Page 15

15

THORN

I wasn’t a nail biter, but that changed from the moment the inspectors pulled into the driveway.

Yesterday when we left the lodge, I’d taken photos of the house, the cabins, and the grounds. We’d worked miracles, as the calluses on my hands could attest.

The new paint on the outside of the house and cabins gleamed in the late-afternoon sun. All the roofs had been repaired, and while Uncle’s house had needed little more than a lick of paint, a tidy, and a few missing tiles added to the roof, the cabins were unrecognizable inside and out. New carpet, brand-new fixtures in the bathrooms, and no more leaks from the plumbing or the holes in the roof. There was new wood paneling in the rooms, along with new window frames and glass.

And the grounds were pristine.

They didn’t need much attention because the mountainous backdrop was the star performer, but the grass was mowed, the trees and bushes pruned, and we weeded the garden beds and planted bulbs. They should have been planted in the fall to allow them to stay dormant during the winter, but these were summer blooms, so we hoped they’d sprout this year.

We draped our arms around one another as the sun set and we made our way back to our cars.

Now it was morning, and we’d arrived early and opened the doors and windows. Wilder brought flowers from his garden and placed them in vases in each room while I set out the garden furniture, some of which had belonged to Uncle and the rest we’d bought at a secondhand store.

No matter the result of the inspection, I was proud of what we had achieved. But unless everything was up to code, the lodge would remain closed until we made the necessary changes.

“You’ll regret that.” Wilder removed my hand from my mouth where I was ripping my nails to shreds.

I laughed. “You remind me of Dad when I was sucking my thumb as a kid.”

He leaned in close. “There’s only one thing you’re allowed to suck, other than food, and that’s me.”

“Stop!” I couldn’t greet the inspectors with a hard-on. I put on my sports jacket and went into the main house to make more coffee. But my already jittery nerves couldn’t take any more caffeine, not without food, and I’d been too nervous to eat this morning, so we sat outside, enjoying the spring sunshine.

The rumble of a four-wheel drive alerted us to the inspectors’ arrival. They were the same guys as the first time, both of whom Wilder knew well. We kept out of their way as they wandered around the buildings.

I wasn’t sure which was worse. Being able to see what they were doing outside, or imagining them inside each cabin and the house.

Wilder put his hand over mine as my knees shook and rattled the table.

“If there’s something not right, we’ll fix it.” If his stomach was churning half as much as mine, he was hiding it well.

“How long is this going to take?” I whispered. If there was bad news, I wanted it now. Best to rip off the band-aid.

“As long as they need.”

I poked out my tongue at his non-answer.

The guys emerged from the last cabin and headed toward us. I squeezed my mate’s hand as we stood.

“Congratulations. I didn’t think you’d manage all the repairs, but well done,” Joe told us as he shook our hands.

They had to file the paperwork, but that should only take a few days and we’d have the certificate of occupancy.

“Nice to have a new resident in the area.” Neither of the men lived in Cougar Lake but in a town nearby. Wilder had told me they were both shifters, so they would have scented we were mated. He also said Joe had really liked my uncle and that meant a lot to me.

We waited until they drove off before we jumped and screamed and headed for the lake, leaping in fully clothed. The cold water was a shock as usual, but I welcomed it.

“What do you think?” Wilder had stripped off his clothes and had a towel wrapped around his hips.

“About?” I raised a brow, thinking he was ready for sexy time.

“Becoming a resident, a permanent resident, of Cougar Lake.”

Up until now, we’d talked about having me go back and forth. My boss had agreed I could work from home for three weeks and the fourth week I’d be in the office.

After crunching the numbers, giving up my job before the resort was self-sustaining hadn’t been part of the plan. And until now, I’d always had a plan.

No matter what, I had to return to the city and pack up my things. Only being there one week out of four, I didn’t need an apartment and had arranged to rent a room.

“That’s a big step. Why don’t you come to the city with me.” It would be days before the building permit was issued, and with two of us driving, we could make it in one day. “I’ll decide once we’re there.”

It wasn’t as if we were going to have a long-distance relationship. I’d be on Cougar Lake most of the time. Cutting that final link to my old life wasn’t easy. But as I thought about it more, that shiny new office didn’t have the same appeal.

Wilder had lived a city life when he attended college, but I witnessed his reactions to the noise and the pollution, the crowds and the traffic jams. Seeing it through his eyes, I longed to return to Cougar Lake. There was a life waiting for me, a new business to run, and a community that had welcomed me.

We sat in a pizza place, one I’d frequented at least once a week because it was close to the office. On the other side of the room was a colleague. If I gave up my job, he’d likely be the one to replace me and would get the new office and a shiny new title.

That would have bothered me before I got word about Uncle, and I would have worked twice as hard to make sure I got the promotion.

“This is a delicious pizza, but the one Jimmy makes in Cougar Lake is almost as good.” Wilder was starting on his third slice.

“Mmmm.”

“You’re a million miles away.” He put down the slice and chewed. “It’s okay if you want to keep your job. I understand being worried about money and security.”

“It’s not that.” It was a little concerning, but I had a small nest egg, and I could always offer the boss my services as a consultant. I wouldn’t say no to the occasional project.

“Change is hard and often scary.” My mate rubbed his foot against mine.

“I’ve made up my mind.” I stared at him, welcoming the gaze from those dark eyes.

“And?”

“I’m ready for a change. But I’ll need to meet with my boss in the morning.” I’d have to give notice.

“This has to be a decision you make for you. Do not make it for me.”

I slipped off my shoe and rubbed his foot and calf. “This is for us.”

“I love you.”

“As I do you.”

Wilder made a start packing up my stuff while I spoke to my boss. I’d have to work for the next month, but that only required me to return to the city for one week. And he took me up on the offer of working as a consultant.

“My husband and I might spend our next vacation in Cougar Lake. He’s been pushing me for a hiking holiday rather than the beach where we usually go.”

My mate was knee-deep in button-down shirts, ties, and suits of identical colors when I made it back to the apartment.

“You really wore this every day? The same color?” He held up five ties.

“I didn’t have to think about what to wear.”

“And your colleagues didn’t think you wore the same suit, shirt, and tie every day?”

If they did, they never said. Maybe they’d held their noses when I walked by.

I’d rented the apartment furnished, so I didn’t have to sell anything, just arrange for a cleaning service.

There was no emotion when I said my goodbye to the apartment. I’d mentally detached myself from the place and I’d spent little time here. We had one more night in the city, and I planned to show Wilder all of my favorite things. But after that, I doubted I’d look back.