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“I take it the baby is yours.”

  Michael crossed his arms. “She rode here with me, didn’t she?”

  Hunter grinned. “That isn’t saying much. Lots of women have ridden around in that car.”

  Michael ground his back teeth and held back a growl. He knew he had it coming, but he didn’t want anyone thinking badly of Chloe. He also didn’t want them thinking she was free game.

  “She’s staying with me right now,” Michael answered, hoping to put the matter to rest.

  “So she’s your mate?” Hunter asked.

  Michael shrugged, getting uncomfortable with the conversation. He’d be willing to bet money

  Chloe was his mate, but he wasn’t about to admit it to Hunter.

  “Don’t we have some work to do? Or is Gabriel paying you to run your mouth these days?” Michael asked.

  Ramsey had watched the two spar in silence and was about to comment when his cell phone chirped with an incoming text message.

  Kiera needs your help today. Can you work tomorrow instead?

  “Well, it seems the two of you will be working with Gabriel alone today,” Ramsey said as he tucked his phone back into his pocket.

  Hunter rolled his eyes. “Guess that means you’re playing chauffer again.”

  Ramsey grinned. “Something like that. Gabriel just sent a text and asked if I would help Kiera today.”

  Michael tensed. If Ramsey was helping Kiera, that meant he would be around Chloe all day, too. He wasn’t sure he liked that idea.

  “What’s Kiera doing that requires your help?” Michael asked.

  “I don’t know, but when the alpha asks me to swap my days off, I do it,” he answered.

  Michael bit back a curse as he watched the other werewolf lope across the street.

  “Not happy that Ramsey will be spending the day with Kiera and Chloe?” Hunter asked with a knowing look in his eye.

  “Fuck off,” Michael growled.

  Hunter laughed and walked over to the Charger he would be working on for the morning. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Michael tried to focus on his work, but his mind and his eyes kept straying across the street. He hadn’t missed the way Ramsey had quietly assessed Chloe when she’d gotten out of the car. Hunter may have commented on her pregnant state, but it hadn’t seemed to faze Ramsey at all.

  Chapter Eight

  Ramsey walked up the front steps of the Victorian as Gabriel came out of the front door.

  “Morning, Ramsey.”

  “Morning, Gabriel. I thought I’d take you up on your offer and work tomorrow.”

  “That will be fine. I believe the women have a full day planned.”

  Ramsey chuckled. “Since when has Kiera done anything less? She always plans a full day.”

  “That she does,” Gabriel answered with a smile. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  Ramsey entered the house and closed the door behind him.

  “Kiera?” he called out.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” she answered.

  Ramsey followed her voice and stopped in his tracks in the kitchen doorway. The petite redhead stood at the counter beside Kiera. The woman was even more stunning up close.

  “Ramsey, this is Chloe. Chloe, this is Ramsey. He’s a close friend of the family and works with Gabriel and Michael at the garage,” Kiera said by way of introduction.

  Ramsey knew from his previous conversation with Kiera that Chloe didn’t know they were werewolves. It bothered him that he had to hide part of himself from her.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Chloe,” he said with a smile.

  Chloe blushed and stammered a response and shifted so that her hair hid her face,

  “Ramsey is going to escort us around town today,” Kiera said with a smile.

  Chloe’s blush deepened. “That’s awfully nice of you.”

  “I help out when I’m needed,” he answered, fighting a grin.

  His eyes flicked over to Kiera who was smiling as well. It was obvious to both of them that Chloe was at least a little bit attracted to Ramsey since she was blushing and stammering. Hopefully, she’d feel more comfortable around him by the end of the day.

  “I thought we’d stop by the party store on Fifth Street first,” Kiera said, glancing down at a list she had on the counter. “After that maybe the mall?”

  Ramsey groaned. “Taking you to the mall never ends well for me.”

  “Surely you aren’t afraid of a few shopping bags?” Kiera asked with a grin.

  “A few, no. The few hundred you come out with? Definitely.”

