Page 275 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Hello.”

“Daire, your cousin’s coming to town for a week and has asked to stay in the manor,” my alpha dad informed me. “You can arrange that, I’m sure.”

“Wait. Go back. Which cousin?”

“Technically he’s a second cousin… I think.”

“You think?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Both my fathers had sprawling extended families and there were always distant relatives appearing in our lives, staying for a while and then going on their way.

“Mmmm. I’m not entirely sure. He mentioned my Uncle Ralph so he must be from that branch of the family.”

“Why can’t he stay in a hotel? And why is he here for a week?”

“Job interviews.”

“Guess that makes sense.” I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my hips. “He can stay in 3B. When is he arriving?”

“Tomorrow. He has your number. Take him out for a meal on his first night and make sure there’s food in 3B.”

I saluted the phone and ended the call.

Nate had been listening in. “If he has free time, you can bring him to the motel.” We were filming part of our newest reality show this week in the motel we’d bought a few months ago. “People like to watch these shows but they never get to see behind the scenes.”

Yeah that’d be something he could tell the people at home.

“What’s his name?”

Oh, fuck I forgot to ask. “I guess we’ll find out.”

When we got home, I was thrown into a long workday. Micah and I were going through checklists with our new assistant making sure everything was ready for filming in two days. There were so many balls in the air, meaning if one person pulled out or got sick, we’d have to scramble to fill their place. Nate was in and out because he was filming and he needed the schedule for the rest of the week.

“Did you see if 3B is clean? And what about food?”

I groaned and slapped a hand over my face. “Forgot.”

Nate grabbed milk from the fridge, a loaf of bread, and shoved the fruit bowl at me. It was a start but I’d need to go to the grocery store. “Don’t suppose you’d?—”

“Nope.” Nate popped the P. “Mr. No Name is your family and besides, I’m busy.”

He was right. The cousin was my responsibility. But after a long day at work, I’d pictured myself on the couch eating take out.

After gathering cleaning supplies, bedding and towels I checked on 3B, leaving the food until later. I’d had the apartment cleaned after Martin moved out and he’d left a bed, sofa and coffee table here along with the old carpet where Nate and I’d had sex.

I dusted, mopped the floor, made the bed and turned on the fridge. That’d do and I’d grab groceries in the morning. He might be sleeping here and out the rest of the time so I wouldn’t do a huge shop. I was kinda looking forward to meeting the guy and hearing how he fitted into our family tree.

And when the alarm rang an hour earlier than usual the following morning,I was cursing “the cousin” as I started thinking of him. “Why can’t he stay in a hotel?” I grumbled.

It wasn't until I returned to 3B with the groceries that I was properly awake. I needed coffee first thing and I picked up an Americano while I was out. With caffeine running through my veins, I felt vaguely human—or as human as a bear shifter could feel.

It was mid-morning when I got the call and he introduced himself as Brax.

“Hi. Looking forward to meeting you.”

“Same here,” he replied.

I made to give him directions to the manor but he already knew how to get here and he was aware I now lived next door. My parents must have filled him in. Nate was at the motel getting everything ready for filming tomorrow and Micah and I were there too as the contestants were arriving. I made a mad dash to the manor at the agreed time and Brax wasn’t waiting outside. Neil met me on the porch saying he’d let him in and he was in 3B.

“Your cousin, huh?”

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