The asked-for marker flew across the room. Tessa caught it in midair then snapped around to face Mark. He flicked a glance at her before focusing back on his pack mates. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he muttered.
She grabbed hold of his shirt and tore it apart, humming happily at the broad expanse of muscles her actions revealed. “Trust me.”
Then she put the tip of the marker to his skin and wrote Property of Tessa Williams in two-inch-high block letters.
“Dark blue looks good on you. Brings out the colour of your eyes.” She laid a hand on his chest, tapping her fingers over where his heart raced. “There, you think that’s sufficient for now?”
Mark glanced down. “Permanent marker?”
She peeked at the label. “Yup.”
“You should be good for a few weeks if I promise not to rub it off.”
Tessa stroked the exposed skin under her hands. “Are they going away?” she whispered.
His gaze darted over her shoulders then back to her face. “Everyone but Keri seems to be real busy all of a sudden. I think we’re safe.”
“Good.” She went to close his shirt and cursed softly. “Sorry about that. You seem to have lost some buttons.”
He shrugged out of the material altogether. “I’ll just go without for a while. Make sure everyone sees your message.” He caught her by the chin and smiled. “You are unpredictable.”
“I’m nice too. I considered writing it on your forehead.” She cuddled against his warmth, strangely happy at the unusual twist to the evening.
“Well done.” The deep voice brought her around to see the pack Alphas, Keil and Robyn, standing a few feet away.
Mark straightened up and dipped his head politely. “Sorry for the commotion.”
“Not your fault.” Keil eyed her and Tessa coughed lightly.
Yeah, okay totally her responsibility. “Hi.”
The head of the Granite Lake pack looked very serious for a moment until his mate elbowed him in the side, and he broke out laughing. “Right. Robyn wants me to let you know we’d like to have you two over for dinner later this week.”
Sweet. “We’d love to.” Tessa snuck her fingers into Mark’s. “Can we bring anything?”
Keil turned to his mate, moving his hands in sign language. Tessa watched in fascination as Robyn responded. It was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. She immediately put learn sign language on her bucket list.
Keil faced them again. “If you’d like to bring dessert, that would be great. I’ll call later to set the date.”
Mark leant over to whisper in her ear. “I’ll cook.”
“Hush, your Alphas are listening. Be polite.”
Robyn hadn’t stopped grinning, only now she reached out her hand. Tessa accepted it happily, pleased at the gesture.
The Alphas excused themselves, wandering through the pack house and visiting with people, making sure everything went back to normal. Tensions seemed to have faded after Tessa’s little display, and she tucked herself against Mark’s side and hauled him back to the area they’d been sitting originally. Really, it had been a pretty good evening, except for the wetness clinging to her body.
Keri shook her head. “Troublemaker.”
“Hey, it wasn’t me.” Tessa crossed her legs under her and relaxed on the couch. Mark had draped his arm along the back of the headrest, enclosing her in his embrace without touching her. It was cozy and warm, and she felt like purring—it was the closest she’d been to being in his arms in days. “Well, it wasn’t just me. It had to happen, and it might not be the last time someone objects to having a cat around. We’ll deal with it.”
Jared stared at the pen markings. “What I don’t get, and excuse me, I’m just a simple wolf… Why?”
“Why, what?”
He pointed. “Why are you claiming him without claiming him? I mean if you don’t want Mark as a mate, I can understand that. I bet you can find someone better.”
Mark growled. “You’re not helping.”
She wasn’t sure herself. “Mark says we’re mates. You think he’s lying?”
Utter shock at the suggestion flashed in both their faces.
“Um, why would he lie about something like that?” Keri frowned. “I don’t know that a wolf could lie about something like that.”
“Right. So…once we get to know each other and a little more time passes, I figure he’s got a good chance at being the one for me. I’m not letting anyone else drool on him.”
Keri nodded slowly, then shot to her feet. “Come on, I need to talk to you.” In a total change of situation, this time it was Tessa being dragged across the floor to the front doors. The guys rose, but Keri waved them off. “Alone. Give us a minute.”
The pack was getting some entertainment tonight. Tessa waved at the cluster of women where Linda had retreated. Two seconds later she was out the door and down the stairs, being backed against the outside railing by her best friend.
Keri glared at her. “Okay, blunt-speaking time. Are you out of your damn feline mind?”
What in the world? “No more than usual. What’s wrong?”
“You’re what’s wrong. I can’t believe you lived next to wolves your entire life and you’re acting like this.” Keri paused and dragged her hand through her hair. “I mean, okay—you were brilliant with the marker thing. And yes, I vaguely see your point in terms of wanting to be in love before you make it official…”
There was an unspoken but written all over the silence that fell as Keri’s words faded away.
“What?”
Her best friend shook her head. “Mark said you’re mates. You kind of, mostly, believe him. You just claimed him…and now what?”
“And now we’re going to turn the paddle wheeler into a B&B?”
Keri poked her in the shoulder. “No. You’re going to be nice to the guy and give him a break.”
She still didn’t get it. “Nope, you lost me.”
Keri dragged her closer. “When we were on the cruise ship, and I’d sniffed out Jared? I swear it was seven kinds of hell waiting until we mated. You just told me about all the things he’s been doing around the B&B, all the fast-tracking and hard work… What the hell are you waiting for? Him to spout poetry and recite some specific lines you think you need to hear?”
“Is it wrong to want romance? To want fine gestures and romantic words? ‘I would die for you’—all that kind of thing.”
Her best friend laughed. “Oh, Tessa, you’re getting romance in the movies mixed up with the real romance of life. Not everyone does things the same way, right? Not everyone is going to say I love you the same way.”
Tessa clung to her ideals, even as they seemed to whither a little. “But Romeo and Juliet—”
Keri’s expression darkened, and Tessa jerked to a stop before she got bitten.
“If there were ever a couple of sickies… How does that story end, Tessa? With partners who listen to each other? Who grow old together? That’s not romance, it’s nothing but selfish, sorry people screwing up big time.”
Her friend’s admonishment was enough to make Tessa ashamed. “I’ve been so focused on the changes around the place, and all the plans I came to Haines to accomplish, I didn’t think.”
Keri rolled her eyes. “Stop with the excuses. And I’m not telling you that you need to simply accept him.”
“Aren’t you?”
“You’d prefer Linda to be the one he was building things for? Or that she was curled up in his lap and running her fingers over his body—”
“Hey.” A hot flush of anger slid over her at the thought. “Now you’re getting nasty.”
“Now I’m being honest.”
Tessa froze, the seriousness of her friend’s expression making her listen, not just to the words, but to the lingering aftershocks of annoyance conjured from imagining Mark with anyone but her.