CADE & ANNA

by V. A. Dold

  “What do you think you’re doing,” Cade growled, jumping to his feet.

  A moan broke from her lips, and she pressed a hand into her side. Closing her eyes, she sucked in slow, deep breaths, and let each one out gradually to the count of ten.

  Panic made his heart stutter. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he felt pain ripple through his stomach muscles. “Is it the baby?”

  The bond between mates allowed one to experience the other’s pain. Normally, the person suffering could block the other mate from the experience. But when extreme pain was involved, or when the pain hit unexpectedly, there was no blocking it.

  She didn’t respond immediately. It was difficult enough to speak through gritted teeth, add to that the need to concentrate through a contraction, and it wasn’t going to happen. At least not until the pain eased.

  “I’m fine. There’s no reason to worry. The contraction just caught me off guard.”

  Cade's eyes grew wide with alarm. His stomach plunged to somewhere near his feet. His breathing was nonexistent as he stared blankly at her, his mind refusing to process the situation. Contraction–one of the forbidden words men didn’t have in their vocabulary. It ranked right up there with menstrual cycle–hell, even menopause. His brain balked just thinking about them. He didn’t even like reading the word in his books.

  Men avoided any word or phrase on the dreaded ‘do not speak aloud’ list like the plague. It was silently understood—a man never uttered them, ever.

  He forced his brain to function so he could process the situation. This couldn’t be happening. It was too early for the baby to be born. There must be another explanation, like maybe those ‘hicks’ things. Tuning out the pounding of his heart and burning lungs, he studied Anna’s expression. He saw no panic and even though she was huge, the baby wasn’t due for another three and half weeks. Five and half weeks if what she told him last night was true about always going over her due date.

  I’m an extremely intelligent man. I’m sure I can figure this out.

  Anna frowned with her hands on her hips, or where her hips used to be anyway. “What?”

  Alarms clambered in his mind. Shit! She didn’t hear me thinking she was huge, did she?

  Hearing what he had been thinking would not end well. No pregnant woman wanted to know her husband thought she looked like she swallowed a basketball. He glanced at her expression again, praying his luck held out.

  Whew!

  Somehow, he’d managed to dodge that bullet. All right, he needed calm and subtlety, abilities no longer in existence when she said terrifying words like ‘contractions.’

  He could run billion dollar corporations or rule a kingdom with his eyes closed. But deliver a baby in his living room? He wasn’t equipped for that, no way, no how. At least not yet. As soon as he could breathe again, he was going to learn everything he could about emergency deliveries. The rate this pregnancy had gone, he might need to know how to deliver a baby in the back seat of a car like he’d seen in movies.

  She hadn’t taken her eyes off him, and from the look of her deepening frown she was demanding an answer.

  He anxiously searched for the correct response, one that wouldn’t get him gelded. A smile touched his lips, as he struck gold. “You always look so amazing with your sexy pregnant glow. It startled me when you said you had a contraction. You can’t possibly be ready to give birth.”

  There, saved with a compliment for good measure. But, crap, why is she still staring at me with her hands on her hips?

  “No, it was another bout of false labor. From here on out that’s going to happen a lot. But why are you looking at me funny?”

  “Am I? I was thinking how sexy you are and visualizing you on the bathroom vanity. Maybe my steamy thoughts gave me a funny expression. I was going for smoldering. I guess I need to practice that one.”

  Anna laughed at his goofy expressions as he tried to achieve smoldering.

  Anna sipped her decaf coffee, watching the second-hand roll around the face of the kitchen clock. It was Thursday morning, and ten o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.

  “Watching the clock won’t make time go any faster, cher.”

  She grinned and then giggled. “Are you sure? I was hoping I had a power I didn’t know about and that I could affect time.”

  Cade coughed as he tried to swallow a sip of coffee and snort at her at the same time. “I’m positive you only get one special gift and clock management isn’t yours.”

  Anna fake pouted. “That’s just stupid. I think I should get two gifts.”

