Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,34

instead. Sorry.”

“Never be sorry you called,” Caleb replied frankly. “I always love hearing from you. We’re family.”

“I’ll give you a call in a couple of days when I know when I’ll be arriving. I’m thinking Friday evening, but I have a floor to lay that day and I can’t leave until it’s finished.”

“Let me know. It’s good to hear your voice. I hope Aunt Harriet and Uncle Peter are okay.”

“They are. I wanted to talk to you about them actually.”

“Are they okay?” Thoughts of being late back to work vanished.

“Yes, they are. They want us to all get together. Once they can figure out a date and time when all my cousins...our cousins can make it back home.” She gave a short laugh. “We can talk about it on the weekend. There’s someone at the door. I have to go. Congratulations, Caleb.”

“I’ll see you soon, Zara.” Caleb ended the call and shook his head as he put his phone in his pocket.

“Is everything okay?” Elise carried the basket as they walked along the sand to the steps leading from the beach.

“I should have called her and told her that I met you.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder. “We only found out we had a sister a couple of days ago. Aiden and I kind of forgot.”

“You forgot you had a sister?” Elise’s forehead wrinkled. “How could you forget?”

“Our parents died when we were young,” he explained. “My aunt and uncle tried to care for the three of us, but they have four children of their own. Eventually, they were persuaded we would be better off in foster care. Aiden and I were taken from our foster parents. The police found us a few days later.”

“I had no idea.” Elise covered her mouth with her hands, her face pale.

“Whatever happened…” He shrugged. “We don’t remember any of it. Which is probably a good thing.”

“I’m so sorry. But you found your sister now.” She placed her hand on his upper arm, wanting to comfort him. She couldn’t imagine not knowing Karros, or her parents.

“Yes, when we helped Flora find Imelda. We met someone who found our file, which led us to Zara.”

“You had no idea she existed?” Elise’s eyes shone bright with tears.

“None. And with everything that’s happened, it’s like it slipped my mind again.” He took the basket from her as he walked her to her car.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself.” She took hold of his hand as she swung around to face him. “You’ve had a lot on your mind.” Elise stroked his temples with her fingertips.

“When I’m around you, everything else melts away.” He lowered his head and kissed her lips.

“Just like everything I ever learned left my head when Ivan asked me to cook something for him.”

“I see, we’re sharing an intimate moment and you are thinking of my brother.” He pecked her lips. “It’s a good thing I am confident in myself and our relationship.”

“I’m very confident in you, too.” Elise pulled his head toward her as she kissed him again. “I’m looking forward to us spending some time together this evening and I promise I’ll give you my full attention.”

“No, you won’t.” He held her in his arms. “You’ll be trying to figure out how to impress Ivan. And I’m okay with that. This is important to you so it’s important to me.”

“Thanks.” She pushed away from him. “Now, you should go, or I’ll be in trouble with Aiden for keeping you too long.”

“He understands.” Caleb glanced at his watch. “We’ve both gone through so much together. It’s surreal that we met our mates at almost the exact same time so we can empathize with each other.”

“Sympathize with each other?” Elise asked in shock. “Because you both have fae mates.”

“You know I said empathize, don’t twist my words.” He laughed as she backed away from him.

“Ah, I’m going to tell Flora what you said. I expect you and Aiden have been complaining all morning about how unlucky you are to have fae as mates.” She giggled as he rushed toward her and picked her up in his arms, tickling her until she laughed and begged for mercy.

“I love that we can laugh together,” Caleb told her.

“I love that, too.” She caught her breath after laughing so hard. As their eyes locked together, something passed between them. Something unsaid. Laughing wasn’t the only thing they shared a love of.

We love each other, his bear announced. We know it and she knows it but who