Midnight Son, page 9
Something didn’t jive.
When they got home, he was going to spend a little time in his office. He needed to run a check on his pretty little mate.
He picked up the plate of salmon mousse and crackers and walked back into the living room. His mate was in what looked like a friendly conversation with his sister but Braxton assumed Bixby was subtly questioning Helena.
A generic ringtone chimed through the air. Raina winced an apology as she pulled the phone out of her pocket.
“I left Beatrix this number.” She looked at the screen and the blood drained out of her face.
“Is something wrong?” Bixby asked. Panic wafted off his mate in waves of acrid fumes.
“What?” Her voice practically squeaked with the question. “No, uhm, no.”
“Was that my mother?”
“Oh, no. Just someone I don’t want to talk to.” She shoved her phone into the back pocket of her skirt. “Ooh, that looks lovely.” She took a cracker and stacked some of the salmon dip on top. The look on her face as she slipped the bite into her mouth could only be called orgasmic. “Oh my God, that’s so good.”
“Have another.” Braxton offered the plate to her again before walking over and sitting down beside Walter. “You doing okay, man?”
He sighed. “I guess. Your mate has mine convinced I need to go to Anchorage to get checked for something wrong with my gallbladder.”
“I heard.” He took a cracker and savored the smooth flavor of the salmon. “What do you think?”
Walter harrumphed and slumped farther into his seat. “I mean, I guess I gotta listen, right? She’s the doc.”
“Hmm.” To give his hands something to do, Braxton ate another cracker. “How did she figure it out?” he asked, dropping his voice.
“You know, she pressed on my side.” He put his hand against his stomach, a little high and to the right. “Asked me when it hurt.”
“Not where it hurt?”
“Well, that too, but she wanted to know when it hurt since it comes and goes.”
“Hmm.” Braxton couldn’t think of what else to say. Thankfully, he didn’t have to. Bixby interrupted.
“Braxton, you can help. The guy is scaring Helena.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
“You almost fainted when you looked at your phone. Brax is the king of background checks. He can find out anything about anyone. He’ll give you the dirt on this dude and you’ll be able to fight back.”
Braxton raised his eyes and met his mate’s stare.
Or at least, he tried to.
“Uh, no. It’s nothing. I’m...Jessie, can I get a glass of water?” She scurried away like someone goosed her with a cattle prod.
Braxton watched his mate retreat. The sexy curve of her backside captured his gaze. He rose, just enough so he could stare a little longer. She disappeared into Jessie’s kitchen and Braxton sank into his chair.
Walter snorted. “You’re whipped, like the rest of us.”
Braxton glared at Walter. The older reared back but in truth, Walter was probably right.
But still, sexy or not, Braxton needed to do a check on that sweet ass.
Chapter Ten
Raina shoved extras of everything into Jasper’s diaper bag, filling it with formula and diapers and clothes.
“I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered to herself, too soft for anyone to hear.
Except...
“It’ll be fine,” Beatrix yelled from the living room. “It will give me a chance to get to know my grandson!”
Raina sighed. That woman has amazing hearing. She kept those words to herself, not willing to risk another comment from Braxton’s mother.
Since the day Helena gave birth, Raina had been there, helping, getting up in the middle of the night to change or feed him. Her life had become wrapped around Jasper. What was she going to do without him? She gulped down her tears. They were scheduled to leave tomorrow. Braxton had made some noises about them staying longer. Both of them. He’d made no indication he expected Jasper to stay by himself. And she hadn’t said anything. Hadn’t told him Helena wanted him to raise the baby.
Hell, she hadn’t told him she wasn’t Helena. Though he might already know. Or find out quickly. During their visit to the town, she’d been able to learn a bit about Braxton. He’d said he was a polar bear researcher but Bixby mentioned—while they were having tea—that Braxton worked in security. He did background checks on anyone who came to town.
