9. Cedric

Gage and I fell into an easy conversation, and I learned a little of his life before he came to Riverford. He mentioned studying for an architecture degree but dropped out before he finished and hinted at a tragedy involving his parents, and my heart went out to him. That would definitely mark a person for life.

Gage had lived near the coast in a small cottage by the beach, and he was friendly with Mr. Lucas. But the owners wanted him out so they could upgrade the place and rent it to tourists for a huge amount.

When Mr. Lucas and family moved to Riverford, the elderly man told Gage to follow them and he'd provide a place for him to live.

"The forest is more suitable to a bear shifter than the coast," was what Mr. Lucas had told him. Gage didn't go any further into why he lived the solidarity lifestyle, and he didn't owe me an explanation.

I glanced at my phone, asI had arranged a meeting with Reed and Harry at their office. But Gage and I had to get the check. Ohhh, this was a potential pitfall. If it'd been an old friend, we would have shared the bill or one of us treated the other and the reverse would happen next time we dined together.

But I came up with a solution and hoped Gage wouldn't be offended.

"I have a rule when dining out with others. If I invited them, I pick up the check." I let those words linger before continuing. "As I invited you, this meal is on me."

Gage rubbed a hand over his stubble. "So if I invite you to my place for a meal, I pay?" He smirked. "Is that how that works?"

"It is." I didn't push him and say, "When are you inviting me?" But asked for the check.

"I can cook. My alpha dad taught me."

Gage had just offered me another tidbit about this life.

"Would you like a lift to your hotel?" he asked as we stood outside the coffee shop.

It wasn't far. Nothing in Riverford was. And I could walk to the office. "I'm meeting Reed."

Gage offered to drive, and once again, I sat in his pickup, the one with no seatbelt. The driver's seat had one, but he didn't use it. Was that legal?

The car trundled along the street, and we left the center of town and drove through a residential area. But we passed a house with a For Sale sign out front, and I yelled at Gage to stop the car.

He did, his foot slamming on the brake, and I shot forward. It all happened too fast, but I should have been thrown through the windscreen and onto the road, but Gage's hand shot out and yanked me back.

His hand was on my chest, and he must have been able to feel my galloping heart. It was pounding so hard, I had trouble catching my breath. Pimply goosebumps erupted on my skin, and I opened my mouth to shriek but no sound came out.

My harsh panting filled the car, and I gripped my chest, forgetting Gage was holding me. With my palm atop his, we sat until my breathing calmed a little.

"Thank… thank you." He'd saved me, but I wasn't sure how he'd done that. No human had reflexes as quick as that. Ohhhh, but he wasn't human. Got it.

Gage's rapid breathing mirrored my own, and as I studied his pinched expression, I thought he had hurt himself.

"It's my fault. I almost sent you flying through the glass. And you're human, so you would have…" He gulped. I patted his hand and assured him he saved me. But I needed to remember in future, if I wanted him to stop, I had to use my inside voice.

"Why did you want to stop?" His gaze swept over me, and I liked when he paused at my crotch but pushed that idea out of my head.

"The house. It's on the market."

He leaned forward and studied the sign but didn't react.

"It's so cute."

Gage snorted. "Houses are cute?" He looked at it again. "Probably needs work."

Without thinking of what I was doing, I called the number on the sign, and in five minutes, the guy arrived with a key and holding a tablet.

"Want to come in?" I was already waiting at the front gate when I beckoned Gage. He got out of the car slowly and followed me and Randy, the realtor, up to the house.

The door squeaked and caught on the floor as Randy shoved it open. That was a minor problem, and I wandered from the entryway to the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, and to the bedrooms at the back that looked out onto a patch of trees.

Gage hadn't come in but was examining the door, saying it would be easy to fix.

Sure, the kitchen and bathroom needed upgrading—translation, they needed to be torn apart and rebuilt—but the rest of the house was in good shape. I'd need a building inspector to look over it and make sure the roof wasn't about to cave in and the wiring had been installed according to code.

Gage finally left the front door, and unlike me, he tapped on the door frames, turned on the faucets, and went into the dark basement. I wasn't going down there. He said the furnace was new and wouldn't need replacing.

What was I doing when I hadn't accepted Reed's offer and I still had a job at his company in the city? But this house. Something about it pulled me to it. It was aching to have someone show it some love.

"Give me an hour and I'll call you."

Randy gave me a thumbs up as he got into his car. He hadn't given me a hard sell, though he'd done the spiel about the basement being used as a rumpus room and there being plenty of room for a growing family.

"Are you serious about wanting to buy the place?" Gage started the car.

"Maybe." I was distracted as I calculated what I could get for my city condo. I could easily pay for this house and live off the additional money for ages. Besides, I also had savings.

But I couldn't upend my life because I'd found a house I liked. Could I?

Gage stopped the car at Reed's office.

"Thank you. I'll see you at six in the morning."

"I'll be at your hotel." He drove off, and I hurried inside.

"Boss."

Reed's head jerked up. "Yeah."

"Sorry to push you, but I need you to spell out what my job responsibilities would be and my wages and benefits." I couldn't imagine saying that to any other prospective employer, but Reed was a friend and he was also my current boss, technically.

He grabbed paperwork, and we sat in his office going back and forth over details. I checked the time. The hour was almost up.

"You got somewhere to be? Like drinking coffee with Gage?" He smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

"You promised."

"You're right. Apologies."

"I'm about to do two things. Or make that three. Accept your job offer, buy a house, and contact Adrian to resign." I'd wait to put my apartment on the market til I got home. Home? Where was that? Maybe it was right here.

"You could hand me your resignation and I'd let Adrian know."

That would be the easiest method, especially after that phone call where he told me he'd made a mistake and begged me to take him back. Not happening.

"No, I need to omega up and tell him myself." But that could wait until tomorrow. Instead, I phoned Randy and said I'd take it. I didn't even negotiate the price. Who did that? A fool perhaps but a fool who was going to shake off the past and begin again.

"We should celebrate," Reed yelled to Harry who'd just walked in.

"You'll need a contractor to renovate the house."

"Please don't say you're in the renovation business." Reed put his hands on his hips while making a face at Harry. He filled me in, saying Mr. Lucas and Harry had owned many businesses over the years, including being realtors.

"It's early days, guys. I haven't signed a contract yet."

"I know someone. His father was a contractor and taught him everything."

There was something about Harry's tone, and I swung around. He and Reed were sharing a look. "Oh no, you don't. I'm onto you two. Stop. A promise is a promise."

"We said we'd back off, not that we'd never talk about him," Harry protested.

"Sneaky."

If Gage was the man for the job, I'd bring it up. After seeing him wandering around the house, it didn't surprise me that he was a builder or carpenter or whatever sort of tradesperson. My little home would be in safe hands if he was looking after it.

But I couldn't put off Adrian forever.

It was evening before I returned to my hotel room, and I'd almost convinced myself that as it was a business call, I should do it during working hours.

But I put on my big guy pants and phoned.

"Cedric, I hope you've come to your senses."

What had I ever seen in this guy?