“I can promise that isn’t going to happen. The getting your heart broken part. Here’s something else to think about. I already told Brynna, but I’ll tell you too. The clearing where Uri and I are going to live sits on over a thousand acres. There’s plenty of room for another house. I know how much Brynna loves it out there, and I would love to have her close when she’s in Norway. So, after you design our house, maybe you can design her one too.”
Being an architect, Travis had already designed his dream home, but he’d never allowed himself to think about the possibility of it becoming a reality one day. He could see it among the trees on Banyan’s property, but that was his dream, not Brynna’s. And he wouldn’t get his hopes up about something that would probably never come to fruition, no matter what Banyan said.
Chapter Four
Brynna thoroughly enjoyed Uri’s company. The male was so much more laid back than she expected, especially when he joined her for a manicure. The nail technician thought he was joking when he set down the blue polish, but when he assured her he was serious, she got busy working on his hands. Brynna cringed at the woman’s attempt at flirting, so she did the woman a favor and started a conversation with Uri about the house he and his “husband” were building. The woman deflated but remained professional.
“Speaking of houses, when are you going to have the talk with Travis?” Uri asked. Brynna knew which talk he was referring to, but she couldn’t speak freely about mating in front of the human. “I mean, you all but asked him to move in with you last night when you were talking about redecorating. Banyan’s right, Bryn, you need to let him know why.”
Brynna slung her long hair over her shoulder as she gave him her full attention. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Nope. If you hadn’t spent the last month or so playing house with the man, maybe.”
Brynna arched a brow at him. “It’s not like that.”
“And I didn’t mean it like that. But you have to admit you spend more time together than alone. If he didn’t care about you, he wouldn’t do that. He’d go home to his dog, watch bad television, and eat whatever frozen dinner was in his fridge.”
“He could just like my cooking.” Brynna smirked because she knew Travis loved her cooking.
“He could, but if he wasn’t over Rachel, I don’t think even prime rib would ease his guilt.”
“Maybe.”
Uri let the subject go, and they finished their manicures in companionable silence. Once their nails were dry, they paid and walked outside into the cool air. When they reached the car, Brynna stopped, turning to look at her brother’s gorgeous mate. “Not once since I’ve known you have you ever painted your nails.”
“And?”
“What’s the real reason you came with me today?” Brynna carefully opened the car door, making sure she didn’t chip the dark berry polish. She slipped into the passenger seat and waited for Uri to get in the car.
“Can’t I spend time with my favorite princess without an ulterior motive?” Uri was less careful with his short, navy nails.
“If I thought for a second you didn’t have one, then yes. But I’ve been around you and my brother long enough to know when you speak silently to one another. You’re both up to something. Wait, did you come with me so Banyan could be alone with Travis? Oh, Odin. Please tell me B isn’t having a talk with my mate!”
Uri pulled the car out of the parking lot, flipped the visor down, and headed away from the house. They had already talked about where Brynna wanted to go next, so it made sense he was driving that direction. Now, though, she didn’t think shopping was such a good idea. “Urijah Aldobrand, answer me.”
“That’s Urijah Aldobrand Holgersen, thank you very much.”
“What? You two aren’t married.”
“Not as far as you know,” Uri said, smirking. “I legally changed my name. It was Banyan’s idea. He wanted us to have the necessary paperwork in place in case something happened to one of us.”
“Do you think something bad’s going to happen?” Brynna knew there was the possibility of someone coming for the crown one day, but if that happened, a name change wouldn’t mean Uri got to be King just because of his name. That’s not the way it worked.
“We hope not, but with Drago still out there gunning for Rafael, we never know what will happen.”
“That’s just another reason for me not to claim Travis. He’s already been targeted by Theron. What if we complete the bond, then Drago comes after him? I can’t do that to him.”
“Anyone who’s watching will know you and Travis spend all your spare time together, so mated or not, it’s not going to matter. And shouldn’t it be Travis’s decision? You’re not doing either one of you a favor by keeping this secret. Brynna, trust me. Once you tell Travis the truth, life will be so much better for you both. There’s no way you’re not fighting your beast. That has to be taking a toll on you. And Travis is all wound up. I know this from being around other unmated humans. The pull they feel is just as strong as it is for Goyles. You’re already practically living with the man, and he has to be going crazy not being able to do the things that come naturally between mates.”
“You mean sex.” It was adorable that Uri was blushing.
Urijah pulled into the parking lot of the boutique where Brynna wanted to browse “Yes. I was trying not to be crude.” Uri cut the motor, removed his seatbelt, and turned toward her. “Brynna, he’s ready. The mate pull overrides any guilt he feels from moving on quickly after Rachel. And don’t throw my thirty-year stubbornness in my face. Just because Travis moves on doesn’t mean he’ll forget the woman. It means you’ll help him with his emotions if he gets melancholy. Do him and yourself a favor and talk to him. Let it be his decision.”
“But he knows all about the mate bond from talking to Trevor. He’s going to feel like he has no choice.”
“Then explain to him he does. Now, come on. I want to look at that shirt hanging in the window.” Uri got out of the car before Brynna could argue further. She spent the next hour trying on clothes while thinking about what Uri said. After she found a few dresses she couldn’t live without, she ventured over to the men’s section where she picked out several new shirts for Travis. She loved seeing him in button-up shirts he left untucked over his well-worn jeans. Her mate had a good sense of fashion, and she knew he would appreciate what she’d picked out. Besides, the printed shirts she chose would look great with his emerald eyes.
Brynna and Uri hit up a couple more stores before stopping to get lunch. Brynna excused herself to the restroom while they waited on the server to bring their order. While she was peeing, her beast bristled, and the hair on her arms stood on end. Brynna reached out with her shifter senses, but there was no one else in the small room with her. Still, she finished quickly, and after washing her hands, she eased open the door and glanced out in the hallway. There was no one there, so she made her way back to the table.
“What’s wrong?” Uri asked as soon as she sat down.
“Not sure. I had a weird feeling I was being watched, but there was no one hanging around the hallway.”