To say her stomach dropped was an understatement. It wouldn’t take much—a simple internet search—to discover she and Helena were twins. And Raina could tell from the curious looks Braxton flashed her way her acting abilities sucked.
You should confess. Hell, you never should have begun the lie.
Berating herself did nothing to make the situation better.
At first, she’d been afraid of him finding out, afraid a man like him might strike out.
Now she felt guilty deceiving him. He’d been so kind and sweet. Gentle with Jasper. Teasing with her. Before her heart ached at the thought of leaving Jasper with Braxton. Now, she feared she wouldn’t want to leave Braxton at all.
Don’t be silly. You barely know the man. Still, there seemed to be a connection between them, an energy.
Of course, he feels that energy for Helena, not you.
She sensed his presence in the room before she saw him. She looked up and tried to smile.
“It will be fine,” Braxton reassured her. “We’ll make a run into town tonight for the Solstice celebrations. We can stop in.”
“You’re sure? I haven’t been away from him for a full night. Ever.”
Braxton nodded. “You’re good mom.”
Her stomach clenched at his words. “Thank you. I—” Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen. Brian. Again. Damn. This had to be his fifteenth call. She’d listened to some of the messages but stopped when they all said the same thing. “I’m going to find you, bitch. I want my money, bitch, blah, blah, blah, threat, bitch.”
“Can I help you with whatever is going on there?” He nodded to her cell.
“What?” She flipped the phone over and slapped it on the bed. “No. It’s fine. I’ll call him back.”
“Okay.” Braxton backed out of the bedroom and Raina collapsed against the side of the mattress. She was not cut out for a sneaky life.
She considered blocking Brian’s number but held off, deciding the threatening messages would be evidence against him. She would have to do something when she arrived home. And God, the only thing she could think of was going to the police might protect her from Brian but it would mean turning in her own sister. Maybe staying in Alaska wouldn’t be a bad idea. Except that meant carrying on the Helena-charade and clearly Raina sucked as an actress.
Braxton stood outside the bedroom, his emotions clashing with logic in an epic battle inside his chest.
His bear wanted to go into the room and comfort its mate, soothe whatever worries she might have, defend her against whoever was scaring her.
His brain, that logical dependable organ he’d relied on for most of his life, urged him to investigate her. Something wasn’t right. She was frightened of someone, definitely hiding something and what the fuck was this about her being a nurse?
He’d meant to start the background check yesterday after they’d arrived home but there had been dinner to make and a walk on the beach with Jasper. The whole evening gave him a warm smushy feeling he’d never experienced.
After the baby had gone to bed, he sat with his mate on the front deck, talking, watching the sun.
Having gotten no sleep the night before, by ten o’clock his eyes started drifting shut and the next thing he knew, it was morning and Solstice.
It had been crazy all morning.
Bixby had arrived at seven to meet her nephew and wish them Happy Solstice. Afterwards, Jasper crashed for a morning nap so missed the other visitors. Jessie and Walter came to the house about ten. Tweetie stopped by and Fish. Braxton kept a mental list because tradition had it, if someone visited you on Solstice, you returned the visit later that day. He and his mate would be making the rounds this afternoon.
And crap, he had to make cookies. Couldn’t show up for Solstice visit without a gift in hand. He’d planned ahead. He made cookie dough the night before his mate and Jasper arrived. He just had to pull it out of the refrigerator and bake them.
Probably should get busy baking.
With a sigh, he pushed away from the door. Part of him wanted to linger to see if Helena answered the phone. Who was she so afraid of? So eager to avoid? That was a problem he was sure he could fix. Protection and security were his business. But she hadn’t given him any guidance on who he needed to kill.
He walked into the living room. Beatrix looked up at him with a stare that both made him sigh and shrug.
“I don’t trust her.”
“Mom—”
“I’m just saying she’s hiding something. On the other hand, she’s a great mother to your cub and looks like she can give you a couple more.” She winced. “Though let’s give her body a break, shall we? Maybe next spring or the spring after.”
