Page 65 of Claim Me

“Fuck that shit,” my sister mutters, hugging her daughter against her body and marching toward the mansion’s back stone patio.

Pork Chop lingers, wanting to hang close to Indigo. “These fancy parties give me gas,” he mutters to his buddy.

Jacinda and Hector exit the mansion with their cousins and several babysitters. The two little goofballs see me and jump up and down. I wave and point at where the twins get their faces painted.Even from a distance, I can tell Natasha’s excited kiddos are talking over each other.

I feel better knowing Hector and Jacinda are out here. Staff will be on extra alert with Viktor Kovak’s grandchildren in the mix.

Inside the grand mansion, we’re greeted by more staff. Pork Chop and Indigo are directed toward the “gentlemen’s lounge” while Carys and I are brought to a large greeting room where Natasha sits at the center.

“How fancy,” I say when she sees me.

“I feel like a turkey on display before I get stuck in the oven.”

“How come, baby?” I murmur and cup her cheeks. “You look gorgeous. Your kids are outside playing. This little one,” I add and rub her belly, “is weeks from joining the party. What’s there to complain about?”

Natasha loses her awkward vibe, and her expression lights up. “My mom and I shopped for this dress,” she says as her gaze searches for Katja who stands nearby with my mom and Suzanne Knutsen. “Petra came with us, and she rarely leaves the house.”

I look around for Natasha’s older sister. They both nearly died when their SUV was thrown into the Jefferson River. Natasha has bounced back faster emotionally, likely thanks to Bear and the kids. Petra, though, nearly had a panic attack when she visited the farm to see Carys’s new baby months ago.

Right now, Petra cradles Ripley near the windows while Carys tells a story involving a lot of hand gestures.

“Are you feeling okay?” I ask Natasha who rubs her swollen belly.

“The baby is too big,” she says after the staff brings a chair for me. “And she won’t turn around.”

“Well, your babyishalf bear. She’s bound to be stubborn.”

Natasha gives me a sly grin. “When do you find out what you’re having?”

“Won’t be until next year. The doctor couldn’t tell when she checked at her office. After the new year, she’s sending me for a more extensive ultrasound.”

“I hope it’s a girl,” Natasha says and rubs her stomach again. “Your daughter could be best friends with Olívie and Lotus.”

“Maybe I’ll have a son like Hector,” I suggest so Natasha won’t be bummed if the ultrasound shows my kid is packing heat. “A sweet, imaginative goofball who likes to chill with the ladies.”

Natasha offers me a sweet smile, but she looks tired and overwhelmed. Glancing around, I don’t recognize half the people here. I realize a good chunk of them are staff. I see Jacinda and Hector’s nanny standing in the corner with other young women. I hear enough of their conversation to understand their speaking in their native tongue.

“Where’s Hunter?” I ask Natasha after standing behind her chair and caressing her forehead as she closes her eyes.

“Peeing. Hunter’s been in the bathroom three times so far.”

“Drink more water,” I tell the redhead when she finally joins us and takes my open seat.

“I already drink 96 ounces a day.”

“I’m not good at measurements, but that sounds like too much. So, scratch my earlier advice and drink less water.”

Hunter smiles at my bullshit. “Your bump came in.”

“Not enough for me to look obviously pregnant,” I say, fondling my belly. “I just look bloated.”

“You’ll feel the baby soon,” Hunter says.

I immediately get teary-eyed at the thought. “I can’t wait for Indigo to feel his baby.”

“Have you thought about names?”

“No, not really,” I lie, recalling Caveman’s suggestion. “The girls are helping Indigo and me pick a name.”

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