“So, it’s going well, then?” My brother asked me as I loaded Sloane’s things into the Jeep.

She was around back saying goodbye to the goats, chickens, and any cows within shouting distance, so we had a few moments of privacy.

“Better than I ever imagined it would,” I admitted. “When Mal first told me about the app, I thought he and Kai were nuts. How the hell are you supposed to meet your mate online? Mates are fate… it’s all about chemistry, and the rightness you feel when you meet. But, after seeing them with Victoria, how much they all really clicked, I thought I’d give it a shot. Still, I didn’t really believe… not for me… not after Sarah.”

“But it did work,” Gray surmised.

I nodded.

“Yeah. We clicked. There’s a definite chemistry there.” When Gray still looked skeptical, I said, “Believe me, I didn’t think it could happen either, but I think she’ll be a great addition to our lives.”

“And, will you be true mates?” Grayson asked, his dark eyes searching my face. “Will you claim her, have children with her, be committed… love her?”

“Katja and I have been one hundred-percent honest with each other. We’ve agreed that although we’ll be exclusive, and yes, I will claim her as my mate, this is not a love match. I already had Sarah, and there’s no replacing her in my heart,” I explained passionately, then added, “We haven’t discussed having more children yet, but if she’s open to it, I’d like to. Let’s get through this meeting with Sloane first, then we can see what happens.”

Gray stepped closer to me, placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke softly, “No one is ever going to replace Sarah in your heart, but there’s no saying there isn’t room for Katja, or someone, in there, too. Don’t settle, brother, you deserve to have it all.”

I heard his words, I did, but I couldn’t let myself go there.

Instead, I turned them around on him. “And what about you, brother? Don’t you deserve to have it all?”

Gray’s eyes’ shuttered and his hand dropped.

He stepped back and put his hands in his pockets and Sloane came running toward us, Gray’s golden retriever hot on her heels.

“Daddy, the goats said bye bye,” she called out as she ran straight into my legs.

I braced myself and smiled, but my eyes remained on my brother.

“A lot of people were asking about you yesterday,” I told him. Wishing he’d open up to me. “Nathan, Shonda… Arch.”

At Arch’s name Grayson sneered.

“He said he was thinking of coming for a visit,” I warned him.

“If he does he’ll be leaving with an ass full of buckshot, or worse,” Gray muttered.

I knew he was talking about what could happen if he and Arch got into it in wolf form. Gray’s wolf was a formidable beast, and part of the reason he stayed away was because he wanted to keep his wolf isolated from others.

For their protection.

“Uncle Gray said a bad word,” Sloane said in a not so quiet hushed tone.

“Sorry, princess,” Grayson said absently.

“We gotta head out,” I told my brother as I lifted Sloane into my arms. “Thanks again for watching her. If all goes as planned, we’ll be coming back soon so you can meet Katja.”

“Who’s Kat-ya?” Sloane asked.

“I’ll tell you in the car, baby,” I replied, then clapped my brother on the shoulder and moved to put her in her seat.

Once she was loaded up, I said one last farewell to Gray and off we went. Grayson watched us until we were no longer visible, then I assumed he went back to doing whatever in the hell it was he did all day.

We weren’t on the road five minutes before Sloane asked, “Who’s Kat-ya, Daddy?”

I looked in the review mirror to see my daughter’s eyes on me; she was fiddling with the hair of the doll that was on her lap.

“Katja is a woman who is currently staying at our house. She’s waiting to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Because I think it’s time we had a mommy at home for you.”

I hoped I was saying the right thing. Obviously, this was unchartered water, and I wanted to be honest with Sloane, without overwhelming her.

“But, she’s not my mommy,” Sloane replied. “My mommy’s in heaven.”

“Yes, your mommy is in heaven, and no, Katja isn’t your real mom. She could never take her place, but she could love you and be there for you as you grow up. She’d be your step-mom.”

“Like Sylvie has?” she asked.

One of her friends from school, Sylvie, had a step-mom, and a step-dad.

“Yes, just like that.”

“Oh,” Sloane said, her gaze going out the window as she pondered this new information. “Is she nice?”

“Yes, she’s very nice.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Yes, she’s very pretty.”

“Does she like to play with toys?”

“Yes, she used to be a nanny for a little boy, and she likes to play, read books, and even go hiking and camping like we do.”

“Okay,” she said simply.

We were quiet for a few minutes, then she piped up again.

“Daddy, can we have pizza for dinner?” Sloane asked, and I knew we were done talking about Katja.

Sloane had all the information she needed.