An Unexpected Triad, page 10
part #4 of Copper Creek Pack Series
Gunnar sighed. “She is beautiful, isn’t she? He asked Kell through their link.
“Long flowing hair. Beautiful brown eyes. Curves for days. Mmm-mm. I want to take a bite out of that peach of an ass. I bet she’s sweet.” Kell shifted in his seat. Gunnar knew he was trying to find a more comfortable position. It was a lesson in futility. Gunnar had already tried, nothing short of burying his cock deep inside his mate would alleviate―although only temporarily―the ache in his balls.
“I’m going to have permanent zipper marks on my cock. How long do you think we will have to wait before we can claim her?” Gunnar fisted his hands to stop himself from reaching out and hauling his mate across the table.
“The whole shifter thing isn’t new to her. Neither is the idea of mates. That’s half the battle. Still there’s no telling how long she’ll make us wait. I don’t think she’s will make it easy on us. I find that to be a complete turn on by the way.”
“Truly it is. I love that she’s not a pushover. The Fates have blessed us.” Gunnar sighed. “This will be a painful exercise in patience.”
“Yep. It certainly will be.” He could feel Kell’s longing through their link. It matched his own. “I’m looking forward to wooing our woman. I’ve never done that before. She’s worth it.”
“She is at that. We’ll just have to take plenty of cold showers.”
“I don’t think there’s enough cold water in the county to cure what ails us.”
Gunnar knew that was the truth. He didn’t think he’d ever be cured, nor did he want to be. Even after they mated with Jennifer, he would always want her. Always seek her out and need to be near her. He wasn’t complaining. It was the way of mates and it was something he never in his wildest dreams thought he would experience. Gunnar would cherish the mission he and Kell were about to embark on, no matter how long it took to make her theirs. Jennifer Alvarado was worth any hoop they had to jump through.
Chapter 12
They all sat at the long kitchen table for dinner. It was informal, comfortable, and fun. Fiona was hilarious and kept Jennifer in stitches. She never let a comment slide without a smart ass or snarky retort. Emma Grace entertained them all with her chatter, constant stream of questions, and childlike observations. She was an extremely smart girl. She had this inner light that drew you to her. The way Luke doted on Emma Grace was the most adorable thing Jennifer had ever seen.
“Ms. Jennifer?” Emma Grace tapped Jennifer’s arm to gain her attention.
“Yes, Ms. Emma Grace.”
“Will you pass me a roll, please?” Emma Grace shot her a dimpled grin.
“How could I say no to that face.” Jennifer winked and lightly pinched the little girl’s cheek making her giggle. “Would you like me to butter it first?”
Emma Grace nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, yes, please.”
Jennifer took a roll from the basket in front of her plate and Lada, who sat across from her, handed Jennifer the butter.
“So, how do you like Copper Creek so far, Jen?” Cathy asked as she passed a plate of barbeque chicken to Mal. “Is it okay if I call you Jen or do you prefer Jennifer?”
“Either is fine. And we’ve only been here less than a day, but so far so good,” Jen told her, buttering the roll then handing it Emma Grace. “Here you go, squirt.” Grinning, as the little girl took the roll with care.
“Thank you,” Emma Grace answered, smiling brightly as she tore the roll and handed half to Luke.
“I think this place is great so far,” Lada interjected. “Our house is adorable and there’s grass, which we didn’t have in Vegas. If you wanted to play in the grass, you had to go to the park or the field at school. Mal took me to the diner while mom filled out paperwork and it was awesome. Their chocolate shake is probably the best I ever had.”
“We’re going together next time, right Lada?” Emma Grace chirped in her sweet little girl voice. “Can Luke and Jay come too? Jay’s our other bestest friend.”
Luke nodded, smiling as he ruffled Emma Grace’s hair and cracking up when she swatted at him. She cut Luke with a glare and turned back to Lada. “Boys,” she spat shaking her head.
“I hear ya, girlfriend,” Lada commiserated. “You still want us to invite them?”
“Yes,” Emma Grace affirmed. “They’re annoying, but I still like them.”
