Her mate.
Bloody hell. She’d just met her mate. Which was great! Mostly. Although Hope didn’t want to think about the impression she’d made on the man. Turning up late with a sparkly child to pick up an uncommunicative one… yeah, the guy probably thought she was completely inept.
As she ate dinner with the kids, her mind was still spinning. She hadn’t been able to stare at the man for anywhere near as long as she’d have liked. Her nose had informed her that Adam was some kind of deer species, but not a reindeer.
“You’re awfully quiet, dear.” Auntie Joy’s voice broke into the confusion. “Didn’t work go well?”
“Oh, work was fine.” She smiled at her aunt. “The people were friendly, and I think I’m going to like it there.”
Everyone went back to eating, the silence broken only by the sound of cutlery on plates.
“I brought home some gingerbread men,” she added. “We can have them after dinner.”
By this point, Hope wasn’t surprised by the grunt she received from the teenager on her right. She accepted it as proof the girl was still breathing.
“Yay!” At least Bella was excited. Of course, the little girl was like a Labrador puppy: enthusiastic about pretty much everything, even the broccoli Hope had put on her plate. Still, it made a pleasant change from her monosyllabic sister.
“I thought maybe we could put the Christmas decorations up this weekend,” Auntie Joy suggested, taking a sip of water. “Make the house nice and cheerful.”
Olivia snorted. At least it wasn’t a grunt. Was a snort a step forward or back from a grunt? Perhaps someday they’d progress to muttering.
“I think that sounds lovely,” Hope said brightly. “And maybe you three can make a list for Santa.”
Silence.
Suppressing a sigh, Hope looked up. Yup. Olivia was looking at Hope as though sizing her up for a straightjacket. Emmett just looked blank. Bella? Well, she was busy shoving a chicken dipper into her ketchup.
Hope felt her eyes water. The children she’d passed on her way to pick up Emmett had all been full of energy, clearly excited about Christmas as they talked to their parents. Most had been begging to decorate their houses as soon as possible.
These kids? They sat quietly and had obviously given up on the whole occasion. How bad had things been with their mother for them to have lost all enthusiasm? Olivia? Okay, so she was a teenager, and apathy was to be expected. But Emmett was young enough to still be excited. Hope’s heart hurt as she watched him silently eat his dinner.
Hope had always loved Christmas. The year after her parents had died had been a little muted, but she’d still felt the Christmas magic. Now she wanted to see these kids happy and settled. No matter what it took.
“Okay, so that’s sorted.” She decided to simply pretend everything was fine. Fake it until you make it, right? “On Saturday, we’ll get the tree up, and then you three can write out your lists.”
“I don’t need a list.” Olivia scowled. Seriously, did that girl have any other facial expressions? Maybe she’d pulled it one too many times and her face had stuck that way.
“Well, make one anyway.” Hope gave her a pointed look. Grumpy or not, Olivia couldn’t be allowed to ruin the younger kids’ fun.
Olivia narrowed her eyes. At least it wasn’t technically a scowl. “Whatever.”
“Good. Love the enthusiasm.” Hope smiled. Well, it was probably more of a grimace, but it was the best she could do under current circumstances.
“You make a list too.” Bella shoved a piece of broccoli into her mouth and started chewing.
“Oh, I don’t need—”
“Make one anyway,” Olivia interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Love the enthusiasm.”
“Good idea,” Auntie Joy said, clearly on board with the faking cheerfulness plan. “We’ll all make lists together.”
Hope gave in gracefully. Maybe it would encourage the others to get involved. What on earth could she put on her list, though?
Her cheeks heated. Well, she could think of at least one thing she really wanted. A certain tall, dark, and handsome schoolteacher with kind greenish-blue eyes.
But how the hell was she supposed to fit a mate into her life right now?
***
“What’s up with you?”
Adam glanced up at his sister. “What?”
“You. What’s going on?” She narrowed her eyes. “I mean, it’s great that you’re visiting. Ethan’s at work and I was feeling a bit lonely… but why exactly are you here?”
Why was he there?
Probably because he’d been wandering in a daze ever since he’d left the school. He’d been standing on his sister’s doorstep before he knew he was headed there. Dana, being a total sweetheart, had let him in and fed him before beginning the interrogation.
“Adam?”
“I met my mate.” He blew out a breath. There. He’d said it.
Silence.
Dana was staring at him with her mouth hanging open.
“At the school,” he added. “She’s got kids.”
“Is that a problem?”
Adam shrugged. “No? I don’t think so. I just didn’t see that coming.” He frowned. “And I have no clue where the kids’ father fits in. Hell, I don’t really know anything other than her name.”
“You didn’t ask?” Dana handed him a bowl of cookie dough ice cream.
“The kids were right there,” he pointed out. “So I couldn’t ask.” No, it wasn’t exactly a kid-friendly conversation, and he had no idea of their family’s situation. The last thing he wanted was to make things so awkward that the woman took to avoiding him. He stabbed at his ice cream.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll see her again at the school.” Dana licked her spoon clean. “But you need to decide if you can handle the kids.”
He gave her a pointed look. “I’m a teacher.”
Dana rolled her eyes. “Yes, but it’s not exactly the same as having your own. And if you mate this woman, then her kids become yours. If you can’t do that…”
“I can.” He shovelled some ice cream into his mouth.
“You’re certain?”
“Yeah.” Adam shrugged. “Weirdly enough, I’m fine with the idea.” He gave Dana a wry grin. “I did not expect that, but it’s true. Sure, it might complicate things a bit, but I still want this.”
“So, I get to be an auntie?” Dana grinned.
He snorted. “Well, there’s still the small matter of getting Hope to agree to mate with me.” Adam poked at the ice cream, searching for a lump of cookie dough.
“Oh, please.” Dana scoffed. “If you’re true mates, she’ll want you.”
“Yes, because your own mating was so straightforward.” He raised an eyebrow.
Dana merely waved that away. “Nobody can possibly be as commitment-shy as Ethan, and he still caved. Your woman will be fine.” She swirled the ice cream in her bowl. “So, what are the kids like?”
“Emmett is in my class.” Adam frowned. “He’s exceptionally quiet and serious. I’ll admit, I was worried about him. No idea what his story is.”
“Then you have a perfect excuse to speak to his mum, then.”
“True.” He grinned. “The little girl is adorable.”
“Just the two of them?”
Adam shrugged. “As far as I know. I only saw the two.”
“And you know nothing about the father?” Dana set her empty bowl on the table. “Because that could get messy.”
“Absolutely nothing,” he admitted. “And I really need to find out.”
His inner moose didn’t care. If the guy was a problem, they’d just antler him into submission. There was always a simple elegance to his moose’s solutions. Adam could appreciate that, but still, antlering people should be a last resort. His moose asked why. Adam pointed out that Hope might not like it, and they couldn’t upset her if they wanted her to be their mate. His moose grumbled but thankfully stopped arguing.
The first thing Adam needed to do was speak to his mate and find out what was going on. And he was looking forward to it.