Page 34 of Wrong Number, Right Cougar

“Yeah. Thought you’d want it. It’s a good picture of your uncle.”

It was a good picture of both of them, but I knew better than to say anything like that to Stiles. I wanted him to stick around longer, my mate obviously touched by the gift.

“It’s a great picture of my uncle. And you… you know you’re welcome to come here. Shift, swim, whatever you want.” Thorn blinked back some tears.

“Don’t like people.” And there was grumpy Stiles back from hiding.

“That’s totally valid.” I understood exactly where he was coming from. “And I have a place here too. No people.”

“You renting that out?”

“Nope. Letting friends stay there.”

That had him smiling. “Yeah. Maybe I’ll take you up on that. Your uncle was good people. And I don’t like people.”

We’d already established that.

“I’ve learned a lot about him since I’ve been here. I wish I’d known him better.” Thorn leaned into my side, and my heart ached for him. I wished things had been different for them too. Family drama sucked, no matter how it started or why.

“He wanted that too, kid. But he’d be mighty proud of you. This looks great. Like what he’d wanted it to be. You’ve done good.”

“Thanks.” Thorn handed me the picture and pulled the old man in for a hug.

I had a feeling we were going to see a lot more of him around here.

There was something magical about this place—and I was glad to be part of sparking it back to life.

An hour later, everyone had gone home, with the exception of my brother and his crew. By all accounts it was a very successful event.

“Beer time.” Frank sat down on the deck with us and put the six pack in the middle.

We each took one, only by the time we were putting the empties back, I noticed that my mate hadn’t touched his. Interesting.

I tried not to get ahead of myself, but I couldn’t help seeing a picture of him round with my child flickering through my mind briefly. I wanted that, to one day be a father, for the two of us to raise our kittens here. And I wasn’t picky, cougars or humans, I’d love them both.

But I was getting ahead of myself, by a lot. I’d never seen my mate drink beer. Wine? Sure, but not beer. Maybe he was one of those guys who simply didn’t like it and didn’t want to be rude since the guys brought it over special for us.

“We’re taking you up on the offer and staying the night.” Paul stood up and stretched. “Gonna shift first. Anyone coming?”

His partners in crime both got up and joined him, leaving my mate and me alone.

“Want to go with them?” Thorn asked.

“Nope. I want to go to bed with you.” I took his still full beer and dumped it over the deck and onto the grass, placing the empty bottle with the others.

“To sleep?”

“Eventually.” I winked. “Eventually.”

19

THORN

“Are you feeling okay?”

Wilder leaned against the bathroom door while I showered.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I turned off the water, and my mate handed me a towel.

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