Page 38 of In Plain Sight

I kissed the top of her head. “I know. I’ll try not to make a habit of it.”

She sighed one last time and within moments she was snoring in my arms.

I grinned down at her sleeping form, thankful she hadn’t tried to put up a fight. I closed my eyes and let sleep pull me under.

Ruby

Chapter 14

Bran was right to make me sleep. I wasn’t ready to admit that to him, but I would have been worthless throughout the day. He was also right to wake me up after only four hours of sleep, despite my protests.

We visited Mellie and the calves, then went over to Cole and Lizzy’s to help with cleanup. I was exhausted by dinner time and barely touched my food. Still, he insisted that I walk through my exercises five times before taking a shower and finally collapsing into bed.

When I awoke the next day, I felt like my normal self; still, I wasn’t about to admit he was right.

Bran and I fell into a comfortable routine. Each evening was spent with him helping Cole and Gage while I either spent time with the new babies or hanging out with my sisters. We would meet up for a late dinner, then go through our workouts. Peyton would join in on her evenings off, and we started sparring more. But the best part of every day was making love with my gorgeous mate until we were both fully sated and then drifting off to sleep.

When the weekend rolled around, I knew there was one thing I still had to do—introduce Bran to Mom and Dad. I had been ignoring Mom’s calls and delaying this moment. I didn’t really know why, though. Bran got along great with all my siblings. He was holding his own around the ranch and everyone seemed to like him. But I had never introduced a guy to my parents. Not once, ever.

“Why are you so nervous about this?” Bran asked as we were finishing getting ready to head over to the Alpha house for dinner.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never brought anyone home to meet the family before,” I told him. “And you’re like the forever serious thing.”

“I already know everyone there but your parents,” he reminded me.

“I know, I know. But these are my parents. I want them to like you as much as I do.”

“And you don’t think they will?”

“How do I know? This is all new territory for me.”

Bran laughed. “I think you’re stressing out over nothing, sweetheart. Besides, shouldn’t I be the one nervous here?”

“Yes, so why aren’t you?”

He laughed and kissed me. “You’re impossible, and everything is going to be just fine.”

“I know I’m being unreasonable and silly here. It just feels like a big moment,” I said, trying to explain what I was feeling and butchering it badly.

“Come on. Let’s just get this over with then, sooner rather than later. Hopefully when we get there, you’ll calm down some.”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t count on it, my family always makes me a little psychotic,” I muttered under my breath.

We left the apartment and got in the truck to make the short drive into town. It dawned on me that Bran already knew many in our Pack from working at the ranch. I made a mental note to go into town with him soon as we really hadn’t done that yet. I didn’t want him to feel like I was embarrassed by him or anything. I didn’t particularly enjoy the sort of attention a new mate brought. It really had nothing to do with him.

Bran pulled up to the house and I sat there looking at it. It had been a good place to grow up. Collier Pack in general was. It made me stop and think about the children Bran and I would someday have—not too soon of course, but someday.

My door opened and Bran stood there staring at me.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

I blushed. “You don’t want to know.”

“Come on. You know you can tell me anything.”

“No secrets between mates,” I said and thought I saw him cringe just a little. He recovered quickly so I assumed I’d just imagined it.

“What’s on your mind tonight, Red?”

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