Page 11

Chapter Ten

ARIEL

I see him nearly choke at my questions and briefly think maybe I should’ve waited to ask him. Instead, I watch worriedly as he coughs multiple times until he gasps out, “I’m okay, just wasn’t expecting that.”

“I like to keep you on your toes, I guess,” I reply. Relief courses through me when he manages to swallow some more of his drink without any issue.

He smirks at me then shocks the hell out of me when he says, “I caught your scent a few months ago at the zoo. The club had given the foster kids from Mercy Falls Refuge a day at the zoo as a gift, and several of us went along to help keep the kids somewhat corralled. Callie is heavily involved with them as a volunteer, so since she’s Kodiak’s mate, the club now helps. We were in an exhibit when I smelled fresh linen, like when clothes are dried outside. It was mixed with how the air is after a hard, cleansing rain and I knew it was my mate’s scent. While the majority of us are single, it’s because we haven’t found our mates yet. But I remembered when I was young, and my mother told me that each of our mates would have a scent that was unique to them.”

“But before I could get through the throng of excited kids, you were gone. I drove myself crazy searching for you. So much so that Spike basically sent me ‘home’ to my cabin in the woods to try and reset myself, which is why I was in my gator form that night. I was checking out our campsites because when those two men checked in, I got a bad vibe from them. I never expected to find you there, and I’m sorry for any trauma I caused with what I did, but I knew you were my mate as did my gator, and he kind of took over because you were being hurt.”

Despite the flashback his words evoke, I reach over and place my hand on his “Yes, it scared me half to death, but I need to thank you for saving me. I probably wouldn't have survived that night if you hadn’t come by, Chomp. For that alone, you have my undying gratitude. Callie explained to me that when a shifter finds their mate, they become somewhat single-minded in their pursuit. I’m not denying what you say, I’m just asking for some time and for you to be patient with me. Please?”

Before he can answer, Janie is back with a huge tray covered with plates. I raise my brow at Chomp who just grins and shrugs. Janie, seeing my look says, “For Chomp, the sandwich is more of an appetizer, so the chef went ahead and made him a meal as well.”

Since I saw how much he ate the morning he cooked all the breakfast foods, I feel as though she’s correct. Still, I can’t help giggling when I look at my one lone plate then over to his side of the booth and see multiple plates piled around him.

“You’re welcome to some if you’d like,” he says, waving his hand over all the plates.

“I suspect this club sandwich and the onion rings will be more than enough for me, Chomp,” I reply. “What’s this?” I ask, pointing to a small cup filled with sauce.

“Try it, Ariel, it’s for the onion rings.”

Cautiously, I dip one of them in the sauce and take a bite. It has a slight kick to it but definitely adds to the overall flavor. “It’s pretty good,” I muse as I finish my first onion ring, uncaring that I’m double dipping, since Chomp has his own cup of sauce. If he doesn’t start eating his, though, it could be in danger because this sauce is freaking addictive!

“You should watch out,” I tease after swallowing my bite. “I might snag yours.”

He curls his fingers around his food with mock horror. “You wouldn’t!”

“I can, and I just might,” I joke as I dunk another onion ring and pop it in my mouth. I’m making yummy noises and I don’t care. This food is delicious.

“It’s a good thing we can come here every day for lunch. I suspect you’re gonna want these onion rings often.”

“You know, I think I might.”

When we’re done eating, I push my plate toward Chomp. There’s half a sandwich but none of the onion rings left. I know he’ll finish my sandwich. He still looks hungry as he finishes off a third Coke.

“Here. Eat this. I’m full.”

I don’t have to ask him twice. Chomp picks up the sandwich and chows it down within four bites. I giggle as I shake my head. He’s insatiable.

“What?” He stacks his plates and I note he’s careful to clean up after himself. Something I never saw Perry do. It’s refreshing to see a man who’s confident and mannered. “I gotta feed my gator.”

“Yes, I see that.”

“You ready to head back?”

“Sure.”

Chomp catches Janie and waves her over, telling her we’ll take dessert to go, and he needs the check. While she’s bagging up the sweets he ordered, he pulls out his wallet and reaches for a twenty and a ten, placing them on the table. It’s his tip, I realize. A generous one.

Janie returns and Chomp gives her cash, telling her to keep the change. I slide from the booth and Chomp joins me, his palm resting against my lower back as he leads us from the diner. The heat of his touch sinks through the material of my shirt. It’s soothing in a way I can’t explain.

He carries the to-go bag in one hand and reaches for me with the other. I almost debate refusing him and decide I don’t want to. I’ve enjoyed his company today. I tighten my grip around his fingers and feel his glance in response, but don’t say a word.

