Page 17 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy (Cowboys of Collier #1)

Brady

I couldn’t wait to get back to my girl. But first I needed to meet up with Luke and secure a place for us to live. After that, I’d track her down and work things out.

Our latest encounter may not have ended quite as I’d have liked it to, but she was still here and that’s all that matter. I had another chance to win her over. And I would, because now that I’d had a taste of her, I didn’t think I could live without her.

Already, I was jonesing for another kiss like a drug addict looking for a hit.

I just had to do this right this time. Because Lord knew I’d already screwed up more times than I cared to admit when it came to this mating stuff.

I was excited to start this next chapter in my life as I pulled up to Luke’s house. Tim lived next door and Cruz just across the street. It was a great neighborhood where many from my former Larken Pack lived together.

Luke met me outside.

“Hey, Brady.”

“Hey. So you have a place for me?”

“Yeah, of course. I’m just a bit surprised at the sudden need. What’s going on?”

I eyed him suspiciously. No way he hadn’t heard all the rumors.

“It’s just time,” I told him.

“And will you be living here alone?” he asked.

Yeah, he’d heard.

“Hopefully not for long,” I confessed.

He nodded, but looked seriously worried.

“So, you and Clementine?”

I almost burst out laughing. That’s what he was worried about.

“Um, no.”

He looked confused. “But I heard. . .”

“I was wrong. There was a misunderstanding,” I tried to assure him.

“So what’s really going on here?”

“Had an incident at home this morning. I know Peyton and Oliver are worried about me, so you’ll probably hear about it at some point. But truth is, it’s just time. I’m a grown ass man living with my brother and his mate. I love them but I need my own space.”

He looked thoroughly confused for some reason.

“Well, okay then. I’ve actually been saving this house just for you. I knew eventually this day would come.”

“You have? You did?”

“Sure. Everyone needs their own space eventually and I know how close you are with your family.”

I didn’t understand what that had to do with anything until he walked me over to the house two doors down from his and just on the other side of Tim and Jessie.

“For real?” I asked.

He dangled the keys in front of me.

“Ultimately, it’s up to you. If you need more space and want to be away from everyone, I have options for you.”

“No, this is great.”

I opened the door and walked in. The place was huge for just once person.

I stopped and grinned as I looked around. It wasn’t for just me.

As I walked through the house, I tried to imagine living here with Tricia.

Maybe even having a few pups of our own.

It wasn’t as easy as I expected, though.

In truth, the only thing I knew about my mate was that she could kiss like no other, and she was mine.

The rest I’d have to figure out along the way.

From the sounds of it, she had little more than the clothes on her back. Ironically, neither did I. Aside from my motorcycle and clothes, I didn’t own anything.

For a second as I looked around, this house felt enormous. How were we ever going to fill it?

I looked at it like any other project, just like I would at work. We were going to need a priority list and then start tackling it one item at a time. Eventually we were going to be okay.

“It’s perfect,” I told him.

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“Alright, man. It’s all yours then.”

I nodded as I looked around, already calculating out the most important needs. But the thing was, I wanted this to be our home, not just mine. That meant I needed Tricia.

“Welcome to the neighborhood.”

He shook my hand and then explained he had plans and had to get going, leaving me all alone in that big empty house. My big empty house.

I knew this was going to take up more of my time, but I couldn’t completely shirk my responsibilities at work. I’d done enough of that already this week. So, I picked up my phone and called Tim. He answered on the first ring.

“How did it go?” he asked.

“Hello to you, too.”

“Are you okay?” he tried this time.

“How’s the installation for the tanks coming along? Any concerns with the hydroponics system so far?”

“All that shit’s fine, Brady. Now tell me you are, too. When you left here you were going to the house to get your stuff.”

“I did.”

“No issues?”

“Well, Tricia was there. We kissed. We fought. Damn, she’s like all fire and ice.”

“You got in a fight again?”

“Yeah.”

“Brady, that’s not healthy.”

“Really? Because I’ve never felt so energized and focused in my life. Speaking of which, we’re gonna be neighbors. Are you cool with that?”

“Luke gave you the big house next to me and Jess?”

“Yup. Standing in it as we speak.”

He burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“That house is huge. It’s like five bedrooms, Brady. When it was offered to us, we turned it down quickly. Too big.”

“Guess we’ll just have to fill it up with babies or something.”

He burst out laughing. “Now you’re jumping right into family man? You can’t even talk to the girl without pissing her off and getting angry yourself.”

“Mind your own business. It’s fine.”

“You really have lost your mind, haven’t you?”

He was probably right, but I certainly wasn’t going to admit that to him.

“A big house means lots of room for makeup sex, right?”

He snorted. “If you convince her to move in with you, just know I have a couch whenever you need it.”

