My Surprise Mate

As I was opening the front door to leave Dane grabbed my arm gently.

"Look I don't know anything about your life or the people you grew up around but we tend to do things a little different around here.I offered you a place to stay: that Add means I don't expect any kind of payment.”

His voice was so gentle when he spoke to me.

I stood frozen in place, why he being so nice to me? No one did anything for free, not anymore, so what was he expecting from me? I tried to options discreetly wipe away few stray tears to no avail 0 M.O.

[Follow I God, what was with mel I swear I have been on the verge of crying ever since I met this man I'm not one to cry in front of people, especially men.

Dane slowly turned me around to face him, "Talk to me, please.”

He asked quietly as he, once again, wiped my tears away.

I shook my head, "Why in the hell are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me?"

He smiled, "I like to think I'm a nice person, and like I told you earlier...you are my mate...so there is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for you.”

I groaned internally as his fingers left a trail of sparks across my face.

His smile was so mesmerizing.

Then I snapped back to reality..mate...that damn word again.

"Okay.look I need to know what that means.”

I looked at him trying to focus on anything except his scent that seemed to swirl around me.

He sighed, "Okay, how about this—you stay the night here and in the morning me and momma will come and talk to you over breakfast? If you decide to leave then I will take you to your car, though I do hope you will decide to stay.”

I nodded in agreement as I walked back over to the couch and plopped down, letting my bag fall onto the floor beside my feet.

"Make yourself at home.The kitchen is stocked, and you help yourself to anything you find in here.If there is anything you need just flash the porch light and I'll be right over.Okay?" he stared at me, well more like stared into my soul and beyond.

I could get lost in his eyes. smiled thanking him as he walked out and shut the front door.

Okay, that's it I have to go.

I am not built for living in the middle of nowhere.

Fully alert and completely freaked out, I run to the light switch and start flashing the porch light off and on

I have no idea how late it is, but my luck Dane is already asleep and I'm going to be stuck hiding in a closet till morning.

I flashed the porch light a few times before sitting down and waiting.

Unfortunately, this gave my mind way too much time to come up with explanations for just about everything.

Within seconds, I had myself convinced there was a rabid coyote trying to get into the house to devour me_ I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

The more I thought about my heart rate being so high I started to hyperventilate.

Well at least if I pass out from lack of oxygen I won't know when the rabid coyote kills me, I thought to myself.

Aloud banging on the door made me scream right before the whole thing came flying off its hinges. Dane came running in scanning the room until he found me.

Relief flooded through me when I realized it was him and not some wild animal here to finish me off.

He rushed over to me his eyes full of worry, “What happened? Are you okay?" he questioned as he tried to look me over.

His hand brushed a few strands of hair from my face, and I leaned into his touch.

Safe.

That's what I felt now.I could feel my heart rate slowing down and breathing becoming steadier. Dane sat looking at me silently as his hand caressed the side of my face.

I opened my eyes meeting his gaze and felt so stupid all of a sudden.

Oh my god, this man was probably asleep, and I woke him up because I was scared of what? some wild animals outside!l? Jeez, I probably look so pathetic right now

"Are you okay?" he asked me again.

I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks as embarrassment flooded through me.

"I'm sorry.I'm so sorry.It's just that its so dark and quiet out here, and then I was taking a bath and I swear I heard something growl outside the bathroom window...not once but twice...and then I came to sleep on the couch, and I could hear something walking around on the front porch and then my mind just kind of ran away and I just freaked out.”

I cast my eyes down unable to look at him anymore and I waited for him to laugh at me.

But he never did I looked up at him and was a little surprised to find he looked furious.

God, he's pissed.

“I'm sorry,"

I started apologizing as tears burned my eyes, "I just.it's been a long few weeks.__I'm sorry for bothering you."

I turned trying to hide my face from him, I knew I should have just hidden in the closet till morning. Then I realized I had just said that out loud as he gently grabbed my face forcing me to look at him "I'm not mad at you.You said you heard growling outside the bathroom window while you were taking a bath?" he asked me through gritted teeth.

I nodded my head, still embarrassed about this whole ordeal.

He seemed to zone out for a minute before he smiled at me, "Where you really thinking about hiding in a closet until morning?’ I knew my cheeks burned a bright red now, "Okay, I didn't mean to say that out loud, but yes, I was going tool I thought there was a rabid coyote trying to get in to eat mell"

I tried to explain myself, but when I said it out loud it did sound kind of ridiculous.We both bust out laughing at my admission.

"Would it make you feel better if I stayed out here with you?" he asked softly.