Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 by Kate Douglas Read Free Book Online

the lodge without her wolf escort. They’d certainly been busy last night, escorting her through her dreams. There weren’t any wolves at the lodge to greet her, either, but Christa and Steph were on the deck having coffee, the sun was barely peeking over the tops of the pine trees, and it was an absolutely breathtaking morning.
    â€œGood morning. When did you guys get here?”
    â€œAbout five minutes ago.” Christa held up her coffee cup. “Coffee’s inside, and it looks like Trak’s cooking breakfast.”
    â€œAs long as it’s not me. Morning, Steph.” Cherry and Christa both laughed when Steph merely grunted. She was most definitely not a morning person. Cherry opened the door and walked into the lodge. Trak was visible through the pass-through window, standing at the stove in the kitchen with an apron tied around his trim waist, and the dining area was filled with delicious smells. Inside, the lodge was like an old-time café, with a bar for a quick meal or drinks, and a big pass-through window into the kitchen. A couple of small tables were placed by windows at one end, and there was one long table in the middle, where they’d eaten last night.
    There was no sign of the other three women, but Brad smiled from behind the bar. “Good morning, Cherry. Coffee?”
    Cherry nodded and took a seat on one of the barstools. “Yes, please. Good morning.”
    â€œYou’re up early.”
    â€œBlame the day job. I’m usually in the office by seven.”
    Brad handed Cherry a big mug of coffee, black, just the way she liked it. Then he propped his elbows on the bar with his own steaming cup between his hands. “What do you do in the day job?”
    â€œStatistics and market analysis, which sounds really high-tech and boring, but it’s not.”
    He laughed. “Yeah, but what do you do ?”
    She was used to this part of the question. “Figure out what ads work best for companies and why. I research algorithms and how to optimize ads, create methods for measuring the effectiveness of ads, that sort of thing. Essentially I try to help people use the most effective advertising for a particular product. It’s fun. I love my work.”
    Brad just laughed. “If you say so. How did you end up doing something like that?”
    â€œI love numbers and majored in statistics, with a minor in computer science.”
    She heard the door open and Christa added, “And she’s actually Dr. Cheraza DuBois.” Christa plopped her butt down on the stool next to Cherry and draped an arm around her shoulders, laughing. “It is so easy to make you blush.”
    â€œYou’re a pain in the ass, Cissy.” And Cherry might be embarrassed by Christa’s praise, but she was damned proud of that PhD, even if it ran men off, if they’d even gotten past her plus-size body. But Brad actually seemed impressed, not put off by it. Now that was interesting.
    â€œHey Trak,” he said, calling out to the cook. “You’ve got to come out here.”
    Trak poked his head through the window. “Morning, ladies. What do you want, Brad? The chef’s at work.”
    â€œYeah, I know, but do know what this lovely lady does?” And without waiting for an answer, Brad said, “She’s a statistics and computers expert, and there’s a ‘PhD’ after her name. Her focus is marketing.”
    â€œReally?”
    Trak’s eyebrows went up and he and Brad exchanged a very quick but obviously meaningful glance. Cherry had no idea what the meaning was.
    â€œI need to get back to work,” Trak said. “But Cherry? I’m impressed. I’m going to want to hear more about your work.”
    â€œAnytime.” That was interesting, but obviously all he was going to say, at least for now.
    The door opened once again. “Where’d you guys go?” Steph wandered in and took the barstool on the other