The Wileys were sitting at a picnic table, watching the younger children chasing Daisy’s son Jasper around a tree. Jasper was in cub form, yipping happily.
Zane stood at the grill, serving up hamburgers and hot dogs to Rex and the rest of the guys from the garage and their mates.
“Wynona, do you have something you want to tell me?” Daisy asked her.
Wynona looked over at her niece, puzzled. “Like what?”
Daisy glanced at Wynona’s middle.
Wynona burst out laughing. “I’m not pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Well, other than the fact that you and Zane have that highly satisfied glow about you both…”
“Daisy, really.” Wynona felt herself blushing. “We’re family. That’s not appropriate!” It was true, but not appropriate.
“Other than that, there’s the fact that Mrs. Wiley is rushing your wedding so fast. I figured maybe she wanted you to get married before you started to show.”
“Oh, good heavens, no,” Wynona said. “She’s just super religious and mortified that Zane and I aren’t married yet. She wants to make an honest woman out of me. Other than that, she’s incredibly sweet. You know she actually encourages me to eat? It’s like having a real mom.” Her voice turned slightly wistful. “Portia never encouraged me to eat. Except lettuce and nonfat yogurt.”
“Portia, excuse my French, was a raging bitch. Yes, Gillian, I know that isn’t French!” she called out before Gillian could say anything. “What kind of a mother won’t let her daughter call her mom? One of the happiest days of my life was when Jasper first said mama.”
“That was the day after he said dada,” Ryker added.
Daisy shook her head with an affectionate smile. “He’s never going to let me live that one down.”
“Nope. Sure won’t,” Ryker agreed.
Daisy swatted at him. “Oh, go make yourself useful and get me a non-alcoholic beverage, you big lug.” Ryker leaned down and kissed her forehead before heading off to fetch her a drink.
Zane was walking towards them now, holding a tray of hamburgers.
He climbed the front steps of his porch. “Excuse me, Daisy, may I sit next to my beautiful fiancée?” he asked. “And may I say that you are looking especially lovely today? Pregnancy certainly agrees with you.”
Daisy scooted over to make room for him. “He is such a gentleman! And so charming,” she said to Wynona, who accepted a burger from Zane and took a big bite. “You really lucked out with this one. It’s like he went to finishing school.”
Wynona choked on her burger as Zane laughed at the expression on her face.
“You all right there, princess?” He smirked. “Just remember, if you ever need any tips on etiquette, I am always pleased to assist you.”
“Always pleased to assist me?” She suppressed a giggle. “I will get you for that later, you grizzly-faced jerk.”
“I was counting on it,” he whispered in her ear, and his hot breath sent a wave of arousal rushing through her body. “I promise not to fight back very hard.”
“Hey!” Daisy said loudly. “I’m her niece, and I’m sitting right here. You two keep it clean.”
Zane rested his hand on Wynona’s knee, and Wynona, blushing furiously, look away, ate her burger, and pretended that she hadn’t heard a word of what Daisy had just said.
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THE END
About the Author
Hello, I am Georgette St. Clair, writer of hot, sexy romances which star all Alpha heroes, all the time. The road to love may be rocky and fraught with peril (and humor and scorchtastic sex and healthy heapings of snark), but my shifters will stop at nothing to claim their fated mates.
A little about me: I live in Florida. My checkered career involved stints as a newspaper reporter, EMT, internet marketer, cocktail waitress, temp, nurse’s aide (but not all at the same time...)
Now I’m living my perfect life, spending my days in a fantasy universe where I nudge my smart-mouthed, take-no-guff heroines onto the path that will set them on a collision course with true love.
Check out my website for a complete list of titles and what’s coming soon. Or connect with me on Facebook.
Also by Georgette St. Clair
The Mating Game Series:
The Mating Game: Big Bad Wolf (The Mating Game Book 1)
Dating a Dragon (The Mating Game Book 2)
Shifters of Silver Peak series:
Mate Marked: Shifters of Silver Peak
Shifters of Silver Peak: Mate for a Month
Shifters of Silver Peak: A Very Shifty Christmas
Bridenapped Series:
Bridenapped: The Alpha Chronicles
Bridenapped: The Alpha’s Choice
Shifters, Inc Series:
The Alpha Meets His Match (A paranormal romance) (Shifters, Inc. Book 1)
His Purrfect Mate (A Shifter Romance) (Shifters, Inc. Book 2)
Pixie the Lion Tamer (Shifters, Inc. Book 3)
Shifters, Inc. The Bear Who Loved Me (A BBW Paranormal Romance)
Spotting His Leopard (Shifters, Inc.)
Blue Moon Junction Series:
Blue Moon Shifters: The Alpha Claims a Mate (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Blue Moon Junction Book 1)
Blue Moon Shifters: The Bobcat’s Tale (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Blue Moon Junction Book 2)
Blue Moon Shifters: Hard to Bear (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Blue Moon Junction Book 3)
Blue Moon Shifters: My Heart Laid Bear (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Blue Moon Junction Book 4)
Timber Valley Pack Series:
Bride of the Alpha (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Timber Valley Pack Book 1)
Purr for the Alpha (A Paranormal Romance) (Timber Valley Pack Book 2)
Hard as Steele (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Timber Valley Pack Book 3)
Timber Valley Pack: Lynx on the Loose (A Paranormal Romance with Shifters)
Taken by the Alpha (Timber Valley Pack Book 5)
The Alpha Won’t Be Denied (Timber Valley Pack Book 6)
Standalone titles:
Grayslake: More than Mated: Grayslake: Furrever Yours (Kindle Worlds Novella)
Badlands: The Lion’s Den
A Grizzly Kind Of Love (The Mating Game Book 3) Page 12