Chapter 9

Ashlyn

"Oh my gosh , Ashlyn, that blue is just stunning on you!"

I found myself blushing with pleasure as I spun in place for Meli to admire my new gown. "Thank you. I couldn't believe I was able to find a dress this quickly."

My new friend took my hand in hers as she beamed. "I told you The Clothes Horse would have something for you, even if it was used. And Mrs. Oliveria was able to tailor it perfectly."

Riding on a sort of emotional high, I smoothed my free hand down the sparkly bodice. "It's almost like she was my fairy godmother! And look!" I stuck my foot out from under the skirt. "Can you believe how perfectly my sandals go with it?"

"No," giggled Meli with a wink. "I would never be able to pull it off. Luckily, I don't have to." She jerked her head toward the dessert buffet. "Patti only invites me to these things because I'm the caterer. "

I glanced over to the far wall, where Meli's Mate Cairo was standing with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. "I hope you're going to find time to dance?"

"Oh, I have two left feet," Meli cheerfully announced. "But Cairo doesn't mind. That's the best part of being Mated, you know: the absolute certainty that he loves everything about me. I don't ever have to worry about not being good enough or being too weird…" The smile she sent over her shoulder to her Mate was positively heart-stopping. "Because I know he loves me no matter what."

"It's a knowing," I whispered, remembering how Thebes had described it. How I had felt it.

"Right." Meli squeezed my hand with a soft smile. "I'm guessing, judging by the glow in Thebes's eyes, that you're learning all about that now?"

My gaze skimmed the crowded room, looking for the perfectly coiffed head of the man I loved. "I think so, yes."

The last few days had been…well, eventful didn't begin to describe them.

I couldn't believe I'd only been on Eastshore Isle for a week. In that week, I'd met the man I'd been fantasizing about, and I slept with him. No, not slept …I had my world rocked by him. Then I'd fallen in love with the town, then I'd fallen in love with my tour guide. I even held his hand throughout his house closing yesterday and helped him plan out where he was going to put his furniture.

Then I'd found out, in between the schmoozing, he'd fallen in love with me .

No, what he felt for me was deeper than that, I had come to realize. It was simply an absolute certainty on Thebes's part that we were meant to be together. And because it was a Truth-with-a-capital-T to him, he was making it true for me. He flattered me, he pampered me…an d most importantly, he saw me as a real person, and respected me.

And let's be honest, the sex was mind-blowingly out-of-this-world amazeballs. That helped.

Each moment that went by when we were together, I was falling a little more in love with him.

Which is why it hurt so much that I didn't know what the future would bring.

I mean, in one short week, I'd realized what I wanted my future to bring…but how could it be what I wanted if my stepfather was determined to destroy this town?

Although it seemed impossible to consider, I knew that if Thebes asked me to stay in Eastshore, I would quit Cinders, Inc., break my lease in Chicago, and move here to this island to live in his new house with him.

But once Martin cornered my stepfather back home, the historic district of Eastshore was going to be toast. Then the high rises would come in, and Eastshore would be only a few years away from being the tacky tourist trap the locals wanted to avoid.

I sighed, trying to hold onto my good mood.

I was at a gala , for goodness' sake, because the hottest guy in the world had asked me to be his date. I wasn't here because my stepfather needed to impress a business rival, or because I had to charm one of his colleagues…

I was here because Thebes wanted me here, and I wanted to be here. And I looked damn good doing it!

Meli squeezed my hand once more, then dropped it with a happy sigh. "Well, whatever the reason, I'm just so darn happy you've stuck around Eastshore long enough to come to the gala. Have you tried my macarons?"

"Every flavor. The strawberry is my favorite."

"I knew it! You struck me as a strawberry girl. Next week, I'm doing strawberry shortcake cupcakes. Promise you'll swing by and try one?"

My smile had gone a little stiff. How could I promise that when I didn't know where I'd be next week? Still, I managed a nod. "That sounds yummy."

Thank goodness Thebes chose that moment to return with the champagne he'd gone to fetch. "A flute for you, Meli, in appreciation for the sumptuous dessert spread…" His charmer's grin was in full force as he turned to present a flute to me with a flourish. "And champagne for you , my lady. Try not to let it all go to your head at once. I want you sober later."

