“I’ll check my calendar. Is there an address I can email you at? I’ll send along a list of information I’ll need to know.”
She gave him her contacts, slowing to stare at the house that was now across the road from her. “I doubt I’ll be ready until the spring, so there’s no huge rush, but I look forward to hearing from you.”
Keil hung up and Tessa concentrated on finding a place to park her car. Another item to add to her to-do list. Parking for the B&B—because right now there was only space for two cars, and she was really, really close to the bumper of the vehicle in front of her.
She slipped out and eagerly looked over her surroundings.
Mark jotted down a few more numbers, the table he’d commandeered littered with notes. When the eco-developer showed up tomorrow, he’d be prepared to wow them with the plan. So ready, they couldn’t ignore the beauty of the proposal.
Oh Lordy, let them see how brilliant this idea could be. While the alternative was setting up a handyman service, working at home would be better for so many reasons.
A long, low whistle sounded from the front of the room. Mark glanced up to see his grandfather staring out the window, both hands pressed against the glass as he peered intently.
“What’s up, Gramps?”
“There’s someone on your bumper. Another lost tourist, I bet. I’ll go give them directions.” Grandpa Josiah dragged his hands through his hair before patting down his shirt. He shuffled toward the stairwell.
That was too weird. Mark rose from his chair and paced across to the old man’s side. “What do you mean you’ll go give directions? Isn’t this when you suggest I go downstairs and… Holy cow.”
Okay, now he knew why his grampa was willing to tackle the stairs. The most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen stood beside his car, her long blonde hair waving in the slight breeze. She wore a brilliant blue sweater that emphasized every curve, fitted pants that highlighted the swells of her hips when she turned toward the water.
He would have pressed his face against the glass for a better look, but his grampa was there. Instead, Mark pretended nonchalance. “You’re right, must be a lost tourist. I’ll take care of her.”
“See if she wants to stay until supper. I like company.” Gramps had returned to the window.
“I thought you said you were going back to the pack house to eat.”
Gramps grinned. “If she’s staying, so am I.”
Mark laughed. “Casanova. You be nice, old man.”
His grampa waved a hand briefly. “Ah, you know I’m kidding. Nothing like a bit of lovely scenery to brighten a man’s day, though. Go on, help the greenhorn.”
Mark took the stairs by twos, puffing slightly by the time he’d reached the bottom level and the main entrance to the unusual house. He paused for a moment and peeked in the mirror beside the door, tidying his hair. Because, well, even if all he was doing was providing directions, no use in scaring her off.
He slipped outside, the freshness of the fall rushing around him.
Home. The only home he’d ever known. The northern seasons were familiar and well loved, including winter. The upcoming cold days and long nights didn’t scare him. Not if he knew his Gramps was happy, and there was food on the table.
He was a simple man with simple needs, really.
It took a moment to spot his mystery woman. She wasn’t where he’d expected. For some reason she’d crawled on top of her car hood and was up on her tiptoes examining his house.
Mark had never had a peeping tom like this one. He stepped across the lawn space. “Hello. Can I help you?”
She landed on her heels, her brilliant smile dazzling him. Bright green eyes snapped to meet his and somewhere deep inside his wolf rumbled awake.
“Are you Mark Weaver?”
“I am.”
She clasped her hands together and bounced, literally, setting the entire car into motion. “Awesome. I’m Tessa, and I’m so glad to meet you.”
Tessa. The name didn’t register, but he automatically accepted her outstretched hand intent on helping her down off the hood.
Only instinct kept him vertical as she jumped lightly and landed beside him. The rest of him was a bundle of unplanned reactions, his wolf lurching to the surface and damn near howling in delight. The wind caught her hair again, ruffling it around her face. The breeze also brought her scent to him, and his mouth watered.
His body grew tight with need. His legs quivered.
“Ahem.”
Mark jerked to attention. Tessa stood in front of him, her fingers caught in his, their bodies nearly touching. Sometime in the past ten seconds, he’d lowered his head toward her neck and taken a good long sniff.
It was like shooting a bottle of moonshine except the hangover kick arrived simultaneously with the pleasure buzz.
“Mark, if you don’t mind, I need my hand back.” She grasped him around the wrist and tugged herself free from his clasp.
Embarrassed and yet excited at the same time, Mark let her go and forced himself to stand in place rather than crowd forward. There had to be a protocol he wasn’t aware of that explained how you were supposed to react upon meeting your mate for the first time.
Mate. Yeah, his once-and-forever, fated-and-soon-to-be-mated woman. Once he found out a few minor details, like who she was, they could get down to the important stuff. Like him carrying her inside, finding a bed.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and batted her lashes, and his heart raced. Patience, Mark. Patience…
“Tessa. What brings you to Haines?”
“I’m here—”
He meant to give her time to answer. Meant to ask her in. Meant to do all sorts of things, actually, but what he did was lose control. He closed the distance between them, cupped his hand around the back of her neck and dragged them together so he could kiss her.
Whatever she planned on telling him was lost as his lips covered hers.
The taste of her? Ambrosia. The feel of her against his body? He’d died and gone to heaven. She nestled in tighter and her breasts rubbed his chest. His wolf nudged him harder, and he was powerless to resist the command, tangling their tongues until air became a dire need.
But the idea of stopping was unthinkable.
His wolf wanted more. Forget making it into the house and a bedroom, the beast wanted him to pick her up and wrap her legs around his waist. Lean her back over the car hood and take her right there. Strip her down and wallow in her scent and sex it up until they were both too sated to move.
Mark’s human side figured most of that was dandy as well. He was far enough gone in lust that even the sex-in-public bit didn’t sound like too bad of an idea.
Two cool hands cupped his burning-hot cheeks as Tessa managed to disengage their lips and wiggle away until her face returned to view. She was smiling, but confusion clouded her pretty eyes. “Hi. I think we should start this again. I’m Tessa Williams. I sent you a proposal to buy your house.”
Shock was a good mood killer. Icy-cold restraint returned. “You’re T. Williams?”
She wiggled out of his clutches and straightened her sweater. “I am. It’s a beautiful place. We’ll need to make a few changes though, but if you don’t mind me looking around, I’m sure we’ll be able to come to an agreement.”
Mark pulled his mouth shut. This was the person who wanted to purchase his home? “You’re not supposed to be here until tomorrow.”
“I was too eager to see the place to hang out in Whitehorse overnight. We can wait until the scheduled time for the meeting if that’s better for you.” Tessa pulled out a small mirror and lipstick, and touched up her lips with a fiery red colour he was tempted to lean over and lick off. He battled his wolf into submission. Stubborn beast didn’t want to talk. Wanted to take.