Page 21 of Snowed in with the Bear Shifter
“Rowan,” she hissed, her cheeks flaming.
“What?” Rowan asked, giving the store a sweeping glance. “No more customers. I checked. Besides, we’re about to close.”
“Still.”
“Hey, if you didn’t want the truth, you wouldn’t have come to me. This is what we do. We don’t let besties make stupid-ass mistakes with men they really like.” She cocked her head, her French braid slipping over her shoulder. “And you more than like him, don’t you? You lurve him,” she said in a sing-song voice.
“I…” She was about to protest but stopped and licked her lips. “I don’t know. Maybe? I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. But it could be I’m just coming down with something. I did get caught out in the sleet, after all. I mean, my head’s all jumbly and my stomach aches and every time I think about him, my whole body flashes hot.”
Rowan rolled her eyes. “You’re not sick, you weirdo. That’s your body telling you to get your shit together, go back up the mountain, and tell that man you love him. And then jump his bones again.” Her face squished up on one side.
Eloise cocked her head, her brows drawing together in puzzlement. “What are you doing? Are you trying to wink at me?”
“Ugh,” Rowan said, smacking a palm against the polished wood of the cashwrap. “Why can’t I wink? It’s not fair.”
“Oh, yes. Your life is so very unfair. You have a smart, handsome mate who utterly worships the ground you walk on, a beautiful Victorian with a to-die-for wraparound porch thatyou’re restoring together, a flourishing art career, but you can’t wink. Boo hoo, poor you.”
Rowan threw the rag she was using to dust at Eloise, catching her in the shoulder. “Whatever. Look, you need to call your mate and tell him how you really feel. You may claim you don’t know, but I promise you do.”
“This is all too fast for it to be real, true love,” she said, twisting the rag in her hands as she voiced her worries. “Witches don’t have mates, not like shifters or demons, so there’s not the certainty that comes when you find your mate.”
Rowan swept her into a hug, giving her friend the comfort she needed. “I’m not any of those things, and it was pretty much love at first sight between me and Leith. Took me a bit to admit it, though,” she said. “So, no. It is definitely not too fast for it to be true love. Besides, you’ve known this guy since, what, high school? Besties with his sister, over at his house all the time? So, while it may seem fast to you, maybe it just took a while to ferment.”
“‘Ferment’?” She snickered. “You mean like pickles?”
“I was thinking more like a fine wine or good stinky cheese, but sure. Pickles. All of which are tasty and worth the wait.” She bumped her hip against Eloise’s. “Look, how ’bout I close up here while you call your guy? Meet him for coffee or something so you can talk and tell him how you really feel. Then come over to my house for dinner. Bring him with, if things go well. Granny’s going to be there, and I’m almost one hundred percent sure she picked up a flourless chocolate cake from Sir Bakes-A-Lot.”
They let out synchronized “Mmm, Sir Bakes-A-Lot” noises.
“It’s hard to pass up delicious cake from the master baker,” Eloise said, returning Rowan’s hip bump.
“Oh, so dinner with your bestie isn’t good enough? I have to bribe you with chocolate now?”
“What can I say? I’m a slut for chocolate.”
“You are?” a deep voice said from the doorway.
With surprised squeals, the pair of them spun around to see Roarke standing there, a flat box wrapped in shiny white paper with a red bow in his hand.
“Roar,” Eloise said, her voice breathy.
He looked good, dressed in his usual jeans and flannel, a blue and green one this time. His big biceps bulged beneath the fabric. He’d pulled his hair back in a low queue and shaved, a dusting of scruff covering his strong jawline.
“Damn, girl,” Rowan whispered. “What are you waiting for? You need to climb that man like a tree.”
“Ro,” she hissed.
Rowan held up her hands and slowly backed away. “Don’t mind me,” she said in a voice loud enough for the shifter in the doorway to hear. “I’ll just be over here, closing up for the day, something I need no help with and can do on my own while you two talk.”
She blew out a breath and exchanged a glance with Roarke, who lifted his eyebrows. “Yeah, good. Thanks. You close up here while Roar and I go for a little walk.”
“Don’t forget your jacket,” he said when she started towards him. “It’s cold out.”
“And he says I’m the bossy one,” she grumbled, turning towards the back room where she kept her things only to get a coat to the face. “Thanks, Ro. Very helpful.”
“What are friends for?” Rowan said with a wide grin, her eyes darting from Eloise to Roarke.
Her heart thumping in her ears, Eloise slipped on her coat and followed Roarke out of her shop.
