Page 73 of Duke's Baby Deal
“We might as well have some fun, right? Can’t get this stuff in Mercy Hills, and I just got paid for that research gig I did this term. Might as well have some fun with it.”
“Cas,” Abel said from the doorway. “You should hang onto that.”
“It’s my share of the money. The pack got its part. And I bought fruit for the pups. Fresh stuff. Blueberries, Abel, blueberries!” He dropped the bags against the far wall of the kitchen with a grin and patted Abel on the back on the way by. “Speaking of, where are they? I got a ball too.”
“Cas, I really appreciate it, but they’re too young for fruit,” I told him. “They’ll love the ball though. Isolde has her first teeth now, so anything she can chew on that isn’t me or her Da is appreciated.”
His disappointed expression brightened. “Good thing I bought two then.”
For a twenty-five-year-old, he was awful excitable.
I made hamburgers for everyone, with store bought rolls, which was a novelty to me. Once everything was cooked, we sat around the back yard eating and talking while the pups crawled around on a blanket on the grass. I decided I didn’t like the store bought as well as the ones I made, and that I would keep making bread while I was here.
Being so much smaller than everyone else, I finished eating long before the rest of them. “Duke, can you watch the pups while I get their bottles ready?” One thing I’d insisted on was bringing plenty of formula with us, in case we were so busy there wasn’t time to run to a store to get some. I had extra stock of everything necessary, including food that wouldn’t spoil, like cheese and pasta and powdered milk. I’d wanted to be prepared.
“Sure.” He reached out with one foot and tipped Jedrick over onto his side. “Got you!” Jedrick squealed and grabbed for his Da’s shoelaces. I shook my head in disbelief as the other two got into the silliness and, before I’d even made it to the back door, they were all on the ground, teasing the babies.
Karma struck just as I got inside, with Cas’s yell of , “Ow! She bit me!”
That’s my girl.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
We stayed in the back yard until it started to get dark, talking about this and that. Duke and I fed our babies while the conversation flowed around us. Cas promised to take me the next morning for a quick tour of the college and to pick up any last minute things I decided I wanted, which was really nice of him. We talked about the neighborhood, and Cas drew a map for us with all the important places on it. Two grocery stores, pharmacy, clothing—for us and for the pups—gas station, park, toy store, book store, hardware store. “There won’t be a mechanic in the house any more. Rholan graduated in the spring and he’s gone back to Green Moon. I’m not sure—if the van breaks down, you might be just as well to see if Mac can come out and look at it. I really can’t vouch for any garages around here. And if you get sick, there’s one doctor that will see you for sure—Adelaide mentioned him to me when I came out here—but he’s retiring soon, and he’s not that enthusiastic about shifters anyway.” He turned to me. “You can maybe keep your ear open for someone who accepts our insurance and doesn’t mind that we turn furry on occasion. Oh, and only go to the grocery stores I mentioned. I got chased out of the one down by the mall about five years ago and I don’t think it’s changed any since.”
“That’s good to know,” Duke said. He adjusted Jedrick on his lap, tilting him just right to get the last of the formula in his bottle. “I don’t think I want you doing the grocery shopping,” he said to me. “I don’t want you and the pups taking that risk.”
“I can look after myself,” I said, nettled. I was an adult, managing two pups and a mate who sometimes felt like a third one. I could handle grocery shopping.
“And if someone gets in your face while the pups are with you?” he asked in a truly reasonable tone that set my hackles all on end, even though I technically didn’t have hackles in human form.
“I’ll tell them to get out of my face,” I said firmly. “And keep shopping.”
Duke opened his mouth to say something and I was getting ready to stand my ground when the heavy push of Abel’s power rolled over us and squashed us flat. Metaphorically speaking. What really happened is that all three of us froze and the babies’ eyes widened and they started to cry and try to get down.
“Shit,” Abel muttered and the power disappeared, replaced with a faint sense of approval and a promise of safety. “Didn’t mean to do that.” He looked embarrassed. “But we only have tonight and half of tomorrow to sort this out. Bram, you’ve never been outside walls except to the doctor and the hospital, you’re going to have to trust our judgment on this.”
No, I didn’t have to trust their judgment. I got along fine with all sorts of people. Yeah, humans might be a little uncomfortable, but part of the reason for us being out in the community was to get humans used to us, right? After all, Laine had encouraged it, and Abel used to. I didn’t know what was wrong with him right now.
Abel sighed. “You’re not listening, Bram. I can tell.” He looked like he might say more, but Cas held up a hand.
“Why don’t we do a field trip?” He looked around the group. “Bram, you have a grocery list?”
“Half of one.”
“That’ll be enough.” He turned toward the alphas. “You coming?”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
Duke stood up. “I am. I’d rather do this with backup the first time.”
“Duke—” I began, intending a protest.
He shook his head. “Do this for me, okay? I’m a nervous alpha.”
“You’re the least nervous person I know,” I said dryly. “But all right. If everyone goes, that means I don’t have to carry babies and groceries on the way back.”
As we gathered our bags and headed out to the van, I thought I heard Cas say, “Oh, no worries about that.”
