Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,25
can see why you were willing to vouch for them. Mates.” He chuckled.
“Mates,” Caleb repeated.
Elise sniffed the air, the guy was a shifter, she was certain of it. The more time she spent around shifters, the easier it was to tell one at first sight. Or first sniff.
“I’m a wolf, in case you were wondering.” Wilf ducked his head at Elise. “I can shift if you want.”
“No, it’s okay.” She held up her hands. “Everything in Wishing Mon Bay is new to me. I didn’t mean to stare.”
“You weren’t staring.” He pointed to his nose. “It was more a flaring of the nostrils.”
“Oh.” She covered her nose with her hand, but Wilf just laughed.
“I’m not offended. It takes more than flared nostrils to offend me.” He nodded toward the house. “Right, let’s get on with this. I only have half an hour to spare, I have a date tonight.”
“A date?” Karros asked then clamped his mouth shut. “Not that there’s anything wrong with dating.”
“You’re never too old to date.” Wilf chuckled as he took a keyring out of his pocket and opened the front door leading into the small hallway. “Here’s a set of keys. Caleb showed you where the spare key is hidden.”
“He did,” Elise answered since Karros had gone unusually quiet.
“Do you have any questions before we get the paperwork signed?” Wilf went to the kitchen and put his briefcase down on the counter.
“Karros?” Elise urged. “The yard work?”
“Oh, yes. I’d like to do the yard work if that’s all right with you. It’s a passion of mine that I’ve never had time for. But until I find a job here, time is the one thing I am not going to be short of.” Karros ran his hand through his hair. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to be short of money.”
“As long as you don’t expect me to cut the rent and you run all your plans past me first, then you can do the landscaping.” Wilf nodded as he assessed, or reassessed, Karros. “I might like having fae as tenants.”
“Shall we sign the lease?” Elise asked eagerly.
“Sure.” Wilf opened the briefcase and took out the forms.
“We want to get the furniture moved in before dark so Elise and Karros can enjoy their first night here,” Caleb explained.
“Ah, I saw the furniture piled into the truck.” Wilf set the contracts down on the countertop. “Did you bring all that from the fae realm?”
“No, Valerie was kind enough to let us have it.” Elise accepted a contract from Wilf and scanned it.
“How is your mom?” Wilf leaned back against the counter.
“She’s good, her operation was a success and she’s slowly gaining her strength.” Caleb looked up at the sound of a truck approaching. “That’ll be Logan with the rest of the furniture.”
“You’ve landed on your feet,” Wilf told Elise and Karros. “You’re part of a good family.” His eyes narrowed again. “What does your family think of you moving here?”
“They’re okay with it,” Elise said quickly and signed the lease before handing the pen and paper to Karros. “I am working at the restaurant, it’s always been my dream.”
“I don’t expect it’s your fae folks’ dream.” Wilf tilted his head to one side. “I would think they’d prefer it if you two were settled down and married in your own world. Or do you have brothers and sisters?”
“No, no other brothers and sisters.” Elise shuffled her feet uncomfortably, Wilf was reminding them of all the reasons why they shouldn’t be here when Caleb reminded her of all the reasons they should.
“Well, it’s none of my business.” Wilf watched while Caleb signed the lease, too. “Just pay the rent, keep the place clean and tidy and let me know what you plan to do with the yard, and we’ll get along just fine.”
Wilf checked his watch and quickly countersigned the lease before handing a copy to Caleb.
“Thanks, have a good date.” Caleb winked at Elise and escorted Wilf out of the house.
“It’s ours,” she hissed to Karros, unsure if Wilf and his shifter hearing could hear her.
“It is.” Karros slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Although, I don’t know how long you’ll be living here before that mate of yours tempts you away.”
“Hey.” She dug him in the ribs. “I’m not leaving.”
“And I am not living with the two of you here,” Karros replied firmly.
Elise cupped her face in her hands as heat flared across her cheeks. “I’m not thinking about the future. I want to enjoy us moving in