Page 74 of His True Mate

“I doubt I’ll ever take a mate,” James surprised us by saying.

“What? Why not?”

He shrugged. “Just don’t think it’s in the cards for me.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong.”

He gave me a sad look and then clapped my shoulder.

“But I am very happy for you, my friend. No one more deserving.”

“How did you react when she learned about your infatuation with the Hallmark Mystery Channel?” Austin teased just as the food arrived.

I glared at him. It wasn’t something I chose to announce to the Pack. Milly was the biggest gossip of them all. If she heard him then it was as good as any public announcement.

“Actually, she loves it too,” I simply said.

“Well shit. I guess she really is the one.”

I grinned. “She absolutely is.”

Winnie

Chapter 18

This was so far out of my realm of normalcy that I had no idea what to wear. What did one wear to hang out with a bunch of high-ranking women?

Hell if I knew.

After sorting through everything Clay had bought me as well as the few things I’d brought with me, I settled on a simple cotton T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

I had bought two dresses because Clay and Sydney had insisted I might need them, but I couldn’t bring myself to wear one of them. I was not exactly a dress kind of gal. I couldn’t remember ever wearing one in my entire life and had only consented because I liked the way Clay looked at me in it.

It was such a shallow thought. Sometimes I wasn’t even sure who I was anymore when I was around him, but at the same time, I’d never felt more alive and, well, like me.

With Clay, I had never once pretended to be anything but me. He seemed to find that more than enough. It was refreshing. Coming from a life of show, always in the spotlight, it felt good not to have to put on an act with him.

As I carefully applied my makeup for the first time since I’d arrived in Collier, I frowned at the image reflected back at me.

Clay walked up and wrapped his arms around me leaning down to kiss my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

I sighed. “I was just thinking about how this is the first time I’ve even bothered with makeup since I got here.”

“So are you happy to wear it again? Because there’s nothing wrong with wearing it if it makes you feel good.”

“But what if it doesn’t?”

He smiled at my reflection in the mirror.

“My girl is just as beautiful without it. Maybe even more so.”

I turned in his arms with an unexpected tear in my eye.

“My entire life I’ve been dressed up to act like this specific image everyone comes out to see.”

“Your life is not a reality show, sweetheart. I promise you, they’re going to love you, whether you wear makeup or not.”