Page 36 of Wrong Number, Right Cougar

“Did he suggest I have some tests?” I gripped the tea cup and was unable to swallow the mouthful of toast I was chewing.

“Not unless you want to. Humans do need the evidence a test gives them.”

Now I was convinced I was dying. “Just tell me what’s wrong with me.” Cancer research had advanced since my father died from that insidious disease.

“He scented that you were or might be pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” My knee jostled the tea in the cup, but Wilder grabbed it and saved the bedding. “Pregnant?” I repeated. I couldn’t be pregnant because I had too much to do. The lodge was our current baby, and adding a human baby to our family would overwhelm me.

“Yes. He might be wrong, but he rarely is.”

I sat with the knowledge of me having a little one inside me and cupped my flat belly. A baby, one Wilder and I had made. Tears pricked at my eyes, not because me possibly being pregnant was an inconvenience, but because I was already in love with our child.

“Was he certain?” But as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew. I was. “I am.”

Wilder removed the tray and got into bed with me. “It isn’t exactly what we planned, and I know how you love a plan.”

Perhaps I’d have to change my habit because I suspected with a baby on the way, there would be no plan.

“It’s fine.” We’d talked about a family but decided to put it off until the business was established, but life had other ideas. “I can’t wait to meet our little one.”

“Me too.”

Uncle had never had children, so the house would need to be baby-proofed, but that was for later. Today we lay together, talking about becoming a family and whether the baby would be a shifter.

“So there’s no need to get a test from the pharmacy?”

“Nah.”

I had to let Dad know. He’d spoken to Wilder during my weekly calls, but he wasn’t aware how serious our relationship was. He deserved to hear the news today, but I needed a nap first. Wilder had to work, and we should both be there when I announced the pregnancy.

And when I did tell him, his silence and gaping mouth told me he wasn’t expecting a pregnancy announcement.

“You need to come and visit, Dad. We’ll give you the best cabin, and you can meet all the people who were Uncle’s friends.”

“Okay.” He sounded less than enthusiastic about being surrounded by people who loved my uncle. But when he came, I’d explain why my godfather had lived under the assumed name.

“Can’t believe I’m going to be a grandfather,” he said just before we finished the call.

“Now I have to tell my entire cougar family.” Wilder’s loved ones included blood relations and found family, and while there weren’t a lot of cougars, there were plenty of other shifters. He was on the phone for ages before getting back into bed.

“Our baby is going to grow up surrounded by loving family and friends,” he said when he was finished.

“I’m so glad.” When I’d first arrived in Cougar Lake, I was saddened thinking of my uncle without his family. But he had found family instead, though it was a shame his blood relatives didn’t understand why he’d distanced himself from them.

“What do you think about naming the baby after Father and Uncle if our little one is a boy?”

“That’s a great idea,” Wilder responded. “But now we have to come up with a girl’s name.”

20

WILDER

Today was our grand opening, and even though we didn’t have anybody checking in until three, we were up earlier than normal, getting ready. More than once, I tried to send my mate back to bed—he was in the exhausted stage of pregnancy. But I understood his excitement… I understood why he wanted to be part of all of this and not take the chance of missing something.

That didn’t mean I liked it.

All the beds had been made with fresh linens. All the towels were in place. The deck had been swept off. We had maps of the property in multiple spots. Keys were on their proper hooks. Reservations printed out for easy access. Snacks ready to lay out. Activities, including tours by me, arranged.

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