If it were possible, she blushed deeper. “We uh, got to know each other the night of your party when I came up and asked him about the drinks. Well, actually, he seemed kind of grumpy because he was busy, but I just didn’t know what to do. Then he helped me and brought in more drinks, and we got to talking … well, stuff happened. I know he’s probably not the most conventional choice for me, but … I like him. And we’ve decided to keep seeing each other exclusively and see where this goes.”
“That’s great, Aunt Angela. If you like him and he likes you, then I’m all for it.” She drew her in for a hug. “Just … leave a sock on the door next time, huh?”
The sound of throat clearing caught their attention, and Tim’s tall figure filled the doorway. “Hello … uh … awfully sorry, Dutchy,” he began, his bushy white brows drawn together. “Meant no disrespect to you or your aunt. She’s a special lady, and I plan to treat her as such.”
“It’s fine, Tim,” Dutchy said. “We’re all adults here. And we really should have called ahead.”
Tim’s arm came around Angela and her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Well, I was going to make some dinner … maybe you can help me, Dutchy?”
“Oh no. Nuh-uh.” She shook her head. “I love you, Aunt Angela, but it’ll be a while before I can step into that kitchen again.”
Unable to stop himself, Krieger barked out a laugh, then coughed to cover it when Tim glared at him. “Scuse me,” he said “Dusty in here.”
“I’ll take care of dinner,” Tim said, kissing her on the forehead. “Was gonna do the steaks out on the grill anyway. Want to help me, son?” he asked Krieger.
“Sure, Tim.”
“You ladies put your feet up.” Tim nodded to the couch. “That bottle of red should have had time to breath. Pour yourselves a glass while we get the food ready.”
Maybe it was the atmosphere or the five beers he had while helping with dinner, but Krieger found himself relaxing, though it was still hard to meet Tim’s gaze without wanting to crack up or look away. He wasn’t much of a cook, so all he did was chop up the salad and mashed the potatoes while the polar bear shifter worked on the grill out in the backyard.
“Need to ask you something,” Tim said as he came into the kitchen, platters of steaks in hand.
“Uh, sorry. Don’t have word on your friend yet.”
The polar bear shifter’s lips thinned. “Didn’t think so. But that wasn’t my question.” He glanced at the doorway to the living room as Angela and Dutchy’s mingled voices and laughs drifted in. “You make things right with her yet?”
He frowned. “Working on it. But headed the right way.”
“Good. Angie’s been worried about her. And I can’t have her bein’ unhappy.”
“Aren’t you going a little too fast?” Krieger shot back. “You only met her two days ago.”
“Fast?” Tim placed the platter on the kitchen counter and faced him. “I’ve been on this earth for nearly six decades, sonny. What more have I got to wait for?”
“How about your mate?”
“Not sure if I have one. You know that’s not a guarantee.”
True. His parents and grandparents weren’t mates and they were perfectly happy. In fact, Grandma and Grandpa Krieger were about to celebrate their sixty-third wedding anniversary next year.
“But I know a good woman when I see one,” Tim continued. “And I ain’t wasting no more time waiting for something might not be in the cards for me. When you find something you want and that’s worth it, you hang on to it for dear life. Fight for it if you want to.”
Now that he could agree with. “Amen.”
“Everything okay in here?” Angela asked as she poked her head in. “That smells delicious by the way.”
“We’re all good, Ange,” Tim assured her. “If you wanna set the table, we can eat in five.”
“Great!”
Soon, they were all sitting down at the dining table, enjoying their food and drinks. This wasn’t how he had thought the night would end. No, it was better, especially when he saw how happy and carefree his mate was.
“Thank you for the dinner, it was delicious, Tim,” Dutchy said. “By the way, Aunt Angela, I wanted to let you know I’ll be moving back to my place as soon as I can get it cleaned up.”