Chapter 9

I sighed, “I did see it. I take it that’s the suspicious activity?” He looked up and nodded as he took a bite of his peach cobbler and his eyes rolled back in his head, “Oh. My. Goddess. Baby, this is really good. It’s just like your grandma’s.” I laughed, “I’m glad you like it.” He sighed, “Can we talk about the books after I enjoy this? I can’t form a coherent thought right now.” I laughed and nodded as I ate my cobbler too. I smiled, “We should buy the stuff for homemade ice cream next time we’re in Canon City. This cobbler is really good with homemade ice cream. But it’s also good cold for breakfast.” He smiled, “I will be eating this for breakfast and probably after every meal.” I laughed, “You don’t want to burn out on it right away, do you?” He laughed, “That can never happen. I’m a bear. We love our fruit and berries.” I asked, “So if I found a place to pick some blackberries?” He gasped, “I would love you forever if you made this with blackberries! Well, I already will love you forever, but you get the point.”

I asked, “You love me?” He blushed (Cutest thing ever), “I have loved you since I was nine. I just hope it’s not too early to be telling you.” I smiled as I got out of my chair and sat in his lap, “I love you too.” He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. I stood up and smiled, “I will let you finish your cobbler while I start cleaning the kitchen.”

When he was done with his cobbler, he brought his plate into the kitchen then wrapped his arms around me, “That was really good baby. Thank you so much for everything you’re doing.” I furrowed my brows, “I haven’t done hardly anything. Especially nothing major or strenuous.” He laughed, “I appreciate everything you do… big and small.” I smile as I turn around. I put my arms around his neck and jumped to wrap my legs around his waist, “I am happy to help you in every way I can. I love you. I’m your mate. I’m supposed to share your duties. I will not be the kind of princess that sits around and lets everyone do everything for her. That’s not me. If I ask anyone to do anything, it will never be something that could’ve done for myself.” He smiles, “I love that about you.”

I asked, “Would you like for me to call Princess Chloe for you?” He shook his head, “No, I can do that.” I shrugged, “Okay. I will keep looking through the books and see if I find anything else.” He nodded, “Sounds great. But you’re not doing that at the kitchen table.” I laugh as he carries me to the office. He sets me back on the floor and points behind me, then turns me around. I gasp as I find the perfect desk and chair for me. It is a whitewash white wooden desk with wrought iron accents. It has plenty of surface space as it is a corner desk. One surface has a laptop computer and printer, and the other side is empty with a few office accessories on top. I smile, “I love it! Thank you!” The desks are arranged in a way that we will be facing each other as we work. I smiled, “I might get distracted if we are facing each other.” He smiled, “Me too, but this arrangement gives me my very favorite view.” I smiled, “You are too sweet! I like this desk. It’s definitely me.” He smiled, “I thought so too.”

I sat down in my office chair and found it very comfortable. I walked to the kitchen table, grabbed the ledger, and walked back to my desk. I sat down and looked in my desk drawer and found pens, pencils and a notepad. I grabbed a pen and a notepad and started looking through the ledger through an auditor’s eyes. I started writing down each suspicious entry with the monetary amounts and dates next to them. Hmm… Ernie Ball has received nearly ten million dollars over the last two years. How could that go unnoticed? That’s a lot of money!

I looked up at Luke, “Have you really looked through this ledger?” He shook his head, “I didn’t really get a chance to yet. Why?” I explained, “I looked through this ledger as an auditor would. I have written down every single suspicious entry. Did you know that Ernie Ball received nearly ten million dollars over the last two years?” Luke’s jaw hit the floor, “What?! Who the hell authorized that?! We need to look into that elder’s financial records.” I smiled, “I can arrange that.” He shook his head, “No, I need to have my dad do that. I wonder if he knows what is going on.” I shrugged, “There’s only one way to find out.”

Luke called his dad and talked to him about the elder and what we found on the books. His dad agreed that we need to look into that elder’s finances and then he said something that made me blush, “You have one smart mate. I’m glad she caught it. Sounds like this is something you should put her in charge of.” Luke smiled at me, “I was thinking the same thing. All money requests as well as payroll and anything that has to do with kingdom finances will go through her.” His dad agreed and told us that he will announce it to the kingdom at my crowning ceremony. We invited them to dinner tomorrow night and he ended the call.

I asked, “Okay, since I am now in charge of all things money related, what entries do you have for me?” He chuckled as he watched me standing there rubbing my hands together, “I do have some entries.” He handed a stack of receipts and PO’s and smiled, “Here you go, my love. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.” I reply, “Thank you very much, sir. I will take care of these now.” I sit in my chair and start recording the entries while Luke calls Princess Chloe about going to Florida.

When we finished our work, I sat in his lap and smiled, “I think I’m ready for bed. How about you?” He smiled, “I am too. It’s nice to be home with my mate.” I walk upstairs and get my tank top and shorts. I put them on and slip in bed before he slips in beside me. He snuggles up close to me and I can’t help the goosebumps that appear when he buries his face in my neck. I turn around and kiss him. I bury my face in his neck and breathe in his awesome scent. Goddess, I love this man. Then a thought rushes to the front of my mind and my wolf is telling me, “Lady, if you don’t mark him soon, I will take over.” I sighed, “It is time.”

I looked into Luke’s eyes, “Can we mark each other tonight?”