A Winter Mating Read online

  The kids moved to the coffee table and waited while Everly fixed each of them a plate. When the kids had their plates, they carried them to sit in a half-circle facing the tree. His thoughts drifted to Bree. She needed to be there.

  Making his escape to the front porch, he ordered an Uber to pick her up, then called his sister.

  “Hey.” Her soft tone drifted from the other end of the call.

  “I called an Uber to bring you over to Eve’s”

  Bree was quiet for a few moments. “Okay. Does she know?”

  “Not yet. And don’t start with me. I’m working on it.” He chuckled, then added. “You’ll like her. See you soon.”

  “Bye.”

  He put his phone back into his pocket and went back inside. When he entered the living room, Everly met his gaze and frowned. He gave her a grin as he moved to the box of decorations.

  Over the last three years he learned a lot about what kind of father he’d be. Becoming the guardian of a ten-year-old—now thirteen—had been a challenge. He was certain Bree was happier and healthier than she’d ever been, which was a win on Brady’s behalf.

  He never thought much about having kids and feared he’d become an ass like his dad was. Bree had assured him he was way cooler and loving.

  Digging in the box he found the old train set Everly’s mom put under the tree. He pulled it out and began to put it together while they waited on the rest of the kids and Bree to arrive.

  Chapter Three

  Everly couldn’t help but watch Brady put the train set together. He started off doing it alone. Then the kids noticed what he was doing and joined him. Before long there were a dozen four- and five-year-olds crowded around him.

  She couldn’t stop the smile from her face. He was so patient with them, answering all their questions. They asked him to growl like his wolf and he did, making the kids squeal and giggle at the same time.

  Debby leaned over and whispered, “He’s great with kids.”

  Everly shook her head, then teased, “No matter how quietly you whisper, he can still hear you.”

  Debby shrugged. “Just saying. And he’s cute.”

  Everly rolled her eyes. Glancing at Brady, he lifted his gaze to her and his wolf flashed in his eyes. Just then the doorbell sounded. Everly glanced to the foyer, then stood. Since Brady didn’t go all growly protector on her, she figured it was safe to answer her own door.

  It was closed, which meant one of the kids must have closed it. She opened the door and saw a young girl with long brown hair almost the shade of Brady’s. She had the same grey eyes.

  Dread slammed into her. He had a daughter. Yet, he said he wasn’t mated.

  The girl, who looked about thirteen, held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Aubree. Brady calls me Bree. I’m his sister.”

  And Everly was a jealous, confused human. Shaking Bree’s hand, Everly said, “Sorry. I’m Everly. I didn’t know Brady had a sister.”

  Everly stepped aside and motioned for Bree to come in. Bree smiled. “Neither did he until three years ago. You should let him explain it all to you.”

  Glancing toward the living room, Bree smiled wider. “You have a lot of kids.”

  A laugh burst from Everly. “I’m a preschool teacher and they are over to decorate the tree. It’s a tradition I started a few years ago.”

  “Cool.” Bree entered the living room.

  Brady saw her and waved her over. Everly watched them as she sat on the sofa, noticing how Brady studied Bree as she joined him on the floor. It reminded of a how a father checked on his daughter to see if she was okay. Most kids didn’t notice how their parents watched them just to make sure they were happy.

  Bree took the track from him and put it with another. Brady reached over and pulled on her hair, making Bree laugh. Then Bree whispered something to Holley, who was sitting close to her. Within moments Holley stood up and yelled, “Get Brady!”

  All the kids piled on Brady and he pretended to act helpless.

  It took a few minutes for the kids to settle back down. When they did, Brady put the track around the tree and turned the train on. Everly worried that they’d step on it when decorating the tree. “Careful of the train.”

  About two hours later the tree was decorated and the parents were showing up to pick up the kids.

  Once they were gone, Brady stayed. The fact that she was less angry with him than that morning meant he needed to go. Before she could tell him that, he asked, “Have dinner with us?”

  Oh, no. Dinner led to staying overnight, which led to sex. That was a big hell no. She glanced at Bree then back to him. His sister’s words when she arrived filtered through Everly mind. “Give him a chance to explain.”

  At least he didn’t leave for another woman. In fact, when they were together before he left, he never showed interested in other women. Everly hadn’t noticed until she thought back on it. What did that mean?

  “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you.”

  Brady crossed the living room in three quick steps and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Thank you for a second chance.”

  “I’m still thinking on that.” She tried to ignore how his body heat enveloped her and made her insides tingle with desire.

  He gaze dipped to her lips, and she stepped out of his embrace. Darkness paced over his features but was gone almost as fast as it appeared. “Bree and I’ll go get ready and be back to pick you up in an hour.”

  Everly nodded and stepped further away from him. She cursed her body’s reaction to him. The attraction she felt in that moment was stronger than she remembered having before he walked out of her life. Now he was back and her hormones and body were still huge fans of his.

  “Eve,” he said in a hushed tone that had a soft growl in it.

  She shook her head, then faced him. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  His features fell into what she guessed was sadness and regret. He closed the gap she put between them and cupped her cheek. “You won’t. I promise you; I’ll make it right.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

  Nodding, she glanced to Bree, who smiled and said, “It was nice meeting you.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Everly said softly and watched them walk out the door. Moving forward, she closed the front door just as her phone rang.

