Nineteen

Gerri settled into the transporter and keyed in her Nova Aurora destination just as her communicator buzzed in her pocket. Events were converging as she had predicted they would. A little more than two months had passed since Nina Baxter’s call, the one flooding Gerri with concerns about Nessa’s chosen path and Nina’s uncertainty about whether it was good for her to be so far from the sons of the Hill Clans leaders when they were so close to needing mates.

The truth was that the three heirs to the Hill Clans leadership were indeed close to calling her, but hadn’t yet. She had different plans for them, and she was more certain than ever that Nessa’s true mate was Gaius Osborn. She had finally called Nina Baxter the day before, giving her the good news that she’d found Nessa a mate who would satisfy the older woman’s desires, but she refused to divulge his name. She preferred to meet with Nessa and Gaius individually to give them the good news first, though she finally acquiesced to Mrs. Baxter’s insistence that she plan a celebration and that Gerri should come and bring the lucky man.

The call she was about to answer was from none other than Gaius himself, who she was headed to now to give the good news to in person.

“Gerri Wilder, Matchmaker,” she answered as she watched the beautiful landscape of the shifter home planet speed by.

“Mrs. Wilder. Gaius Osborn here. You’ve made one hell of a big mistake, lady.”

Gerri blinked out the window in surprise. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Nessa’s mine, and I mean to keep her. I don’t want any other mate but her, so you’d best call her back and tell her you were wrong. Whoever it is you’ve got her running off to is the wrong man. She belongs with me.”

Gerri remained quiet for a moment, her lips pressed together as she tried to navigate this shift in events. It had to be Nessa’s mother who’d somehow caused the misunderstanding. She shouldn’t have talked to the woman before her daughter, but Nina had been her original client, so she felt a certain professional obligation to reach out to her first. She thought she’d have time to let Nessa and Gaius know before Nina could say anything.

Apparently, she’d been wrong.

“Gaius, you are a reasonable man. I promise there is an explanation. I’m in your area today. Why don’t I stop by your house and we can talk about it?”

He was silent for a second before his deep voice came over the line again. “Yeah, sure, my address is . . .”

“Don’t worry, I know how to get there. See you soon!”

She ended the call and settled back, letting the transporter navigate itself the rest of the way to her destination. She would fix this if it was the last thing she did.

When the transporter finally stopped, she got out, marveling at the change from the photos Gaius had shared with her when he’d first contacted her two years ago. Back then there had been little more than a bare foundation with a hammock strung between two big trees and a darkened fire pit. Now the entire clearing was occupied by a beautiful cabin situated in the perfect spot to capture both sunrise and sunset, the nearby waterfall adding to the idyllic atmosphere.

Gerri walked up the front steps and lifted a metal knocker cast in the shape of the Blackpaw’s emblem. It was good to see he hadn’t let go of those old symbols. Gaius was definitely a man with a sentimental streak.

His big frame filled the entire doorway when he opened it and he towered over her, yet despite their difference in size and the fierce scowl on his face, he was as deferential as any of the men she worked with, bowing his head and ushering her inside.

“You want something to drink? I have fresh juice or tea. Made some herbed biscuits this morning. They’re not as good as Nessa’s, but you’re welcome to them.”

“That sounds lovely. Juice and biscuits.” She smiled to herself at the mention of Nessa’s name.

He returned to the living room and set a cup and plate down in front of her. Gerri took a sip of juice and nibbled on the biscuit, humming in appreciation at its delicate crispness. He was a good cook, but she knew Nessa was better—it was in the girl’s blood.

“Before you say anything, Gaius, I need you to know something about how I work. This isn’t common knowledge, but it’s often clear to me long before a client approaches me who they are meant to be with. Obviously I can’t know this without meeting a person, or at least knowing something about them in advance. But with public figures like yourself, it doesn’t take much to draw conclusions.”

His dark brows drew together. “Mrs. Wilder, I already know who I want, you don’t need to find me a mate anymore.”

She held up her hand. “Let me finish.”

Gaius pressed his lips together and crossed his arms, nodding for her to go ahead.

“You Champions are a unique group of shifters, the way you forgo mating until after your careers are over. That habit makes my job both easier and more difficult. I have had time to watch your careers and prepare on the off-chance any of you reach out to me for help. For example, I’m already on the lookout for mates for your friends, Ignazio and Bryer, because I have a feeling they will be in the market sooner than they think.”

Gaius let out a snort. “That’ll be the day.”

Gerri waited patiently for a beat, then continued. “You have been more challenging, which is why it’s taken me so long. I believe your temperament requires a certain . . . tenacity in a partner. The young woman I hoped to send to you is perfect, but her circumstances needed some finessing to get her on the correct path.”

“Mrs. Wilder . . .” Gaius started, but she continued despite the objections he spouted next.

“Her mother came to me when the girl was only a child. Despite her mother’s wishes, I knew this young woman also needed a mate with as strong a will as she possessed. That’s why I encouraged her mother to allow her to come work for Ignazio Karsten. Because I knew you would be here.”

Gaius’ mouth fell open mid-sentence and he sat staring at her, dumbfounded for several seconds. “Nessa . . . You’re talking about Nessa, aren’t you? Are you saying I’m the mate she’s supposed to be with?”

Gerri nodded, wishing she’d been clearer with Nina when they had talked.

“Yes. I have known Nessa since she was a child. I always knew she’d need a particularly dominant male for a mate, and I didn’t see that quality present to a desirable degree in the young men her mother had in mind. Trust me, I prefer to give my clients what they ask for, but when it’s a parent asking for the child, I still need to keep in mind what is right for the child.

“Your retirement was fortuitous. I could see the pair of you on a path toward each other; Nessa’s mother just needed some encouragement to let her go. Despite Nessa’s headstrong nature, she cares greatly what her parents think. She always has.”

“Then why the fuck does she think she’s mating someone who isn’t me?” Gaius snapped, waving the note in Gerri’s face. “She left. If she knew the truth, she’d have stayed.”

Gerri took a deep breath and leveled a stare at Gaius. “Did you tell her how you feel?”

“I . . .” He deflated. “Not exactly, no. I showed her . . . I built her this house. All but the kitchen, anyway.”

“Has she seen it?”

His brows furrowed as he stared around at the house. Then he let out a long sigh. “No. She wouldn’t come back, for some reason. I kept asking her to . . . and now she’s gone off to mate some other . . .”

“Let me stop you right there, Gaius,” Gerri said, holding up her hand. “There is no other mate for Nessa. There never was and never will be. All she’s doing is answering her mother’s call to come meet a man who neither of them know the true identity of. Her mother is throwing a party at the end of the week in that man’s honor. In your honor. I came here to tell you as much, and to bring you to that party. I had hoped that I’d be bringing the news to both you and Nessa, but it seems Nina Baxter has managed to screw up that plan. I asked her to wait so I could talk to Nessa first. My intention wasn’t to cause confusion, but I realize my mistake now, and I’m sorry for that.”

Gaius got up and started pacing the room, raking both hands through his mop of dark hair. He paused in front of the high, east-facing windows and stared at the empty space where a kitchen should be.

“How long until this party?” he asked.

“It’s a week from today.”

“You planning to hang around here until then?”

“I planned to visit a few friends while I was here, but I can adjust my schedule. Did you need my help with something?”

“Only need a woman’s eye for a bit so I can finish Nessa’s kitchen. I want this done before I bring my girl home.”

Gerri stood and walked over to stand at Gaius’ side, rolling up her sleeves. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”