Page 35 of Not Ready

I’ll chalk that up to boutique shopping.

She has several new coats that should fit through when she gives birth. While the rest of the items are being delivered tomorrow, we take one of those jackets with us and send the old one back with our other purchases.

I help her into it before we head out into the chilly morning air.

I hold the door open, nodding for her to come through. “The pharmacy is only a few stores down. Would you prefer I take you back to the car, and we can drive down to their parking lot or?—”

“Oh no, I can walk.” She smiles, passing under my arm.

I’m once again smacked with her sweet strawberry scent. Her hair bounces as she strides by, and I give the owner of the boutique a wave before following her out. My hands seem to have a mind of their own as I gather her hair and pull up the hood on her wool pea coat. It’s actually quite adorable, in the fit-and-flare maternity style. My long legs give me an advantage to move past her.

She stops, looking up at me with a wrinkle in her forehead. “Don’t tell me I’m going to have to have the colds don’t come from the cold talk with you too.”

“I’m sorry?” My head tilts.

“You seem just as concerned with keeping me warm as Bishop is.” She grins, gesturing to the hood now covering her head.

I chuckle and tuck her hair around her neck, so it’s not bunched around her face. “No, I fully understand how germs work. I’m a hoverer. I hover. It’s what I do.”

Did I just say those words aloud?

Good God, they’re about the furthest thing from the truth possible.

I generally allow others their autonomy. Well, outside my closest friends. Those I genuinely care about, like Bishop and Holt, I do try to slip into that apex alpha role of caring for the pack. Not that we are one, but I suppose we legally will be soon if Holt goes through with signing.

“You know, I’ve heard alphas are caregivers. I haven’t had much firsthand experience myself, but thank you. It always reassures my impulses to have someone looking after me.” Her small hands land on my chest, giving me a pat.

Well, fuck.

That soft smile on her face as she patiently waits for me to remember I’m supposed to be making eye contact doesn’t help a damn thing.

Is it wildly inappropriate to be attracted to my very pregnant wife-to-be?

I imagine a quick internet search would be highly unhelpful, given our unique circumstances.

I smile right back and grab her cold little hands. Good Lord, apparently I forgot to invest in gloves for the frozen little thing. I’ll handle that online once we get home.

Chapter Fourteen

Vale

“This place is amazing,” I say as we head down the sidewalk of what I think might be the main street for this small mountain town. It’s nothing like DC, that’s for sure. But it really does have its own charm.

“It’s lovely, but smaller than what I expected when I purchased the property.” Mercer chuckles. “I likely should have realized the land was so affordable due to the area. Not that there’s anything wrong with a more relaxed atmosphere.” His British accent sounds thicker than normal. “I didn’t necessarily understand that it was a full two-hour drive to DC, but I must admit that it has grown on me.”

“I can see why,” I tell him truthfully. The downtown area is like something out of a movie. The shops are close enough together that walking isn’t a hassle, and there’s barely any traffic. It’s actually kind of magnificent.

“Oh, would you look at that? The baby store is open. Let’s pop in and have a look around, shall we?” He doesn’t give me the opportunity to object. His strong hand wraps around mine, and then he’s leading me inside. His scent floods my nose with the smell of old books as we stop just inside the door.

An older woman behind the counter stands and asks, “Can I help you find anything?”

“We’re just going to browse a bit, if that’s okay?” Mercer smiles, and it seems to change his entire presence. He should definitely do it more often. “Come along, darling.” He guides me toward the back of the store as the woman assures us she’ll be around if we need anything.

We get to the back wall, and it’s abundantly clear this place is larger than it looks from the outside.

“Another downside of small-town living is the big box stores are nearly a thirty-minute drive each direction. That’s not to say we can’t simply order online and have something delivered, but I’d like to play a game, if you will.” Mercer turns and pulls my hood down. His long fingers brush through my waves as he lays them out over my shoulders.

“What kind of game?” I ask with a hint of suspicion.

---