Page 72 of Unexpected Delivery

Some fluttery feeling I’ve never experienced hits me square in the chest.

She’s incredible.

Now I just have to woo her into wanting to be mine.

Bringing Arbor to the baby store seemed like a perfect courting gift. Honestly, I thought I knocked it out of the park with this idea. I’m no longer convinced I made a home-run decision, and it’s making me itchy.

The little omega wanders around with wide eyes, occasionally examining a price tag before grimacing and scurrying off. She actually ran from me when I tried to catch her by the cribs… And I’m the one pushing Gracie in her stroller, so that says a lot.

We bought most of the smaller necessities when Gracie came home from the hospital. Hell, we even caved and got a second bassinet. One stays in Arbor’s bedroom and a second camps out in the living room.

What we didn’t handle was any permanent furniture.

Gracie is still comfortable sleeping in the bassinet, but she’s growing fast. She’s going to need a crib before we know it, and having an actual changing table would do wonders for all of our backs. The portable one we use is more like the pad meant to go on top of the changing table.

Getting crafty, I do an about-face and head back the way I came. My height is an advantage, making it easy to see over the aisles to locate where Arbor scurries off to next. She ends up near the rocking chair and glider display. I turn down that aisle and make my way toward her.

She glances over her shoulder, like she’s checking if I’m about to catch up, and her gaze refocuses on me just as I come to a stop in front of her.

Being a sneaky fuck, I wheel the stroller around her with a stretch of my arm and block her in by turning it sideways. Our height difference is always a little staggering when I’m in shoes. She barely comes up to my damn shoulder.

I quirk an eyebrow and grin to offset the anxiety I see written all over her face. “Did you just run from me?”

She scoffs. “N-No.”

“You big, giant fibber.”

“I’m just browsing.” She shrugs.

Sliding my freehand around her lower back, I pull her closer to my chest and bend to speak into her ear.

“Naughty girls get put over their alpha’s knee, but I know you’re normally a sweet little omega. So, how about instead, you tell me what’s bothering you?” I nip at her neck, sliding my tongue over her skin.

Arbor whimpers and buries her fingers in my shirt as she melts against my front. Her face wallows around until she’s under the open flap of my jacket with her nose in my armpit. “You always smell good, but today I have a dangerouslevel of attraction to your scent.”

I chuckle, soothing my hand down her back. “That’s not a bad thing. I told you earlier,you’re mine today.”

Arbor groans. “You’re a tease.”

“You’re adorable, but I’m not going to let you distract me.” I nuzzle my cheek to the top of her head and step back before pulling the stroller out of the way. The set of tester rocking chairs are just a few feet away, and I guide Arbor to take a seat. Once she’s settled, I pull the stroller to my other side and make sure Gracie is still sleeping. She’s fine, so I refocus on her stressed-out mom. “I thought this would be a fun date and a good opportunity to knock out a courting gift, but I should have talked to you about it. If you’re not ready for her to be away from you, I completely understand.”

Arbor’s head tilts, and she stretches over, patting my arm. “It’s a lovely date. I enjoy spending time with you. I just want you to know that I don’t need expensive gifts. You could buy me a photo album for Gracie or take me out to dinner, and that would count as a courting gift.”

“Nah, I don’t want to sound old-fashioned, but that doesn’t work for me. Dinner might count as a courtingdate, but courtinggiftsare meant to show our ability to provide a good life for you in the future.”

Arbor slides her fingers down, interlocking them with mine where they rest on the arm of the rocking chair. “You’re already providing an amazing quality of life for me…” She nods to my other hand, which is still gently pushing Gracie, so she’ll stay asleep. “And my daughter.”

“Our daughter,” I growl and freeze. “I mean?—”

She leans over, kissing my cheek. “I know exactly what you meant. And see, that’s anotherperfect gift, and it didn’t cost a penny. My dads weren’t wealthy, but I never realized it. They showered me with love and attention rather than gifts. When times were tough, they did things like organize a scavenger hunt to find presents on Christmas morning because Santa Claus was”—she does air quotes—“quite the trickster. We had so much fun following the clues and hunting around for hidden candy that I never noticed I didn’t get lavish gifts.”

My heart races.

She’s so fucking sweet.

My damn chest gets tight as my stomach flip-flops.

What is that feeling?

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