by Zoe Chant
Most pegasus shifters had the ability to sense living creatures, though there were variations in how it manifested. But everyone else was able to turn it off. His brothers and father had never seemed to be the slightest bit bothered by the constant clamor of life-energy.
“Maybe meeting Diana will help with that,“ Joe suggested. “After all, Wystan only found out how to control his shield talent after he mated Candice.”
This hadn’t occurred to Callum before. He stilled, hope rising in his chest as he realized Joe was right. Thinking back on it, he was certain that his pegasus’s sensitivity had become even worse after that fateful night. Perhaps his pegasus had been subliminally searching for the mate that they’d lost. Didn’t that mean that he had to be Beth’s father?
We are her father, his pegasus insisted. And then, ruining his rising hope, it added, No matter what happened that night.
That was less than reassuring, but Callum didn’t have time to quiz his pegasus further on the matter now. He could sense Diana approaching the cabin. He hastily did a last sweep, gathering up the cleaning supplies and shoving them back in the bag. “They’re on their way back. Is everything ready?”
“You got this, bro.” Joe gave him two thumbs up, beaming with confidence. “Just be yourself, okay?”
That was exactly what he couldn’t be. Not when Diana thought he was one of his brothers.
They went outside to meet the women. Callum’s eyes skipped straight over the others to instantly fix on Diana. To his delight, he saw that the haunted, shell-shocked look was gone from her dark eyes. There was more of a spring in her step as she walked between Edith and Blaise, chatting animatedly with them both.
“So you all live here during fire season?” he overheard her ask Blaise.
“That’s right,” Blaise replied. “Though we’re not actually here all that much, apart from at the very beginning and very end of fire season. We get deployed out to fires all across America.”
“Sounds intense,” Diana said. “And like it doesn’t leave much time for family.”
That wasn’t a line of thought Callum wanted her pursuing too far. He reached out to Blaise, thrusting an urgent message into her mind. *REASSURE HER!*
Blaise winced, giving him a pained glance. She turned back to Diana, adopting a bright, somewhat over-cheerful tone. “Oh, it’s not so bad. I mean, we get a couple of days off every few weeks throughout fire season. And then we get a whole five months of vacation over autumn and winter. Wystan’s married to the woman who runs the animal sanctuary just down the road, and they manage to make the schedule work for them.”
“Though it’s easier for me and Seren,” Edith put in. “Since we’re on the squad along with our mates, we get to be with them all the time.”
Diana looked quizzically at Edith. “Mates?”
“I-I mean,” Edith stuttered, flushing. “Uh—um.”
“She means partners.” Blaise waved at him before Diana could inquire further. “Look, we’re here. Hi guys! Did you get the cabin ready?”
“You would not believe how ready the cabin is,” Joe said. “The only way it could get more ready is if Callum tore it down and rebuilt it from scratch. And I’m pretty sure he’s still contemplating doing exactly that.”
In fact, what Callum was contemplating was Diana. She’d swapped her torn blouse for a Thunder Mountain Hotshots crew t-shirt that clung to her ripe curves. Her long black hair, now smooth and glossy, hung down her back.
“Hi,” she said to him, smiling.
He wanted to fall at her feet and worship her. He wanted to memorize every inch of her perfect body. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms and carry her back into the cabin and lay her down on the mats and—
Her smile was fading fast. With a jolt of horror, Callum realized that he’d just been staring at her in silence.
“You look…” He stalled, unable to think of a word that did justice to her magnificence.
She grimaced, tugging self-consciously at the fabric straining across her glorious breasts. “Like a milk cow stuffed into Spandex. I know. Blaise’s clothes would have been tight on me even before I had Beth. All you people are outrageously fit. Maybe I should take up firefighting.”
“It’s the best job in the world,” Edith said, beaming. Then she looked down at Beth, who was sleeping in her arms, wrapped up in a blanket. Her smile flickered a bit. “Though…not exactly compatible with having a baby.”
