Page 8 of Holly Jolly Heat
Michelle,
I know you like to have control of your schedule. These might help. Also, I'm sorry if I came on too strong in my email. Take all the time you need.
But I meant what I said. We're not giving up.
- Ro
The planner was perfect. Exactly the kind I preferred, weekly spreads, space for notes, a ribbon bookmark. And my initials. He'd had it custom made.
He'd been paying attention too.
Maya was reading over my shoulder. "Oh my god, that's so romantic. He's been thinking about you for months!"
"Maya—"
"What? It's right there in the note! He's not giving up!" She grabbed my arm. "Michelle, these are courting gifts. They're courting you properly."
"They're my clients," I said weakly.
"They're your mates," Mom corrected gently. "There's a difference."
The third box was more practical, sturdy. The card:Basics. - D
I opened it to find hand warmers, a high-quality thermos, a first-aid kit for my car, a heavy-duty phone charger, and tucked at the bottom, a soft blanket in deep forest green.
The note was brief.For the drive home. Stay warm.
Something about that broke through my defenses. The practicality of it. The quiet thoughtfulness. Dex had thought about me driving back to Seattle eventually, had wanted to make sure I was safe and comfortable.
Had wanted to take care of me.
I held the soft blanket, and my omega purred.
"Well," Bill said, breaking the silence. "Those are some determined alphas."
"They're proving a point," Mom added. "That they see you. All of you. Not just the omega."
I looked at the three boxes, at the evidence of three alphas who'd been paying attention for months without even knowing I was their mate. Lucas knowing my favorite tea. Ro understanding my need for control and organization. Dex thinking about my safety and comfort.
They'd been courting me before they'd even met me.
"I don't know what to do," I admitted quietly.
"You thank them," Mom said practically. "That's what you do first. Then you decide what comes next."
"But the professional complications?—"
"Are complications," she finished. "Not impossibilities. Michelle, you've built a successful business by solving problems. This is just another problem to solve."
"Mom, this isn't a scheduling conflict. This is a pack bond with my clients. If word gets out, my reputation?—"
"Your reputation is that you're the best in the business," Bill interrupted. "That doesn't change because you found your mates."
Josh was pulling out his phone. "Also, can I just say? CozyLuke sent you courting gifts. That's so cool. He's literally the nicest streamer on the platform, and he's?—"
"Josh," I said tiredly. "Not helping."
"I'm just saying! If you have to have a complicated pack bond situation, at least it's with decent alphas. Could be worse."
