Page 16 of A Pact for Porter

“You know, I’m a little proud of me, too. Before now, most of the projects I worked on were for corporations or people who had a vision and wanted someone to make it come to life.” He slipped into the passenger seat and waited until I was behind the wheel before continuing. “It was different.”

“You’ve shown me some of those pictures. And they were terrific” I chuckled. “Did I tell you that my old roommate was an architect?”

“The one you almost mated?” he teased.

“Right.”

“I’m teasing, go on?”

“It feels like it was almost foreshadowing for meeting you, now. He traveled a lot too for his work and sent me pictures, and I liked seeing them, and was really happy for him, but with you? I know I get no credit for your awesomeness but I want to brag to the world that my mate is the smartest, most talented habitat designer in the whole world.”

“Oh, that’s something else. I never was really a ‘habitat designer,’ although a lot of the elements were the same. But Karma wants me to look at the other Animals properties for habitats and she’s talked me up to some others who are expressing interest in my services.”

I was going to need to pull up my big-alpha britches because he would be away more than I liked. But…okay. “That’s amazing. Sounds like projects with a lot of satisfaction for you.”

“Totally. It’s like our house. It’s fine for now, but not ideal for our shifter life.”

“I agree.”

The restaurant was nice, fancier than our usual—wasn’t it amazing that we already had favorites? But I wanted it to be special, and it was an excuse to dress up. My mate was so handsome in a suit. We ordered their special, which was a tasting menu of multiple courses, and by the time we shared a piece of mocha cheesecake, I would have had to loosen my belt if I wasn’t wearing suspenders instead. I loved them—and they made my mate giggle.

When we got into the car to drive home, he groaned and covered a burp. “Oh, I ate too much.”

“Me too, but it was so worth it.” I steered out onto the street and toward home. “We won’t do that again until we celebrate your next habitat. Or maybe when you finish this one.”

“I can’t even think about eating anything for a year. Hey”—he laid a hand on my arm—“would you stop at the drugstore that’s coming up on the left?”

“Is your stomach that bad?” I never wanted to contribute to him feeling sick.

“Kind of. But it really was worth it, and I’ve been feeling a little off all week, anyway. I just want to get some Pepto or something.”

I pulled into the parking lot and turned to face him. “All week? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It wasn’t bad. A bit nauseated, and kind of tired. Probably stress over leaving.”

“Maybe.” But when we got into the store, I left him in the stomach remedy aisle and veered off to the family planning section. He found me there and furrowed his brow. “Are you going to buy condoms?”

“No. I suspect it’s too late for that.” I showed him the handled basket I held and the multiple boxes in it.

“No. It’s too soon.”

“It isn’t really. We’ve been very busy and didn’t buy or use protection.” He was so pale, I took his bottle of pink medicine and added it to my basket then put an arm around him. “You okay?”

“I guess. Are you? I mean, will you be if we are having a baby this soon?”

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but I’m not just okay. I mean, if we aren’t, I’ll be okay but if we are? Is ecstatic too strong a word? But I know your career is just taking a big jump, and we’re newly mated, so…”

“Ecstatic is not too strong.” He took the basket from my hands, set it on the floor, and flung his arms around me. “Now that the possibility is on the table… Do you think I can take the test in the bathroom here?”

“It’s not exactly intimate, but let’s do one. I’ll run up and pay for it first.” Assuming the store preferred things be purchased before being peed on.

Five minutes later, an old wolf shifter walked into the bathroom to find us hugging and probably got the wrong impression so he started to back out. Then my mate held up his test, and the guy broke out into smiles and slapped us repeatedly on the back. “Congratulations. I remember when my mate and I found out we were having our first. I wish you every blessing and happiness.

Not a bad way to find out we were starting a family

Chapter Fourteen

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