“Reminder, Mom, you have no say when or if my mate and I decide we want more children. Right now, we’re friends.”
Beatrix smirked. “Friends. Right.” She stood and twisted her body, digging her fingers into her back pocket. She held her hand forward. This time Braxton did sigh. He opened his palm and his mother dropped five condoms in his hand. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. That should be enough for the night.”
“Five? How much sex do you think we’re going to have?” His voice rose and he realized his mate was in the hallway. Glaring at his mother—who smiled like sugar wouldn’t melt in her mouth—Braxton shoved the packets in his front pocket. “And I have my own condoms, thank you very much,” he growled in a low tone.
“I know. Where do you think I got those? Helena, is everything packed? I can see that it is. Here you go.” Beatrix handed Jasper to his mate. “Have a quick snuggle while I text Jacky to come give me a ride.”
“I can take you home, Mom.”
“Oh, Jacky doesn’t mind. Or I could walk it.”
“That’s a long way,” his mate protested as she walked into the room. She pressed her cheek against Jasper, holding him close.
“It’s only four miles if you go along the beach.”
“You’re not walking to town carrying my son. I’ll take you.”
“Jacky’s on her way. Besides, you have cookies to make.”
His mate’s head snapped up. “You’re baking cookies?”
“Solstice treats,” he admitted.
“He makes the most fabulous chocolate chip cookies. Pretty amazing actually since I’m death in the kitchen.”
“Which is why I had to learn.”
A knock on the door made Braxton’s heart sink. Spending the night without Jasper didn’t upset him—the situation was still too new—but he sensed the panic and loss in his mate.
“It’s going to be okay,” he assured her.
“I know.” Helena didn’t sound confident but he appreciated her trying. He bent and placed a kiss on Jasper’s head.
“You go with your grandma and we’ll see you this evening and bring you home with us,” he whispered against his cub’s skin.
“Wha—?” His mate’s eyes widened. His heart fluttered at the hint of hope he recognized in those green depths. “I thought she was keeping him for the night.”
“Change of plans. She’s going to take him for the afternoon and we’ll pick him up when we make our Solstice rounds.” He made sure his mother heard the resolve behind his words. He hadn’t figured out why his mother was seemingly trying to give him and his mate a night alone. His mother didn’t trust Helena—hell, he wasn’t sure he did either—but she was all about protecting the family line.
Plus, she didn’t want to lose her grandson to the Lower 48. Keeping Helena here was the best way to ensure Jasper stayed as well. At least, that was his assumption. He couldn’t think of any other reason why she was taking Jasper and forcing Braxton and Helena to spend time alone together. She had to be playing matchmaker.
Braxton didn’t have much hope of his mate moving to Nannuq. Helena wasn’t the type to want to enjoy months in a tiny village. She loved parties and fun. He envisioned years of flying to Reno to see his son and having the boy in town for a couple of weeks in the summer.
Braxton’s bear roared his displeasure. The sound echoed in his own ears. Even his mother flinched and stared at him with wide eyes.
No, his animal didn’t care for the idea of being away from his cub or his mate. Which meant Braxton would be moving to Reno. Not some place he could shift easily—they didn’t exactly have polar bears wandering around their forests.
But if that’s what he had to do to be near his mate and cub, he would. At least until Jasper hit twelve or thirteen. They’d have to move north after that. New shifters typically lacked control and it was best if they moved into predominantly shifter communities for their early teen years. Plus, living in Alaska would allow Braxton the chance to teach his son to hunt.
The idea made him smile.
And if Jasper didn’t change—which sometimes happened when only one parent was a shifter—Braxton would take him to the Source and give him an animal of his own. They wouldn’t be able to tell if Jasper would actually shift until he hit puberty. They’d just have to wait to find out.
