Page 49 of Fated Surrender

“I’ll be fine now that I’m back with Connor in Arkadia. I’m starving though,” Madison admitted.

“Me, too, Ma,” Connor added.

“I have beef stew or chicken and dumplings. I knew that you would want something warm and comforting,” Ma offered.

“Stew.” Connor smiled up at his Ma.

“Chicken and dumplings for me. Sounds heavenly.” Madison rubbed her stomach.

“I’m glad you’re okay, baby girl.” Ma hugged Madison before returning behind the counter to dish out their dinner.

“What do you mean they are out of bronze? I spoke to them yesterday and there were no issues. No, pumpkin orange will not do. Call them back and tell them they are not offloading their surplus Halloween shit on us. I ordered bronze, they confirmed bronze, and I will have bronze on my Thanksgiving Day tables!” Rian yelled, before taking a deep breath.

“Sorry, babes, not your fault. I’ll call them back tomorrow. Yeah, yeah lurves you, too.” Rian hung up his phone and turned to them.

“Unfreaking real. You just can’t get good service anymore. They are so getting crossed off the list.” Rian crossed his arms in a huff.

Madison looked at Connor. “The list?” she asked, turning back to look at Rian, who brightened.

“Yes, the list. My master list of event-planning vendors. They were my go-to company for linens. Not anymore. They’ll be sorry when I update my blog,” Rian explained.

The rest of dinner went by, and Connor could tell that everyone was keeping conversations light. He was grateful. When he caught Madison yawning for the third time, he decided that it was time to go.

“Everyone, thank you,” Connor said as they walked out.

“Anytime, bro.”

The drive home was quiet as Madison kept dozing off and on. When he pulled into the driveway, she was snoring lightly and purring in her sleep. Thinking these were possibly the cutest sounds he had ever heard in his life, he hated to move her, but with the truck turned off, it would be getting cold quick. He got out of the truck and closed his door. He checked and sure enough his front door was unlocked.

Cursing Emmett, he went back to the truck and opened the passenger-side door. He unbuckled his mate and pulled her into his arms. His bear rumbled his approval. This is where she belonged. He kicked the door shut and walked into the house. He reached out and quickly dead-bolted the front door before walking upstairs.

Madison began to wake up as he lay her on the bed. He was in the bathroom when he heard her call out his name.

“Connor?” Madison was sitting upright in bed, a scared look in her eyes. Connor would rip off his own arm to wipe the fear from her mind, to rid her of the memories that she had with her brush with evil.

“I’m here, wildcat. Let’s get you in your jammies,” he said, smiling. The fear left her features and her mouth twitched.

“I’m a grown woman from New York, we don’t have jammies. We have jim jams,” she clarified. Connor bowed deeply, flourishing his hand in a grandiose manner.

“My apologies, my lady. Of course, you could always sleep naked.” He stood up straight and wagged his eyebrows.

“No way. One, you’re a tad on the hairy side, you would tickle me to death in my sleep. Two, you’re a nuclear furnace. I need some fabric between us or I’ll burn up.” Madison bounced off the bed and went to the closest where her suitcase was. She opened the door, turned on the light, and walked in.

Connor was ready to go to bed as he watched his mate match her T-shirt and lounge pants. She held one up then the other.

“The green outfit matches the sheets,” he advised, amused.

“Okay, pink it is.” She undressed, sighing in relief when she took her bra off. Connor never realized how heavy breasts must be to carry around all day. Madison’s slender shoulders had red stripes from her bra straps. She quickly pulled on her pajamas and darted past him to launch herself on the bed. Grinning, Connor closed the closet door and joined his mate in bed.

He turned off the light and slipped between the sheets. He pulled Madison in close to his body, savoring her presence.

“Don’t let go,” she whispered.

“Never.”

Connor was at his wit’s end. All morning Madison had been subdued, quiet, and sweet. Not his usual wildcat. She sat at the table closet to the kitchen and listened to everyone else talk. He was about to pack it up for the day and take her home when Rebecca came waddling into the diner carrying a stack of thick, heavy-looking books. Mojo immediately jumped up and took the books for her.

Connor frowned.

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