Page 87 of Taken In Trade
“I’m good,” she says, leaning over to run her fingers over Kassie’s cheek. “Or I was until my ovaries exploded. God, she looks so tiny compared to you. I just got baby fever so bad.”
I chuckle, wrapping my arm around her lower back. There’s every possibility that it’s just her hormones talking, but it makes my shoulders pull back.
In my early twenties, I would have run the other way from a baby. Deeper into my twenties, I started really considering if I wanted kids one day. Losing my dad so young was rough, and I’d never want to leave a family without someone to financially provide for them. Maybe that’s why pack life started looking so appealing as I got into my early thirties. I’d always know my partner had someone else to look out for them if the worst happened.
“She really does look small compared to him,” Angel chimes in. “At least you know you’ll have one guy up with you for all the late-night feedings.” She snorts. “Moretti comes into the room, sees Kassie, and legit runs the other direction. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”
That woman really does chatter too much.
Moretti wouldn’t be pleased to hear her telling Vanessa that. It’s true, but I think he’d be different with his own kids.
Vanessa snorts. “He wouldn’t get away with that for long. Not if he wanted to keep his balls attached to his body.”
I bark a laugh, shaking my head.
Never did I think Emory would meet his match. Knowing Vanessa is going to keep him on his toes for life makes me strangely giddy. He deserves no less.
Once she’s done eating, Angel takes Kassie and heads back to her room.
Vanessa sits in the chair adjacent to mine, and I scoot closer, brushing my fingers over her cheek. She’s not hot, which is good, but she seems rundown. Even the smile she flashes when she sees me studying her seems forced.
“Are you hungry?” I nod back toward the island, where the chef leaves the pans for each meal. “I’m happy to make you a plate.”
“Maybe a little.” Her head wobbles up and down and then side to side. She brings a hand to rub her abdomen. “I probably shouldn’t eat, though. I have a stomachache, and I’m afraid eating will make it worse.”
“Would you like me to have the chef make soup for lunch?”
“No, that’s okay.” She flashes another fake smile. “The breakfast smells really good. I just don’t want to risk having an upset stomach, especially if we have to go anywhere.”
I shrug. “It’s just me and you today. The plan is to stay around the house.”
“Okay, maybe just some hash browns and plain pancakes.”
“You got it, sweetheart.” I cup her cheek, running my thumb over the dark circle under her eye. “After you eat, we should takeit easy. Maybe watch a movie in the theater or up in the pack bed.”
She nods, and I slide off my chair.
Moretti wasn’t wrong.
She needs a day of rest and pampering.
Feeding Vanessa breakfast by hand soothes my frayed edges. The only thing that would make it better was if she sat in my lap while I fed her.
There’s always lunch.
She calls it about halfway through the plate, but I feel better knowing she has something in her system.
It only takes a little coaxing to get her to come up to the pack bedroom to watch a movie with me. The housekeeper must have tackled the bed first thing because it has new sheets and a blanket.
I toss the comforter back, nodding for her to climb onto the bed. “Get comfy, sweetheart. I just need to unlace my boots.”
“God, I’m freezing, and I have no idea why.” She scrambles onto the bed and pulls the blanket up around her chest. “Take your belt off too. It’ll poke me, and I want to cuddle.”
I’ve never been much of a cuddler, despite my predisposition as a caregiver. Maybe it’s because no one has everwantedto snuggle with me, so I got by without it.
She’s going to fuck me up if she leaves me behind for Moretti. I’m fine with being part of a pack, but I need to know I’m an equally wanted member.
“Seriously, why is it so cold in here? Is the heat broken?” she asks.
