Page 75 of Forced Pregnant Mate

“Well, actually, it’s yours because you went guarantor on the business loan and contract, and Lena owns the bar.”

“Fuck. You’re right. Get me a sniper rifle so I can take out Jenks before he destroys all of us.”

“I don’t know,” Sam laughs. “You might just wing him, and we wouldn’t want to piss off a wizard.”

“Are you boys going to stand here and gossip all day?” Lena asks, joining us. “Or should we clear a space with the grannies so you two can discuss cookie recipes?”

“How dare you,” I say, scowling. “The very idea I’d share my cookie recipe is insulting to me.”

“I’ve got no problem joining the grannies’ table,” Sam says. “They have the strongest brandy in the place. Don’t light a match anywhere near them.”

“How would you know?” Lena asks suspiciously. “You’re not old enough to drink.”

“I almost am!” he protests. “Besides, I don’t know. I just overheard.”

“Mother made you do shots, didn’t she?” I mutter, and Sam’s cheeks color up.

“Okay. Maybe once.”

We’re all chuckling as we head over to the grannies’ table. Gina is there, bouncing Natalia on her lap. Mother sees us and holds out her arms.

“Hand over my baby grandson!” she cries. “Little grandbaby, tiny boy pup, look at you!”

“Gods help us when she finally picks a nickname,” Sam grumbles.

“Can’t be worse than Babykin,” I shoot back.

Mother glares at us. “Graham the Gray will do quite well, I think.”

“How come he gets a cool name?” I almost yell. “Even Bae gets a better nickname than me.”

“Yeah, just try holding a meeting, trying to maintain everyone’s respect and have this one come in calling, ‘Alpha pup, do you want cream in your coffee?’ It’s completely emasculating.” Bae appears on the other side of the table behind Gina, with Decker by his side.

“Yeah, I can see how that would be rough,” I agree. “Real men drink their coffee black.”

Bae shoots me a look that might have turned into a verbal sparring match if Lena hadn’t come up and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind me.

“Take me for a walk, Babykin,” she laughs. “I need some air, and Gray will be fine with Grandma for a bit.”

“I am not getting over this, Mother,” I say, pointing at her. “You are going to be paying for my therapy for the next sixty years.”

She winks at me. “I gave you my car. That should cover it.”

“Because you bought a new one for yourself!”

“Oops,” she laughs. “What was I supposed to do, though? You were never going to give mine back.”

“I have to get out of here,” I mutter, and Lena tugs on my hand and takes me out the back of the bar.

We walk a short way through the park, then onto a hiking trail near the river that leads to a lush meadow. The afternoon sun is at just the right angle to light the edges of the grass shimmering gold. Bees and small birds dip through the air, tending the flowers. Somewhere overhead, I hear the call of a hawk.

We sit down together, enjoying the sunset. The setting reminds me of our first few dates, and especially our picnic in the woods.

“Jack,” Lena whispers, touching my face. “I can’t believe it’s been a year.”

“Neither can I,” I answer, cupping her cheek. “Everything seemed to happen so fast.”

Her smile wavers just a little, and I know she’s thinking about her father. I don’t say anything, because I know it will take time for her to heal.

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