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eternity? The virus really does work.” She smiled. “I need you, Jared. I always have.”
    He had to get out of there. Too much was happening inside him…around him. And some of it was an odd guilt to be in the hotel room with another woman not his mate, regardless of the newness of his commitment to Veronica. He wasn’t a guy who felt guilt, damn it. “I’ll be in touch. Theo will be here to check on you soon. I texted him earlier.” Seconds later, he’d shut the door.
    Quick steps had him at the elevator, and soon he stood on the snowy street. Dark clouds billowed overhead like burned cotton balls and thunder rolled in the distance. What the hell was going on with the world? Ginny was free, he was mated, and all he could think about was Veronica’s safety. Karma had a brutal sense of humor.
    Duty called. He glanced down at his phone and quickly dialed.
    “Hello,” Veronica answered.
    His chest settled. Her throaty voice somehow calmed his rioting emotions. “How are you feeling?”
    “Fantastic,” she burst out, joy in the sound. “I drank two coffees and ate a whole box of donuts. They were delicious.”
    He grinned. “The pictures on your mantle showed you were curvy.”
    “Yep.” Happiness all but flowed through the line. “I like food, and it’s so good to eat again. I even did a cartwheel.”
    Now that was something he’d pay to see. “Just take it easy. You’re still healing.”
    “I know.” She cleared her throat. “How was your day?”
    He knocked his head back against the frozen bricks. “A little crazy, truth be told.” While he wanted to tell her all of it, they should probably talk in person. If they were going to work together, perhaps even be friends, then honesty mattered. He owed her that.
    “Oh. Do you need any help?” she asked.
    He paused. She was offering to help him? When was the last time anybody had offered him help? His body warmed, head to toe. “Ah, no.” He wouldn’t mind talking it out, but was an ex-girlfriend something you talked about to your new mate, even if the mating was one of convenience?
    “I’d like to be friends, Jared,” Ronni said quietly, as if reading his thoughts.
    “Me, too.” He straightened up and headed for his bike. “I’ll protect you. I promise.”
    She chuckled. “I think I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
    She wasn’t asking for anything from him. For some reason, the thought rankled. “You are not fine, not yet, and we’ll discuss it when I get there.” They could be friends, but he was in charge, damn it. She needed to learn that one tiny fact. He swung a leg over his bike.
    “Oh. Well, I sort of have plans. How about we talk tomorrow?”
    His head jerked up. “Excuse me?”
    “Crap. I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She clicked off.
    He looked down at the silent phone in his hand as if it had appeared out of nowhere. What the fucking hell? Had she just blown him off and then hung up on him? He redialed her number and she didn’t answer.
    Fire burst through his chest. His woman needed to learn a couple of things and right now.
    He pressed his brother’s number with sharp stabs of his finger. Oh, Chalton’s mate would know where Veronica had gone.
    Then he’d have the first of many discussions with his little mate.
     

Chapter 5
    Ronni moved in time with the beat, barely keeping from laughing out loud at the sheer exhilaration of feeling alive. The tempo was fast, which was good since she’d quickly discovered she couldn’t slow dance with another man.
    Her skin had flared like she’d been on fire.
    Stupid mating allergy.
    For now, she moved with Lance, both of them surveying the bar that was closed for the private party. Cops danced around them while many drank at round tables set throughout the place.
    So far, she hadn’t gotten a sense of anybody wanting to hurt her.
    Her abilities were already sharper, thanks to the mating. Maybe she’d even become psychic? She’d have to ask Jared if that was possible.