They all visited for a bit, everyone talking at the same time—easy conversation among people who honestly liked each other. Keri’s hand rested in his, and he rubbed her fingers lightly, his mind racing as he considered what was the best thing for them to do next. They really did have a world of options open.
“Ahem.”
Jared jerked to his feet. “Chad?”
The man’s usual bluster was missing as he clutched his hat in his hands and avoided eye contact. He sighed wearily, then noticed Keil, his eyes widening before he dipped his head politely. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll give you a call—”
“Wait.” Jared wasn’t sure why, but he pulled the chair from the table behind them and offered it. “Sit. You want a coffee?”
Chad paused then joined them. He looked across to Tessa and let loose another one of those sighs. “No coffee, but I do owe you an apology, Tessa, and since I was rude in front of others, I should apologize in front of them. I had no idea Eden would do something so bizarre. I would never have jeopardized the cruise. I hope you believe me.”
Tessa nodded slowly but didn’t speak.
“You did a great job. I hope you enjoy running the ship for a long time to come.” He rose to his feet and nodded, obviously ready to take his leave.
“Thank you for that,” Tessa said. “Only I think I’m going to leave the ship to Tony from now on. I’ll be sure to recommend he hire you on again.”
Chad’s jaw flapped open. “Really? I mean, really?”
Tessa shook a finger at him. “You’re a great coordinator, Chad. You just need to lay off the private vendettas with crew members.”
Chad glanced sheepishly at Jared. “Sorry about that.”
Jared lifted his mug. “Totally forgotten.”
Keri fidgeted at his side. “Tessa, you never said a word to me about not wanting to run the cruise ship next time out. What’s up?”
“You were a little distracted.” Tessa’s wide grin was echoed in the expressions facing them.
Yeah, they’d been a trifle distracted, although who could blame them? Even sitting there he was aching to run off with Keri again, find somewhere private and not surface for days. This mating thing—totally disruptive in more ways than he’d expected.
“Spill, girlfriend.”
Tessa wiped chocolate from her lips. “I can’t stand the ocean. I was borderline seasick the entire trip, and the only thing keeping me sane was the chocolate. If I don’t want to be a three-hundred-pound cougar, I need to find a dry-land place to manage. The ship was fun, and I know I did a good job, but Tony is welcome to it if he wants the job. I’m moving on to something that suits me better.”
Keri laughed. “Now the chocolate makes sense. But…good for you. Yes, you need to do what’s going to make you happy. I’m still proud of you.”
Tessa smiled, and Jared relaxed.
If Tessa wasn’t working the ship anymore, then perhaps Keri would be open to a little suggestion he had of his own.
He twisted her toward him and leaned their foreheads together. He spoke softly, just for her ears as the noise of happy voices rumbled around them. “You sad you don’t have a job anymore?”
She shook her head. “Unemployed—at least they didn’t drop me off in Greenland.”
He wasn’t quite sure what that meant. “So are you free to do something special with me? Like maybe find a nice artsy job here in the North?”
“I’m yours.”
The words were simple, but there was lightness in her eyes, a kind of a joy and brightness heating up quickly to something that made his body catch fire.
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
He ignored everyone around them. Ignored the fact his Alpha was staring and had a ton of unanswered questions. Ignored everything but his need to connect with his mate, because right then there was nothing on his to-do list higher than “kiss Keri senseless”.
So he did.
About the Author
Vivian Arend has hiked, biked, skied and paddled her way around North America, and is working on Europe and the more southern continents. Throughout all her wanderings, stories have been planted, now ready to burst out in vivid colour. Light-hearted paranormal escapades, red-hot contemporaries—the genres are as varied as the experiences that inspired them.
Between times of living with no running water, she tries to keep up with her husband—the instigator of most of the wilderness adventures.
She loves to hear from readers: vivarend@gmail.com. You can also drop by www.vivianarend.com for more information on what is coming next.