  “You should bring that up the next time you speak to the Goddess,” he teased.

  Anna rolled her eyes and went back to glaring at the clock.

  Cade cleared the breakfast table and held his hand out to his lovely mate. “If I drive slowly we can leave now.”

  Her face brightened and broke out into a huge smile. “Thank you, babe. I’m going a little batty being restricted. Every time the phone rings or an email comes in I want to get back to work.”

  “We’ll see what Dr. Marjorie has to say. But promise me, if she says you still need to relax, you’ll behave yourself.”

  She scowled at him. It was obvious she didn’t want to consider any option other than getting back to her normal grind.

  Cade settled an irritated Anna into a waiting room chair and checked her in with the nurse at the desk. She was tapping her toe impatiently, staring at the door that led to the examination rooms as if she could will it to open.

  As he joined her, he whispered, “I don’t think that’s your special gift either.”

  From the glare she gave him, she didn’t find his comment funny in the least.

  A minute later, a nurse stood in the doorway and glanced up from a chart. “Anna Le Beau?”

  He was astonished when his mate popped out of her chair before he could give her a hand. He hadn’t seen her move that fast in months.

  They sat quietly while the nurse took her blood pressure and listened to her breathing and heart rate. This was a nurse he hadn’t met before and, unlike the other nurses, she didn’t read the results out loud.

  When the nurse took the chart with her instead of leaving it for the doctor, Anna growled. “She could have left it so I could peek.”

  Cade took her hand and sent her reassuring feelings and love. “I’m sure Dr. Marjorie will be here in a minute.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I’m just uncomfortable and grouchy.”

  “Who’s grouchy?” Dr. Marjorie asked as she hustled through the door.

  “Me. Between not working when I know there are things I need to do, and sitting around all day on my butt, I’m not a happy camper.”

  “Well, young lady, leave that tent pitched for a while. Your blood pressure is still too high.”

  Anna closed her eyes and groaned.

  “Cade?” Dr. Marjorie looked at him until he turned her way. “Her camping comment gave me an idea. Is there a place you can take her that’s away from work? A place without telephones or Internet so she doesn’t think about it—yet also comfortable and not in an actual tent?”

  “We have a very nice cabin on an island in the bayou, but I can only get her there by boat.”

  “Riding in a boat shouldn’t be a problem on calm water as long as you go slowly.”

  Anna was alarmed. “Cade, I have things I need to do.”

  “The only thing you have to do right now is make sure you and the baby are healthy,” Dr. Marjorie insisted before Cade could speak.

  “Fine. I’ll go to the island. How long is my sentence this time?”

  Dr. Marjorie chuckled at her disgruntled expression. “A week. You can schedule a normal weekly appointment, and I will reevaluate your blood pressure then.”

  “A week!” Anna squeaked.

  “Think of it as a second honeymoon, just less exciting.” Dr. Marjorie winked as she left the room.

  Chapter Eight


  Anna stared out the window as Cade drove them home.

  A week! An entire week!

  If she couldn’t use her laptop and Cade strapped her to a chair, or God forbid, the bed, what the heck was she going to do for an entire week?

  Anna’s frustration beat at him. “It’ll be fun,” Cade offered as encouragement.

  “Fun? What can I do that will be fun?”

  “I could set a chair on the dock, and you can fish with me. Or I’ll put a comfortable chaise lounge by the fire pit, and we’ll make s'mores? We’ll think of all kinds of fun things to do. I promise.”

  “Have I told you today that I love you?”

  “Actually, no,” he grinned. There was no judgment in his tone. “You’ve been a little preoccupied.”

  She reached over and placed her hand on his leg. “Well, I love you, and I’m sorry I’m being such a pain in the butt.”

  “As long as you’re my pain in the butt, I’m all good.” His eyes began to glow, and he added. “Do you think you could slide your hand a little higher?”

  She laughed and slowly inched her fingers up his thigh, teasing him.

