Page 178 of Fated to the Hunters
“I wanted to talk to you about something,” Scarlett admitted, handing him a candle to smell.
It was pleasantly fruity and not too strong, so he gave his blessing with a nod. “And what may that be?”
“I have been thinking about having our first baby.”
Vince grinned. “Ezra will be thrilled.”
Scarlett laughed lightly and searched for more candles similar to the fruity one. “I know, but I need someone with a logical mind to help me figure this out.”
“I will listen.”
“I only just started my education, but I also don’t want to wait until I’m finished to become a mother.”
“Understandable.”
“I have been thinking a lot about it and talked to one of my classmates—she had her baby a few months ago.”
“And you sought out her advice.”
Scarlett nodded and added the candles to the basket that Vince held for her. “She and her husband are both taking care of the baby, alternating schedules so someone is always home.”
“You would have three willing men to help you if you would like to pursue this.”
“You too?”
“Of course.”
Scarlett stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” Then the smile faded, and she turned her face away from him. “Can I be honest, and you not judge me or think of me as a bad mate?”
“You can.”
She sighed, taking her time to find her words and distracting herself with the candles on the shelf. “Do you think Ezra would do okay with watching the baby on his own?”
“He’ll do wonderfully.”
“A big part of me knows that, I just… Now that I said it out loud I think it’s ridiculous that I even questioned it.”
“Some thoughts need to be made verbal to fully process them. I would not worry about the child, not his and not Mateo’s either. He might teach them to swear and tell them horror stories instead of fairytales, but I think that will only build character.”
“Character,” she repeated and chuckled. “Oh, I feel so stupid for questioning him.”
“Ezra has many sides but with you, he seems to have found a middle ground.”
“How do you handle his emotions consistently intruding your mind?”
“It was hard at first. It was always loud, and I had trouble sleeping. When I did, my dreams were wrapped up in hisfeelings, making them rather restless. Mateo helped me learn to focus on my emotions and push Ezra’s into the background.”
“Like the traffic when living on a busy road?”
“Or the horn of a train every night at midnight. After a while, you won’t register it anymore.” He took her hand and gently rubbed his thumb over hers. “It will take time, and Ezra understands that. Seeking out distance at the beginning will help too.”
“I don’t want him to think I love him less because I can’t cope with it.”
“He knows that and if he is a jerk about it, Mateo and I will teach him a very gentle lesson.”
Scarlett burst out laughing then. “That I expected Mateo to say.”
“Don’t be afraid, Scarlett. There is nothing we can’t do. You want to be a mother, you have three men happy to make you one. You want your degree and start a career? We will keep those doors wide open for you. You are everything and more to us.”
