Page 51 of Been There Dragon That
Naomi looked at her other baby, still rolling around the playpen, smacking toys and making adorable little baby noises. “It’s not my story to tell.”
“He says he wants me to love him first.”
Naomi nodded. “That sounds about right for Wrath. Give him some time. I promise it will be worth it. When I met Col, my whole life changed for the better. It was a bumpy ride at first, but this group... They are some of the most loyal, protective, wonderful men you’ll ever meet. Give him the chance he’s asking for.”
“I want to. I just—”
The front door flew open and Penny—one of the women she’d met at the group dinner—waltzed inside, a baby on each hip in a sling and a big black backpack over her other shoulder. “Hey!” She waved and hollered out.
Right behind her was her husband—Kann. Rylee had met him at dinner too, and then again at the store. He had two babies attached to his body in slings as well.What the hell was in the water here? Four babies?“Col called and said he was going to be longer than he expected and asked us to come keep you both company.”
“Come on in, I was trying to convince Rylee to do some online shopping for Wrath’s cabin.” Naomi said, getting up from the couch and heading to the stairs with another well-fed baby.
“Oh, that must be overwhelming.” The beautiful woman set the small duffel down at the doorway and walked straight to the kitchen. “Have you made breakfast yet? Or even coffee?”
“There’s food in the fridge, hon. Help yourself. I have to finish nursing my little monsters,” Naomi said in a teasing tone of voice.
“You hungry, Rylee?”
“No, I’m good, but can I help with anything?”
“Yes, you can look at that website Naomi has pulled up on her laptop and give us some ideas on what kind of style you’d like for the cabin.” Penny pulled eggs from the fridge and a few other things. Then she put a pan on the stove to start warming and turned on the coffee pot.
Rylee turned and glanced at the open laptop on the short table in front of the couch. She’d never furniture shoppedever.Jeff had his apartment designed before she met him, and he’d never let her change anything. He’d even balked when she bought a couple of throw blankets that didn’t fit with his aesthetic.
“I don’t know how to design.”
“Oh, sweetie. You look for things you like, stay in a similar color scheme.” She paused and glanced around Naomi’s living room. “Or don’t.” She flashed Rylee a big grin. “Your guy will like it, even if everything you pick out is magenta.”
“She’s right.” Kann said, putting each of his sleeping children down into the playpen. “Wrath will be pleased to see that you picked something.” He went and retrieved the other two children from Penny and put them down in the playpen too.
Rylee grabbed the laptop and settled it into her lap. “It feels strange. And so fast.”
“These men only have one speed,” Penny cackled from the kitchen. “Don’t get me wrong, they are respectful and kind and amazing and a little strange at times, but when they settle on a woman. That’s it for them. They’re ready.”
Wrath was certainly ready.
Rylee was jealous of his certainty. His faith thatshewas hisone.She’d told him that she washislast night, but was Wrath really and truly the one for her?
She was teetering on that fence already. There was something about him. Something that made her feelwholeinside. Something that kept urging her to take the chance on this man.
“Okay then, time to do a little shopping.”
A small cheer went up from Naomi and Penny.
She’d called them ‘new friends’ on the phone to her mother. Friends were a big deal to her. She didn’t have many. She didn’t make new ones particularly easily. And yet, she told her mother she was staying with them. That she didn’t want to come home.
Maybe she was closer to jumping over the proverbial fence than she thought.
ChapterSixteen
Owen
Aarav had yelled at him until he agreed not to go hunting right that second for the monsters that could do this to … his friend. Now he was pacing back and forth the length of the small convenience store. The metallic smell of blood and death permeated the building. The man who’d shown him and his sister such kindness when they’d first arrived in Mystery lay dead on the floor.
And not just dead. They’d attacked him. A wolf had torn him apart and left him exposed to the elements. The door had been smashed. They were lucky no scavengers had wandered inside and taken the body overnight.
The men who’d attacked Leif were working with a Reylean. A wolf. A wolf he recognized.
