Boris straightened. “Did you have some trouble?”
She would have told them, but Mateo smoothly intervened. “Rilee’s place burned down during the storm, so we had to take shelter in the sledge.”
“Oh shit. Sorry, Rilee.” Reid looked and sounded sympathetic.
“It’s just stuff,” she mumbled.
“If you need anything, you come talk to me or Jan,” Boris insisted.
“I’ll give you a full accounting as soon as I get my mother settled,” Mateo said, rather than explaining how it burned. Apparently, he didn’t want his mother hearing the details.
“Such a good boy thinking of me. But no need. They’ve loaned me a lovely home with a kitchen that is barely adequate, but one must make do.” Mrs. Ricci was a martyr.
“When did you get here?” Mateo asked.
“Only minutes after you left on a rescue mission. Always a hero,” Mrs. Ricci said with pride.
“You shouldn’t have gone through the trouble. I’m fine,” Mateo said.
“Now you are, but at the time, you could have been dead in a ditch.”
“There are no ditches here, Mamma.”
“Perhaps not but there are other dangers.” The quickly slewed gaze lasered in on Rilee. “Such as malnutrition. I saw on our last video call that you were looking a bit thin. Can’t have my boy starving. I brought a few things with me.”
“A few? You brought an entire kitchen sink,” muttered Boris.
Surely he was joking?
“You can’t expect me to fill a proper pasta pot with a regular faucet.” Mateo’s mama sniffed with disdain.
While Mateo might have a soft spot for his mother, he also apparently had a breaking point. “I haven’t lost any weight. How can I? I’ve only been gone a week.”
“Longest week of my life,” she exaggerated, and Rilee had to bite her lip.
It really was entertaining to watch. It also made her a tad bit jealous. She’d never been loved by anyone that much.
“Remember that conversation we had about respecting my space?”
“Blah, blah, something about I wasn’t to bother you when you’re working.” She clasped her hands, and her innocent expression held a hint of slyness. “You specifically told me your relocation to Kodiak Point wasn’t work related. Surely you didn’t lie to your mother?” She actually batted her lashes.
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what? Wonder if my sweet bambino, the most important thing in the world, trusts his own mother after she went through thirty-seven hours of labor because of his giant head?”
“You know I trust you,” he said.
“But you don’t love me anymore.” She sniffed.
“You’re being ridiculous, Mamma.”
“Then why don’t you want me to visit?” Neatly done. She’d cornered him, and he knew it.
Mateo groaned. “You know I can’t tell you when I’m undercover.”
The word brought a hint of panic. Wait? Had Mateo lied about who he was?
She took a step away from him.
Despite the drama with his mother, he noticed. “I’m here for work, but it had nothing to do with you, bella. I swear.”
“Then why are you here?” she asked.
“Because of those poachers.” The ones he’d tried to tell her about.
His mother didn’t appreciate losing his attention and hotly exclaimed, “I knew you were in danger! I told these people”—she cast a disparaging glare at Reid and the others—“that you were in trouble. But did they listen? No, they delayed sending out a search party for my baby boy.”
“You saw that blizzard! We had to wait for the storm to die down,” exclaimed Reid.
“My bambino could have died while you stayed safe in your dens,” Mrs. Ricci said with a sniff.
“Mamma, you’re being crazy. I didn’t die.”
“But you could have. And whose fault would that be?” The fearsome gaze finally landed on Rilee and stayed. Mrs. Ricci pursed her lips. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Tanya Ricci. And you are?”
“Rilee.” She didn’t give a last name because she’d decided when in that cage that she only belonged to herself. No family. No name. Just the me, myself, and I.
“Why are you wearing the sweater I made my son?” Mrs. Ricci asked pointedly.
“Because she lost all her clothes when her house burned down.”
“That’s convenient,” Mrs. Ricci drawled.
“Yes, because I totally wanted to lose all my things and have to wear oversized scratchy castoffs.” The sweater wasn’t actually rough, but she did enjoy the pursed lips.
“Be nice, Mamma.” Mateo placed a hand on Rilee’s lower back, offering her support. She might need it. If mama tiger attacked, it would get ugly.
Mrs. Ricci’s gaze turned assessing. “You left in a storm to help this girl?”
“Yup.”
He said nothing more. She could see his mother was dying to ask but holding back.
Which was when Reid finally interrupted. “Perhaps you’d like to take this reunion elsewhere while I talk to Rilee about the fire.”
“I should be present for that. Mamma and I can chat later,” Mateo declared, and for just a second, she expected Mrs. Ricci to protest.
Instead, she lifted her chin. “Since I’m obviously not wanted here, I shall leave.”
“Don’t be like that, Mamma. I just need to talk to the alpha, and then I’ll come see you. How else will I get fresh cookies?”
His mother tsked. “You and your cookies. Don’t think I’m going to bake for you now.”
“But I thought you said I looked skinny.” Mateo turned her words against her.
“Cookies are bad for you,” Rilee declared. “Fattening. How about I make you a salad later?” She did it on purpose, and Mrs. Ricci fell for it.
“Salad? That’s for herbivores.” There was scorn in the reply. “I shall make a roast.”
“With dumplings?” he insisted. “I need them.”
Not want, need, and his mother nodded. “And pudding for dessert. I’ll need to get started right away.”
“Do you need an escort to your place?” he asked.
His mother managed a tart, “Are you implying this town isn’t safe? I should have known. Bears tend to be slackers in the winter.”
Reid gaped.
Before he had to reply, Rilee stepped in. “The town is actually very safe. I’m sure your son is more concerned that someone of your age might find navigating the icy streets challenging.” She smiled sweetly.
Mrs. Ricci’s gaze narrowed. “I’m in the prime of my life.”
“I hope you brought your vitamin supplements along with the kitchen sink. Strong bones are important as you get older.”
There was a lot of coughing going on, and Mrs. Ricci’s eyes flashed, but not with anger, more like intrigue. And challenge. “I brought everything I could need, including the ingredients for bambino’s favorite foods. He loves my cooking.”
It was bad, so wrong and bad, but she couldn’t resist saying, “And you taught him well. I can’t wait until he cooks for me again…” She closed her eyes and moaned.