Page 10

Chapter Ten

Ethan

E ven I was amazed at how easily we settled into a routine. Of the thirty-five callouts we did in the next three weeks, I found keys for nine of them.

I worried Kingston would be mad because I was taking away his business, but he simply beamed with pride. And most of the grateful owners of the found keys gave us big tips because of the money and hassle we saved them.

Finding keys was easy.

Keeping up with Kingston’s mood swings was getting easier.

Convincing Gran to move in with us was tougher.

She carried on about how we needed to settle into our coupledom before she invaded.

Kingston kept repeating that we had the room set up for her, and he’d be honored if she made our home hers as well.

Gran was stubborn, though.

So I split my time between Kingston’s house—well, now my place too—and spending time with Gran. I was getting tired, and I worried about both of them home alone for extended periods of time. She’d lived alone for years, but I’d always been right next door. Now I was miles away.

Kingston still tried to do everything, and the doctor wasn’t happy with his progress.

Or lack thereof.

Gran tried to do everything herself and wound up scratching herself on the roses.

The two most important people in my life.

Stubborn as hell.

I sat in the kitchen one morning as my love scrolled on his phone. I hadn’t told him that I loved him…yet. But my feelings had to be pretty damn clear to him. “Maybe if we held a dinner party?”

He raised his gaze to meet mine. And blinked. “Dinner party?”

“Yeah. We can invite Peter, Thomas, Skylar, and Samuel. Gran’s a huge fan of Peter’s—so she’ll want everything to be perfect. If she comes over to help, then she’ll see what a great house you have and how her bedroom is so convenient and…” Because I’d yet to coerce—sorry, convince—Gran to visit.

Kingston had come with me several times to see her.

She’d been charmed.

And yet still had refused to come over.

“A dinner party? I don’t do…dinner parties.”

I clapped my hands. “Well, it’s time to start. Having the Ericksons over for dinner is perfect.” Well, Thomas and the kids went by his last name, not Peter’s, and I couldn’t remember what that was. They’d made the decision so the kids would have a prayer of not always being known as Peter Erickson’s children. He loved them, but he didn’t want them saddled with fame.

Truthfully, I understood that.

“I don’t know…” Kingston frowned.

“Well, we could invite Hallstein and Myles as well.” I had yet to meet the couple, but they sounded adorable. “Oh, and Kat, Gillian, and—”

“No.” He shook his head. “The women or the studio people.”

“But Tabitha is a studio person.”

“Yes, but the Walshes, Hallstein, and Myles aren’t shifters. I think…” He frowned.

“Ha! You’re considering it.” I pumped my fist in the air.

He glowered.

For two-point-six seconds.

“Separate. So pick one or the other. The Walshes might be busy, you know. Peter’s in demand—”

“They’re available Friday. Hallstein said he and Myles would be thrilled to attend, and they’re bringing the best Caesar salad ever.” I scrunched my nose. “I think mine’s pretty good, but I’m happy to fawn over someone else’s. Gran agreed we should make one vegetarian and one meat dish. We’re still debating what the kids should—”

Kingston waved his hand in the air, effectively silencing me.

“Wait.”

“Uh…okay…”

“You’ve already invited everyone?”

“Well, I didn’t invite Kat, Gillian, and Tabitha. I thought of the whole mixing shifters and non-shifters thing. I figured I’d leave that up to you. Personally, I know this amazing buck shifter who I think would be perfect for Kat—”

He waved his hand again.

I sighed

“You’re thinking of setting up a lioness shifter with a buck shifter?”

“Of course. I mean, I guess she could eat him. But she didn’t eat us, and we’re so much easier on the digestive—”

He closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh. “So you’re telling me Hallstein, Myles, Peter, Thomas, and the two kids are coming…?”

“Friday night.”

“Friday night.” He repeated the words for size. “And today is…?”

“Wednesday.” How does he not know what day it is? He’s so obsessive about these — “Oh.”

