by Ardy Kelly
Baby talk was preferable to home decorating. “I’m meeting Chet for lunch. I can drive up after that.”
“We’ll come to you. I need to get off the ranch today. Lionel can watch Joshua.”
“What happened to your separation anxiety?”
“I’m cured. The little man decided he didn’t want to sleep last night. I’m taking it personally.”
They chatted for a few minutes before arranging to meet at the B&B after lunch.
One of the special amenities of the honeymoon suite was an oversized claw-foot tub, big enough for two. As impressive as it had appeared yesterday, nothing could match Chet’s spa-like facility. At least I won’t have to clean this one.
David shook his head. He had always been a loner. That didn’t change simply because he was an omega. He would not move in with Chet after one night. What seemed like a possibility last night was really only an emotional life preserver. Relationships need time to develop.
I just wish he wasn’t going out of town so soon.
At five minutes to noon, David headed to Mabel’s Café. He planned to give Chet “the talk” but every time he began rehearsing it, something more pressing grabbed his attention.
The first distraction had been his fingernails. They were entirely too long. He clipped his toenails afterward, just to be thorough.
When he started rehearsing again, he noticed an ear hair with both extraordinary length and a talent for evasion.
He hadn’t noticed his eyebrows until attacking the ear hair, which also required his intervention.
He was normally not the type to iron shorts and T-shirts, but they hadn’t traveled well.
By the end of the morning, he was looking his best for the date with Chet, and still hadn’t figured out what to say.
Entering the café, David tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the sight of Chet’s face lighting up made him smile. He quickly settled his face back into an expressionless mask and walked to the table.
Chet stood and pulled a chair out. David raised an eyebrow.
Chet smiled. “Is holding a chair for you a no-no, like the car door?”
“I’m not used to being treated like royalty.”
“I’m in law enforcement. I’m here to serve and protect.”
This is going to be harder than I thought. “Ah, Chet. I think we should—”
Mabel tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you staying to eat this time?”
There was a screech from behind. Troy’s voice bellowed across the café. “There you are!” He swerved between the tables, making a beeline for them, with Diana struggling to keep up.
Troy plopped down on the chair Chet held for David and grabbed a menu. “We got here just in time.” He turned to Mabel. “I would die for a cup of coffee.”
“That wouldn’t be good for business,” Mabel replied as she walked away.
After everyone sat, Chet nodded at Diana. “Nice to see you with your clothes on.”
David felt a touch of jealousy at missing his alone time with the sheriff. He leaned toward his sister. “I thought you were coming later.”
“I was,” Diana replied. “But when Troy heard you two were meeting for lunch, he rushed me off the ranch so fast I heard a sonic boom.”
“So, catch me up.” Troy pulled a small tablet from his bag. “How many times have you two had sex?”
Diana slapped her hand on the paper. “I told you, no writing about this.”
“I’m making a list of things to do before the baby arrives,” Troy replied.
Diana removed her hand. “Okay. But remember, my brother is not a character for your next book!”
“Of course not. David is a twin. My new book is about a triplet. Totally different.”
David slumped forward, banging his head against the table. “Shoot me now.” He sighed and sat up. “I was hoping to have a private conversation with Chet.”
Troy rolled his eyes. “You and everyone else in this town.”
Mabel returned with Troy’s coffee. “Do you know what you’re going to have?”
“A mental breakdown,” David answered.
“Give us a minute,” Chet informed Mabel.
Troy grabbed his pen. “Are you two a couple now?”
“We’re not a couple,” David said.
“Yet,” Chet added.
Troy flipped to a fresh page. “Let’s discuss what needs to be done. We’ll break it into tasks and create a timeline. I can already check off ‘Get pregnant.’ And I found us a doctor.”
“I told you not to say anything to anybody,” Diana replied.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t mention any names.” Troy paused. “Not any last names.” He scratched his chin. “Well…he didn’t know who the Morehouses were, anyway. I had to explain everything to him.”
“Who is this doctor?” Chet asked.
“Robby Hunt. He wants to be called Rob now. He doesn’t think Dr. Robby Hunt sounds impressive enough. I recommended he call himself Robert.”
“What did he say?”
“He said Dr. Robert Hunt sounds too aloof.”
David huffed. “I meant, what did he say about my pregnancy?”
“Oh, we’re back to that. Sorry. He thought your case sounded very interesting and can’t wait to get his cold stethoscope all over you.”
“I assume you’re paraphrasing,” Chet said.
“Embellishing, actually. All he said was ‘interesting’ but it was the way he said it that spoke to me.”
“He’s an obstetrician?” Diana asked.
Troy fanned himself with the menu. “Not exactly. He’s a veterinarian.”
David choked on his water. “You’re getting me a veterinarian?”
“Don’t be such a species-phobe. His mother is a midwife on the ranch, so he knows his way around a shifter birth. He’ll arrive next week.” Troy put a large check mark on his list. “Next issue. Where will you be living? With your dad or sister?”
“With me,” Chet answered.
David sighed. “We didn’t really discuss it.”
“Last night,” Chet reminded him. “You even told me how you wanted your kitchen laid out.”
