Page 10 of A Clutch for Hutch (Omegas of Animals #16)

Hutch

“Burns. I’m serious. I need your help. I don’t understand half of these directions.”

He shook his head, very obviously amused. I had my iPad propped up in the kitchen, food everywhere as I tried to create one of my mate’s brother’s favorite dishes. I’d called Burns as a last-ditch effort.

“I hear you, and I know you’re serious, but why? Why did you pick something so complicated? Even if I were there with you and did it for you, you’re not going to get it done in time for lunch.” So much for him being my hype-team/tutor.

“What if we eat it a little later?” Our plans were more about getting together than the meal.

“Read to the bottom of the recipe.”

I read it. Line by line by line by line, and then I saw exactly what he was talking about. “It has to stay refrigerated overnight before cooking.”

“Yeah. So I can help you get it set up, but it won’t be there in time for your mate’s brother to eat lunch.”

“But I want to make a good impression. I want him to see my place but also think I’m good enough for his brother.”

“He is going to think that, trust me. You’re an amazing catch. Now, show me all the ingredients you have and I’ll see if I can piece something together that can be done on time.”

I took my iPad down and showed him the ingredients one by one, and then, as he talked me through a new recipe, he reassured me time and time again that Dirk’s brother was going to love me.

“You don’t understand. He’s not just a brother. He’s a twin.”

“Do they look alike?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t met him yet, and when I do, I want him to look at me and think, ‘Wow, I’m so glad my brother has the perfect mate.’”

“How about you start with just having a nice lunch and worry about all that later. He sounds like a nice guy. He’s twins with your mate, so he has to be good, right?”

“I know you’re right. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.” I’d been extra on edge all day to the point of feeling nauseous a few times. It was so unlike me; I could command a boardroom. I could take down competitors with no hesitation, but meeting my mate’s family was getting the best of me.

“Because you love him, silly dragon.”

“Yeah. I really do.” I’d never understood the whole love-at-first-sight thing. I thought it was something humans made up for movies. But really, from the moment he tackle-hugged me, I was his. One hundred percent.

“Now, turn that down to simmer and hang up on me so you can go change your shirt.”

“Why? This is my good shirt.” One that consistently got compliments.

“It was a good shirt. Look at it now.”

It was covered in splatters. “Fine. I’ll go change. And, Burns…thanks. Maybe come see me?”

“Yeah. Let’s plan on that—maybe next vacation.”

I barely had my new shirt on when Dirk and his brother arrived. They weren’t bringing the kids or his mate with them today. It was naptime, and they figured it was best to do one meeting at a time, and I agreed. I wanted to get to know his brother first, or rather for him to get to know me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Hoover.” I held my hand out like the businessman I used to be, and he pulled me in for a hug.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I was worried my brother over here was gonna be alone forever.”

“Hey, you don’t think I’m a catch?” Dirk put a finger in his dimple and posed like he was on a social media post.

“No, I know you’re a catch. I just didn’t think you’d get your nose out of your work long enough to meet someone.”

He shoulder-bumped my mate, and my mate shoulder-bumped him back. I didn’t have any siblings. My parents had tried, but it never happened, and, seeing them together, I wished I had some.

“I was going to make you your favorite dinner. Got the recipe from your brother, but we’re having something else instead.”

“You didn’t—” Hoover looked at his brother. “There’s a reason I only have that once a year. It’s a pain in the ass to make. Wait…were you testing your mate?”

“No,” Dirk said quickly. “I just told him—”

“Listen.” Hoover put his arm over my shoulder. “You gotta understand my brother. He’s doing the best he can. I think he’s got vacation brain. Now show me this lunch.”

I served up bowls of the stew I’d made, and we went out onto the screened-in porch to eat, loving the slight breeze that was coming through, and chatting about the house, my old company, why I moved here—the normal things a brother trying to figure out if a mate was good enough for his twin might ask.

But then the conversation changed.

“You know, we need to go home.”

He wasn’t directing that at me. He was directing that at Dirk.

“When? Don’t you mean my mate and I?”

“No. I mean yes, but with me in tow. The conversation we need to have with Dad is about both of us. I was supposed to be alpha, and then I…left, and now you found a mate, a dragon mate, and, well, things need to be decided.”

I didn’t know a lot about fluffle politics.

My mate’s brother left because of losing a good chunk of his hearing and not wanting to be challenged for his position, which I understood fully.

Hierarchies in any pack structure looked at any differences as weaknesses.

But I still hadn’t decided if Dirk was going to leave or if I was going to go there.

Not once in those conversations had I considered the fact that they might not want me there, that my beast might scare them, or that they might be speciesist.

“Should I be worried about this trip?” I reached for my mate’s hand.

“No. Fate doesn’t make mistakes. It’s all gonna work out. We’re just going there to figure out how. And besides, I want you to meet my dad. He’s pretty awesome.” My mate’s words were more confident than his tone. “I imagine so. He has two awesome children.” I kissed his cheek.

But even as I said it, I was nervous. We were going to see my mate’s fluffle. That was kind of a big deal.

“You can tell him about the baby,” Hoover said. “That will insert some great news into the conversation.”

And both my mate and I snapped our heads in his direction.

“What baby?”

“You don’t scent it?” He leaned in toward my brother and inhaled then leaned in toward me and inhaled again. “Yeah…you’re having a baby. Or an egg. I don’t know how that works, but you’re having something. You guys are gonna be dads.”

I dropped my hand to my belly. Could it be? Was I really pregnant? How could he smell it already?

Before I could ask any of my questions out loud, my mate was wrapping his arms around me, tears streaming down his face, tears of joy.

“We’re gonna be dads,” he said. “We’re gonna be dads.”

“Yes, my love.” I held him close. “We’re gonna be dads.”