“Yes, oh. These things take time to plan—”

“I thought you said you didn’t do dinner parties.”

His mouth slammed shut.

“Gran is coming over this afternoon. The delivery will be here within an hour, so she’ll have everything she needs. If I’m not out on a call with you, then I’ll help her. You’re sitting back and reclining and enjoying the fragrant smells permeating your home.”

That, at least, brought a smile to his face. His old high-back chair had a new home in the living room, and we’d installed a recliner in the family room. He was now able to raise his ankle without having to use his coffee table—which had driven him nuts to do.

I rose. “I forgot to tell you that I found a neat little store nearby that has a great selection of fruits and vegetables.”

He sighed.

Undaunted, I continued. “Anyway, I just had to stop.” I moved to the fridge. “Look what they had. Raspberries. You like raspberries, right? And I found sour plums. I remember my friend Jake getting drunk on them. Who knew that was a thing?”

“My friend Luigi ate too many that one time. He got so drunk he fell out of the tree. Bad back sprain. He was able to shift, though. Swore he’d never eat them again.”

“Well, you’re only going to have one or two.”

“I didn’t—”

“Just the raspberries this morning.” I had washed them thoroughly before putting them in a bowl. I handed him that and a fork.

“Don’t I get whipped cream?”

“If you’re good today, we can have whipped cream tonight.”

The doorbell buzzed.

“In bed.” I darted from the room and made it to the front door quickly. I opened the door to find one of the handsomest men I’d ever met standing before me. He wore a green-and-black uniform and had a wide grin on his beautiful face. “Grocery delivery for Ethan?”

“Yep. That’s me.” I eyed the bins he’d piled on the front porch. “Let me grab some bags—”

“I can bring these in the house—”

“Oh no. No shoes.”

“I can remove—”

“Really, I’ll be right back.” I closed the door and headed to the closet in the laundry room where we kept the cloth bags.

I returned to find Kingston peeking out the front window—toward the porch. “What are you doing?”

“He’s very attractive.”

“Yeah…okay…” I pulled four bags out from a larger one, giving me five good ones to work with.

“Is he gay?”

I blinked. “How on earth would I know? I don’t generally ask the sexual orientation of my delivery drivers. I do want them to come back instead of going back to their companies, making legitimate complaints about sexual harassment, and then getting us blacklisted.”

“Well…when you put it like that—”

“I’m gay and very taken.”

The young man’s voice rang clear.

Damn. I hadn’t closed the front door all the way. “Uh, sorry.” I opened the front door. “My boyfriend’s just…”

“Jealous?”

I held up my thumb and forefinger a quarter of an inch apart.

Hunky delivery driver arched an eyebrow.

I held them an inch apart. “We’re new.”

“Well, congrats. I hope things go well.” He snagged the biggest bag and quickly filled it with fruits and vegetables.

I hauled the sack of potatoes inside and then returned to get the two jugs of milk.

By then, he had most of the dry goods in another bag and was starting on the dairy products.

Kingston had a thing for cheese.

Go figure.

Within a couple of minutes, I had everything loaded into the house and the cute guy was backing his delivery van out of the driveway and was headed south.

I went back in the house and wiped my feet on the mat. They were nearly frozen, but I hadn’t had time to don socks or shoes. “I need to get slippers.”

“I’ll buy you a pair.”

After a moment, I pursed my lips. “Jealousy? Honestly, Kingston, it doesn’t look good on you. I mean, I guess I should be flattered, but—”

“You’re right.” He winced as he continued to balance on his crutches. “I just…” He sighed. “I’ve never dated anyone as attractive as you before. And people look. As they should. But I want to snatch you away and say hands off, he’s mine .”

“Oh, babe. I am yours. I live here. I want Gran to move in with us. Would someone who wasn’t committed do those things?”

Indecision warred on his face. He’d never said anyone had hurt him—had betrayed him. But then, as he had admitted, he’d never dated anyone seriously. Feelings had never become entrenched. He’d never enmeshed himself into someone else’s life.