When we arrive at the shop, I release his hand after a gentle squeeze. “Do you think it’ll be busy?”

“Probably. People usually book the campsites in advance of the upcoming weekend. I’ve got a tour this afternoon, so I’ll be leaving soon.” Chomp places the bag from the diner beside me as I take a seat behind the counter. “I figured you might like to try Maggie’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies, so they’re here when you want them.” He winks at me. “If you eat them all, I won’t judge.”

“That good?” I ask, amused.

“Best in the state,” he quips, before lowering his chin and dropping a kiss on my head. “See you in a few hours.”

I blink, somewhat shocked that he made such an intimate gesture, but I like it too. It’s innocent, I know. The kiss to him is an endearment for his mate. For me? It’s affection and the confirmation that he’s trying to protect and understand my boundaries. We might not have finished our discussion at the diner, but it’s obvious that he heard me, and I wasn’t treated as though my thoughts weren’t important. He makes me feel as though I’m important and it heals a tiny part inside of me.

Chomp is sure making it hard for me to dismiss the whole mate idea. In fact, his sweet treatment, affection, concern, and need to protect me are part of the reason I feel safe in Yukon Bluff. He’s replacing all those horrid months and memories with new ones, making it hard not to like that gator shifter a little too much.

After he leaves, I go over everything I learned earlier today since I won’t have him readily available to ask questions. Thank goodness, I took good notes and I decide to create a manual to make it easier for anyone who might have to step in and help. It also dawns on me that I didn’t turn in my employment application or the banking information he’s going to need to set up direct deposit for my paycheck, so I pull it out of the crossbody bag I bought the day before and put it in his mailbox to handle.

Customers come in steadily all afternoon and before I know it, Chomp is walking back into the store with a grin on his face. “Are you ready to go?” he asks, glancing over the two books that have seen a lot of action today. “Holy shit,” he murmurs when he sees that tours are booked solid for the next two weeks, and every campsite has been rented as well. “I think you’re good luck, Ariel. This is the busiest we’ve been since opening up, I think.”

“Hopefully, I didn’t screw anything up,” I reply. “I put my application and the bank information in your inbox since I forgot to do that this morning.”

“I’ll take care of it in the morning. Let’s shut the computer down for the day and I’ll work up the deposit. We can drop it in the bank’s overnight box before I walk you home.”

“You don’t need to do that, it’s still light outside.” His eyes briefly glow, and I realize his gator’s letting me know he’s listening in. Finally, I shrug and say, “Okay, you can walk me home.”

He chuckles as he counts the money from the old-fashioned cash register then fills out a deposit slip before putting all of it in the bank bag then sealing it with a tiny zip tie. “I would’ve done it anyhow.”

Rolling my eyes I sass, “So, you’re willingly admitting that you’re stalking me?”

“Not stalking, protecting,” he advises. I watch him check the windows and the back door that leads to a small porch which is only accessible to employees. It has a small table and a couple of chairs and I smile thinking of taking a break out there and breathing in the fresh air.

Once the laptop shuts down, I close it, grab my bag then stand up. “I’m officially ready,” I tease.

“That’s a new purse,” he remarks as he guides me out the front door, switching the open sign to closed, and adjusting the clock to show when we’ll reopen before he sets the alarm and locks the door behind him.

“Yeah, I didn’t really like the other one,” I reply.

Actually, I pretty much replaced the clothes they brought from the house, as well as most of the other personal belongings. I don’t want anything from before to touch the new life I’m building. Callie understood, but I know whenever I bring up the past, it makes Chomp as well as his gator very angry.

“Well, I like it. It suits you, Ariel,” he says, taking my hand as we walk toward town.

He entertains me with what happened while he was out on his tour. Seems the man had never really been out on the water before, so when he saw some of the wildlife that Yukon Bluff has, he kind of freaked out a little bit. Chomp starts laughing and says, “Shoulda known he was a city slicker by the way he was dressed.”

I grin while nodding. “Yeah, I saw him arrive and he was wearing fancy shoes for someone who was going to be out on a fishing boat.”

“You hungry?” he asks. “I ordered a couple of pizzas. We can take them to your place and eat before I take off for the night so you can chill.”

“I think I’d like that,” I say, “but only if you included pineapple.”

Part of me wonders if it’s his gator side that is constantly wanting to feed me, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings by asking. Since I went so long with little to nothing to eat, I can definitely afford to gain some weight, that’s for sure.

“It’s not as good as mine,” he warns, “but it’ll do in a pinch.” He taps his temple. “And I didn’t forget. Ham, pineapple, and cinnamon per your request.”

Chomp just might become one of my favorite people. Err, shifter.