  Chloe watched the easy banter without comment.

  “I’ll be right back,” she murmured, swiftly exiting the kitchen. Once she was in the entry, she

  stopped unsure of where she was going.

  “Are you okay, Chloe?” Ramsey asked from behind her.

  Chloe gasped and whirled to face him, her hand at her throat.

  “I’m sorry,” he said with a grin. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “I was just looking for the restroom.”

  He nodded to the left. “It’s over there.”

  She nodded and headed in the direction he’d indicated.

  Ramsey watched her walk off. He could feel her loneliness as if it was his own and the ache nearly killed him. Regardless of whether or not Chloe was his mate, he was going to make sure she smiled and laughed. He wanted her to feel like she belonged, to feel like she had family and friends who cared about her.

  “Everything okay?” Kiera asked as she stepped into the entry.

  He glanced down at her. “Everything’s fine.”

  “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to it than that? You look rather serious.”

  “Just had a revelation of sorts I guess.”

  “Oh?” Kiera asked with an arched brow. “And what’s that?”

  “She’s lonely. I mean really lonely. I could feel it like it was my own.”

  Kiera studied him a moment. “What do you plan on doing about it?”

  Ramsey glanced down the hall. “I plan on making sure she’s never lonely again.”

  Kiera smiled. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”

  Ramsey narrowed his eyes at the alpha’s mate. “Why do I get the feeling I’ve been set up?”

  Kiera shrugged. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “You planned today, didn’t you? The moment you saw Chloe you decided to ask me over.”

  “Maybe.”

  Ramsey sighed. “Let’s hope this doesn’t blow up in your face, Kiera.”

  “How could it?”

  “What if she’s in love with Michael? Ever think of that? She is carrying his child.”

  Kiera chewed on her lip a moment. “I think she wants to be loved so badly that she’d love anyone who loved her first.”

  “For your sake, I hope you’re right. If not, you’re only setting her up for a rough road. Besides, Michael seemed a little territorial at the garage when Hunter was asking questions about Chloe.”

  Kiera snorted. “Then I guess he should’ve stepped up to the plate a little sooner. She’s been staying under his roof. What’s he waiting for?”

  “It’s not always easy for men to tell women how they feel.”

  “Well, if he doesn’t, he has no one to blame but himself.”

  As the bathroom opened, the two fell silent.

  ***

  Chloe left the bathroom and found Ramsey and Kiera waiting for her in the entry hall.

  “Are we ready to go?” she asked.

  “Since I’m not sure what all we’ll need, I figured we’d ride in Ramsey’s car,” Kiera told her.

  Chloe nodded. “Just let me grab my purse from the kitchen.”

  She quickly ducked into the kitchen and grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter. Returning to the entry hall, she smiled at Kiera and Ramsey.

  “I’m ready if you two are.”

  Ramsey opened the door and ushered the la
dies outside.

  “Which car is yours?” Chloe asked eyeing the vehicles across the street at the garage.

  “The big black SUV,” he answered.

  Chloe easily spotted the vehicle. She’d never seen anything so large in her life. She glanced at Kiera and back at the monster vehicle. She figured if Kiera could get in the big behemoth, then so could she.

  They walked across the street. Kiera stopped at the rear passenger door, making it clear she intended for Chloe to ride up front.

  “Don’t you want to ride up front?” Chloe asked.

  Kiera smiled. “You’re much further along than I am. You should ride up front.”

  Chloe looked at her in surprise. “I didn’t realize you were pregnant. Congratulations!”

  “Thank you,” Kiera answered. “I’m not showing yet.”

  Before Chloe could argue further over the seating arrangements, Ramsey opened the door for her. Accepting the hand Ramsey offered and using the step, she managed to get into the vehicle easily enough. Once she was seated comfortably, Ramsey closed the door and she buckled herself in.

  Chloe could see Michael in the garage and waved at him. Instead of waving back, he glowered at her. She bit her lip and leaned back into the seat.