“I guess the boys can come, then. Especially since Mal is driving.” Lada shot an innocent grin at Mal.
“And he’s a boy.” Emma Grace nodded, her little curls bounced around her head. “Plus, he pinky promised.” She batted her eyes at Mal, who just shook his head and chuckled.
“You’re doomed, little brother,” Kell teased.
“Yeah. It’s just me who can’t resist them,” Mal said sarcastically with a side of eye shade. Kell snorted, not at all intimidated.
Man, he was yummy. Since the moment she sat down, Jennifer couldn’t stop herself from covertly glancing at Kell and Gunnar. Their mere presence drew her attention. The fact that they were both gods in their own way didn’t hurt her eyes either.
Kell had short, dark brown hair and a ruggedly handsome face, grass green eyes, prominent cheek bones, full sensual lips, and square, stubble covered jaw. His nose had been broken a time or two. She wondered how it happened. He obviously hadn’t been able to shift and heal the injury before the natural healing process began.
Kell was large, like his older brother Paul, approximately six and a half feet tall and packed with muscle. The contours of his muscled torso, easily seen under the stretched fabric of his faded Go Navy t-shirt. His well-developed shoulders made it appear as if he didn’t have a neck and his biceps were as big as her thighs. Which was saying something because Jen wasn’t a delicate flower. At five-foot-ten, she spent a lot of time in the gym maintaining her own well-defined muscles and stamina needed for her physically demanding job as a law enforcement officer.
Gunnar was yin to Kell’s yang. He was a beautiful man with his pale-blue eyes, blond almost white hair–that he kept military short, and full sensual lips that she wondered if they felt as soft as they looked. He wasn’t as large as Kell and stood a few inches shorter. His long, lean muscles and swimmer’s body created an esthetically pleasing contrast to Kell’s larger frame.
Both me smelled so damned good. Kell smelled of leather and mesquite and Gunnar of spring rain and pine. They made her mouth water. She wanted to climb them like a tree. It took all her internal strength not to do just that. They were the best of both worlds and checked all her boxes. Perfect. Hers. Perfect? Hers? Jen barely held in her gasp. No way. Oh, shit. She stood abruptly from her chair and had to catch it before it fell over. The room fell silent, all eyes directed at her. “Just going to the, uh, little girls room. Be right back.” She couldn’t escape the room or the truth of what she suspected was happening fast enough.
She ran to the bathroom, slammed and locked the door behind her. Jen pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Trace’s number.
“Hey, ex-partner. How’s Texas?” His jovial tone grating on her frayed nerves.
“I think I’m in deep shit.” Her blunt response was met with a brief silence then hurled questions.
“What the hell are you talking about? Where are you? Are you and Lada safe? I’ll come get you.” The panic in his voice alleviated some of hers.
Jennifer dropped the toilet lit and sat down, leaning her elbows on her knees. “I’m sitting in the guest half bath at the pack house. It’s kind of a drive for you so don’t bother. We’re safe. Lada doesn’t have the issue, I do.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
She took a deep breath and explained her predicament. “I just met Paul’s brother Kell and his mating partner, Gunnar. No, they aren’t gay… unfortunately.” Jennifer stopped talking. Not sure she wanted to continue.
“Okay. You’re going to have to give me more.”
“All I can think about is jumping their bones,” she blurted, groaning as she covered her eyes with her hand. “And… oh my god they smell so damn good, I want to lick them.”
“Oh, shit,” Trace muttered, before he laughed hysterically. She questioned her sanity for calling Trace in order to have her suspicions confirmed. “Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Jennifer–I hate all men because they’re douches–Alvarado has two mates. I always miss the good stuff,” he pouted. She could picture him poking his lip out. Jennifer grinned despite the circumstances.
“What am I going to do, Trace?” She groaned.
