by Nash, Layla
I smiled and clutched the blanket, juggling it so I could take the keys and tuck them into the pocket of my pajama pants. “Yeah. A couple of weeks, tops.”
Hazel appeared on the porch and shouted about breakfast, and the rest of the house stirred awake. Mason and a couple of the werewolves reappeared from the barn, and then Olivia appeared on the porch and squealed with excitement when she saw Eddie, so the park ranger was invited as well.
I couldn’t unstick my feet, focusing on breathing, and Lincoln pretended to study the truck’s new tires as he waited for me to do or say something. I didn’t know what to do or how to act or even how to keep on going. I didn’t know how to keep going, how to find a new normal.
“Can I ask you a question, Sass?”
The nickname gave me warm shivers, and I looked at those dark chocolate eyes and some of that tension in me eased. “You only have two left, you know.”
His smile spread just a touch. “This isn’t one of those.”
“Then I guess I don’t have to answer.”
“I think you will.” He looked up at the house, where my sisters argued with Hazel and the shifters and the werewolves observed while looking rather puzzled.
One of the female werewolves with blonde hair and a strangely familiar cast to her features watched us like she knew us, even though she was from some other time and place. I’d never met her, but from what the shifters said about the female werewolves, I’d bet she was the one named Prudence and she came from a long line of bandrui descended from a woman named Temperance.
I leaned against Lincoln just a touch as my balance went wonky. “Well? What’s the big question?”
Lincoln slid his arm around my waist. “Well, I was going to ask if you wanted me to make you breakfast.”
The thought reminded me of the both of us in my bed, relaxed and happy and not worried about facing all the awfulness that was still to come. Maybe we could take a nap on the couch later. But first – breakfast.
“It’s about time,” I said, and started forward, one step at a time. We’d be okay if we just took it step by step, day by day. “But after breakfast, I’ve got a new recipe to try.”
We started the slow journey up to the house where my sisters and his team and our friends and guests waited, and when I squinted just a little, they all looked like family.
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Layla
Also by Layla Nash
Urban Fantasy
War Witch
Paranormal Romance:
City Shifters: the Pride
Complete 5 Book Series
A Chase Christmas
A Valentine’s Chase
A Mother’s Pride
City Shifters: the Den
Complete 5 Book Series
Breaking Free
A Beary Merry Christmas
Other Paranormal Romance
His Bear Hands (with Callista Ball)
Loaded for Bear (with Callista Ball)
A Lion Shame (with Callista Ball)
Signed (Bear Mail Book One)
Sealed (Bear Mail Book Two)
Science Fiction Romance
Vaant (The Galaxos Crew Book One)
Vrix (The Galaxos Crew Book Two)
Trazzak (The Galaxos Crew Book Three)