Chapter Seven
“What in hell did you pack in these, woman?” With three large rolling suitcases, two medium-sized, and a duffel around his neck choking him, Frank struggled through the rent-a-car lot to their assigned vehicle.
“Don’t chastise me, Frank. I had fifteen minutes to pack up my entire life and move out. I didn’t have time to think about it,” Amie said.
“So you packed your entire closet and bathroom?”
“Don’t be silly. That’s not even a quarter of my closet.” Amie adjusted the two bags she’d carried on the plane. “I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. I hope the dry-cleaner in this town we’re going to isn’t too busy.” Frank bust out a laugh. She was in for a big surprise.
She refused to go to DC, where he had an apartment. So the decision was made that she’d go to his hometown, which very few people knew about. He hated the idea of dumping this woman on his mom, but she could handle it. Plus, he’d still be somewhat on vacation.
“Why are you laughing? What aren’t you telling me, Frank?”
With a sigh, he said, “Nothing, Amie. Or should I call you Amerella now?” Her chin dropped to her chest. Aww, shit. He smelled her shame and the guilt she felt. But he was pissed, dammit. She lied to him about who she was, her perfect family, and her normal life. Did she lie to him about her feelings for him, too? Was it all some kind of charade?
No. That was true. She really loved him when they were together. He saw it in her eyes and smile. And of course, her smell. But now it was different. She was different. She was a prima donna who spoke her mind whether the other person wanted to hear it or not.
He clicked the key fob to open the car’s trunk. After stuffing it, he ended up putting some bags in the backseat. He’d never seen someone with so much luggage for one trip. Granted, he didn’t know how long she’d stay. Maybe he should tell her about a new-fangled appliance they called a washing machine.
Finally settled behind the steering wheel, he took a deep breath and relaxed. Well, as relaxed as he could be with his mate, but not his mate, sitting a couple feet from him. The entire drive, Amie stared out the window. Which he was glad for. He didn’t know what to say to her. He had so many questions he didn’t know where to begin.
Then there was the issue of her living in Spotted Creek. During their time together, he’d never told her he was a shifter. He would’ve told her before they married, but the day after he proposed to her, he never saw her again. Maybe his mom would tell her. Women knew how to talk with other women. Men only messed up things when trying to talk.
A green road sign marked five miles to his hometown. “We’re almost there.” His training kicked in and he felt more sure of himself. “Remember, you have to keep a low profile. The more people who know you are here, the more likely something could get out. You shouldn’t walk around town, but you can hang out in Mom’s backyard. It’s private and really nice. You’ll like it.”
He slowed the car and turned onto the main street.
Amie’s eyes widened. “Is this it?”
“Yes,” he grumped. “Something wrong with it?”
“No. It’s just . . . quaint.”
“I know it could use some sprucing up. The folks here are a bit stuck in the past, but they’re all great people.” He eyed the battered-looking beauty salon and falling-down warehouse next to it. The butcher’s shop could use painting. Yeah, the town could use a shitload of sprucing up.
He pulled onto the pebbled driveway alongside the house and stopped in front of a garage that no longer had room for a car. Maybe he and his mom could go through all the crap in there and toss out most of it. A lot of his dad’s things were in there. Things his mom couldn’t deal with at the time.
Mom met them at the back porch. Fortunately, he was able to call her ahead of time to warn her about what was going on. Of course, his mom was thrilled with the idea of having another lady friend around. He got the feeling that she might be getting lonely. When he was younger, his parents socialized with others in town, but after Dad’s death, Mom didn’t go outside much.
“Remember,” he said to Amie as she opened her car door, “keep a low profile.”
“Yes,” Amie said. “I got it the first time.”
His mom stood next to the car, waiting for him to get on with introductions. After stepping out of the car, he gave his mom the obligatory hug, then turned to Amie. “Mom, this is Amie Truman. She’s the one I told you about who I need to keep safe for a while.”
His mom stepped forward and gave her a hug. Amie looked at him over his mom’s shoulder with a what do I do? look. Like he had a clue. He made a silent gesture waving his hands around, then headed for the trunk.
Mom leaned back but kept her hands on Amie’s upper arms. “I’m so glad to meet you, Amie. François didn’t mention how pretty you are. Or young. Right at his age, aren’t you?” Mom looped her arm around Amie’s and started for the porch. “Are you married, Amie?”
Oh, god. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. He leaned his head against the lifted trunk lid. What had he gotten himself into?
After hauling the suitcases out of the trunk, into the house, up the stairs, and down the hall, he left Amie to unpack. He pointed out the one bathroom that both bedrooms upstairs shared. He, of course, slept in the room on the other side of the bath.
This really was a bad idea. His cat loved it. He reminded the feline that it had no say in how this was going down. It yawned then stretched out to enjoy the show.
In the kitchen with his mom, he spoke in whispers. “Mom,” he started, “don’t start playing matchmaker between Amie and me.”
Mom slapped a hand on her chest. “Me? Play matchmaker to get grandcubs? I would never!” She grinned.
He rolled his eyes at her playfulness. He didn’t want to tell her how he and Amie knew each other. Because he never told Amie about him being a shifter, he never told his mom he met his mate. Knowing his mother, she’d make sure Amie spit out a cub exactly nine months to the day after meeting her. But he had to tell her something.
“Mom, Amie and I knew each other in school.”
She clapped her hands together. “Even better! You already know each other’s pasts.”
“No, Mom. She has no idea who we are or what we can do. And I’m not sure she should know.” He worried about others in town shifting in front of her. The town’s general rule was not to shift in public in case a human was in town. What was he going to do? Go around and tell every resident they couldn’t shift for who knows how long? Not practical.
“She’s in a shifter town, son. How do you expect her to not figure it out?”
He wiped a hand over his sweat-covered forehead. “I don’t know, Mom. I hadn’t really thought the whole thing through yet. Just keep everything a secret as long as you can. Okay?”
“All right. I’ll do my best. Would you like me to chain her to the bedroom wall so she doesn’t go outside?”
He sighed. “Mom, you’re not helping.” He had to push away the images of Amie chained to the bed, naked and wet for him. One hint of desire and his mom would be all over him. “I need to let my cat out. Can you watch her for a bit?”
“Sure, son.” Her smile worried him. “I got this.”
Oh, god. This was a really, really bad idea.