Page 42 of Puck Your Bunny

I lower my cup, staring up into his dark eyes. "You sat through the whole program?"

Wally nods, his expression serious. "We learned the basics for manual transfers and spent a couple of weeks practicing the body mechanics in the lab. The instructors showed us the right ways to support his weight without hurting him or us."

Simon walks back into the kitchen, tossing his empty sandwich wrapper into the trash can. "We read up on how to move him without stressing his joints, and now we want to put it to use. Vinny comes over at two for the shower routine, and we plan to help out."

"You want to do the transfer?" I look between the two of them.

"We want Vinny to supervise." Kel calls out from the other room. He raises his voice to carry down the hall. "We know the theory, but we need the nurse to check our form and make sure we keep Bren secure."

It makes total sense. Learning the right way in the house with a professional checking their work proves their dedication.

"The bathroom is tiny." I take a slow breath, picturing the layout. "The cramped space forces us to use a manual lift insteadof the Hoyer. Moving him requires both me and Vinny working together. The strain wrecks our lower backs."

"We got the muscle for it." Kel answers from the other room. "Me and Wally can handle the transfer. You and Vinny get to supervise."

Wally steps closer, crowding me against the kitchen island. He uses his broad frame to shield us from the hallway view. He drops his hand to the counter, letting his knuckles drag along the curve of my waist. The heat from his body sinks right through my clothes.

"Let us take the strain off you." Wally leans down, dropping his voice to a quiet rasp near my ear. "You get to step back and relax."

My pulse jumps. A hot ache pulses between my thighs. My body reacts to his nearness in a heartbeat. A harsh spike of guilt twists my stomach right after. Brendan sits just down the hall, and I stand here getting worked up over another Alpha.

I stare at his chest. Earning their spot in this family drives every move they make. They show up, they ask for guidance, and they test boundaries.

"Okay." I nod, clearing my throat to find my voice. "Vinny gets here at two."

Simon flashes a massive grin, turning the hot water on in the sink to wash his hands. Wally bumps his hip against mine, a smug, satisfied smirk pulling at his lips.

I let out a slow breath. We have a plan for the afternoon, and for the first time in a long time, I have real help.

The morning hours fade into the afternoon. The guys stick around, fitting right into the midday grind. Simon makes a quickrun to the grocery store to grab sandwich supplies for lunch. Kel keeps the sports channel playing, talking Brendan through the defensive breakdowns of last week's games. Wally helps me prep the bathroom, hauling the stack of fresh towels and Brendan's clean clothes from the laundry room.

We finish washing the lunch dishes right as the grandfather clock in the hallway chimes two. A solid knock rattles the front door a second later. I walk out of the kitchen, wiping my wet hands on a dish towel. I pull the door open. Vinny stands on the porch, wearing his dark blue scrubs and carrying a waterproof clipboard.

"Hey, Vayda." Vinny steps inside, kicking his sneakers off on the entryway mat. "Ready to get him cleaned up?"

"We're ready." I shut the door and lock the deadbolt. "The guys are in the living room with Bren."

Vinny walks down the hall and turns the corner. I follow right behind him. A nature documentary plays at a low volume on the television. Brendan sits in his spot, his blue eyes tracking the wildlife on the screen. Wally, Kel, and Simon sit on the couches around him. They keep their voices low and calm. They chat about the upcoming season, treating Brendan like one of the guys.

Brendan lets out a low, rumbling hum from his chest. His right hand twitches on the armrest. The chill vibe keeps him calm.

"Afternoon, guys." Vinny walks into the center of the room. He checks the brake levers on the wheelchair. "I hear we have a new transfer team today."

"We put in the time to get certified." Wally stands up, towering over the nurse. "We want to step in and do the lifting today with your supervision."

"The master bath gives us plenty of room to work." Vinny grabs the handles of the wheelchair. "You need solid footing andyou need to talk each other through every move. You two have the muscle to handle a direct two-person lift."

"We got it." Kel stands up, rolling his shoulders back. "We talk on the ice for a living. We can handle a transfer."

"Let's get him rolled in." Vinny pushes the wheelchair down the hallway.

Wally and Kel follow close behind. Simon heads to the kitchen to prep the marinara sauce for an early dinner. I follow the guys into the master bathroom.

The large space warms up fast. Steam rolls out from the standing shower. Brendan's specialized shower chair sits parked on the open tile floor. The metal frame has a reclining back, waterproof padding, and locking wheels on the legs.

Vinny parks the wheelchair right next to the shower chair. He locks the rear brakes on both.

"Let's get him undressed." Vinny unbuttons Brendan's flannel shirt.