.
Hunter growls as a song called Steal His Heart plays in the background. “How long do you think she’s going to make us wait?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Sometimes I feel as though we’re getting close, and other times, it’s like we’ve taken ten steps back.”
“I’m trying.” Hunter sounds defensive, but he doesn’t need to be. I wasn’t insinuating that he’s the problem. If anything, his marked transformation has opened some of Goldie’s petals.
“You’re fine. She just needs time.”
“You really think that’s all it is?”
I shrug, lowering the volume of the music. “Maybe today will help. If Connor knows something?”
“You think if the wolves have left, Goldie will relax.”
“The threat can’t be helping. She’s not used to worrying about her safety. Have you decided what you’re going to tell Connor about Goldie.”
“Nothing, if I can help it.”