Page 13 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

“It’ll hold,” I say, tightening the last screw.“But you need replacement parts.Soon.”

“How soon is soon?”

“Yesterday.”

She groans.“I hate yesterday.It’s always making today expensive.”

“I can source the parts,” I offer.

Her eyes narrow.“How much?”

“I’ll get prices first.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

“It was an answer-adjacent statement.”

“Daniel.”The way she says my name should be illegal.My wolf agrees with alarming enthusiasm.

I stand, and she has to tilt her head back to keep glaring at me.The height difference hits us both at the same time.Her breath catches, and my body goes tight.The bond stretches between us, hot and trembling.Her pupils widen, and the scent of her desire slips into the air so sweetly I nearly lose my grip on every decent intention I have.

My hand twitches, and hers does too.Then she steps back, and I let her, even if it feels like chewing glass.

I take a slow breath.“I’ll bring you an estimate this afternoon.”

“You don’t have to rush.”

“I know.”

Her eyes narrow again.“Then why are you rushing?”

Because being away from you already feels like a bad idea.Because my wolf is memorizing the sound of your heartbeat.Because fate just dropped me at your feet and for once in my life, I don’t want to run.

I say none of that.“I like happy mixers,” I answer.

“You’re deeply strange.”

“Says the woman who named her oven Patricia.”

Holly gasps.“Don’t speak about Patricia like she isn’t in the room.”

“I apologize to Patricia.”

“She’s sensitive,” she whispers, giving the oven a side glance.

“I’ll be gentle.”

Her cheeks flush as the words land between us.We both hear everything I did not mean to say.Or maybe everything I did.

Holly turns away first, busying herself with wiping down a counter that is already clean.“You should go.”

I nod.“I should.”But neither of us moves.

Maisie walks into the kitchen, takes one look at us, grabs a tray, and walks right back out.“Nope,” she mutters.“Not today.I don’t have insurance for whatever this is.”

Holly closes her eyes.“I’m firing her.”

“She seems efficient.”