“I’ll bet it’s not the only thing that got laid last night,” Troy mumbled.
“Those were suggestions. I wasn’t planning my dream house. We had our first kiss last night. You’re moving way too fast.”
“I’ve waited two years,” Chet said.
“You don’t even know me. You fell in love with the guy you saw in your vortex. How are you so sure this will work?”
Diana’s eyes grew wide. “You’re fated mates.”
Troy scribbled on a page. “That will make a great plot twist.”
“We are not fated mates,” David insisted. “He is mistaking me for a guy in his vision.”
“I’ve never known Chet’s visions to be wrong,” Diana said.
“Yeah,” Troy agreed. “You two belong together.”
“I’d like to make that decision on my own,” David hissed through his teeth. “After I’ve gotten to know the man.”
Chet leaned back in his chair. “What do you want to know?”
“I don’t have a questionnaire,” David replied. “But I should know something about you before you claim me for a mate. Are you a dog or a cat person, what’s your favorite food, do you have nut allergies? All the mundane stuff couples know about each other. We spent one night together. Did I sleep on your side of the bed? I don’t even know which side of the bed you sleep on.”
“The side you’re on.”
Troy sucked in a breath before writing Chet’s response down.
“All right,” Chet said. “We’ll go slow.” He waved his menu toward Mabel and nudged David. “Pay attention. I’m about to order my favorite food. I’ll answer the rest of your questions tonight.”
“I’m not sure tonight is good.”
Troy flicked an elbow and his coffee cup upended in David’s lap. “Oh, I’m so sorry. You sh
ould run to the bathroom and blot that out before it stains.”
Troy waited until David stormed off before addressing the table. “Okay, we don’t have long so let’s deal with the elephant in the room. David has a bad case of FMDS.”
“You’re right,” Diana agreed.
Chet sat forward. “What is it? Is it bad?”
Diana rested a hand on Chet’s arm. “He’s got Fated Mate Denial Syndrome.”
Troy nodded. “You gave it to him.”
Chet stared. “Me?”
“Just because you had a vision doesn’t mean you don’t have to work for his love. No one wants to hear, ‘You’re my fated mate. What’s for dinner?’”
“He grew up with people telling him what his future is,” Diana said. “Obviously, they got it wrong, so why should he believe you?”
“You’re going to have to do it the old-fashioned way,” Troy advised. “You need to prove yourself.”
“Yeah,” Diana agreed. “And stop talking about your visions. Nobody likes a know-it-all.”
“He’s coming,” Troy whispered. “Act natural.”
Mabel followed behind David, waiting until he sat to ask, “Have you decided?”
Troy polished the silverware with his napkin. “I’ll have the diet plate and an order of French fries.” When Mabel gave him a double take, he explained, “Life is all about balance.” He set his cup back in the saucer. “And some more coffee, please.”
“In a sippy cup,” David added.
Once everyone ordered, and David made a mental note that Chet’s favorite food was fried chicken, Troy picked up his pen. “Back to the list. You need to break the news to your parents tonight.”
David shook his head. “It’s too soon.”
“You have to tell them right now. Rumors are starting to spread.”
Diana narrowed her eyes. “Spread by whom?”
“It could be anyone,” Troy answered defensively.
“Shouldn’t be hard to find the source,” she replied.
“That’s not what we should be focusing on right now,” Troy insisted. “You need to let the family and pack leader know your situation. And it’s got to be today.”
“I’m not ready,” David said.
Troy shook his head. “Pregnancy is life’s way of saying it’s tired of waiting for you to be ready.”
“Troy’s right,” Diana said. “You don’t need the stress of hiding this. Especially if you’re staying at the ranch.”
“Or nearby,” Chet added.
Troy patted David’s hand. “I’ll be right there with you when you tell everyone.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he replied.
“Don’t be silly. Your mother loves me. Plus she needs to see a happy, healthy, well-adjusted omega.”
“Oh? Who are you bringing?” Diana asked.
Troy missed the verbal jab. “That’s a good idea. I should bring my oldest, Phillip. He would make any parent proud.”
Diana leaned in. “He must take after his father.”
“Yes, he does—” Troy frowned. “Are you giving me shade?”
“That’s not what we should be focusing on right now,” she parroted.
Troy huffed. “It’s settled. Tell everyone today. We’ll wait until tomorrow to introduce them to your fiancé.”
“He’s not my fiancé,” David corrected.
“Actually,” Chet said. “I need to go out of town tomorrow.”
“Business?”
“Watcher business. Near Death Valley.”
“Perfect.” Troy plopped a hand on David’s shoulder. “Tell your parents tonight. Then Chet whisks you away while they process it.”
David debated his conflicting feelings about alone time. “I don’t know.”
“Vacations are the best way to judge compatibility,” Troy insisted. “Nothing like being locked in a car together for hours to stress test a relationship.”
Chet smiled. “That’s a great idea.”
David crossed his arms. “I don’t understand why we’re rushing everything.”