  “Wicked woman,” Cade growled. “You wait until I’m holding you prisoner on the island.”

  “I knew you had ulterior motives, and Dr. Marjorie was in cahoots with you.”

  “Cahoots? Who uses that term anymore?”

  “You know you’re full of hot air. I haven’t gotten you naked in weeks.”

  “Come on, cher. Are we going to have this discussion again?”

  They were laughing playfully when they reached the driveway. Cars and moving vans littered the area.

  Anna frowned. “I forgot Lucas and Krystal were moving to Texas today.”

  “I hate to see them go, but they’ll only be eight hours away by car. We can visit them after the baby’s born if you want to.”

  “Okay. But for now, I want to at least say goodbye.”

  Cade helped her from the car and held her hand as they crossed the yard.

  Anna couldn’t believe her eyes. “Why is Thomas’s car packed?”

  “I’m not sure. I haven’t heard anything about him leaving.”

  Before they reached the door, Emma and Isaac came out, followed by about a dozen people. It looked like the entire family had gathered.

  “Cade! Anna!” Lucas hollered in welcome. “I was hoping you would be back before we left.”

  “I’m glad we didn’t miss you,” Cade hollered back. “Why is Thomas’s car packed?”

  Thomas walked out, hand in hand with Julia. “We’ve decided to help them move, and take a week or two off. After what happened, we both need a change of scenery. Plus, we haven’t taken a honeymoon. Once the bridal suite is set up, we plan to try it out.”

  “We wanted to go now and get back before the baby is born,” Julia quickly added blushing a bright shade of red.

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Anna nodded as she hugged Thomas and then Julia. “Cade and I just got banished to the island for a week of relaxation by my doctor. Cade needs to tie up some business calls and reschedule a few meetings, so in a couple days, we’ll be packing, too.

  Thomas smacked his forehead. “The island. I didn’t think of that.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Lucas grinned as he closed and locked the large doors on the back of the moving van. “You would have come to Texas anyway. Your sense of curiosity wouldn’t have allowed you to do anything else.”

  Julia nudged Thomas’s side. “You’ve got that right. He’s dying to see the ranch.”

  “Hush, woman. Don’t give away my secrets.” Thomas laughed before kissing his new mate breathless.

  One by one, the vehicles drove out of sight. Anna saw a tear roll down Emma’s cheek but didn’t say a word. She understood better than anyone what her mother-in-law was feeling.

  Isaac tightened his arm around his mate. “Who’s ready for a barbecue?”

  Anna looked at Cade meaningfully. “I’d love to.”

  “Meet us on the back deck at three for sweet tea and cocktails,” Isaac shouted.

  Cade finally smiled at his troublesome mate. “We’ll be there.”

  A short while later Anna was getting antsy. “Are you ready to go over and get a bite to eat?” she asked cheerfully.

  “Give me a minute to change clothes, and I’m ready.”

  Minutes later, Anna was chatting with Simon and Rose when Emma stepped beside her. “I made you some special snacks for your stay at the island and put in an order for groceries to be delivered.”

  “Thank you, Emma. You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Maybe not, but I wanted to.” She hugged Anna and then sucked in a breath as if she was going to say something bad and was preparing herself. “I’m not sure you heard, but Isaac and I are going to Texas in the morning to help Lucas.”

  Anna’s eyes grew huge, “But I need you.”

  “I plan to be back in a week, so we’ll have plenty of time before the baby is born,” Emma reassured her with a hug.

  She let out a relieved breath. “You had me worried for a minute.”

  “Isaac wants to look over the property and Lucas’s plans. We won’t be gone long.” Emma hugged her one last time and left to mingle.

  Anna sighed wistfully. “Sounds like fun. I wish I was going, too.”

  “You’ll be back on your feet in no time,” Rose insisted.

  “I know. It’s just the combination of being as big as a house and restricted to a chair or bed. I’m restless, and it helps to move around.”

  Simon frowned. “Have you told Cade that?”