I advanced on him, then ran my index finger down his chest. “You’re my fated mate. Now, are we good?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Great. Let’s get cracking. Or, uh, putting groceries away.”

We did.

Well, I did, and he supervised.

Then Gran came over.

Kingston and I had only a few callouts and so, by Friday night—without things to occupy his time—he was going out of his mind.

I did convince him to tussle with me in the backyard Thursday around midnight—in our animal forms, of course.

By the end, he was breathless, happy, and we made love under the full moon.

On a heated blanket, but we still froze our asses off and, totally zero regrets.

“Christmas is coming soon.” Gran pulled her famous dinner rolls out of the oven as I checked to make certain the honey butter was the perfect consistency.

“I know. Mom’s asked me to bring Kingston for Christmas dinner.” I tapped my fingers on the counter, holding back the urge to ask Gran—again—if she’d move in. As a Christmas present to me.

“I think that’s a lovely idea. I don’t understand why you’re reticent. Your mother’s thrilled you’ve met your fated.”

My nose twitched at the fresh-baked smell. “Dad’s not, though.”

“Well…” She put her hand on her hip. “My son’s a stubborn one. He…thought you’d carry on the lineage.”

“I’ve been looking into squirrel-shifter surrogates. It would be my sperm.”

“Yes, but…”

“He envisioned me bringing home a beautiful squirrel to complete the picture. Not a grumpy racoon.”

She laughed. “He does have his moments.”

“Oh, Gran, he’s so much better than he used to be. Of course, he puts on his best show for you—”

“I want him to be himself.”

I tapped my chin. “A sex demon? Because, let me tell you—”

“Ethan.” She swatted me with her oven mitt.

I laughed.

Kingston hobbled into the kitchen. “I heard laughing.” He met Gran’s gaze. “That always worries me.”

She nodded solemnly. “Often, with my favorite grandson, that means trouble.”

“Hey, I’m your only grandson.” Despite squirrels being prolific maters, my parents only had me and my three younger—and as of yet still unmarried—sisters. Perhaps if one or more of them married and had pups of their own, my dad might stress less.

The doorbell buzzed.

Kingston and I had a long conversation about allowing socks, and maybe even shoes, in the house. He’d managed to keep his mouth shut with Gran and I trusted him to do the same with our guests.

I scooted to the front door and opened it to find Hallstein and Myles. A greater study in contrasts, I couldn’t remember meeting.

Hallstein was very much like Kingston—black hair, dark-brown eyes and very serious.

With a black silk tie. Covered in neon Christmas balls.

Myles was far more like myself—a riot of color. With his white-blond hair, light-brown eyes, neon-green shirt that matched one of the Christmas balls, and a pair of red suede pants. He was also shorter than his husband by several inches.

I grinned as I held the door open for them.

To my surprise, Myles wrapped me in a warm hug. “We just knew Kingston was going to find the right person. He’s come out of his shell so much.”

I blinked, then gazed at Hallstein. He’d brought a small safe to the house a week back because the owner, a lovely actress named Elouise, had lost the key. Apparently, she’d been on set the day of the infamous janitor’s closet incident, and just figured Hallstein could help.

His solution was to drop by our place. After having called first, of course.

I’d been doing laundry in the basement, and so had left Kingston and the security chief alone.

And now Hallstein’s husband was claiming my mate had come out of his shell? “Uh, okay.”

Hallstein smiled as he held a stainless-steel bowl. “He…spoke glowingly of you. I might’ve overshared with my dearest.” He shot Myles what I’d term a warning glare.

Myles smiled, blew a kiss, toed off his shoes, grabbed the bowl, and headed toward the kitchen.

In his wake, Hallstein sighed. He bent to untie his laces.

“I love him.” I couldn’t help myself.

Hallstein shot up and nearly overbalanced. “Well, uh, he is quite…a lot.”

I blinked.

He blinked.

