Free Aleck: Mating Fever by V. Vaughn

wallet anyway. I pull out my debit card even though I doubt there’s enough in my bank account to cover the cost. “Here, try this one.”
    I bite my lip as I think about the dress. I have to have it, and I work up the nerve to ask Aleck for loan. When Larissa tells me my other card is declined too, I look at Aleck. “I don’t suppose you’d lend me the money, would you?”
    He frowns. “I don’t have it.”
    Panic sucks air out of my lungs as Larissa removes the dress from the bag, and I say, “But you were just given a huge advance last week.”
    “And I sent it where it can do the most good.” My brow knits as I try to sort out what he did with his money. He says, “C’mon, you don’t need that dress. You’ve got a closetful. I’ve got enough money for us to get ice cream.”
    Ice cream? I clench my jaw. Like that can make up for the dress. As we leave I look over my shoulder to gaze longingly at the dress I can’t have. When we get outside Aleck asks, “How in debt are you, Noel?”
    I keep myself from snapping back and answer with a smile. “Not that much. I was just late with my payment.”
    Thankfully Aleck doesn’t press for more. When we get to my car he stops to lean against it, and I step in front of him. He places his warm hands on my hips and says, “My brothers and I moved here from the Arctic. We’re polar bear, and the reason we went to Maine was because our glacier was melting. Our clan lost everything.”
    I imagine what it would be like to have your home melt away. “Oh Aleck, I had no idea.”
    “Every one of us arrived with nothing more than the clothes on our backs, and the clan that took us in has been more than generous. I thought my meager contribution would help ease the burden.”
    I reach up and place my hand on his face to feel the strong bones in his cheek. I’m in love with an honorable man. One that is kind and generous, and I know I don’t deserve him. I have more dresses than my closet can hold, and many of them have only been worn once, while Aleck has nothing. I say, “I don’t think I want ice cream. Let’s just go home.”
    As I drive, my stomach twists into knots. I can fix almost anything for my clients, and I’m sure I can fix this for myself. I need to sit down and figure out a budget to get myself out of debt. But I don’t have time to do that now, so I promise myself I will after the tour.
    After I drop off Aleck at his hotel, I can’t stop thinking about the dress. As I drive by the shop on my way home I slow down to gaze at it in the window. It looked great on me, and I imagine the pictures of Second Sound’s debut. They’ll be all over magazines for weeks once they become famous. I really need that dress. Besides, what’s one more thing before I curb my spending? I call Link. “Hey. I need a favor.”
    “Shoot.”
    “I found the perfect outfit for Second Sound’s opening, but I’m a little short on cash. Can you float me a loan?”
    “You don’t need to pay me back, Noel. I’ll buy it. Where is it?”
    “Thank you, Link.” I give him the name of the boutique, and he tells me he’ll call the payment in. I have just enough time to get there before they close. I grin when I take the garment from Larissa, because I figured out a way to get the red dress. But after I get home and I lay it on top of the rest of my clothes, my victory feels bittersweet. The sliding wood door of my closet scrapes when I open it, and I drag my hand across all the items hanging inside. A number of them would have worked just fine for the band’s debut. I think I have a problem. I sit on my overstuffed suitcase to keep it shut as I zip it up, and I vow my spending spree is over starting now.

12
    T he concert crowd hums like a swarm of bees I’ve shut out when I enter the dressing room where the band waits. I glance around at the faces of a group of people I’ve become close to. And because of my true mate attraction to Aleck, they’ll eventually become my