Page 281 of Labor of Love

“Thank you again. I owe you one.”

“Nah. But I do recall you saying something about a kiss.”

The blush returned to Milo’s cheeks. “You’re right.”

He closed the distance between us, and my heart started trying to jackhammer its way out of my chest. His hand cupped my cheek and he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

The touch of his lips burned my skin like a brand, and as he moved away, looking a little dazed, I pressed my fingers to the spot, my knees a little weak.

Milo busied himself folding up the bakery bag and pointedly not looking at me. “You know Matteo pretty well, right?”

It was my turn to shrug though my bones felt like Jello after the simple press of Milo’s lips against my skin. “I’ve gotten to know him better over the last year or so. Before that he kind of kept to himself. He was gone for a long time while he was in the military.”

“I can’t wait to meet him.” Milo finally looked at me, his eyes bright with excitement.

“Charlie said Matteo is looking forward to meeting you too.”

Milo turned and surveyed his space. “I have a feeling things are going to be really good here.”

I hoped they would be. I didn’t think my heart could take it if Milo left. He was mine, and I needed him to stay. “I think so too.”

Milo and that tiny, chaste kiss had been on my mind all day, and Cas had called me on being distracted more than once.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you today, Noah?” My brother shook his head as he coiled rope on the deck of one of our boats. We didn’t have any dive tours scheduled for the day, so we’d spent the day taking care of admin work and making sure the boats were in excellent condition and adequately supplied.

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit. You’ve been like this since you met Milo.” Caspian rolled his eyes. “So are you guys fucking or what?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like? Because this moony-eyed moping thing you’ve got going on is so not the vibe.”

I blew out a huge breath, which earned me another eye roll from my brother. “Do you believe in fated mates?”

Cas’s eyes went wide. “Do you think Milo is your fated mate?”

“I dunno. When we met it felt like something came into focus. It was like my heart and soul recognized that he was mine, and thinking about not being near him makes me want to crawl out of my skin.”

“Whoa.” My brother’s expression turned uncharacteristically thoughtful. “I don’t know if I believe in fated mates, but I think I’d like to. The thought that there is someone out there meant just for me? Yeah, that would be cool.” Caspian’s eyes narrowed. “But, like, how would that even work with you two? He’s a snow leopard shifter and you’re a stingray shifter. Like could you be more opposite in the most basic way?”

“Charlie and Matteo made it work. Mags said Charlie’s friend Dominic is an eagle shifter and his mate is a dolphin shifter.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I guess when I’ve thought about finding a mate I’ve always assumed it would be someone from my own shifter species, but maybe that’s shortsighted of me.”

My brother was a great guy, but he rarely got this philosophical.

He nodded and continued. “If Milo makes you feel like you described, then I think whether you’re fated mates or not, you need to hold on to him.”

“I wish he’d let me, but I feel like I’ve been friend zoned.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Cas tossed the rope he’d finished coiling on the deck and held up a hand. “You guys aren’t dating?”

“No.”

“Huh. I thought you were definitely dating. You spend almost every evening together. You do all kinds of datey shit. I just figured you weren’t banging yet and that’s what had you all sad puppy eyes.”

“The stuff we do isn’t datey. I told him I’d show him around town. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

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