Page 37 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

He peered at Hashtag, who stared at the flowers.

“I’ll be honest, I never thought of having kids. I figured I’d be dead long before it ever became a thing. But then again, I also never considered I’d have what I do now.” He met Roadkill’s gaze. “For the first time in mylife, I can actually see a future unfurling before me.” Hashtag cocked his head. “What about you?”

Roadkill huffed. “If you’d asked me a couple of years ago, I’d have told you kids weren’t part of the equation. But now?” He gave a shrug. “I’m not the same man anymore. And yeah,thisman kinda likes the idea of tiny Hashtags and Eves clinging to my ankles.”

Hashtag grinned. “Looking at the size of you, any offspringyouproduce? Yeah, we’rereallytalking tiny.”

Roadkill gave him the finger.

“Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t always felt like this,” Eve told them. “When I was younger, I was dead set against motherhood.”

“Any reason why?” Roadkill asked.

She flung out her arm. “Because it was what wasexpectedof me. I wasn’t supposed to join the military, remember? It was decided—without the slightest bit of input from me—that my role was to stay home and care for the kids. And honestly, I would have been okay with that if I’d been consulted, but I wasn’t, and that bugged the hell out of me. I mean, really? This wasmyfuture they were planning. So I chose my own route, because I figured it would piss off my family. I was determined to show them I wasn’tjusta woman.”

Hashtag gazed at her with affection. “You’re notjustanything. Never were, never will be.”

“Are you enjoying my gardens?”

Roadkill turned to find a slight man with longish brown hair and the most stunning eyes he’d ever seen, bronze-green, bright, and alive with intelligence. “Mr. Deveraux? Unless you have a title, and if that’s the case, my apologies, but no one has mentioned it.”

“Yes, I do, but I don’t use it.” Deveraux smiled. “Which is why no one has mentioned it. And please, call me Richard. I’m happy to be of help.” His gaze alighted on Eve, and he stilled. “And who are you?”

“Eve Duncan, our mate,” Roadkill blurted.

Richard beamed. “Then I am delighted to meet the three of you. I dream of finding my mate.”

Eve chuckled. “Be careful what you wish for. They seem to come in threes.”

He laughed. “Even better. Are you comfortable in your rooms? Do you need anything?”

“You have a wonderful home, and we’ve got everything we could want,” Hashtag affirmed.

“Then I’ll leave you to enjoy the sunshine and the peace—while we have it.” His eyes sparkled. “You never know how long it will last around here.”

From someplace nearby, a riot of voices shattered the tranquility of the scene.

“Oh my God, you’re being invaded,” Hashtag gasped.

Richard laughed. “You’re right, and most of the invaders aren’t even four feet high.”

“IwarnedH about those sheep,” Hashtag remonstrated.

“It’s the children from the local orphanage. They come here often to play in the open air, to run around where there’s plenty of space, to help out on the farm.” He pointed to the left. “Part of Leighton Hall is a farm with chickens, goats, pigs, horses….” Richard’s face fell. “Life has given these children a rough start, so I try to give them some pleasant moments. One of the barns has been turned into sleeping quarters, and they love to come here on trips.”

“You’re a good man,” Eve said in an earnest tone.

Richard flushed. “If any of you were in my position, I’m sure you’d do the same.” He gave them a nod, then headed back into the hall.

“Nice man,” Hashtag murmured.

Roadkill arched his eyebrows. “Nice as in merelynice—or as in, he’s a good-looking dude?”

Eve gave a mock gasp. “I’m seeing a whole new side to you today.”

“Me too.” To Roadkill’s surprise, Hashtag stood, hauled him to his feet, and kissed him, a no-holds-barred, toe-curling kinda kiss that sent heat surging through him.

To quote a song, I only have eyes for you—two! Hashtag added hurriedly.

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