  Instantly her gaze jerked to the kitchen where she left her phone, suspicion filling her. She knew without picking it up who was calling her. Snatching up the device, she answered, “Do you have cameras in my house?”

  Vivian laughed. “No, but now that you mentioned it, you do need a better security system.”

  “I live in a town where over half the residents are shifters. I think security is the last thing I need. Unless you are talking about one for my heart.” Everly walked to the living room and dropped onto the sofa. “I’m going to dinner with him and his sister.”

  Vivian was quiet for a moment. “Did you have a chance to talk?”

  Everly sighed. The fact that Vivian wasn’t surprised at the mention that Brady had a sister, told Everly that Vivian already knew why he left. “No. Why don’t you fill me in since you know?”

  “What makes you think I know anything?”

  “Because you know everything. And you didn’t sound surprise when I mentioned he had a sister.”

  Vivian let out a heavy sigh. “It’s his place to tell you. And don’t argue with me. I really don’t know the whole story anyway. He left to protect Bree from their monster of a father. The rest he has to tell you. Please, hear him out because it wasn’t easy for him to leave you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Silence filled the connection for several moments. “You are his mate.”

  It was a good thing Everly was sitting down. His mate? “How do you know that?”

  “He told me. Before you say anything, yes, I confronted him the other day. I was pissed that he broke your heart and had the nerve to come back.” Vivian growled sof
tly. “Just hear him out. You have a choice and don’t have to mate with him but ask him what that would do to him before you make a decision.”

  “I have to go get ready for dinner.” Everly hung up, not giving her best friend a chance to say anything else.

  Everly knew enough about mating that pull between mates was strong. Apparently, it didn’t weaken over time. That explained why she wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss all her doubt away.

  Damn it.

  Well, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him to just walk back into her life.

  * * *

  Brady entered the living room of his childhood home and saw Bree sitting on the sofa with her new phone, typing away like she was writing a novel. She looked so relaxed, which was a huge change from when he met her three years ago.

  Moving to sit next to her to put his shoes on, he asked, “Whatcha doing?”

  “Texting Sophia.”

  A slight smile tugged at his lips. “Who’s that?”

  “I met her at school. She’s in a couple of my classes.” Bree stopped texting and glanced at him. “Is that okay?”

  He focused on his breathing to keep from growling. He hated that she felt the need to ask for permission for everything she did. Slowly, he reached up and cupped the side of her head and pressed his forehead to hers. “You never need to ask for permission to have friends. I only ask because you have to be careful who you trust.”

  Bree relaxed. “It’s a habit.” Taking a deep breath and release it, she held up her phone. “Sophia’s mother is Claire Dawn. She’s a wolf.”

  Brady tied his shoes. “I know Claire. She’s a good female. Did you know she’s a seer?”

  “Sophia told me.” Bree started typing again, then paused. “Can Sophia come over tonight?”

  “Like a sleepover?” He frowned, not ready for the teen sleepovers and other things that came along with Bree getting older. She’d just turned thirteen a few months before. “I don’t see a problem with it. We can pick her up on our way to the restaurant.”

  Bree’s features brightened and she typed on her phone even faster. Seeing her excitement was all the thanks he needed. It was a big change from the scared ten-year-old who called him for help.

  Standing, he asked, “Are you ready?”

  Bree nodded while she stood and walked out of the house to the truck without pausing in her texting. He chuckled and shook his head. “Since you’ll have a friend over and Eve will be there, we can go looking for a tree and decorate the house tonight too.”

  “That’s awesome!” She hopped up in the truck with a huge smile, fastening her seatbelt.

  He’d realized in that moment this might be the first real Christmas she would have. The last three with him, had been okay. He got her gifts and they had a tree even though it was small and sat on the coffee table. “You can pick out the biggest tree that will fit in the house.”

  She laughed. “Do you have ornaments?”

  “There are some in the attic. My mom saved everything. We’ll see what’s up there and then make a shopping list.” He backed out of the driveway.

  “You mean I’ll make the list. Maybe Everly will take me shopping.” Bree stopped texting and put her phone in her pocket.

  She needed girl things. Brady had no clue what a teenage girl needed. “I’m positive Eve will take you to get whatever you need and want.”

  When he glanced at her, he saw how her eyes darkened for a brief moment as she said, “You don’t need to spoil me to make up for the asshole.”

  Brady shrugged. “I’m new at this parental thing. I’m not sure if I should just be a big brother or more like a dad.” He gently squeezed her hand. “My wolf wanted to kill him when I first saw you. At the same time he needed to be close to be sure you were protected. So it makes both the man and the wolf happy to give you things. So hush it and be happy.”

  She giggled. “I think you are doing a good job at the parent thing.”

  She fell silent and a wave of sadness rolled from her, but it was gone moments later. After a little while longer, she said, “You deserve to be happy too. So whatever help you need convincing Eve to be your mate and forgive you for leaving her, I’m here. I can recruit Sophia to help.”

