Chapter 8

"Sorry there isn't verymuch closet space," Pierce said as Rick stepped out of the guest bedroom. "I've just been using it for extra storage, but I can take those boxes and put them somewhere else for a while. I should be able to get them out of your way in a couple of days."

"Don't worry about it," his father insisted. "And aren't I the one who should be apologizing to you? Encroaching on your home and everything?"

Pierce resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You're not encroaching. I invited you. Besides, we're family. This is just how it works."

"Yeah. I guess so. Listen, is it all right if I put my shampoo and conditioner in the shower?" He thumbed over his shoulder at the bathroom at the end of the hall.

"C'mon, Dad. Of course, it is. I was just telling you I'll get things out of your way so you'll have a place for everything." He knew all this was only coming out because his dad felt so lost and out of place. Pierce had never thought his apartment was big, but maybe he'd been taking even that tiny amount of square footage for granted all this time. "And really, I'm going to get those boxes out of your way."

Rick had retrieved his shampoo and conditioner from the dresser and put them on the edge of the tub. "It isn't like I've got much to put in the closet right now. I'm lucky enough to have kept some extra clothes at the fire station, but I'll have to go shopping sometime soon."

"Right." Pierce felt bad all over again. He hadn't meant to remind Rick that he was left with nothing after the fire, but it was a topic that seemed impossible to avoid. "I can go with you sometime next week."

Rick sat on the couch as they returned to the living room but didn't lean back into the cushion. He sat with his elbows braced on his knees, looking ready to spring forward at any moment. He hadn't really been comfortable since he arrived. "Jessica has already told me she's taking me. Then Paige and Ellie jumped in on it as soon as they realized it meant a trip to the mall. I don't know how much shopping I'll actually get done, but that's all right. Hayden's girls are sure a hoot."

The timer on the kitchen stove went off, and Pierce stepped in to grab the pizza from the oven. "I can't say you're in for a culinary adventure while staying here at Chateau Pierce, but I promise you won't go hungry. You want to grab a couple of sodas while I slice this?"

"Sure." They arranged themselves on the recliners in the living room, their plates loaded with pizza and cold sodas on the table between them. "I suppose I've been technically living the bachelor life for the last ten years with your mother gone, but it feels a little more authentic in an apartment eating frozen pizza."

"Is it really so bad?" Pierce asked with a smile. He found himself smiling around his father almost all the time lately, trying to find anything that would keep him in good spirits. He felt so bad for him. Yes, it was sad for Pierce, too. No doubt Hayden was grieving in his own way. But both of them had grown up and moved out. It had to be much harder for Rick. "I've always got junk food in the freezer, cold beers and sodas in the fridge, and far more streaming services than any one man could possibly need."

"Oh, that's just fine for me. I suppose you think it's fine for you, but I have to wonder what your girl Holly thinks about the whole thing." Rick picked up the toppings that'd fallen onto his plate and put them back onto his pizza.

Pierce nearly choked on a pepperoni slice, but he should've expected the subject to come up eventually. Hayden and Rick had both been around when he'd pulled her from the water. They'd been gentlemanly enough not to ask questions when she showed up on his arm after the fire, but they weren't dumb. There had to be something going on for her to be there with him in the middle of the night. "I don't know that I'd call her my girl," he began.

Rick blotted his lips with a paper towel and then folded it into the palm of his hand. "She seems very nice."

It was an open door into the rest of the conversation. Looking back, Pierce realized his father had mastered that a long time ago. He'd never come right out with demanding questions when he wanted to know what was happening in his sons' lives. Instead, he'd casually bring the subject up and then just let it hang in the air. His patience had always been much greater than that of his boys.

That was when they were younger, though. "Yeah. She is."

"Sort of has that shy sweetness about her," Rick continued. "At least, that's how it seems to me, but I can't say I've been around her under the best circumstances."

Pierce was hesitant to say too much. Holly was amazing, but his relationship with her—if it could even be called that—was complicated. "That's true, but she's pretty great in any circumstance, from what I've been able to tell. She's got a quick wit."

He'd enjoyed more than just her wit a few nights earlier. Holly was warm and sexy. She'd seemed to come alive when they'd gone to Selene's and were around their own people. As the confidence grew in her, so did his attraction. Pierce hadn't really intended to bring her out onto the dance floor. He'd just wanted to show her around and make sure she had a good time while she was there, but the music and the atmosphere had completely taken him over. He was fairly certain the same thing had happened to her. Now, thinking about it without the dull thump of bass behind them, Pierce knew it wasn't the music or the club at all. It was what the two of them had together, a connection that was hard to explain or describe. Something was fascinating about watching the lights from the stage move over her face, casting her skin in tones of blues and purples. His eyes had narrowed in on her hips and shoulders as she moved, her body twisting and writhing in a rhythm that his body already understood. They proved that all over again when they'd gone back to his place and fallen into bed together, where the dance had continued without any music to blame.