From the way he winked, I knew exactly what he was looking forward to, and I blushed as Meli giggled.

"I suppose I'll leave you two alone." She smirked over her shoulder at the male standing near the wall. " My Mate is looking grumpier than usual, and that's usually my cue that someone needs a kiss."

Thebes shook his head as he slipped his arm around me. "I would've never thought Cairo would be the kind of guy who needed kisses, but it's hard to deny he's head over heels for you, Meli."

Was he? I didn't know the scowly mechanic very well, but from the way my new friend flushed happily, she was in love as well. "Oh, before I tootle off, Harper texted me back tonight."

Harper…Harper …Meli said it like I should know what— Oh ! "Your sister, the lawyer?"

"Yep! Jess—she's my bestie and Eastshore's Community Development Coordinator—says the town doesn't have a lawyer on staff. Apparently we work with someone on the mainland when necessary. But Harper is really good at what she does, and I trust her. "

I immediately nodded. "If you trust her, I do too. Lord knows I'm not going to read through the contracts myself."

At my side, Thebes winced as he lowered his own champagne flute. "Honestly, I read through those things, and it's like Greek to me. I can't imagine how hard it would be for you, Ash."

Have I mentioned I liked him? I really, really liked him. I liked that he didn't make me feel stupid or lesser because letters swam all over the page when I tried to read. In fact, he often said complimentary stuff about how much I accomplished or how awesome I was.

It was enough to make a gal fall in love.

So I was wearing a huge smile when I nodded to Meli. "I'd love Harper's advice if she's willing. Can we meet? Or can I send her a retainer to—"

Meli held up her hands, palm out, with an impish grin. "I took the liberty of hiring her on your behalf. I paid her a dollar and promised a half dozen chocolate-chocolate-chocolate cupcakes—and that's one more chocolate than I usually make, you understand—so she's officially representing you."

Only six cupcakes? "That must be some impressive chocolate," I murmured.

Thebes nudged me with his hip. "It is. What does Harper need?"

"Well for starters, she just wants to read over the contracts. I swear, she does this shit for funsies ," Meli sighed indulgently. "If there's a way to get them to her electronically, that would be great. She'll check to see if there are any loopholes or a timeframe to work with."

I'd already handed Thebes my flute while I reached for the little beaded purse I'd found to match the gown. It was simple enough to pull up the cloud storage with the contracts and send them to the address Meli provided .

Was it weird I was trusting this woman I didn't know just because my new friend spoke highly of her? No, because my Mate thought I was doing the right thing too.

Mate .

Thebes was mine, and I was his, and we just had to figure out a way to save this town we both loved.

When Meli blew a kiss, Thebes placed both champagne flutes on a small table and pulled me into his arms.

"Enough business," he murmured, sweeping me onto the dance floor. "Tonight is just for us."

Of course he was a brilliant dancer.

"Us?" I loved how bold I could be with this guy. "You had big plans?"

"Oh, yes." A fancy turn, then a slight dip, made me glad for the dance lessons my stepfather had insisted I needed. "I'm wooing my Mate, you see?"

"Are you?" I hummed. "I thought you were schmoozing her?"

"Schmoozing, wooing, same thing. Hold on."

That was all the warning I got before Thebes spun me out and back, and I smacked against him, laughing into his chest. His arms closed around my back, his strong fingers spreading across my bare skin to hold me in place. I tipped my head back to smile up into his eyes…

"I love you, Ash," he murmured, and my heart felt as if it might explode.

"That's good," I quipped, hardly able to breathe past the giant lump of joy in my throat. "Because I love you, very much. Thank you for making me feel whole."

"Of course." His head dipped toward mine, despite the dancers whirling around us. "That's because we're Mated, and we'll never be apart."

The words were the only song I needed .

I pressed myself up on my toes, the heels of my silver sandals coming off the floor as I reached for his lips…

" Disgusting ."

The word snapped through the music, through the conversation, through my happiness , and I was a little girl again, trying desperately to earn the love of the man who should've taken care of me.

I didn't even have to turn to look. Thebes's expression turned stormy as I whispered, "My stepfather."