“I was joking. I could never do what you do.” Diana patted Edith on the arm, then took Beth from her. “Thank you for watching her while I showered. You’re really good with her.”
“Well, she was asleep.” Edith’s expression didn’t change, but her left hand moved in a short, repetitive motion, rubbing the fabric of her jeans. It was one of her subtler stims, which she used when she was feeling self-conscious. “I just had to keep rocking her. If she’d woken up, I wouldn’t have known what to do. I don’t know the first thing about babies.”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” Diana leaned in close, dropping her voice into a whisper. “Neither do I. I’m just making it up as I go along.”
Joe laughed. “I think everyone does.”
That wasn’t very reassuring. Improvisation had never been his strong point.
Diana’s gaze flicked to him. Callum became aware that he was hanging back on the edge of the group, outside the circle of conversation. He made himself step forward, and cleared his throat.
Connor would have made some awful joke to make her eyes sparkle. Conleth would have charmed her with a smile and a clever compliment.
All he could manage to get out was, “Ready for dinner?”
“I’m always ready for dinner.” Diana made a face, plucking again at her tight t-shirt. “Breastfeeding is supposed to help you lose weight, but apparently my body didn’t get that memo. I’m constantly ravenous.”
Snacks. He had to lay in snacks. He didn’t dare get out his list and make a note. He tried to fix the reminder in his mind. The life-forms of the rest of the crew tugged at his awareness, distracting him.
“Everyone’s gathering in the mess hall,” Callum said, gesturing at the large building. “That way.”
Diana hesitated. “Um…maybe it would be better if I just had a sandwich or something in the cabin.”
“Coming right up,” Joe said. “I’ll just go and—”
“No,” he interrupted. “Diana, you need a proper meal after the day you’ve had.”
“Really, I’m fine,” she insisted. “I’m sure it will be easier for everyone if I just eat privately in my room.”
“There’s no table. You won’t be comfortable.”
Joe caught his eye. *Bro,* the sea dragon sent telepathically. *What are you doing?*
He couldn’t juggle two conversations at once. He blocked out the mental communication, concentrating on Diana. He had to persuade her to join the squad.
Diana was still looking dubious. “But Beth might wake up.”
“I’ll hold her while you eat.” Callum was already missing the warm, baby-scented weight of his daughter in his arms. “Please. You’ve had to look after her on your own for so long. You need a break.”
Diana bit her lip. “I don’t want to intrude on your work colleagues.”
“They’re not just my colleagues.” He gestured round at Blaise, Edith, and Joe. “They’re my family. I want you to meet them.”
Diana’s shy smile dazzled him. “Well, in that case…I’d love to.”
Callum offered her his arm. She slipped her hand through—just the slightest weight, yet it nearly knocked him to his knees. He tried not to give any indication of the heat raging through him at that tiny contact.
Behind Diana, Blaise flashed him a quizzical look. *What was that all about?*
*I really do want her to meet everyone,* he sent back as he led Diana toward the mess hall. *But more importantly…I need your help.*
Chapter 7
The men of the Thunder Mountain Hotshots were everything Dia
na had expected. Tough. Rugged. Full of confident, masculine power.
What she hadn’t expected was that every single one of them would go absolutely ga-ga over a baby.
As soon as she walked into the mess hall with Beth in her arms, she was ringed by a crowd of adoring firefighters. It was like starring as the Virgin Mary in a Christmas nativity pageant, if the wise men and shepherds were all being played by improbably muscular men.
“Lookit the little critter,” crooned a hulking man who looked like he wrestled grizzly bears as light entertainment. “Who’s a precious sweetie bunny?”
“Shh,” hissed a short Latino man, elbowing the other firefighter in the ribs. “Can’t you see she’s sleeping?”
“Let us know if you need anything, ma’am,” a third man said to Diana. He too was gazing at Beth like she was the Second Coming. “Anything at all.”
Callum’s arm flexed under her hand. He drew her closer to his side. Maybe he was just trying to shield Beth from the worshipping horde, but the possessive gesture made an illicit thrill shoot through her.
