Page 41 of Mate For Hire (For Hire 3)

“There won’t be a fight.”

“This isn’t the time for positive thinking, Gerard. We need to be realistic. You and I have always preferred the city, but it might be better to raise the baby here. Especially if at some point, he decides he needs to fly. Lord, I can only imagine the humans’ reactions to that in daycare.”

“Daycare?”

“Never mind.”

Gerard took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. She tried to pull away, not wanting to show off their decision to be together right off the bat. Gerard refused to let her go, so she had no choice but to waddle along close to his side.

One of the shifters opened the door as they strode up and nodded in respect to Gerard. Lachelle expected the next person they ran into to be stupid Kelly, demanding to know where Gerard had been and what he thought he was doing bringing Lachelle back there.

She got the shock of her life when Declan strolled up and drew his brother into a hug and followed it with one for her. She blinked in confusion. “Declan? You’re out? Janessa didn’t tell me.”

Her sister darted around her husband and hugged Lachelle. “I knew you guys were coming here. Rather, I knew Gerard would drag you back. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

Lachelle glared at her sister. “You’re laughing, but do you know the stress I’ve felt the whole way here, woman? Now I know why Gerard looked like that when we drove up. He knew Declan was inside the building. Must be nice to smell everything.”

Janessa snorted.

“Auntie Chelly,” Bannon declared and launched himself at her leg. She bent down and kissed and hugged her nephew. He’d grown in the few months she was gone.

“Hey, little man. Look at you, looking like your daddy.”

Her nephew stared at her belly. “You’ve eaten a lot of food! I eat a lot of food too, but my belly doesn’t get big.” He patted his stomach.

Janessa shook her head. “Shush, boy. You know she’s pregnant. I told you she’s having your cousin. Sorry, Lachelle. I don’t know where he’s getting his sense of humor. He’ll be a stand up comic when he grows up, if the mess that comes out of his mouth is any indicator.”

Lachelle laughed. “You think he’s joking?”

“He is. Wait until you’re around longer. He drives me crazy.”

Someone cleared their throat, and Lachelle noticed the council members for the first time. Her stomach knotted, and Gerard led her farther into the meeting room. She didn’t have to be a shifter to sense her lover’s defiance. The determined set to his jaw, the angry light in his silver eyes, and the stiffness in his gait told their own tale.

“I’m here to resign,” Gerard growled. “And I intend to bond with Lachelle. If any of you try to get in the way, you’ll regret it.”

Declan burst out laughing. Lachelle ran a hand over her face, groaning. The council members all paled

and mumbled about respect and the proper way a king should carry himself.

One of the men spoke up. “You’ve hardly taken your role as our leader seriously, Gerard, and you come in here with another human—”

Gerard’s teeth sharpened as he drew his lips back from them. “What did you say?”

“Uh…”

“Everyone, calm down.” Declan beamed as he took a seat at the long table, around which the council members reclined.

Lachelle was glad he was amused. Never mind that she might be thrown out on her own. Gerard said he wouldn’t leave her, but she couldn’t allow him to be separated from his family. She had suffered being apart from her own family, even with Malcolm’s friendship.

“I have some news you’ll all want to hear,” Declan explained. “Before you jump to conclusions.”

Declan signaled to one of his men, and the man disappeared only to return with Kelly. Bitter disappointment gripped Lachelle. She’d hoped Kelly flew back to whatever precinct she worked in and would stay there. She should have known that was too much to hope for. Then something occurred to her. Kelly didn’t come into the hall of her own accord. She was practically dragged in.

“What’s going on?” Gerard demanded. “Why are you being rough with her?”

Jealousy raised its ugly head in Lachelle. Was he still claiming to feel nothing for this woman? Of course, he didn’t act like he wanted to rip someone’s head off to defend her, but he didn’t like her being mistreated.

“This person has some explaining to do,” one of the men said, holding onto Kelly. He spoke to Declan. “Your suspicions are confirmed, sir.”

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