Page 20 of Hers

Abigail came over to Sammy and hugged her. “Welcome. Come in. I have so much to show you.” Abigail grabbed her arm and practically dragged her through the door and to a huge lounge room with two white leather sofas and brown soft carpet, and pictures which covered the walls.

“Sit. The dinner is only fifteen minutes away. That’s plenty of time to start showing you these photos. We’ll start at the baby ones, and you can see how cute Slater was as a baby.” Abigail reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You and Slater would make gorgeous babies. I don’t have any grandkids yet, and I’d love them.”

“Mum, stop with the baby talk,” Slater said as he came in with his father Daren and sat on the other sofa across from her and Abigail.

Abigail shot Slater a stern look. “I will not. Your brothers won’t be giving me any grandbabies soon. They’re not even looking for or wanting to find a mate.” Sammy bit her lip to hold in her giggle as Abigail placed her hand on her heart. “Do you know what Jordan told me when I ask him to come?”

Slater huffed out his breath. “No, Mum.”

“He said he didn’t want to come in case the mating bug somehow rubbed off from you and caught him. Can you believe it?” Abigail shook her head. “Kayon wasn’t much better. I actually got a phone call from him just before you arrived. He was trying to get out of coming to dinner. Jordan said too many of the Bear family were falling with the mate curse. Kayon called it a curse. I hope you set him straight tonight how wonderful it is to find your mate. The love of your life. Your soul mate.” Abigail gave a warm smile to Daren.

Sammy watched the exchange and hoped that she could have what Slater’s parents had one day. Soon, she hoped. The way they looked at each other made Sammy feel like she was intruding on a private passionate moment.

“Mum, don’t push them. Fate will get them when they’re ready.” Sammy could feel Slater’s stare on her as he spoke.

Abigail placed a green album in front of her and opened to the first page. A picture of a newborn baby was on the page with a sprinkle of almost white hair on its little head.

“That’s Slater, about half an hour after he was born. Cute, isn’t he?”

Sammy glanced at Abigail and smiled. “Yes. He was.”

“Keep going through it. This book goes until he’s one. The next is the red. Get through what you can before dinner. I’m going to leave for a moment or two and go check on it. Ask Daren about some of the pictures.” A wicked gleam came into Abigail’s eyes. “Slater loved being naked. I had a hard time keeping clothes on him. He was my little feral baby.”

“Mum, please.” Slater’s voice didn’t sound too upset as he reprimanded his mum. Sammy could hear the love shine through it.

Abigail left the room, and Sammy smiled as turned the pages of the album and found only one of Slater clothed. Sammy laughed and teased Slater. He came and sat next her taking Abigail’s spot and groaned at the pictures. Sammy was enjoying herself. She asked Daren about one or two of the pictures, and he had a great tale for each.

At the end of the second book two men similar to Slater strolled in. One was clean shaven and wore a black expensive looking suit. The other had a slight five o’clock shadow, nothing like Brock’s, but had super short hair and wore a comfortable suit.

Slater and Daren got up with welcoming smiles on their faces. “Kayon, Jordan, you’re just in time. I can smell Mum taking the roast out of the oven now. You both have just enough time to meet Sammy, my mate.”

Sammy stood up by Slater as the two men blatantly stared at her. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” She put her hand out ready for them to shake.

The all-business clean shaven one took a deep breath in and snarled. “How come you’re not mated? You’re not his mate. If you were Slater’s he would have mated you.”

Sammy felt herself shrink back at his words.

“Kayon, apologize right now, son. I—your mother—we brought you up better than that. You have no idea what Sammy has been through. For her to be in a relationship at all I think is brave.” The look of disgust on Daren’s face was evident as he glared at his son.

Slater was snarling and growling so loud Sammy found it hard to hear Daren. Sammy looked at Daren surprised at what he’d said. She could feel her emotions bubbling to the surface, and she told herself she shouldn’t worry over the fact that Slater’s parents seemed to know about her past.

“What is going on? I leave for fifteen minutes to get the dinner out and you’re starting World War Three.” Abigail shot a glance at everyone before her glance rested on her husband and son.

Kayon’s dark brown eyes, which looked almost black, rested on her. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize you are the woman I helped do the restraining order up for. I apologize for my behavior.”

Slater pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. Sammy was glad because she needed his strength right now as she stared into his brother’s cold eyes. “That’s fine. Forget about it. I would be cautious, too, if I had any siblings. I haven’t let them mate me properly because I want to get to know them first. I don’t ever want to make the mistake I did with Greg ever again.”

The cold black eyes softened a bit, and Jordan gave a slight tilt to his head. “Very wise. It’s nice to meet you, Sammy.”

“Dinner is ready. Let’s go eat.” Abigail grabbed Sammy from Slater’s hold and pulled her to another room with a big table filled with a feast. “Sit. Don’t worry about the boys. They’ll sort it out. Kayon is my intense boy. He means well.” Abigail sat next to her and reached over getting bowls of food and piling it onto her plate while she talked that she was glad all the awkwardness was out of the way.

Sammy wasn’t sure about that, but five minutes later to her surprise all the men walked in, including Brock who must have only just arrived, and sat down to dinner, laughing and joking like nothing had ever happened. Abigail got up and moved next to Daren, and Slater sat on one side of Sammy with Brock on the other. Sammy relaxed, feeling instantly safe as she sat between her two men and listened to childhood stories.

Throughout the dinner Slater and Brock gave her slight intermittent touches here or there, rubbing her leg, holding her hand, stroking her hair or face, leaning over and brushing kisses against her skin. Her heart picked up every time, and Sammy relaxed so much she joined in the laughter and started to feel loved, cherished, and a part of the family. She was a goner if Brock and Slater kept this up.

****

Brock got the phone call from his brothers that Susie was in labor late Sunday night. He was working the late shift and still had a few hours left. His partner told him to go get his mate and go help his brother. He called Slater to see if he would pick Sammy up and he would meet them at the hospital, but Slater didn’t answer any of his calls. Giving up on Slater he called Sammy. She picked up on the third ring.

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