“What she needs is food,” he said, glaring around at his colleagues. “And space.”
The crowd broke up with clear reluctance. The firefighters tiptoed back to the long tables lining the room, with many longing backward glances. Diana was rather amused to notice that the few woman in the crew had remained at their places throughout. Apparently it was only the male firefighters who melted into puddles at the sight of an infant.
Callum led her to a table in the corner of the room. The paramedic she’d met earlier, Wystan, was already seated there, along with a stocky man and a woman with short blonde hair and burn scars on one side of her face.
“Hello again,” said Wystan, smiling. “You’re looking better.”
“I’m feeling better,” Diana replied, taking a seat on the bench that Callum had drawn out for her. “Everyone’s been very kind.”
“Just doing our job.” Wystan gestured at the woman sitting next to him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of inviting my wife Candice to join us for dinner.”
“Which is Wystan’s way of saying I bullied him into it,” Candice said, flashing a grin as she held out a hand. “When I heard that Callum had a surprise baby, there was no way I could sit at home and wait to hear the gossip second-hand.”
Diana shifted Beth to one arm so she could shake Candice’s hand. The woman had a very firm grip, and a palm rough with calluses. “I think Blaise mentioned you. You aren’t a firefighter?”
“Nope. I run the horse sanctuary at the base of Thunder Mountain.” Candice’s bright, sharp gaze swept over Diana like a laser scanner. “Pleased to meet you. And also very surprised.”
“As are we all,” said the stocky blond man on the other side of the table. He had the most arresting eyes Diana had ever seen; tawny gold, like some great bird of prey. He too was studying her with intense interest. “I’m Rory. Callum’s squad boss, as well as his childhood friend.”
Diana shook his hand too, smiling back. “So you’re the one I should ask to find out all his secrets?”
She’d meant it as a joke, but Rory twitched, his own smile turning a little fixed. His gaze flickered to Callum for the briefest instant. “Have a seat. We fixed you a plate. Hope you aren’t expecting gourmet cuisine, though.”
What is Callum hiding? The warm glow Diana had been feeling chilled, worry curdling once more in the pit of her stomach. It was clear that Rory knew something, and was covering for his friend.
She’d have to press harder later. Right now, she had more urgent matters on her mind—or rather, her stomach. The rich smell of chicken stew and dumplings had her mouthwatering, but the backless bench made it difficult to hold Beth and eat at the same time. She squirmed, trying to find a way to support her arm.
“Here.” Callum held out his hands. “I’ll take her.”
Don’t give her to him. You can’t trust him. He’ll drop her or run off or—
Diana tuned out Gertrude. Whatever Callum was hiding, he’d already proven that he was gentle and caring with Beth. After all, he was her father.
Carefully, she transferred Beth into Callum’s arms. Beth stirred a little, snuggling closer into his chest, then fell back into deep, peaceful slumber.
“Now there’s a sight I never thought I’d see,” Rory said, the corner of his mouth hooking up in wry amazement. “Callum with a baby.”
The opening was too good to pass up. She hastily swallowed the bite of chicken stew she’d just taken, clearing her mouth. “Why’s that?”
“Because we all thought Callum’s love life was nonexistent,” Blaise said before Rory could respond. “As far as I know, he’s never had a girlfriend.”
Diana blinked in surprise. “Really?”
Callum rocked Beth, his expression unreadable. “Waiting for the right woman.”
That was sweet. And also kind of weird, given that he’d been perfectly willing to hop into bed with her. He’d flirted so effortlessly, she couldn’t believe she was his only one night stand.
Maybe he just doesn’t tell his friends about meaningless random encounters, she decided. He’d called his squad mates his family. You didn’t bring casual flings home to meet your family.
But he’d invited her.
She didn’t know what to think about that. She applied herself to her dinner instead, letting the topic drop. After ten months of bolting down her food one-handed in snatched, scattered moments, it felt weird to be holding a knife as well as a fork.
