Page 30 of When She Needs Them Most

I squeeze his fingers wrapped in mine. “That’s okay. I don’t even want to think of all the work I’ve been ignoring the last few days.”

“You already know this, but you’re more than welcome to the Wi-Fi at our house.” His brown curls bounce in the wind as we get to the back of Lincoln’s truck. There’s something so boyishly cute about how generous he is with his smiles.

We end up next to the back passenger door of the truck.

Kase leans closer, and my ass bumps the door, but he stops me with a hand on my hip. “I just wanted to say you’re really pretty.”

My insides melt. It doesn’t matter that it’s impossible. He turns me into the melty inside of a brownie covered in vanilla ice cream. He stretches over, opening the front door, but he doesn’t retreat enough for me to climb inside.

He pecks a kiss on my nose and says, “And you smell like mine.”

My jaw falls, but he uses his hold on my waist to turn me until I’m facing the inside of the truck. Both hands meet my hips, and he helps lift me until my feet hit the step bar. He moves a huge palm to cradle my head and guides me to take a seat.

My back hits the heated leather, but I’m not as alarmed as I was when I first got into Lincoln’s truck on the way to breakfast. I had no idea the feature was on, and I thought I peed my pants for a few mortifying seconds.

Kase leans over me, buckling me in. Once he’s done, he brushes his hand over my stomach.

I’m so flabbergasted that I don’t think it through before blurting out, “I really like you too.”

“Good.” His playful smile turns almost predatory, but the door closes before I can analyze it too much.

I snuggle back against the seat, super confused about what’s even happening.

“How do you feel about a quick stop before the grocery store?” Linc asks.

My brain is overloaded, and I can still smell Kase’s nutty, blueberry scent. “Yeah, that’s no problem.”

“Perfect.” His hand comes to land on the back of my seat, and he smiles as he pulls out of the parking spot.

Did I fall into an alternate dimension or something? If I did, I’m not sure I want to go back to my reality.

When Lincoln asked if I was okay with making another stop, I assumed it would be for somethingheneeded. We park in the back parking lot of a strip of businesses and follow the sidewalk around front.

I’ve spent some time around alphas, even outside of Clark, but I’ve never met such affectionate alphas.

Lincoln keeps me pulled in close to his chest as we walk, but I don’t mind the way he has his arm tossed around my shoulder. I stop dead in my tracks when the baby store comes into view. We’re just a few feet from the door.

“I did their security system,” Linc says, gently giving me a push. “They got the full setup, and I gave Joyce a great deal, because she’s sweet. She told me if I ever needed anything to come in, and she would hook me up with the friends and family discount.”

My mouth opens and closes. I’m a little too focused on what he means byhe gave her a great deal because she’s sweet.First of all, I have no right to go catty omega on anyone. Second of all, what’s a nice way to explain that I don’t think I can afford to shop here, even with the awesome discount?

Being the nuanced individual I am, I blurt out the second part. Thankfully, I manage to keep the snotty part to myself.

“It’s supporting small business.” Linc chuckles, dragging me to the door and pulling it open. “Plus, her husbands make a lot of the furnitureby hand.You’re not going to get that kind of quality at a big box store.”

The whoosh of warm air that escapes as he holds the door open leads me to rush inside, so we don’t let all the heat out. Racks upon racks of maternity clothes take up the left side of the store. The wall straight ahead displays strollers, car seats, vibrating chairs, swings, and other things I don’t know the names for. To the right are racks of baby clothes. The walls are framed with everything from breast pumps to monitors to loungers and wraps. Cribs, dressers, and changing tables fill the right back wall and surrounding area.

Seeing it all laid out, it becomes painfully clear how underprepared I am. I’ve got newborn to six-month clothing,diapers, sheets, burp rags, and a few other small things, but seeing everything a newborn needs…

I sway as I take a step back. I’m going to have no choice but to dip into the money Clark left. Digital art keeps the bills paidbarely, but even if I worked twelve hours a day, I wouldn’t be able to afford everything Luna will need.

I’ve kinda stuck my head in the sand because of how overwhelming it felt to think about handling it all on my own.

“Lincoln?” a woman’s voice calls out, startling me out of my thoughts. She’s maybe in her late twenties or early thirties, with shoulder-length dark brown hair and dark eyes.

“Joyce.” He drags me with him and drops his hold on my shoulder to offer her a hug. “I’d like you to meet Chelsea. We’re about to keep you busy.”

Joyce laughs, holding out a hand. “It’s a pleasure.” Her eyes widen when she spots my stomach. “Okay, you’re going to need to shop the inventory we have in stock. It doesn’t look like you have any time to spare.”

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