Page 61 of Baby and the Beast

Nash's face had gone pale. "Casimir—"

"Trust me."

The officers approached, their expressions neutral but alert. "Afternoon, folks," the taller one said. "Mind if we have a word?"

Casimir nodded calmly. "Something wrong, officers?"

"Got a call about a couple with a newborn out in this weather." His eyes moved to Copper, then back to Casimir. "Just want to make sure everything's okay with the little one."

Nash clutched Copper closer, trying to look natural. "We're fine, thank you. Just trying to get to my family at Asheville."

The second officer, shorter with salt-and-pepper hair, studied Nash's face. "That's quite a journey with a newborn. Can I see your ID?"

Casimir slowly reached for his wallet, extracting a driver's license.

The officer examined it, frowning slightly at the address. "Montana? Long way from home."

"We've been living up in the mountains," Casimir explained. "My cabin. Her family's in Asheville—we're trying to reach them before winter hits."

The taller officer's radio crackled. He stepped away to answer it while his partner continued questioning them.

"The baby has a birth certificate? Medical records?"

Nash's heart raced. "My ex-wife just dumped her and ran just before the storm."

The officer's eyebrows rose. "Has she been checked out by a doctor?"

“Thank God!”

They both turned as the man originally from the corner walked into the diner with a relieved smile on his face. “Nash, I’ve been going out of my mind.”

Nash immediately smelled shifter—wolf, he thought—and met the man’s eyes.

The officers turned, startled by the interruption. Nash froze, his mind racing to catch up as the stranger approached their table.

"I'm so sorry," the man continued, addressing the officers directly. "I'm Liam Wells, Nash’s brother-in-law. We've been expecting them since yesterday." He turned to Nash, his eyes conveying a silent message. "When you didn't show up at the rendezvous point, I started checking every stop along the highway."

Nash swallowed, then played along. "The storm slowed us down. My wallet got stolen at the last truck stop,” Nash wailed, dramatically. “We had to shelter overnight, and Casimir broke his phone. It’s been a total nightmare."

The taller officer studied Liam. "You know these folks?"

"Of course," Liam answered smoothly. "Nash married my sister. That's my niece he's holding." He glanced at Casimir. "And this is Casimir, Nash's partner."

The officers exchanged looks. The shorter one handed Casimir back his ID.

"Can I see your identification?" he asked Liam.

Liam pulled out his wallet before Nash could respond, offering a driver's license. "I live in Asheville. Been there about three years now. Nash was planning to join us even before..." He nodded toward Copper. "Before things got complicated with my sister." he shook his head. “Damn fool girl. Hasn’t got the sense she was born with.”

The tension in the diner gradually dissipated as Liam chatted with the officers, explaining how Nash's "wife" had left them, how the family in Asheville was ready to help with the baby. His easy confidence and detailed story slowly convinced the officers that this was simply a family matter.

"Well," the taller officer finally said, "seems like everything's in order. Just concerned about having such a young infant out in this weather."

"That's why I'm here," Liam said, patting Nash's shoulder. "To get them the rest of the way safely. My SUV's right outside, properly equipped for a newborn."

After a few more questions, the officers left, though Nash noticed them lingering in the parking lot, watching.

"You should finish eating," Liam said, sliding into the booth beside Casimir. "We've got a long drive ahead."

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