Everyone else seemed to feel awkward too. Rory hunkered over his plate, shoveling food into his face as if worried that she would start cross-interrogating him if he didn’t keep his mouth occupied at all times. Edith’s fingertips drummed nervously on the table. Wystan and Candice kept glancing at each other in the silent, meaningful way of a married couple who knew each other well enough not to need words.
“Seren!” Joe jumped up, a relieved grin splitting his handsome face. He bounded over to a woman who’d just entered the mess hall, flinging his arms around her in an enthusiastic embrace. “You’re back!”
From the way the tall firefighter swept the woman clean off her feet, spinning her round, Diana guessed they were a couple. “I take it they haven’t seen each other for a while.”
Blaise wrinkled her nose. “They’ve been apart for a whole afternoon. Sickening, isn’t it?”
Personally, Diana thought it was nice to see two people so clearly head-over-heels in love. She would have given a lot to have someone look at her the way Joe looked at Seren.
Joe set the woman back down on her feet, but kept hold of her hand. He led her over to the table, chest puffed out like a rooster, pride shining in his eyes.
“Diana, this is Seren,” he introduced. “Seren, meet Diana.”
Seren dipped her head in greeting, making her mane of long, narrow braids shift over her shoulders. Her hair was silvery gray, even though she couldn’t have been older than Diana herself. Her smile was more reserved than the other firefighters’ had been, but Diana had a feeling it was no less genuine.
“Enough of that. Come on, Seren.” Joe tugged his partner away before Diana had a chance to say hello. “Look. Look! It’s…a baby.”
Seren dutifully examined the bundle in Callum’s arms, her solemn expression never changing. “It is indeed.”
“Look at her.” Joe gestured at Beth like a tour guide pointing out sights of historic interest. “Look at her baby fingers. They’re like real fingers, only smaller! Can you believe how tiny her ears are? Look at her perfect chubby cheeks! Isn’t she amazing? Don’t you just want to squeeze her and cuddle her and incidentally make one of your very own?”
Seren flung Diana an amused look. “Please excuse him. We’ve only been together one summer, and he’s already impossibly broody.”
“Hey, guys have biological clocks too,” Joe protested. “And we peak younger, sexually speaking. I mean, you’ll just get better and better, but I’
m in my prime right now. It’s all downhill from here.”
“What a terrifying thought,” Blaise muttered.
Edith was looking around as though searching for someone. She turned to Seren. “Where’s Fenrir?”
Callum answered, although the question hadn’t been addressed to him. “Still out searching.”
Fenrir, as in the Norse legend? The giant wolf that kills the gods at the end of the world? Diana wondered if it was a nickname, and if that was better or worse than it being some guy’s actual name.
“Another member of your team?” she asked.
“Yes,” Edith replied. “I hope he gets here soon. I really want to find out what he calls you.”
Rory cleared his throat, his arm bumping against Edith’s. “Did you find anything, Seren?”
The intimidating woman shook her head as she took a seat next to Joe. “Nothing immediately useful, alas. We followed the trail to the road, but our foe seems to have fled on a motorbike. We couldn’t discern anything other than that he was heading north, and at speed.”
Rory grimaced. “Pity. I was hoping we could track down where Lupa’s lot are hiding out.”
“Isn’t that a job for the police?” Diana asked.
The entire squad exchanged glances. “It’s not that simple,” Rory said, sounding like he was choosing his words with care. “Lupa’s gang are…tricky.”
“We’ve alerted the cops, of course, but we can’t depend on them to catch your attacker,” Blaise said. “Which is why we’ve all agreed to stay at the base as long as you need us. If Lupa does dare to make another move, we’ll be here waiting for them.”
Wystan nodded. “I promise you, no one will get through us.”
“Especially Seren,” Joe said proudly. “She’s a professional bodyguard, actually. Among other things.”
Seren inclined her head. “I do have some experience when it comes to personal security and protection. You have my sworn word that no harm will come to you or your daughter.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Diana said. “But isn’t the end of fire season? You can’t want to give up your vacation time.”