“I hate to tell you this, but you can’t fight the Fates. However, you don’t have to accept them right away―or ever. If that’s what you decide. Like I said, the pack has a good reputation and Declan Creed is a stand-up alpha. They don’t do forced matings.” He let that set in before continuing. “I know you aren’t actually asking for my advice. You’re venting. Nonetheless, I’m going to give it to you, anyway. Don’t make any rash decisions until you get to know them. The Fates are never wrong about our soulmate or soulmates. Trust me when I say, Kell and Gunnar, won’t be anything like the assholes you’ve dated. They are your mates. You will be their priority. Which means they will protect, cherish, and love you and Lada until they die. There is no other way for them. You know this. You’ve seen how it is with me. Chloe and Jack belong to me. They are mine. My life. I would die without them.”
“All I ever wanted was a family. A loving husband. A father for Lada.”
“I know you do. Like I said the Fates are never wrong. Go slow. Get to know them. I don’t know your men, but I guarantee they’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“I guess we really did come here for a new life, huh?” She said with a derisive snort.
“Guess so. Keep me posted. Call me anytime. Oh, I expect an invitation to the wedding.” Trace hung up before she could reply.
She glared at the dark screen. “Ass.”
Unfortunately, Jennifer couldn’t hide in the bathroom forever. She took a few minutes to get her shit together. She drew in a steadying breath and stepped out of the bathroom jerking to a stop when she found Kell and Gunnar waiting on her.
“Are you alright, Jennifer?” Gunnar asked, tilting his head as he studied her.
“I’m fine.” Even she didn’t believe her lie. A moron could tell she was so fucking far from fine.
Kell’s eyebrows bumped together. “Right. We, uh, heard you talking to someone named Trace, and you sounded upset.”
“He’s my ex-partner. Mal mentioned him.”
“Right.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We weren’t eavesdropping or anything.”
Jennifer waved them off. “Yeah, I know. Enhanced hearing is one of your superpowers.”
“Excuse me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Really?”
Kell snorted. “Oh, yeah. Forgot. Guess there’s no need to play the I have no clue what you mean game,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“Nope.” She pointed at Kell. “Wolf shifter.” Jennifer narrowed her eyes at Gunnar. “You’re one, too?”
“Sort of. I’m a hybrid,” he said with a careful expression.
“Hybrid? I don’t know what that is. Sounds very X-Men,” she teased.
Gunnar shrugged. “Sorry. It’s not that exciting.” He fidgeted nervously for a moment then shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m wolf and snow leopard.”
“You can shift into two animals?” She’d never heard of such a thing.
“Yes.” Gunnar watched her with a careful expression. His body rigid as if he was waiting for something… rejection, maybe?
“That’s cool.” That’s cool? Jesus, chica. What are you twelve? “So…” Single syllable words much? Cool. So. She sounded like a moron. All she was lacking was: Neat and sick.
“Are you ready to go back and finish dinner? Or did you need to make another call?” Kell asked. He sent her a patient smile as if they had all the time in the world.
“I’m ready, I guess.” Jen didn’t make a move to leave.
“What is it?” Gunnar reached out to touch her then stopped himself. Jennifer was both relieved and disappointed. She wished her brain would pick an emotion and stick with it.
Woman up. Just ask. She took a deep breath and blurted, “We’re mates, right?”
Their shocked expressions would have been comical had the situation been different and not life altering and fucked up.
His eyes roamed her face for a moment. “We are, love.”
“I’m not deciding anything. I don’t even know you. I just wanted confirmation. I mean, Trace agreed with me that you were, but…well at least I know I’m not crazy.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t like to be pushed. I’ve been fucked over a lot, so… there will be no mating anytime soon.” Jennifer finished her statement with a nod.
Kell’s lips twitched. “Okay,”
Jennifer glared at him. “Are you laughing at me? Not the best way to get on my good side.”
“I wouldn’t dream of laughing at you, baby.” Yeah, she didn’t believe that for a second. “I’m smiling because I’m happy.” Again, bullshit.
“Right.” She turned her attention to Gunnar. “You have anything to add, English?”
Gunnar rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. “I’m happy, too?”
Jennifer snorted a laugh. “Trouble. Both of you.” She made a “V” with her fingers and pointed them at her own eyes, then at Gunnar and Kell in an “I’ll be watching you” gesture.
