TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 369

Three hundred and sixty-nine

Barbara POV

I sent the photograph of Maverick’s daycare to Alpha Desmond and waited. The place had strict access controls and careful pickup procedures, which meant walking in and taking him would attract exactly the kind of attention we needed to avoid. Isabella’s friend was also helping with his pickup, so we needed another way to get close to hirm without inaking anyone suspicious.

Emerald arrived at my car already looking irritated. She opened the door, slid into the passenger seat, and shut it harder than necessary. “A substitute teacher. She’s willing to cooperate, but she wants payment before she does anything.

I smiled. “Will she cause trouble?”

“Not if she gets paid enough.” Emerald folded her arms and looked straight ahead. “But I’m not getting involved. If anyone comes looking for me, I will deny everything.”

“You won’t have to.”

“I’m serious, Lady Barbara. Whatever you’re planning, I’m not going to prison for you.”

The money had clearly softened her resolve. Emerald had gone from working for Luna Lisa to a small fashion house, and what I was offering her was enough to make principles suddenly less urgent.

She explained that the substitute teacher could create an opportunity for someone to separate Maverick from the main group without causing a scene. Desmond’s people would handle the rest. My part was to make sure everyone understood that noise was the enemy. If the daycare realized something was wrong before Maverick was out, the plan would fall apart.

Maverick was one of the children being collected later that afternoon, which worked in our favor. Iris had to finish work before she could pick him up, giving us a narrow window. Narrow was fine. I didn’t need much time. I only needed everyone to do exactly what they had agreed to do.

I picked up my phone and called Desmond. “The plan is moving.”

“I know,” he said, sounding almost amused. “Cameron will recruit the best people he can find. That’s why I’m sending men who won’t scare easily. Tough, fortified rogues. If Cameron’s people interfere, they’ll regret it.”

A thrill moved through me. For years, Isabella had believed she had escaped her past. She had built a new life and convinced herself that whatever happened before no longer had power over her.

People were always so confident until the past came looking for them.

“I’ll let you know when we have him,” I said before ending the call.

Charlie was already waiting when I arrived, seated at a table near the window with two glasses in front of him. The restaurant was busy enough that nobody was paying much attention to us, which suited me. I had no intention of being seen with him it 1 could help it

He stood when he saw me, and that familiar softness came into his eyes. It still amused me that after everything that had happened, he could look at me as though I were the only woman in the room.

What an idiot.

“I knew you’d come,” he said.

I sat across from him and glanced at the drink waiting for me. It smelled sweet, almost like melted ice cream, and the first sip tasted nothing like the bitter alcohol I had expected. I raised an eyebrow.

“What is this?”

+15 Bonus

“Something sweet.”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

His mouth curved. “I’m trying to get you to relax.”

I took another sip. “You know I’m not easy to handle.”

“I’ve known that for years.”

That answer pleased me more than it should have. I leaned back and studied him. “So we’re doing this?”

His expression changed slightly. “Doing what?”

“Us.”

He didn’t hesitate. “Of course, my love. I want you to be my Luna.”

The answer came too easily. For a moment, I wondered whether he was playing some kind of game. Charlie had become quieter lately, more careful about what he said, but whenever he looked at me, I still saw the same devotion he had shown me before.

“I’ve waited for this for years,” he said. “I’m not going to walk away now because things got complicated.”

“You’ve lost Wesley. Your best friend. And you’re still choosing me?”

Charlie leaned forward. “I chose you long before any of this happened.”

The words settled warmly inside me. He reached across the table and touched my hand, and I let him.

“Wesley will get over it,” he said. “He’s always been selfish when things don’t go his way.”

I smiled. “The selfish bastard deserves to suffer.”

“After what he did to you, I understand why you feel that way.”

My fingers tightened around the glass.

“What is he doing now?” I asked. “Has he accepted his bond?”

“No. He doesn’t want it.”

I almost laughed. “He doesn’t want his mate?”

“He thinks accepting it could get her killed.”

That stopped me.

I swirled my drink, watching the liquid move beneath the light. “He thinks he’ll lose control again, like he did with Beatrice.”

“He’s terrified it will happen again.”

A small smile touched my mouth. “Then maybe he should live with what he did to Beatrice instead of hiding behind a tragic excuse.”

Charlie didn’t answer immediately. He watched me for a moment, and something about his silence made me uneasy.

“Did you try to save Beatrice?” he asked. “After you found out she was drowning and overwhelmed by Wesley?”

The question was simple, but I felt the shift in the conversation immediately.

I set my glass down. “You asked me to meet you because you wanted us to start this properly. So why are you asking me about my dead sister?”

+15 Bonus

His hows drew together. “I’m trying to understand what happened.”

“There’s nothing to understand. Don’t start interrogating me, Charlie.”

“I’m not interrogating you.

“It sounds like it.”

He reached across the table again. “I’m sorry, my love,”

I studied him, searching his face for some indication of what he was really thinking. There was nothing obvious. Just the same fool who had spent years wanting me and had finally decided he was done waiting.

“You don’t have to worry,” I said. “Wesley will come back begging you.”

Charlie nodded slowly. “I believe you.”

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