Page 157 of Dream Girl
“I’m sure he does. I’ll ask. Thanks,” I added, with only a hint of sarcasm, because it was a good idea.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t want to deal with the shit I’m going to have to now that she’s here. I didn’t even know that I still needed to.” He took another gulp of his drink.
“Me, too,” I agreed. “Evan was likeGo to therapy with Grace, it’ll be good for you.So, I did, without realizing that it would highlight everything I need to work out for myself so that I don’t hurt her with it.”
My alpha insecurities about not being able to protect her were not for her to deal with.
Grace also desperately needed to talk to someone. But that brought up a whole distinct set of issues. Such as the fact that she was terrified that she’d say the wrong thing or reveal too much.
Brennan raised his glass. “Therapy for everyone.”
“Why does Evan sendyouvenue pictures?” I took a sip of my drink.
“There’s a local property I’m considering buying. He thinks it’ll make a good event venue,” he replied.
“Would it? You don’t have one of those, do you?” The hotels he owned had events–like his wedding.
“Not one that’s not also a hotel. It’ll take some money to fix up.”
“You’ll figure it out. You’re a genius with this shit,” I told him. He’d still been at university when he’d won an old hotel in a card game and turned it into a luxury destination.
“Thanks.” He went quiet for a moment, sloshing the bourbon around in the glass. “Evan says he’s going to marry Grace there. Is he marrying you, too?”
I finished my drink and signaled for another. “Honestly, I’ll do whatever he wants. He can marry just her, us both, or all three of us. I’ll marry her, too. I don’t care, as long as it makes them happy. Grace and I had talked about a wedding when we were young. Would any of those impact the pack?”
Brennan thought for a moment. “Since you’re bonded to both of them, not really. It’s an excuse to have a party. Well, there would be legal implications for Evan and Grace marrying each other, but they wouldn’t affect the pack overall, and would protect them. Youdidformally register your bond with Grace, right?”
I nodded. “Yep. That and getting a legal agreement with her were Katie’s first action items. I also got her on everything at work, added her to my accounts, all that.”
“Your accounts?” His eyebrows rose.
“My personal ones. She’s my mate, and doesn’t have a job, or money of her own.” I shrugged.
“She came herebroke?” He frowned.
I shot him a hard look. “She had a lot of education and no family support.”
Apparently, education was ridiculously expensive where she came from.
“Did you see her ribs when she first arrived? She barely had enough toeat,and that was with her job,” I added. Now she didn’t look like a half-starved waif. That haunted look was mostly out of her eyes. She didn’t look at my arms like she couldn’t remember when she was last hugged. But I did what I could so she wouldn’t be touch-starved anymore.
“Oh.” Brennan went quiet for a moment. “It’s inevitable, isn’t it? Her joining the pack. Not now, I mean, we’re not ready, and there’s still an investigation, and I haven’t even finished interviewing pack lawyers, but…”
There was a hint of panic in his voice. But he’d just mentioned herjoining the pack.That was huge.
“Eventually, yes. Especially if Evan marries her.” I’d like to see her brought into the pack at some point, but right now I’d be happy with everyone accepting her presence.
“Who is Evan marrying?” Jett joined us. “Whiskey soda,” he told the bartender.
“Grace, apparently.” Brennan shrugged. “But we’ll still need to vote and talk it over–andwe’re not there yet.”
Jett snorted. “We get to vote on whether Evan can marry Grace? Or are we voting on wedding specifics? I think we should throw them out of an airplane.”
“Fuck.” I laughed, trying to imagine that.
“For what it’s worth, I sorta like her. Wes, what was that byplay between you and Spencer this morning?” Jett sipped his drink.
“Spencer keeps threatening to court her.” It was my turn to shrug.