  Ramsey climbed into the driver’s seat and closed his door. Noticing Chloe’s anxious

  expression, he asked, “Everything okay, Chloe?”

  She looked over at him before glancing back at Michael. “I think Michael’s mad at me.”

  “Why would he be mad at you?” Kiera asked from the backseat.

  “I don’t know, but I waved, and he just glared at me,” Chloe answered, fighting back tears.

  Ramsey reached into the backseat and pulled a tissue out of a box. Wordlessly, he handed it to Chloe.

  “Thanks,” she said softly. “I seem to cry a lot these days.”

  “Because of Michael?” he asked.

  “Because of anything. I think it’s pregnancy hormones.”

  Ramsey glanced at Kiera. He didn’t seem convinced Chloe’s tears were simply due to her pregnancy. Judging by the expression on Kiera’s face, she wasn’t buying it either.

  “Are you sure you want to go with us, Chloe?” he asked.

  She glanced toward the garage. Michael was still staring at her, his brow furrowed in anger.

  Ramsey followed her gaze. His eyes narrowed and he fought back a growl. Reaching for the door handle, he decided to confront Michael. A small hand on his arm stopped him.

  “Please don’t,” Chloe said softly.

  “He has no right to be angry with you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s helping me right now. If it weren’t for Michael, I’d have nowhere else to go,” she responded.

  Ramsey’s eyes travelled down to her stomach. “If it weren’t for Michael, you wouldn’t be in this predicament right now.”

  “It’s not his fault I lost my job. Whether I’m pregnant or not, I’d still be without a place to live.”

  “There are other options, Chloe. You don’t have to stay with Michael.”

  Chloe sighed. “I stayed in a hotel for a night, but I don’t have enough money to do that all the time. I have a job now, but it’s just part time. Maybe after I’ve saved some money things will be different.”

  Ramsey glanced at Kiera. She was watching their exchange with interest, but was keeping quiet.

  “Chloe, I know we just met, but I may have a solution to your problem,” he said, focusing his attention back on the beautiful woman beside him.

  “I’m not leaving Michael’s house just to move in with you if that’s what you’re thinking,” Chloe mumbled.

  Ramsey chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind that in the slightest, but that wasn’t my suggestion.”

  “Oh,” she answered, her cheeks suffused with color.

  “My house has a small apartment over the garage. It isn’t much, just a studio apartment. I’d rent it to you cheap if you’d like a place to stay until you get back on your feet.”

  Chloe had to admit her interest was piqued. “You’re serious? You’d rent it to me?”

  “I’d let you stay there for free, but I get the feeling you wouldn’t take me up on my offer.”

  She smiled. “You’d be right. But if you wouldn’t mind waiting on the first payment until I receive my first paycheck, I would definitely be interested.”

  “How about we call the first month a ‘move-in special’ and you start paying next month?”

  Chloe glanced in Michael’s direction again. He was no longer staring at her, but she would swear she could still feel his anger. Maybe being away from him for a while wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

  “If you’re sure it isn’t an inconvenience, I’ll take you up on your offer, Ramsey.”

  Ramsey smiled at her. “Now that we have that settled, let’s go shopping.”

  He pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the party store.

  Chapter Nine

  Ramsey pulled into Michael’s driveway later that night to pick up Chloe. As he walked up to the front door, he heard raised voices inside of the house. Deciding to forgo knocking, he pushed the door opened. The scene before him was enough to spark his anger.

  “Michael, I’m going and that’s final,” Chloe said, jerking her arm free from Michael’s grasp.

  “You didn’t think this was something we should discuss? In case you’ve forgotten, you’re carrying my baby,” Michael yelled.

  “You mean the baby you didn’t even know about until recently? Whether or not I’m carrying your baby doesn’t give you the right to dictate where I live.”

  “And whose fault is it that I didn’t know about the baby?” he roared back.

  “Yours! If you’d called me, you would’ve known I was pregnant.”

  Michael took a step closer to her and growled. “You’re not leaving and moving in with him.”

