filled her with his essence, setting off a chain reaction in her body. Now that the threat to Zara had passed, they could think about their future, of their life together.
Even if the specter of Murray still hovered over them.
Elise closed her eyes and pushed thoughts of the man who had once hurt her mate to one side. She wasn’t going to let the guy spoil today.
Opening her eyes, she focused on Caleb’s face, on the curve of his smile as he looked down on her, his eyes filled with love. To love and be loved, he’d taught her so much in the few days they’d known each other.
And he’d given her so much more. He’d given her a brighter future, a richer future than she could ever have wished for. Even when she threw her wish stone in the ocean.
Caleb had shown her there was so much to life that she’d never allowed herself to hope for. She’d left the fae realm with one thought, to be a great chef, to find fulfillment in her work.
Meeting Caleb had shown her how narrow her dreams had been.
She loved him with all her heart.
“I’ll go put some coffee on while you take a shower.” He kissed her mouth and slid out of bed, but she caught hold of him and pulled him back toward her.
“Did I ever tell you that I love you?” she asked.
“You did. But I don’t mind hearing it again.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips.
“I love you.” She smiled up at him shyly.
Caleb brushed her hair back from her face. “And I love you.” He pecked her lips. “Now, go take a shower. Then you can tell me what you need me to do.”
“I get to boss you around, I like that idea.” She jumped out of bed and hurried to the bathroom with a backward glance over her shoulder just to remind herself he was real.
After a quick shower, Elise went to the kitchen, gulped down a cup of coffee, and then set to work on the menu she’d prepared for today. It was intended to show off her flair for flavors and textures, with an accent on fae flavors. She’d used recipes she was familiar with and added subtle changes to them in the hope of impressing Ivan.
However, over the last couple of days, it had become obvious her job at the restaurant was secure, as long as she didn’t blow it. For the first time, Ivan was ready to let go of some of the running of the hotel restaurant and hand responsibility to Elise so that he could spend some time with the dragons at Bear Creek.
Elise wanted to prove to him she was worthy of his trust and was there to support him. He’d lived in isolation from other dragons all his life. It was time he enjoyed some time with others, flying over the mountains with other dragons would be exhilarating.
“Karros and Zara are here.” Caleb was washing lettuce as a car approached.
“I can’t leave the sauce.” Elise glanced down at the sauce in the pan and kept staring.
“They know where to find us,” Caleb assured her.
A few minutes later, her brother knocked at the door and then walked in. “We’re here.”
“I’ve missed you.” Elise turned off the heat and went to Karros, hugging her brother and then Zara before quickly going back to the stove.
“I missed you, too.” He inhaled deeply. “I also missed your cooking.”
“Hey, I can cook.” Zara nudged him in the ribs and then her eyes widened. “But not as good as Elise. It all smells wonderful.”
“Thanks. I hope it tastes good, too.” She stirred the sauce, allowing it to thicken without burning.
“Do you need a hand with anything?” Karros asked. “If not, we’re going to look at the yard. We’re going to spend the next week working on it before we go back to Bear Creek and finish Zara’s house.”
“And then we’re going to come and live here in Wishing Moon Bay,” Zara blurted out excitedly.
“That’s incredible news.” Caleb dried his hands and came to hug his sister.
“We’re going to start a business together. We’ve talked it over with Aunt Harriet and Uncle Peter. I don’t want them to think I’m abandoning them after they’ve done so much for me. But they think it’s a great idea.” Zara reached for Karros’s hand. They looked so happy together and Elise turned her attention to the sauce, so no one saw her tears. Her heart ached