consumed (11 page)

Ava waved as her son exited the bank, a purple lollipop in hand. He sat on a bench with his escort, apparently content to chatter on as if the boy was his best friend. She thought about her past, the one she’d lived before meeting Sam, in what seemed like two lifetimes ago. It didn’t matter anymore. She’d started over. She’d moved on. “You can keep that knowledge to yourself. I don’t want to know.”

“Very well. Enjoy your time in Destiny. I’m very grateful you’ve stayed on and worked with us.” She did a bit of marketing here and there for various business owners, ever since she’d found she had a knack for that sort of thing. Plus, she worked in the Visitor Center on the days when Sam Jr. was in school. Thelonious continued along the sidewalk until he vanished from sight, straight into thin air as was his wont.

“Time is a funny thing.” Shaking her head, Ava strolled in her son’s direction. If she’d never met Sam, she wouldn’t have her little boy. He was her greatest success and the dearest thing in her life. She’d traveled backward and found love, only to be sent forward and have it waiting for her the whole time. “I guess timing really is everything.”

As the sun gleamed on Sam Jr.’s curls, her heart gave a lurch and warmth seeped through her body.
You were right all along, wolf-girl. Destiny is where we belong.

Thanks to that GPS unit.
Her wolf ran in circles, chasing her tail, clearly ecstatic.

“Maybe.”

Her breath caught as Finn came out of the bank at the same time she reached the building. She gave him a smile, and a weird little flutter passed through her belly when he returned the grin. He lifted a salt-and-pepper eyebrow in greeting. “Hello, Finn. Wonderful day, isn’t it?” Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to get out and see what else Destiny could offer.

“It is, Ava. On days like these you can really feel that spring is right around the corner.” He tucked a deposit envelope into an inside pocket of his leather jacket. “I’m going to the opening of that new bistro at the other end of town this weekend. Maybe I’ll see you there?”

A tingle slid down her spine. “Maybe you will.”

Finn nodded. “Well, have a good one.”

Ava watched him leave with questions in her mind and curiosity in her heart. What kind of being was he, and why did it intrigue her?

Now that’s a mystery I wouldn’t mind unraveling
, her wolf put in.
We could use a little mattress time in our immediate future.

One day at a time, wolf-girl.

 
Ava knelt down and caught her son as he launched into her arms. “I love you so much, Sam.” Joy swirled around her in flooding waves. Never had she been so happy or fulfilled—or as sticky. Sam Jr.’s sweet stuck in her hair. “I won’t forget.” This time, she spoke to Sam’s memory. He wouldn’t have wanted her to use up her life in mourning, yet the sound of Finn’s voice lingered in her ears. Was it too soon to date again?

“Mama,” her son whined. “You’re hugging me too tight. Let me go.” He wiggled in her hold.

“Not for a while yet. All in good time.”