  “I may have to call in that favor.” He chuckled as he pulled into Eve’s driveway.

  He sat staring at the house for several seconds before he got out and went to the door.

  He knocked and waited for Eve to answer. When she opened the door, he hardened. Her scent wrapped around him like a tight hug. His wolf whimpered and wanted to draw their mate into his arms.

  “Hi.” Eve lifted her brows and a smirk lifted the corners of her lips.

  “I’m sorry.” The words tumbled from his mouth before he realized he spoke.

  Eve’s shoulders rolled forward slightly, and her body relaxed. “I accept your apology and will keep an open mind when you explain to me why you couldn’t call or text or snail mail me.”

  She stepped out of her house and shut the door, then moved toward the truck. Smiling at her, he beat her to the passenger door and opened it. “That’s all I ask.”

  When she was in her seat, he got behind the steering wheel. He glanced to Bree in the rearview mirror. “Oh, we’re going to stop by and pick up Sophia Dawn. Bree wanted a sleepover.”

  Bree spoke up from the backseat. “Brady said we could go pick out a tree after dinner, then decorate it.”

  Eve glanced at Bree then to him with an unreadable look. Her lips twitched like she was trying to not smile while her eyes stared at him like she wasn’t sure she knew him at all. Sometimes he didn’t know who he’d become since Bree came into his life.

  “Is that okay?” he asked as he pulled out of Eve’s driveway.

  “Of course. Claire and I have lunch together often. Sophia is a great kid.” Eve met his gaze, then glanced out the window.

  There was heat in her brown depths, which gave him hope that she hadn’t ruled him out completely. Not yet, at least.

  Chapter Four

  Dinner was a lot more fun that Everly thought. She and Brady let the girls pick where they wanted to go. They chose a pizza place that had games. That didn’t give Everly and Brady time to talk, but it did let her see how much he watched out for Bree while trying to give her space. That made sense considering what Vivian had hinted to earlier.

  All kinds of scenarios floated around in Everly’s mind. All of them had to do with Bree being abused by hers and Brady’s father. That confused Everly because Joel hadn’t abused Brady. At least not that Everly remembered.

  “Where are we going to get the tree from?” Everly stopped beside the truck door, waiting on Brady. Brady faced her, his forehead creasing. Laughing, she said, “There are a few places in town that sell them pre-cut. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to go up the mountain and cut one yourself. You’d need an ax for that.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “Yep. I was just thinking the same thing.” Then he glanced to Bree. “It’s your tree. What do you want to do?”

  Bree glanced from Brady to Everly, looking unsure which to pick. Everly suggested, “There’s a church that sells them and uses the money to help families that need it during Christmas.”

  Bree’s features brightened. “Let’s do that.”

  Glancing to Brady, Everly smiled. “It the one a couple blocks from Wolfe’s Den.”

  “I know exactly where it is.”

  The church wasn’t too far away and with Brady driving, they made it there in under ten minutes. The girls hopped out of the truck before Brady had put it into park. Everly slid out and watched Bree and Sophia rush into the large field of trees. “They seem like they have been friends all their lives.”

  “Yeah.” Brady frowned and didn’t take his eyes off the teens. “Bree, stay close.”

  Everly picked up on his anxiety and she hid her smile. He was like a nervous father. That wasn’t far from the truth. Placing a hand on his arm, Everly said, “Let’s go fol
low them before they get too far into the maze of trees.”

  He nodded and took her hand, linking their fingers together. All the while he never removed his eyes from Bree. “I never knew I had a sister. The old man left town weeks after Mom’s death. I thought he’d gone completely wolf or got himself killed. Worse case…”

  He paused. Everly didn’t know what to say. She guessed that he was going to say that the worst case was his dad turned rogue. Is that what happened? Everly’s heart sank. No wander Brady hadn’t called. He was dealing with whatever mess his father created.

  She squeezed his hand. “Did he go rogue?”

  A single nod was his answer as he stopped walking and faced her. “Now isn’t the place. Let’s focus on Bree right now. I promise to tell you everything when she goes to bed.” He glanced at the giggling teens and shook his head. “Or at least when they go to the bedroom to pretend to sleep or whatever teen girls do.”

  “Deal.” She tugged at her hand, but he gripped it a little tighter.

  “Brady!” Bree’s voice made her brother move faster than Everly had ever saw him move. Of course he had to let go of her hand to reach Bree or he’d end up dragging Everly behind him. She was grateful he realized that.

  When they reached the girls, Bree was staring at a large evergreen. She met Brady’s gaze and smiled wide. “Do you think it’ll fit in the house? It’s perfect.”

  “That’s a big tree.” Brady laughed.

  Everly nodded. “Your house has the vaulted ceilings so it should fit.”

  “Yeah.” Brady chuckled. “I did tell her to find the biggest that will fit in the house.”

  “Well, there you go.” Everly walked around the tree. “This is perfect.”

  Bree bounced over to her. “I know, right?”

  Brady shook his head again. “I’ll find someone to pay for it and help me load it onto the truck.”

  Bree and Sophia squealed. Bree leaned in and scented the tree. “I’ve never had a real tree. Well, besides the small two-footers Brady picked up the last two years.”