When they returned to the kitchen, the shifters and their mates shot her knowing looks. Lada’s expression held concern and suspicion.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
Jennifer sat in her chair. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “I forgot to call Trace.”
“Oh, okay.” Lada took a bite of her baked potato. “Did he already have the National Guard on alert, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice?”
“You know it.” Jennifer hated lying to Lada. But, she wasn’t ready to explain the real reason for her abrupt departure. Especially, not in a room full of virtual strangers. Even though, she knew that they knew.
“When do you start work?” Fiona asked.
“Monday. Eight a.m.” Jennifer smiled at her. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“How long have you been a cop, Ms. Jennifer?” Luke asked.
“Almost ten years.”
“Wow. That’s a long time.” He stared at her with wide eyes. “I heard Dad tell mom you have a good record, and he was excited because you’re a woman.”
“Oh, really?” Jen cocked an eyebrow at Paul and pinned him with her best no-nonsense stare. “Do tell.”
Paul groaned. “That sounded bad the way he said it. But it’s not I swear.” Jennifer narrowed her eyes, silently prodding him to continue. “I wanted a more diverse squad. Unfortunately, I didn’t find many female officers that I thought would fit well within the department.”
“Until you received my application?” She cocked an eyebrow and Paul nodded. “You thought I was completely awesome. Yeah, I get that,” Jennifer bragged and brushed a piece of imaginary lint off her shoulder.
“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” his dry expression cracked her up.
“Really? How many applicants for the position were female?”
“Forty-eight,” Cathy supplied. “So yes you could go so far as to say you were more than awesome. You were perfect.
“Kitten,” Paul groused.
Cathy waved him off. “Yeah, yeah.” Their dynamic amused Jennifer. Paul tried to act all big and bad, but she knew Cathy ruled the roost. From the goo-goo eyes Paul constantly shot his mate’s way, he didn’t mind.
“Good to know.” Jennifer mulled that over for a moment. “I’ll wait to use this information to my advantage when I do something to annoy you.”
“Kind of like a get out of jail free card,” Fiona cut in, rubbing her hands together. “I like the way you think.”
Paul shook his head and groaned. “Why do I feel like I may have screwed myself?”
Jennifer met Paul’s eyes and blinked innocently. “I have no idea.”
He grunted and raised his glass in a silent toast to her. He eyed her with amusement over the rim of his glass. She just grinned.
Shelly cleared her throat, ending Jennifer and Paul’s showdown. “What will you do while your mom is at work, Lada?” Shelly leaned around Max to look down the table Lada.
“Oh, um, Mom and I haven’t really talked about that. I’ll probably just hang out at home.” Jennifer reached across the table and gave Lada’s hand a gentle squeeze. She knew her daughter wasn’t looking forward to staying home alone.
“Do you drive?”
Lada nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll use Mom’s car until we can buy me one. She won’t need it during the day since she’ll have her g-ride.”
“G-ride?” Fiona snickered. “I like that.”
Shelly nodded. “I know, right?” She handed Lily Rose the spoon she’d been reaching for. “The reason I ask is I was wondering if you were looking for a summer job?”
“I hadn’t really thought about. Do you know of a job?”
Shelly smiled and responded, “I sure do. I run the daycare for the pack. We have more children since school is out. We could always use an extra hand or six. It doesn’t pay a whole lot, but it will keep you in shoes.”
“Oh, shoes,” Lada sighed. Jennifer snickered. Her daughter loved footwear.
“That’s an excellent idea, Shelly,” Fiona nodded with approval then turned her attention to Lada. “I agree. You should work here with us.”
“What do you say, Mom?”
“About the fact that you love shoes or that you want to work? I would be like the dumbest mom ever to say no to her teenaged daughter who wanted to get a job.” She joked.
Lada held out her palm towards Jennifer’s face. “What-ever.”
Jennifer snickered. Lada was too easy sometimes. She thought of a possible issue. “You sure you’re okay to drive out here by yourself?”
