by Avery Gale
“You are fucking pathetic, man. Shoes? Small act of service? Shit, you should be forced to surrender your Man Card.” Israel didn’t need to turn to know Luke Grayson was standing beside him. Brooklyn Adler’s husband had two incredible skills—a gifted telepath and computer hacker extraordinaire. Everybody Israel knew wondered if the two talents were connected, but it was a chicken and egg argument, Israel considered a waste of time attempting to unravel. Anybody with an IQ above dull-normal knew the two were indelibly linked.
“Fuck you, Grayson. Didn’t anybody tell you it’s rude to eavesdrop?” Israel didn’t remember there being an exemption for telepathic snooping.
“Sure, all the time. I just don’t give a shit. Besides, you think loud, so it’s on you.” Luke flashed an unrepentant grin and shrugged. “Come on, we don’t want to miss the action. I hope Denali doesn’t mind having her wedding day overshadowed by a baby.”
“In this family, the odds of having a special occasion derailed by another family member are increasing exponentially.” Israel couldn’t imagine Denali being upset but decided to check in with her just in case. As he approached where she was standing with Kenz, all he felt was concern for her new sister-in-law. Pulling her into a hug, he held her until he finally felt her take a deep breath.
“That’s better.” He set her back alongside her new husband but kept his hand on her shoulder. “How are you doing, sweetness? Unfortunately, this is one of the perils of a large family.”
“Perils? I don’t understand what you mean.” He could feel the confusion pulsing around her.
“I’m sure Charlotte is worried she is upstaging your big day. I can’t imagine she’d have come today if she knew this would happen.” Denali’s expression morphed from confusion to horror.
“Are you kidding? This is the best wedding present anyone could ever receive. I’m getting a niece or nephew. This adds another layer of joy to the most amazing wedding day ever. We’ll be able to celebrate forever, and the whole family will never forget our anniversary. Seriously, how much better can it get?” Israel pressed a chaste kiss against her forehead before turning to Kenz.
“She is perfect. Take very good care of her.” Turning his attention to the sudden shift in the energy behind him, Israel focused on his mate, grateful he could easily tap into her thoughts.
Shit. We’ll never get Charlotte to the hospital in time. I hope the club’s first aid station is well stocked. She sounded stressed but not panicked. Israel wanted to reach out to her telepathically, but he didn’t want to be a distraction.
“Let’s get Charlotte moved inside, so we can minimize the disruption to Kensington and Denali’s reception.” She’d been speaking to several of the people gathered around Charlotte. When Austin started to lift his wife, Bristol put her hand on his forearm. “I’d like you to stay for a moment, please. Walking will help her muscles relax, and I’d like to speak with you privately. I have a request, and I know everyone will do a great job getting Charlotte settled.” Austin’s eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded before giving his mate a quick kiss and assuring her he’d be right behind her.
Bristol moved, so she was standing directly in front of Austin, her bare feet a few inches apart, and her hands held loosely at her sides. Her body language exuded a level of easy confidence he knew was well-practiced. Israel smiled, knowing she was making a deliberate effort to put Austin at ease. Her calm demeanor and cool professionalism made it easier for everyone around her to do what needed to be done.
“Austin, I know this isn’t the way you and Charlotte planned for your baby to make his or her grand entrance, but I want you to know I’m going to do everything I can to make certain everything goes smoothly. Charlotte is young and healthy.” Bristol’s calm was broken for few seconds by a broad grin. “These are the times when being a shifter pays off in spades.” Calm surrounded her once again, the face Israel was quickly coming to recognize as her professional persona sliding effortlessly back into place.
“Your job—your only job—is to support your wife. Everything else is on me. I want to make certain you understand that before we walk in there. It’s going to get a little crazy at times, and you’re accustomed to being in charge—you have to let that go for a while. I want you to keep your focus on Charlotte.”