“I meant Myles. In the platonic I think he’s so fab sense.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “I also meant Myles. In the yes, we’re complete opposites and yet I can’t imagine my life without him sense. But I also think you and Kingston are perfect for each other. If Myles and I made it, you and Kingston can as well.”

On impulse, I went up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

Before he could answer, the doorbell buzzed.

“I’ll just get out of your way.”

“You know where the kitchen is.”

Gran’s laugher mixed with Myles’s reached us.

“Ah, yes. Making friends wherever he goes.” Hallstein saluted and headed toward the back of the house.

I opened the front door to find two of the most adorable creatures I’d ever beheld.

And their fathers.

Things were chaotic as we got coats, mitts, and boots off the kids.

Skylar, who was barely three, babbled and, although little made sense to me, she was clearly taken with my bow tie.

Samuel was a quiet one. He’d had some medical issues, as Thomas had explained to me, and was a little behind in normal infant progress. He wasn’t crawling yet, and very much preferred to be carried by Peter.

The doctor said the little guy would find his footing eventually and that, for now, security and comfort were more important than some milestones.

Their daughter’s mother had used drugs until she’d discovered she was pregnant, so Skylar’s infancy hadn’t been the easiest either. Now, though, she was a healthy toddler.

She escaped Thomas’s grasp and followed the sound of voices.

He ran after her, muttering apologies.

I took a placid Samuel from Peter so he could at least take his coat and shoes off. He gave me a sheepish look.

“Relax. I love kids.”

One of the sexiest men on the planet—according to people everywhere—offered me a genuine smile. “I’m so grateful for that.”

I glanced behind me. “We’re, uh…exploring our options.” I turned back to Peter.

Slowly, he nodded. “I think it’s a great idea. Thomas and I chose adoption because we found kids in need. Surrogacy is also an option.”

“That’s probably the route we’ll take…” Because there didn’t tend to be many orphan shifter children—although that did occasionally happen. We’d discussed it and, if we found a child in need, we wouldn’t hesitate.

Yes, my Kingston had come a very long way.

“Skylar!” Thomas’s warning was appreciated.

A blur of toddler nearly barreled into me.

I clung to Samuel while Peter scooped his daughter into his arms.

She squealed.

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.

Myles poked his head through the archway. “Gran says wash your hands right now.” He cocked his head. “And she’s a little scary, so I wouldn’t argue with her.”

Peter frowned, but Thomas nudged his biceps. “Total joke. Gran’s a sweetheart.” He smiled at me. “Reminds me of my mother. Turns to mush around her grandkids.”

That made me smile because I envisioned my grandmother doting on great-grandchildren. Oh, my mother would love my kids as well, but Gran was just…special. She had a way of making everyone feel they had a place in the world. That they were, in essence, as special as she was.

We all took turns in the powder room and soon, we all sat at the dining room table. At my insistence, Gran and Kingston each sat at the end. I positioned myself next to my mate and close to the kitchen so I could be the one to leap up if anything was missed.

Nothing had been.

The next hour was one of the best of my life. Everyone at the table contributed something unique. And all the adults took turns holding Samuel—who quite enjoyed the experience.

In the end, after dessert, Skylar took Myles on a tour of the house while the rest of us lounged and chatted.

Gran was in her element.

Kingston coped admirably.

None of us acted like having one of the biggest action movie stars on the planet dining with us was a big deal.

Said action star insisted on helping with the dishes—along with Hallstein and me.

Gran sat at the kitchen island and supervised.

And proclaimed, halfway through, that she was looking forward to moving in and keeping an eye on my boys.

Peter rescued the glass pan I nearly dropped.

I ran over and embraced her, uncaring of what anyone thought.

See, I knew she’d come around.

I couldn’t wait to give her great-grandbabies. Or to introduce her to Kat, Gillian, and Tabitha.

After everyone, including Gran, had headed home, Kingston held me tight as we discussed how quickly we could move her in so she didn’t have a chance to change her mind.