Troy read from his list. “Because you’ve got four months to tell your parents, introduce them to your boyfriend, find a place to live, buy and furnish a baby’s room, plan a wedding, have a wedding, take a honeymoon, and deliver a baby. Actually, three months. That last month you won’t have the energy to do anything but pee.”
Diana nodded. “Rip the Band-Aid off. Tell them tonight. You can ride to the ranch with us. Have Chet pick you up after work.”
“I’d rather drive,” David protested.
“You really think you can tell our parents that you’re pregnant and survive without an escape plan for the evening? They’ll insist you stay on the ranch.” She pointed to Chet. “Nobody is going to argue when you tell them the sheriff is coming for you.”
The food arrived, silencing their conversation.
David ate but didn’t taste a bite. His head was spinning from imagining the future confrontation with his parents. His stomach was sure to follow.
His sister had thrived on conflict since becoming a teenager. David had taken the other role: the good boy. He was polite, respectful, and an excellent student. Unlike Diana, their parents never worried about his behavior.
There had only been one expectation of him, and only after Diana had shifted: he needed to marry and produce a Morehouse female.
If I have a girl, I’m damn sure not letting her be raised for that.
He half listened as Troy and Diana planned the big reveal. Rather than join in, he preferred the role of a death row inmate leaving the details of his execution to the professionals. He concentrated on his last meal.
A strong, warm hand grasped his thigh, and the familiar tingle of skin radiated from his touch.
“Are you all right?” Chet asked.
He nodded. “Trying not to catastrophize.”
“I’ll pick you up after work. No pressure. I won’t even ask you for decorating ideas.”
David smiled halfheartedly. “Thanks, but I think I’d like to spend the night here.”
Chet hid his disappointment as well as any guileless man could. “Sure. No problem. I’ll drive you back.”
“You don’t have to. It’s out of your way. I’m sure I can escape the ranch on my own.”
“I like spending time with you. And it might be our only chance for privacy.” He gave David’s thigh a squeeze. “Trust me to be there for you.”
Could he trust a man based on nothing more than a strong physical attraction? It’s more than that. If he needed proof, it was right there on his thigh. He had never been the “tingling skin” type before.
Growing up in a family who hid what they were from humans, he hid who he was from his family. Over the years, he had developed an “outside looking in” approach to life. Sexual relationships were fine. Intimate relationships were impossible.
Yet, here was Chet. A man who knew his secrets. Not just his secrets…his future as well.
Maybe the vortex was right. Maybe we are a couple.
The sheriff raised an eyebrow when he caught David staring at him. “Am I chewing with my mouth open?”
David blushed. “No… I just…I mean… Thank you.”
“Serve and protect,” Chet responded. “That’s my motto.”
“Look at the time.” Troy waved at Mabel for the check. “We need to be getting back to the ranch. Baby Joshua will be screaming for his lunch soon.”
He pulled out his wallet and handed Mabel a stack of bills, while waving off the protests. “My publisher just gave me a big, fat advance for my new series, Pregnant Paws. We’re launching it under a new pen name. What do you think of J.K. Howling?”
Diana rolled her eyes. “Why the new name? Too many bad reviews under the old one?”
“TJ Macks is an award-winning author. But I’m taking this series in an entirely new direction, and I don’t want to alienate my fans.”
“No pregnant omegas?”
“Of course there will be pregnant omegas. Authors need to write about what they know. Though, sometimes I wish I didn’t know quite so much.”
“Sounds like the same-old, same-old,” Diana said.
Troy rose, kicking his chair back to the table. “This is totally different. I’m branching out. This isn’t only about wolf-shifters. The new book has an omega fated to an entirely different supernatural.”
David looked up. “There are more than just wolf-shifters?”
“Of course,” Troy replied. “I haven’t decided who the first one will be, yet.” He cast a meaningful glance at Chet. “But I hope to figure it out soon.”
As the four left, Troy whispered into the sheriff’s ear. “Don’t forget. Romance.”
Chapter 8
Once back at the ranch, Troy insisted David come home with him.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Troy said. “My firstborn is old enough to have ‘the talk,’ so I thought I’d include him when I explain the facts of life to you.” Troy didn’t wait for a reply. Opening the door, he let out an exasperated breath.
Looking over his shoulder, David only saw children playing quietly.
“Hi, Daddy,” they said in unison.
“Hello, sweet peas,” Troy responded before stomping off to the kitchen.
Ryan was loading the lunch plates into the dishwasher. “You’re back early,” he said.
Troy pointed to the front room. “We’ve discussed this.” Putting his hand on his hip, he stage-whispered, “You agreed not to use your alpha powers on the kids except when necessary.”
Ryan’s shoulders slumped. “It was necessary.” Attempting to change the subject, he focused on their guest. “Hi. I’m Ryan, Troy’s mate. You must be David.”
Troy wasn’t fooled. “I will not raise submissive little drone wolves who respond to any alpha with subservience. They’re at a very impressionable age.”
“Agreed,” Ryan said. “But the impression they were doing was World War II.”
“They have endurance, like their papa,” Troy replied. “And if they don’t wear themselves out during the day, they won’t sleep tonight. Which means we won’t sleep tonight. Now go in there and un-alpha-tize them before you go back to work.”