Turning to Israel, she asked, “Can you please get my car keys from my locker—number twenty-eight. I need the black bag from the back seat of my car.” Israel nodded and took off jogging toward the club’s back entrance. He’d have the attendant open the locker if he couldn’t get it open himself. Behind him, he heard his mate tell Austin it was time to go. Bristol sprinted past him. Austin’s muttered curses made Israel laugh as they entered the club together.
“Fucking hell, she’s fast. Where on earth are her shoes?” Israel held up the strappy sandals and grinned.
“We’re out of shape, brother. We both work too hard and exercise too little. That was damned humbling.”
Bristol was pleased to find the first aid station at the club was better equipped than some emergency rooms she’d worked in. The area wasn’t particularly well-equipped for childbirth, but she’d made do with a lot less. When Bristol saw Israel step into the open door, holding her bag, she moved quickly to where he waited patiently.
“Thanks so much…” Before she could say anything else, he pulled her against his chest, holding her until she took a deep breath.
“You’re welcome, Beautiful. I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything else—even if it’s nothing more than a hug.” The sudden rush of emotion she felt was so unexpected, she wasn’t sure what to do with it. Sentiment had never been a significant part of her life. For so many years, everything had centered on her education, and she’d always known setting aside feelings would be a critical part of being able to make fact-based decisions for patients.
“When my niece or nephew finally makes their appearance, I’ll be here waiting. If you think I’m going to let you fade into the background, you should think again.”
She nodded numbly. Part of her knew she needed to get back to Charlotte, but her body’s off-the-chart physical reaction made it almost impossible to remember anything beyond a crazy desire to be touched by this man. When he finally took a step back, Bristol shook her head, chastising herself to get her head back down out of the damned clouds.
“Go.” Israel gave her a quick kiss and smiled. “I can hear my brother freaking out.”
Twenty minutes later, Bristol swiped sweat from her brow, wishing somebody would turn on a damned fan. She was going to be dehydrated by the time Austin and Charlotte’s baby decided to make an appearance. I’m on it, sweetness. Hang on while I find the thermostat. As startled as she was by the reminder Israel could hear her thoughts, Bristol felt tears of gratitude burn her eyes when cool air moved through the room.
“Praise be the Goddess of Air Conditioning. I was two heartbeats from dying of heatstroke,” Charlotte gasped between her contractions. They were coming so close together, there was only a few seconds between them. “Why did I think I could do this without drugs? Crap on a prickly cactus, I’m not ready to be a mother. Don’t you have to pass some sort of class to be a parent? I didn’t even get a syllabus, let alone take the final. Fuckity fuck, I barely passed the exam to get my driver’s license. I changed my mind. Please send the baby back. I’ll get one later—when there are drugs. Yes, that is a great idea. Poke the baby with the head the size of a fricking watermelon back into his or her papa.”
“Little Star, you are pushing your luck. Dr. B. said you couldn’t be held responsible for anything said during delivery, but it would be unwise to take advantage of my generosity.” Austin’s voice took on a tone any submissive would recognize. The man was a Dom to the tips of his toes. Charlotte was busy pushing, but the glare she leveled at her husband was easy to read.
“The exemption stands, Mr. Adler. I make certain all fathers know, especially the Doms. You have to understand the rules going in, or you ge
t to pace in the waiting room.” Bristol was only half-concentrating on the conversation. She was much more interested in the dark head of hair inching closer. Damn, this baby was going to be the envy of the nursery. “Your wife is going through childbirth, without the epidural block she’d planned on having—she has more than earned that grace.”
“I’m never having sex again. Never. It’s too dangerous. I should have read the book. No more mindless passion for me… I’m going to become a nun.” The shocked look on Austin Adler’s face was priceless—too bad, Bristol didn’t have time to enjoy it.
“One more push, Mama. You’ll have a baby in your arms before you know it. Charlotte, you have been amazing. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a first-time mother deliver naturally without shredding their husband. I’m sure Austin is damned proud of you.” Grab it with both hands, Papa. I just threw you a huge lifeline.