  “It wouldn’t matter. The doctor wants me to rest. Tim sent my blood pressure through the roof, and we’re trying to get it back down.”

  Simon’s wolf came into his eyes and he growled. “I could kill him all over again.”

  Anna had known shifter law would demand Tim’s death. Simon’s comment didn’t surprise her. “You and me both.”

  “Did anyone fill you in on what happened after you and Cade left?” Rose asked.

  “Not yet, but we have been rather housebound.”

  Simon searched the crowd for Cade. He wanted them both to hear the story together in case Anna needed his support. “Cade, come over here.”

  “What’s up guys?” he asked as he slipped an arm around his mate.

  “We were about to tell Anna what happened at Julia’s after you left.”

  “Yeah, Dad was supposed to tell me, but we haven’t been around. So, what did you do with Tim?”

  “Thomas was raging mad. Etienne tried to take over Tim’s punishment, for not only returning, but also attacking the women. Thomas refused,” Simon said with a raised brow. Not many men had the balls to refuse Etienne.

  “Tim actually told Thomas he shot Julia to kill her,” Rose said wide-eyed.

  “Here’s the difficult part,” Simon said, looking at Cade and nodding toward Anna.

  He took the hint and wrapped both arms around her.

  “Thomas asked John for permission to finish Tim. To be rid of him for good,” Simon said meaningfully. “John gave it to him, didn’t even hesitate. No one argued. It was his right to carry out the execution. There wasn’t anyone more deserving of retribution than Thomas.”

  Rose put a hand on Anna’s arm to comfort her. “Thomas made it quick. Tim will never bother you or anyone else ever again.”

  Anna didn’t speak. She was too shocked to form words. It didn’t surprise her that Tim was dead. What surprised her was that Thomas had carried out the sentence.

  Anna had only enjoyed the party for an hour when Cade declared it was time to go and got her started on her goodbyes. He wanted her off her feet.

  Anna hugged Emma and Isaac last. “Goodbye, and safe travels to Texas.”

  “You be safe yourself. Call me if you need anything,” Emma insisted.

  Before Anna could start her goodbyes
over again, Cade hustled her home, or at least as fast as he could waddle her there. The pace they moved could never be considered a hustle.

  Two days later, Anna woke from her nap to an empty house. Where had Cade gone?

  Baby, where are you?

  Putting the last few things into the boat. I’ll be at the house to get you in a few minutes.

  Anna busied herself with finding her flip-flops and running a brush through her hair. It didn’t matter if she slept five minutes or five hours, her hair was always a riotous mess.

  By the time they were headed to the dock, she had fetched the food Emma had made and was ready to go.

  Cade beamed when she gasped. “I made a soft place for you to sit using blankets and a pillow.”

  “I’m going to feel like Cleopatra on the Nile.”

  “I’m glad you approve. Let me help you get settled.”

  In minutes, they were floating gently toward the island. Anna dangled her fingers in the water until she saw an alligator surface. That was enough of that. She had a personal attachment to all ten of her fingers and planned to keep them.

  “What the heck did you pack? The boat is busting at the seams.” Anna laughed as she looked around her.

  “Everything we need as well as my baby books and such.” He smiled brightly. “I’m not done studying for the big test. You’ve done this before, but I haven’t, and I want to be ready.”

  “The big test?” She laughed.

  “When the baby is born. There couldn’t be a more important test to pass, and I plan to ace it.”

  “Were you like this in school, too?”

  “I guess I’ve always been an overachiever. Don’t look at me like it’s a bad thing,” he chuckled.

  “It’s not bad. It’s sweet,” she giggled.

  “That’s right. I’m sweet and don’t you forget it when you want to kill me during labor.”

  Anna grinned playfully. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  About twenty minutes later he docked the boat and helped her out. “I’ll get this unpacked. Why don’t you check to see if the groceries were delivered?”

  Anna shook her head as she closed the refrigerator. The kitchen was stocked with enough food for a month. She had no idea how they would eat it all.