"She certainly impressed me by pulling that old photo out of the ashes." Rick opened his soda, the hiss of the carbonation cutting into the air. "When you've been a firefighter as long as I have, you know how people tend to react. They just stand around and gape or completely freak out. She didn't do any of that. She started looking around, really studying the scene in front of her. I'm sure that's why she found that photo, and I really am grateful for it."

"I'll tell her," Pierce promised as he polished off his first slice of pizza. He'd have to figure out when he'd see her again, though, or maybe if he would at all. It didn't seem right to spend such a magical night with her and then just let her fly back to the other side of the country. It might as well be the other side of the world.

Rick pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I didn't need that photograph to remember what it was like to be with a good woman. It's the sort of thing that stays with you that you don't really ever forget. Holly seems like one of them."

He was trying to push the door further open to get Pierce to come out and say what was happening between the two of them. Of course, there wasn't much to report. "Maybe." Pierce could feel Rick's eyes on him, studying him.

"You don't really think I don't know, do you?" the older man asked softly. When Pierce looked up, he continued. "I'm no dummy, son. I saw the way the two of you looked at each other, even at the scene of the house fire. I saw that sense of longing, of belonging, but not quite figuring out how to do it. I've been there, Pierce. It's been a long time, but like I said, you don't forget."

Pierce frowned at his soda and wished it was a beer, but he knew no amount of alcohol could distract him from the way he felt about Holly. "She's special. I'll give you that."

"Hoohoo, I'd say," Rick replied, sounding more enthusiastic than he had since the night of the fire. "It was no accident that you pulled that girl out of the river. You shouldn't wait too long if something's going on between you. Our time is precious, and we have to take advantage of it."

Time was even more precious than his father realized. "It's not like it really matters. She's only here on a business trip, and she'll be going back home soon."

"It always matters, son. Even the smallest relationships—the ones that don't work out and that we can laugh about twenty years down the line—matter. It's all part of who we are."

"You're pretty philosophical tonight," Pierce noted. He knew a lot of that was because his father had lost his home. That gave him cause to get a bit reflective and start thinking about life. He'd done the same thing when their mother had died. "I'm not going to say you're wrong, but Holly lives all the way on the East Coast. I think she said she leaves tomorrow."

Rick's gray brows lowered. "Then why are you here sitting on your ass? If there's a chance something might work out, you need to go to her. Even if you just wined and dined—and whatever else—with her, you ought to at least be gentleman enough to see her off."

He was right. The damn old man was right again, just as he often was about everything else. It'd always pissed Pierce off when he was a teenager and was so convinced he knew more than his father, only to find out he didn't know a thing at all. He was forty-four now, so it wasn't like he should have many lessons left to learn. But as he chomped down on his pizza, he knew he still had to figure out how to navigate some things. "I wouldn't mind a chance to say goodbye," he admitted.

His father gave him an approving nod.

When he'd finished eating, Pierce changed into a nicer shirt, combed his hair, and brushed his teeth. He caught himself in the mirror, wondering what he was doing all this for. She was going to leave. She wouldn't care if he had a hair out of place or if the pocket tee he'd been wearing had a dot of pizza grease on the hem, yet he couldn't help himself. She was his mate, whether they'd be staying together or not. He'd at least leave her with one last good impression.

"I'm heading out," he announced when he returned to the living room. "You behave yourself. No wild parties. The neighbors will complain, so don't think I won't hear about it if you try."

"No promises," Rick said with a smile.

Pierce headed back to Holly's Airbnb with his heart in his throat. He'd get to say goodbye, but the thought of doing so was much easier to handle than the reality of it. It just wasn't right to know that his mate had been right there with him and was now about to leave. He tried to think of what he might say to her, but everything seemed wrong. Tension built in his muscles as he grew closer to her place, creating knots in his shoulders.

Even his legs were cramping as he came up the porch steps and rang the bell. He was there to say goodbye, to let her go. His wolf twisted and raged inside him, telling him he had to think of something else. He had to find some way to make this work, but the more logical side of his brain knew that was impossible.

The door swung open to reveal a tall redhead. Dahlia's catlike eyes swept up and down his body before she turned to call over her shoulder. "Holly! There's a handsome firefighter at the door, so it must be for you! Come on in." This last part was directed at him, and she stepped aside to wave him into the foyer living room just as Holly emerged from her bedroom.

"Pierce." Her dark hair had been pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a loose T-shirt and knit shorts, and she nervously plucked at the hem of them. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I know," he admitted. "I'm sorry to just drop by, but I know you said you'd be going soon."

"We're finally freed from the doldrums of overly enthusiastic meetings about cooperation, learning, and happy work environments," Dahlia confirmed as she stepped into the kitchen. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No, thank you." His throat was dry, but he wasn't even sure he had the strength to hold a glass as he stood there looking at Holly. His wolf was going wild, and it would take every ounce of effort to keep it contained. He turned back to Holly. "I know you're probably busy getting packed up, but I thought I'd at least stop in for a minute if that's okay."