Austin wasn’t the only one who’d done their homework. Bristol checked him out when Charlotte first expressed an interest in becoming a patient. Austin’s business reputation was akin to local legend. He’d taken his parents’ failing oil enterprise and turned it into a phenomenal success. Adler Oil was diversifying and growing so fast, articles about it were outdated almost as soon as they were printed. His success wasn’t an accident—the man was widely regarded as a brilliant businessman.
He walked confidently through the opening she’d given him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more impressed with anyone, Little Star. Dr. B is right, you are amazing, and I’m humbled to see what you have endured to bring our child into the world.” He helped her lift up, so she’d have more leverage for the final push, kissing her brow and whispering endearments Bristol tried to tune out. Seconds later, the problem was solved when the cries of baby Adler filled the room.
“Congratulations, you have a very handsome son. I don’t think he is particularly happy with me at the moment, but I promise to make it up to him.” She wiped the squirming little boy off as much as she could before placing him on his mama’s chest. “You three enjoy a few minutes of bonding while I finish up things down below. We’ll have you ready for transport in no time.”
She would ride to the hospital in the ambulance as a precaution and hope like holy hell, she could persuade a taxi driver to bring her back to the club to pick up her car. Last night’s full moon meant she’d spent all night delivering babies, only catching a short nap before she’d headed to Prairie Winds to help with the wedding reception. At this point, she was running on caffeine and a prayer.
Maybe I’ll catch a cab home and worry about my car later… a lot later. Damn, I’m pooped.
Chapter Four
Israel tried to catch up with Bristol before she slipped into the back of the ambulance with Charlotte and the new baby but missed her. When he called Austin, his brother answered on the first ring.
“Congratulations, big brother. How are you holding up?” Israel already knew Charlotte and baby Marshall were doing well, but the man who’d held the family together after the death of their parents was looking a little shell shocked.
“I’m still trying to process the whole thing. One minute, I’m enjoying a glass of champagne, toasting my brother and new sister-in-law, the next, I find out my wife’s in labor. I think when all the dust settles, I’m going to discover she’d been in labor for hours but failed to mention it because she didn’t want to miss the wedding.”
“Probably. Although I doubt, she thought little Marshall would decide to kick things into high gear. Don’t be too hard on her. Remember, she’s given you the best gift you’ve ever received, and she did it without any pain relief.” Israel could feel Austin’s pride in both the birth of his son and his wife’s bravery.
“You’re right about cutting her some slack but wrong about the gift. She is the best gift I’ve ever received—everything that happens after she came into my life is icing on a very sweet and perfect cake. I’m deeply indebted to Bristol.” Austin took a deep breath, sighing softly before continuing. “She kept me from making a huge mistake. I was on the cusp of ruining a remarkable experience. Charlotte would have forgiven me—eventually—but I would have never forgiven myself. It was damned humbling to be reminded I can’t always force people to toe the line.”
“Being at the club probably didn’t help. Your role in this environment is well-established. It’s okay to be grateful, but don’t wallow in what could have been. It will keep you from enjoying the joy of the moment.” Israel wondered if Austin realized he’d let out a breath in a rush of self-awareness.
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“I’m following you into town. Bristol is exhausted. From what I could pick up, she’s been up for the better part of thirty-six hours. She left her car at the club, and I want to make sure she gets home safely. Give me a heads up when she finishes with Charlotte. I don’t want to miss her.”
“Her home or yours?” Austin laughed before plunging ahead. “Hell, never mind, I already know the answer. She is a strong, independent woman—tread carefully. Don’t smother her. I can’t see that ending well for you.”
Israel knew his brother was right but had no illusions about his ability to hold back his desire to protect his mate. It didn’t matter he hadn’t formally claimed her—she belonged to him.