“Thank you.” His mate’s soft voice startled him out of his thoughts. He looked at her and realized the cloud of gloom hanging over her the past few hours was gone.
“Well, I’d better go, get started on my alone time with my grandson.” Beatrix held out her hands. “Come to Matty.”
“Matty?” Braxton and his mate asked simultaneously.
“I don’t care for ‘grandma.’“ She shuddered. “Sounds so...old.”
“Why Matty?” Braxton asked.
“Wouldn’t Trixie be more logical?” His mate’s question followed seconds behind so she received the glare.
Beatrix rose to her full height. “I’ve never channeled a Trixie in my life. No, Matty because I’m the Matriarch of this family. Like it?”
Helena’s mouth bobbed open and shut like a fish.
“It’ll do until the kid starts to speak.” Braxton picked up the diaper bag and carried it to the front door. His mate followed anxiously behind, hovering while he clipped the seat into the back row of the truck cab.
“You could have brought the four-wheeler,” Beatrix announced. “We could have zipped across the sand and—”
Five tiny pin pricks stabbed Braxton in the elbow, like a mouthful of little teeth. It took him only a heartbeat to recognize his mate’s touch and the tension conveyed through the simple grip.
“Mom, you’re not taking the baby on a four-wheeler. No rides, no swims. You keep him in your house.”
Beatrix waved his comments away. “Kids these days are too soft.”
“You can toughen him up when he’s old enough to tell you to go to hell, until then, you follow our rules. Got it?”
The hold on his arm tightened to the point of leaving bruises until Beatrix finally nodded. “Fine. He’ll be unharmed and happy when you come visit. Maybe you’ll see it will be perfectly acceptable to leave him at my house so mommy and daddy can have some alone time.” She winked.
Helena’s hand dropped away from his arm and she gave an awkward chuckle.
“Have a good afternoon!” Beatrix called.
Without looking, Braxton swore he heard Helena’s teeth grinding together.
As the car drove off, his mate sighed.
“He’s in good hands,” Braxton reassured her.
“I know.”
“You don’t believe it.”
“I do.” His mate forced her lips into a smile. “Really.”
Braxton couldn’t stop his own chuckle. “Trust me. Come on.” He tipped his head toward the house. “Let’s go make cookies.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs.
“I can’t bake,” she said as she followed behind him. “I’m an okay cook but baking is too precise. Nothing turns out,” she warned.
Funny, in Vegas she said she helped her boss with the wedding cakes on occasion. Braxton tucked that little fact in the back of his mind along with the other factors that didn’t match up. He’d figure this out. He had to.
She was his mate, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t trouble.
Chapter Eleven
Raina washed her hands and waited as Braxton pulled a bowl from the refrigerator. A mound of cookie dough rested beneath the clear plastic wrap.
“You’ve already made the dough?”
“It has to refrigerate for at least twenty-four hours so I did it a few days ago.”
“You’re very organized.”
“Summer Solstice is a big deal up here and my cookies have somehow become a new tradition. For weeks ahead of time, people call and text and ask if I’m making them.” He grimaced. “I’d have a riot on my hands if I missed a year.” He pulled out several cookie sheets. “Place six scoops on each sheet. Shouldn’t take us long.”
This, I think I can do. She grabbed the scoop and followed his instructions. He sprinkled sea salt over the top of the rounded mounds before sliding them into the oven. They fell into a good rhythm. She scooped, he sprinkled and baked. When they came out of the oven, she took them off the pans.
They talked of inconsequential things—baking with their mothers, holiday traditions, movies, books. They worked well together, moving around the kitchen in a dance that kept hot pans out of the way and at first, they dodged each other as well. As the morning slid into afternoon, Raina realized she felt comfortable and relaxed with Braxton. The tension had eased. The space between them diminished. Their bodies seemed more inclined to brush against the other as they passed.
“Okay, who was your first kiss?” Braxton asked as he sprinkled salt on the final pan of cookies.