  “I will move in with whomever I damn well please!”

  Chloe gasped and grabbed her stomach. Her face paled as she dropped to her knees on the floor.

  “Chloe!” Ramsey rushed to her side, shoving Michael out of the way.

  “Ramsey, something’s wrong,” she whimpered.

  “Hang on to me,” Ramsey said, lifting her into his arms.

  “Chloe, what’s wrong?” Michael asked, sticking close by.

  “I think you’ve done enough right now,” Ramsey said.

  “I have every right to go with her if you’re taking her to the hospital. Whether you like it or not, that’s my baby she’s carrying,” Michael responded.

  “Fine. Get in the back,” Ramsey said tersely.

  Gently setting Chloe down in the front seat, Ramsey buckled her in. “Are you comfortable enough?”

  “I’m okay,” she murmured. “Just get me to the hospital.”

  Ramsey closed her door and hurried around to the driver’s side. Starting the SUV, he backed out of the driveway and rushed Chloe to the hospital. When they arrived, he stopped outside of the ER entrance.

  “Wait here while I get a wheelchair for you,” Ramsey said, hopping out of the vehicle. He rushed inside and told a nurse that he had a pregnant woman in need of medical attention. When he

  returned to the SUV, the nurse was following behind him with a wheelchair.

  “Chloe, Nurse Evans is going to take you inside while I park,” Ramsey said as he helped her out of the SUV.

  “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded.

  “I’m not leaving,” he assured her. “I’ll be inside in just a minute.”

  “I’ll go in with you,” Michael said, stepping out of the SUV.

  Chloe glared at him. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here now.”

  “Chloe, I’m going in with you whether you like it or not,” Michael said.

  The nurse cleared her throat. “Actually, Mr. Andrews, you aren’t. If the patient doesn’t want you to go in with her, then you won’t.”

  For the first time, Michael looked t
he nurse over. He groaned when he realized he'd dated her. Or more accurately, he'd slept with her. “Jasmine, stay out of it.”

  “Jasmine?” Chloe asked, her eyes flicking between Michael and the nurse.

  “Mr. Andrews and I are acquainted. If you don’t want him to go in with you, I can make sure he doesn’t go in. It’s the least I can do,” the nurse responded.

  Ramsey, having watched the exchange in silence, merely shook his head. “I promise I’ll be inside in just a minute, Chloe. Go inside with Nurse Evans and I’ll be right there.”

  “Preferably without Michael,” Chloe muttered.

  “Dammit Chloe! That’s my baby and I should be in there with you,” Michael responded.

  The nurse eyed the trio with interest, but didn’t say anything.

  Chloe looked up at Ramsey. “Hurry back.”

  He nodded and quickly climbed into the SUV. Pulling out of the ER area, he went in search of a parking space. While he was gone, the nurse wheeled Chloe into the waiting area.

  “We have some papers you’ll need to complete before we can get you checked in. I just need to see your driver’s license and insurance card,” Nurse Evans said.

  “I don’t know if my purse made it here or not,” Chloe said, looking to see if Michael had followed them in against her wishes.

  “I think I saw it,” Michael said as he walked over to them, “not that it will help you much when it comes to insurance.”

  “You don’t have insurance?” Nurse Evans asked.

  “No,” Chloe responded quietly.

  “That could pose a problem. You’ll have to pay five hundred dollars up front. I’m afraid it’s a

  hospital policy,” Nurse Evans replied.

  Chloe paled. She didn’t have five dollars, much less five hundred.

  ***

  Ramsey was about to lock the SUV when he realized Chloe’s purse was in the backseat. He grabbed it and closed the door. Locking the vehicle, he walked through the parking lot to the ER entrance.

  When he stepped through the ER doors, he heard Chloe and the nurse talking. He was surprised Michael didn’t offer to pay for Chloe’s hospital visit, knowing she didn’t have insurance. The man was ready to claim the child as his own, but apparently wasn’t ready to take on all of the responsibilities that went along with it.