she passed by the sign telling her that she’d reached Shifter Grove. It had been an arduous drive and getting directions to the town was no easy feat, but here she was. For more than half a mile, she could still see nothing but the thick forest around her. Only then did she reach the main street and signs of civilization.
With a heavy sigh, she pulled up to the Sunrise Diner . She killed the engine and sat in the car for a few more minutes. Suddenly, the weight of the situation landed on her shoulders.
You sold the house. You left the family. You’re out of Georgia, Claire counted to herself, listing all the things she’d done just in the last two weeks. You can do this.
With one last look in the mirror, Claire nodded to herself and confidently stepped out of the car. She thanked her lucky stars that she didn’t immediately stumble and fall.
Between exiting the car and walking to the front door of the diner, Claire already managed to be greeted by a few of the locals and smiled back at them. Her nervous energy was dissipating little by little. Even if this meeting, this date, went horribly, then hadn’t she already had an adventure?
When she stepped into the diner, it took her no time to find the men she was looking for. Argo and Cooper both stood up from the booth near the door and she found herself face to face with them. To say they knocked the breath out of her lungs would have been an understatement. Both of them were absolutely gorgeous. Tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome, and completely dreamy – a word she couldn’t in all seriousness ever use, but in this case it made sense.
Cooper smiled broadly and drew her into an immediate, warm hug.
“I thought you’d never make it here,” he purred into her ear, and Claire’s knees threatened to buckle beneath her.
A voice like that should have never been let out of the bedroom. His body melded against hers and she could feel his hard, carved muscles through the fabric of his V-neck T-shirt, pressing against her soft curves. When he let go of her finally, Claire almost wanted to ask him for another embrace. It was like a drug and she’d happily line up for more.
With her eyes a little hazy, she turned to face Argo. There was an intensity to him that struck her from afar and was all the more obvious the closer she got. While Cooper’s energy was warm, gentle, and almost nurturing, then Argo’s was the polar opposite. There was a darkness to him and an unseen edge that twinkled somewhere behind the blueness of his gaze. But it wasn’t scary for Claire. If anything, it was exciting.
“I’m glad you came,” Argo said softly as he shared a feather-light embrace with Claire, one that left her body screaming for more.
“It was a long drive,” Claire said dumbly, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.
“I can imagine,” Cooper said, chuckling.
He took her by the hand and pulled her into the booth next to him, across from Argo. Claire’s heart was beating so fast she thought it had no option but to jump out of her chest. She knew she wasn’t the woman to keep it in place, not around these two wolves, anyway. Heat pooled between her legs and all of the decisions she had made over the last month came crashing around her, showing her the path that had led to this very moment.
To these men. With the clear and undeniable intention of becoming their bride.
She’d never been quite so scared in her life.
Argo’s gaze kept her mesmerized, sucking her in and keeping her teetering on the edge of her seat. He had an undeniable quality about him that made people want to follow him, Claire thought. She had felt it when they’d talked over Snapchat and SassyDate before, but now, in person, it was all the more obvious. He was a leader. Strong, in command, determined to reach his goals.
And from the way his eyes shone right now, Claire had no doubt that she was his current goal.
“So, what happens now?” Cooper asked lightly, slipping his hand into