Page 143 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Naw, just your typical thief.” Neil stuck out his tongue and the guy laughed.

“Good because I didn’t want to lecture you about meeting people you think might be serial killers. That would be a boring date.” He held the door open for us. “Let’s get in and maybe discuss our social security numbers.”

At least the guy had a sense of humor and was gorgeous and didn’t seem to mind my friends there. Maybe he was a keeper after all. Not that I was jumping into anything, especially not into bed. Been there, done that, lost all the monies.

We ate greasy burgers and fries and cheese sticks. We drank floats and even finished off with pie. There was nothing healthy about this dinner and I’d have been worried about gaining some weight if I hadn’t gotten a full on ab work out from all the laughing.

If my awkwardness wasn’t having people giggle, Nate had us cracking up. And Neil and Martin… heck they held their own. I couldn’t remember a night when I laughed this hard and freely.

“This was great.” Nate handed his credit card to the server, waving off Martin who had his out as well. “I got it. I haven’t laughed this hard in ages… not since the last time I had a family dinner with my brothers and parents.”

“Are you saying your date was like a family dinner?” Neil asked. “Cause pretty sure Daire was hoping it was more date like than parent like.”

I didn’t know if I should love or kiss him. I adored how at ease Neil was with Martin. I knew they had things they needed to figure out, but seeing Neil carefree like this was wonderful.

“Don’t worry.” Nate wrapped his arm around me. “I was.”

57

THE REVEAL

Ivor

“Is there a reason we’re sitting in the car and not getting out?” Ryder asked.

We were at the clinic for our first ultrasound and while I wanted to see our baby, I was also scared. “What if they can’t find a heartbeat?” The butterflies in my belly were crawling up my throat and I put my hand on the door in case I had to open it and throw up.

We were getting on better after I’d apologized to him and to his new employee for my bad behavior. And admitted to myself—though not to Ryder—that I was jealous.

“I’m nervous too.”

“You are? You never said anything.”

“Neither did you.” He put his hand over mine. “We could sit here and not go in.”

“We could but we’re not going to,” I told him.

“How about I count to three and on three we get out?”

“Why not count down from three and we move on zero?” I was deliberately prolonging the moment when I had to leave the safety of the car.

“We can do that,” Ryder agreed.

He was doing everything to humor me when as the alpha dad, he was experiencing much the same emotion as I was. And yet for him there was an added complication of not carrying the little one inside him. He relied on me to tell him how I was feeling. And he also wanted to make sure I was safe and well and had what I needed.

“You with me? Let’s start the countdown.” I caught his eye and we counted, “Three. Two. One. Blast off.” And we were out and standing in the parking lot. “I thought we were saying zero. How did you know to say ‘Blast off,’” I asked.

“Because I know you. You’ve used that expression countless times.”

“Oh.” He’d been paying attention.

Paperwork. Of course, the first time you visited a hospital, clinic, or doctor there were so many forms to fill in. But Ryder did it, relieving me of that anxiety. Faced with a mountain of paperwork always increased my anxiety level. He understood that too.

My nerves announced themselves in my jiggling knee and Ryder placed his leg against mine which calmed me. And when my name was called, he took my sweaty palm.

Lying down, my flat belly exposed, Ryder kept his hand in mine while I gripped his fingers. Some day it was hard to believe there was a baby inside me.

The technician arrived, all bright and bubbly and warmed the gel. That was one thing I’d been warned about: cold gel. One more fear ticked off the list.

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