Page 5 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

Remy’s ready smile slipped a little, and he put a protective palm on the back of Posey’s head. He shot Haley a meaningful look over the red curls. “Yeah, but we’re keeping that decidedly on the down low. Especially in front of speed racer here.”

The little girl nestled into his shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth. One black high-top swung gently in the air.

Haley blanched. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No worries, chère,” he said quickly, his Québécois accent peeking through his usual smooth English. “I get why Dom’s”—he glanced at Posey’s head—“apprehensive, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Another baby is a good thing.”

Posey lifted her head. “Baby!”

Remy beamed at her. “That’s right. You’re going to have a baby brother. What do you think about that?”

She grinned, still kicking her leg back and forth. Then she pointed a chubby finger down the hall and said, “Snack!”

Remy looked at Haley with raised eyebrows. “Well, it seems the boss lady has spoken.”

Haley smiled. “She’s certainly dressed for it.”

“Snack!” Posey yelled, jabbing her finger down the hall. “SNACK!”

Remy gave her an affronted look. “Watch it, girl. If you’re mean I’m not cutting your sandwich into dinosaur shapes.” He threw his head back and let out a deep roar.

The little girl giggled, then reached up and patted his cheek. “T-Wex.”

“You got it.” He smiled and rubbed his nose against hers.

Oh my. Haley had to restrain herself from clasping her hands under her chin and sighing. If the female half of the werewolf community could see this, the species’ population problem might get solved overnight. “Aching ovaries” was an understatement. What was it about a big, powerful male being sweet with a baby that made the evils of the world fall away and everything seem perfect and good?

It didn’t hurt that Remy was a heartthrob and former ladies’ man. Emphasis on former. Whatever his past romantic exploits, they were firmly behind him. As a mated male, he only had eyes for Sophie . . . and the occasional mischievous redheaded toddler.

He met Haley’s gaze. “Whatcha got there?”

“Huh?” She shook her head to clear the estrogen fog. “I mean, what?”

“The papers.” He used his chin to gesture toward the hand she held at her side.

She looked at the invitations. “Oh. Nothing.” She stuck the papers behind her back.

Remy raised a blond eyebrow. “Haley. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘you can’t bullshit a bullshitter’?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t mean to brag, but I’m probably the most accomplished bullshitter in the territory. Possibly the species.”

She sighed. “Fine. But it’s dumb.”

“Also an expert on that subject.”

That made a smile tug at her mouth, which helped tamp down the tightness that threatened to return to her chest. “I wanted to have a party for my twenty-first birthday. Not for presents or anything. Just to . . .” She groped for the right words. “So the guys might get to know me better.” Heat scorched her cheeks.

Understanding lit Remy’s green gaze. “You want them to give you a chance.”

She let her shoulders slump. “Yeah.” Wow, she was lame. Hearing it out loud made everything worse. Now Remy would make a sympathetic sound and tell her to stop trying so hard. That there was no reason to rush into a relationship or a mating. She had her whole life ahead of her. Dating should be the last thing on her mind. As her well-meaning foster mother told her, there was “no need to be boy crazy” and actively searching for love just made her “look desperate.”

But Remy didn’t say any of those things. His gaze remained steady, and his voice was soft when he said, “It’s okay to want, you know.”

“Want?” What did he mean?

His smile was gentle. “Want. Desire. Yearn.” He tipped his head toward Posey. “Whether it’s the whole marriage and baby thing or just a date, it’s okay to want.”

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