Page 49 of Her Big Bad Wolf

Vanessa’s hand on my arm instantly calmed me which was a bit unnerving.

“He doesn’t mean it,” she said.

“Oh, yes I do.”

“Enough,” Kyle finally said. “You know, maybe we could leave them here for a few days while I find a family willing to give them one more try together.”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“I tend to agree. They can’t just stay locked up down here. It’s cold and drafty and he literally traps them down here.”

Like that damn raccoon,I thought with satisfaction.

That oldest brat had a chip on his shoulder. I didn’t need that in my life.

“I’ll take them,” Vanessa said. “They can stay with me.”

“You know that won’t work. We talked about this before. You do not have the space for three rambunctious boys.”

“They can stay in my room and I’ll sleep on the couch. It’ll be fine, at least until you find a more permanent solution.”

She leaned down and picked up the youngest of the boys, cradling him in her arms. I knew instantly that she was a natural mother. I just didn’t expect to feel anything one way or another about something like that. I was definitely no father-figure.

“I’m sorry,” Kyle told her.

The oddest sensation hit me. It was almost like I could feel her overwhelming sadness.

“They’ll stay here until you make other arrangements for them,” I surprised us all by saying. “But I’m not cleaning up after them, so she has to come and handle whatever they need.”

“I was only joking about leaving them here with you. It’s a terrible idea.”

“But I can help. He has the space, right? I can come by before and after work. I’ll make sure they get to and from school, and that they’re fed properly.”

In that moment, I knew I was screwed.

The joy I saw emanating from her overwhelmed me in ways I couldn’t explain. But I knew I’d do almost anything to make her that happy, even agreeing to keep these three little pigs if that’s what she wanted.

It was now a proven fact that I was entirely smitten by my mate.

I scowled and cursed under my breath.

No one could discover this truth, especially not her. It was sure to ruin me.

Yet, even knowing this, I agreed to take the kids, and Kyle was dumb enough to let me.

Vanessa

Chapter 15

As I drove back to work with a promise to return in time for dinner, I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

The look of shock on Kyle’s face over our new little arrangement for the boys had confirmed that this was very out of character behavior for Isaac.

I didn’t know what to think of it and was scared to dive too deep into it.

We’d decided that for today it would be best to let the boys stay put. No one was expecting them. But tomorrow I would have their butts back in school.

There was no way to know how this was all going to work out, but for now we’d just take it one day at a time—baby steps.