“Why would I need your couch if I have my own house?”

“Because from what Kenneth was telling me about your morning interaction, that’s where you’re going to be banished often.”

I scowled. “He’s just a pup. What the hell does he know about mating?”

“Touché, but what do you know about it?”

“Is everything under control there or what?” I snapped.

“All good, boss.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

I hung up on him, angry at him souring my mood.

Everyone ended up with their true mate eventually, right? Maybe not those idiots who committed to compatible mates first, but otherwise it all worked out in the end.

Thomas and Lily hadn’t exactly had the fairytale start either.

Hell, Sydney despised Luke at first.

I grinned thinking back to that kiss. Tricia hadn’t seemed to despise me then.

Sure, she was talking about leaving, but I had to have faith that she couldn’t go through with it.

Suddenly I began to worry about everything.

What if she really did leave?

What if she already had and I was too late day-dreaming of a future together while she slipped away?

What if I’d already screwed things up beyond repair?

What if she hated me? Or at the very least didn’t want to be with me?

“Shit!” I needed to get to her right now before all the what ifs drowned me.

Plus, I couldn’t wait to show her the house.

I left and drove straight home. Unfortunately, the family had returned.

Needing to see my mate and talk to her, I pushed my pride aside and walked into the house. They were all standing around the foyer.

Meg ran over and threw her arms around my waist.

“Uncle Brady, you’re back!”

“Hey squirt. Just because I’m getting my own place doesn’t mean I won’t be around.”

“Promise?”

“You’re really leaving?” Evie asked.

“I am.”

“But why? We love having you here.”

“I love being here too, but it’s time. Plus, now you can come and have sleepovers at my house.”

“You got a house?” Parker asked.

“I sure did, buddy. You three can come stay over anytime. Well, as long as mama says it’s okay.”

They all turned to look at her with big, expecting eyes.

I chuckled. “Not today. It’s empty at the moment, but soon when I get settled in. Okay?”

“Okay. And you promise you’ll still come around and not forget us?” Meg asked.

“Forget you? That’s not even possible. You guys still hang out with Uncle Tim, he doesn’t live here.”

“That’s different. He has Aunt Jessie.”

I didn’t see why that had anything to do with their relationship with their uncle, and I almost blurted out that they’d have Aunt Tricia now too, but I looked up at her and something told me that now was not the time for that.

“I should go,” she said.

“Please stay,” Peyton begged her. “Or at least let me drop you off at a bus station.”

I scowled. “You’re leaving Collier?” I barked, causing the kids to jump back.

“Out,” Oliver told me. “I don’t know what the hell is going on with you, but you can’t just yell at our guest like this every time. I swear, you two are like complete opposites and exactly alike at the same time.”

“I’m not,” I said a little too quickly. “I’m just surprised to hear it.” And trying not to freak out because you just told me my mate is leaving town when I just went and got us a freaking house to start a future together.

I stared at Tricia, but she wouldn’t even meet my eyes.

“This is what you want?” I asked her.

“This is what I have to do,” she told me and, for just a second, I heard the vulnerability in my tough girl’s voice.

I locked my jaw and nodded.

“I’ll take you to the bus station,” I said, without leaving any room for negotiations.

Peyton even started to protest, but Ollie cut her off. I think he was finally starting to suspect that something more was going on here.

Tricia’s eyes were wide, but she didn’t argue as she thanked Peyton and said her goodbyes.

“Can I borrow a helmet?” I asked my brother.

He nodded and when he returned with it, he held onto it just a tad longer than was necessary to get my attention.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’m fine,” I assured him, reigning back the snap of my tone that would have come so naturally in that morning. I needed him to know I was in control.

“We’ll talk later?”

“Of course.”

I took Tricia’s elbow and led her out the door. Even that small innocent touch sent shockwaves of desire through me. Now was not the time for that though.

Walking out to my bike felt a bit like I would imagine a prisoner felt being led to the guillotine. I just prayed I got a stay of execution.

“You don’t have to do this,” she told me.

“No, it’s good. If this is what you want, I think we both could use the closure.”

She gave me an odd look. I was confusing her. Good.

I helped her onto the back of my bike and gave her some quick instructions. She nodded that she understood.

“Are you in a hurry, or can I show you something first?”

“Um, I don’t know.”

“Have you checked the bus station times yet?”

“No. I was just going to walk for a bit,” she confessed.

“I can fly you wherever you need to go.”

“No,” she said a little too quickly.

It made me feel like I didn’t have all the facts about what was going on here.

“So, can I show you something first?”

“Uh, sure.”

I settled between her legs and reveled in the feel of having her wrapped around me as I drove out of the driveway. Then I drove us home for the first time praying all the way that I didn’t blow what could be my final chance with her.