Sitting in the waiting room two hours later, Israel was relieved when his phone vibrated in his pocket. The text message from Austin was short and sweet. Heads up. Moving closer to the door, he heard the nurses talking about Bristol. Before he could find out what he wanted to know, an automatic door opened down the hall, and his eyes locked on Bristol as a wave of physical and emotional exhaustion hit him like a freight train. Stepping forward, Israel opened his arms and felt like his heart would burst when she didn’t hesitate to walk into his embrace.
“I’m so tired. Thank Goddess, my apartment is nearby. I’ll be able to stay awake long enough to drive that far.” Hopefully.
“Your car is at the club, Beautiful.” He tightened his hold when she sagged, fearing her knees were going to fold out from under her.
“Damn, I forgot. I’ll call a cab. Thanks for sticking around to say goodbye.” The words sounded sincere, but her emotions were telling an entirely different story.
“Bristol, it’s important you are honest with yourself and with me.” Israel gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her to look into her pale blue eyes. Using the pads of his fingers, he smoothed back the loose strands of her hair, fascinated by the silky feel of the white-blonde tresses.
“I can hardly wait to see your hair fanned out over my bare chest, your eyes half-lidded from satisfaction, rather than the exhaustion I see in them now.” It was time to move on. She was precariously close to falling asleep on her feet. Turning her toward the exit, he kept an arm around her waist. He wanted her close, and her fatigue gave him the perfect excuse. Steering Bristol out the door, he was glad he’d kept his hands on her when she stumbled several yards from his car. Without missing a step, Israel leaned down and scooped her into his arms.
“Oh pickles, this is embarrassing. I shouldn’t let you carry me, but to be honest, I’m not sure I can make it to the cab stop.”
He hated hearing the utter exhaustion in her voice. Hell, how many times had she pushed herself to this point and beyond with no one to watch her back?
“Can you do something for me, Bristol? Will you let me take care of you tonight?” Before he could walk the short distance to his car, Israel felt her tears soaking through his shirt. Talk to me, Beautiful. He’d deliberately used telepathic communication, hoping the deeper level of intimacy would make it easier for her to admit what he could feel coming off her in waves.
While he’d waited for her, Israel had pulled the file his team had done on her from the company server to refresh his memory. She’d had a horrific childhood compared to his. Things appeared to improve—marginally—after she moved in with an unmarried high school science teacher. By the time the older wo
man died a couple of years later, Bristol had already been ready to attend college.
Wondering if anyone in the deceased teacher’s circle of friends could provide information, Israel did a quick search and was shocked by what he found—or, more specifically, what he didn’t find. The woman hadn’t existed prior to the year Bristol started high school.
The prestigious university Bristol chose didn’t want to lose their child protégé, so they’d made special housing arrangements for the young girl. Interviews with her fellow classmates and professors all echoed the same sentiment—what was supposed to be a charitable concession turned out to be horribly isolating. Everyone they interviewed mentioned how sorry they’d felt for her. If she wasn’t in class, working in the lab, or studying in the library, Bristol was locked in her own wing of one of the smaller dormitories. The Dean had insisted she be protected, but her safety had come at an enormous emotional cost.
Unbelievably, Bristol finished graduate school before she had been old enough to drive, which meant she’d been forced to walk everywhere. Hell, she’d attended Harvard, and it was fucking cold in Boston during the winter. No wonder she’d moved to Texas.
He’d done a background check on a Harvard Medical School professor several years ago and knew how damned relentless the cold wind was as it swept across the campus in January. Cold, inhospitable hell was how Israel described it to his executive assistant when he’d returned home. Geneva had chuckled and rolled her eyes. She’d warned him to assign the investigation to one of the newer members of the team, and the unspoken reminder was dancing in her eyes.
“You’re going to have to get a handle on delegating before you find a woman, or you’re never going to keep one. You work all the time.”
She was right. Hell, he’d only recently started delegating more of the responsibility to Cleveland, and he was his damned brother.