Brayden found Taylor’s apartment without any problem. Besides GPS, she gave really good directions.

He knocked and waited for her to come to the door. She lived in nicer area of town in one of the newer patio homes. I can’t ask her to leave all this.

When she opened the door and smiled, his world brightened.

His sister was right. Taylor was the one for him. His fated mate.

There was no sense in fighting it. Brayden wanted what was best for Taylor. Whatever it was, he would always want what was best for her.

“You’re here.” Her voice held a breathless note of surprise.

He, too, felt a little surreal about the whole thing. Seeing her here in her own habitat was different from having her in his own cabin.

As he put his arms around her waist and hugged her, her feet left the ground. She giggled against his neck.

This. This was the way it was supposed to be.

He set her down and held her close, her cheek against his chest. “I can’t believe you’re actually here,” she murmured against him.

“I know.” He agreed. “This has been the longest ten days of my life.”

She laughed. “Let’s close the door, and you can meet Lucy.”

“Lucy?” Oh no. Please tell me she doesn’t have a roommate.

“Lucy!” Taylor called. “Come meet Brayden.” She turned to Brayden. “I’ve told her all about you.”

“Great.” So much for his plans for a romantic weekend.

“I’ll go find her.” Taylor left him standing in her living room. It had a comfortable feel. A cozy sofa. A television on the wall. A bookcase filled with books. No clutter. Everything looked clean and tidy, much like Brayden’s house.

A minute later, Taylor came back into the room. “I found her.”

Brayden forced a smile on his face and turned to meet Lucy.

Taylor was holding a solid white Himalayan cat. Uh oh. Cats tended to not like him. Maybe they sensed that he was a bear shifter. He did okay with dogs, but cats had always been problematic.

Lucy purred when Taylor brought her next to him. Brayden held out his hand expecting to be scratched. Instead, Lucy rubbed her head on his hand. Brayden grinned. “She likes me.”

“Of course, she does. She likes who I like.”

“She’s beautiful, like her mother.” Brayden tucked a strand of hair behind Taylor’s ear. “Do you think Lucy would mind if I borrow her mother for a few minutes?”

“I guess that depends on what you have in mind.”

He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers. When he pulled back, her eyes were closed. “Something like this,” he murmured.

She set Lucy on the couch and pulled Taylor’s arms around his waist. This was all he needed in life: Taylor’s lips on his.

He pulled her with him to the couch, and her breath caught when he ran his hands through her hair.

Pulling her into his lap, he locked his lips onto hers and cupped her jaw with his palm. He gently nudged her chin, and her mouth opened to his.