"Oh. Sure. Right." She glanced behind her and then gestured for him to follow. "You can come in here if you want."

Pierce followed her down the hall. He glanced into the other doorway, which must have been Dahlia's room. The suitcase was open on the bed. Clothes had been packed inside, and others were waiting on the comforter to go in next. The drawers were open to showcase their emptiness.

He turned away and went into Holly's bedroom. No, not her bedroom. Just the bedroom she was renting. Still, there was that intimate feeling of being in someone else's bedroom. Her dark green suitcase was visible through the open closet door, and her makeup and perfume had been neatly arranged on the dresser. Her laptop and file folders were scattered on the bed with a sprinkling of pens and highlighters on top.

"How's your dad doing?" She waved him into the chair in the corner while she perched on the bench at the end of the bed. "I feel so bad for him."

"Well enough. He's settling in with me until he gets things figured out." The logistics of fitting his father into his apartment weren't at the forefront of his mind, though Rick's words were. He only had so much time, and he couldn't waste it. There was something between them. Pierce knew it was important, and the time crunch was very real. His words hit a wall in his throat and refused to come out.

"That's kind of you." She pressed her lips together and looked away as she hugged her knees.

Why should it be so awkward to be there with her? Things definitely hadn't been when he'd brought her to Selene's and then back to his place. For those few hours, Pierce had felt like the two of them were truly mates, that they fit together as perfectly as puzzle pieces. Now, his wolf still knew the truth. That didn't make it any easier to get past the reality of the situation surrounding them. "You're leaving tomorrow, right?"

She ducked her head toward her knees and frowned. "Yeah."

"Are you all packed and ready?" It was small talk, nothing that meant anything, but as he said it, he became curious. She and Dahlia seemed to be in very different stages of getting ready to leave.

Holly shook her head, making her dark hair caress her shoulders. "Not yet, but I've been caught up with my writing. I didn't bring much anyway, so I'll just throw it all together in the morning."

"Do, um, do you and Dahlia need a ride to the airport?" It was a desperate attempt to spend more time with her, even though he'd only be teasing himself if she agreed.

"No," Holly said quickly. "We've got that taken care of, with the rental car drop-off and everything."

"Right. Sorry. I wasn't thinking." He knew how badly he wanted her. Not just physically—although he could certainly imagine what the two of them might do if they had this place all to themselves at the moment—but in every way. When she left, he'd be lonely. He'd sit at home or at the firehouse and wonder what might've happened if things had worked out differently, if he'd asked if there might be a way for things to work out. He'd lay in bed at night and think about the softness of her hair or the vibration of her laughter against his chest. He'd be miserable.

Something made him look at the suitcase again. She'd packed her life into it, just as she did every year. That didn't mean she could make a home there or that she even wanted to. She had a life back in Cape Cod. It wasn't up to him to make her change that.

Given the way she was acting, he was pretty sure she didn't want him to. Holly was barely looking at him, studying her toes or the floor instead of his face. She hadn't run into his arms to greet him, glad to see that he'd stopped by. Instead, she played the obliged hostess, bringing him into the house but not into her heart.

He stood. "I'm sorry. I know you're busy, and I should've called before I came over. I just wanted to thank you for a nice time and say goodbye."

"Thank you, and thank you for taking me out," she replied politely as they moved toward the front door.

It was a polite exchange, but there was nothing more between them than two high school kids who'd gone out simply because their parents were good friends and thought they'd like each other. Pierce hesitated in the doorway, wondering if there was something else he could do. She'd told him all about how gorgeous Cape Cod was, how comfortable and happy her little home was, how she'd spent far too much time decorating her office space so that it would be perfect when she was writing away. There was no room for him in that life, nor could he rip her out of it and expect her to be a part of his.

"I was happy to," he replied honestly. Pierce leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, giving himself one last thing to cling to during the long nights ahead. "For what it's worth, I wish we could've figured out a way to spend more time together, to get to know each other. I know what we have between us is special, even if it can't last."

She twisted her fingers together, looking down at her feet and then back up at him. "Me, too. I know sometimes people try long-distance relationships, but that's really long."

The distance was one he was painfully aware of. Pierce had never been to Massachusetts, but already he could feel every mile like a stab in his heart. "I guess that's just as well. I come from an old-fashioned pack, and the differences between us might make things difficult."

Holly tipped her head back and narrowed her eyes. "They already don't like me?"

"I think it's quite the opposite." Pierce checked quickly to make sure Dahlia wasn't around. "It's just that we have a tradition of marking our mates. I know that's a rare thing these days, even among wolves."

She lifted her brows. "How would something like that work between a wolf and a bear?"

"I don't know," he admitted, and he supposed he'd never get a chance to find out. "No one's ever done it before that I'm aware of. Anyway, now I'm just making excuses for standing here longer. I'll go. If it matters, I'll miss you."

"Me, too."

He walked out the door and to his car. That was it. His mate was about to fly off home, and he would be alone. It was over as quickly as it'd begun.