“I’ve got you, El,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “Come with me.” He held out his hand to her.
10
ROARKE
So, the tree was a hit, but the lack of decorations appeared to be a sticking point. Not a surprise, considering what her not-so-welcome visitors had done to the tree she’d so lovingly decorated for her shop.
That was something he could help with thanks to his grandparents, who’d loved the season with a passion.
Opening the closet, he pulled out a pair of hunter green gumboots and set them in front of her.
She looked from them to him. “I’ve got my own boots, you know. Not sure where you stuck them, but I’m pretty sure they’re in the house somewhere.”
“They’re still drying,” he said, nudging the boots with his bare feet. Hers were probably dry by now, but he wanted her wearing his things, and it was as good an excuse as any. “Use these.”
One golden eyebrow winged up towards her hairline. “Is this your thing? Taking care of people?”
He pulled one of his coats from the closet. “Just you,” he said. She was his mate. How could he not take care of her?
She gave him a long look before sliding her feet into the tall rubber boots. “So, I’m assuming we’re not going far, since these are gardening boots and lack insulation. I’m rather attached to my toes, you know.”
“Nope, not far. Here.” He held the coat out and gave it a little shake when she didn’t immediately put it on.
Rolling her eyes, she slipped into the coat and flapped her arms, hands lost in the sleeves. “You know, I am not a small woman, but I’m absolutely swimming in your clothes,” she said with a laugh.
“I like you in my clothes,” he said. Almost everything she had on was his. Knowing that filled him with a sense of satisfaction and pride. He was keeping his mate safe, warm, and protected.
I really need to tell her she’s my mate and offer her the chance to accept our bond,he thought, his brows drawing together. What if she rejected him? A frisson of fear shot through him, and for a moment, he was that shy, awkward teenager again, hiding in his room because the girl he really, really liked just happened to be in the same house as him.
He shook off the fear. If she said no to him, that was her right. He’d have to live with it.
But what if she accepted the mate bond? His pulse pounded in his ears as he watched the woman he loved try to roll up the coat’s sleeves.
Opening the front door, he gestured for her to proceed.
“Um, so no footwear for you?” she asked, eyeing his bare feet. “I realize you’re a bear shifter, but you are human, too. Put on some shoes.”
“Now who’s taking care of whom?” he grumbled good-naturedly as he slipped on a pair of battered black Crocs.
“Crocs? Really?”
“They’re surprisingly comfortable.”
“They have holes in them. Useless when tromping through a foot of snow.”
“It’ll be fine.” He’d already smushed down a trail this morning while in bear form.
With a shake of her head, she stepped outside. “Where are we going?”
“Follow the path around back to the shed. It holds what we need.”
“Ooh, mysterious.”
If she actually believed that, she was bound for disappointment. It was literally just his workshop, filled with boxes, tools, and works-in-progress.
She opened the door and peered inside. “Smells good in here,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Like fresh wood shavings and pine needles. And it’s warm.”
Gently, he nudged her inside. “Insulated.” He flicked on the lights.
