Nami took Beck’s hand and quickly led him outside through a side door before Imani could start in on the baby plans again.
“Did I pass?”Beck silently asked Nami through their mate bond.
“I think so,”she silently replied.“Thank goodness.”
“Now I see what you mean about baby pressure.”
“Right?”
They found Davis Starkey on the large, outside unscreened patio area where a gigantic outdoor kitchen, grill, and smoker setup were located. After introducing Beck, one of Reggie’s brothers walked up, and following a quick intro Nami managed to get Beck away before being drawn into a long and overly detailed lecture about smoking and grilling butt rubs of the not-sexy kind.
“He seems really nice,” Beck whispered to her.
“Oh, he is. He’ll also talk your ear off about smoking and grilling, if you let him.”
“Sounds like he and Badger will get along great.”
She laughed. “You ain’t wrong.”
With the major introductions out of the way—and both barriers apparently passed by Beck—Nami started introducing Beck around to people she knew before she then waved Reggie in to help with the ones she didn’t.
Between introductions, Reggie leaned in and dropped his voice. “Did Imani hit you up for help talking Lu’ana into another baby?”
Nami snorted. “Literally almost the first thing out of her mouth.”
He rolled his eyes. “I love her, butdang, she’s been hammering us hard lately.”
Nami exchanged a glance with Beck, saying nothing out loud or silently, but arching an eyebrow at him.
His nod in return was a“you were right”answer if she ever saw one.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
NAMI
Dewi and Kenand the others arrived a short time later, including Tamsin, Mateo, and Carl. Nami worried how Imani might receive all of them until she spotted the wide, friendly smile she wore upon shaking Badger’s hand first while Lu’ana handled the introductions.
Oh, thank god.
Nami never thought she’d be happy about them using their Prime powers against people she considered family for a reason like this, but there she was.
Imani enveloped Tamsin in a hug before draping an arm around her and taking over to introduce her around. Carl looked around, found Beck, and gave him a head-tip, which Beck returned, before Carl started trailing behind the women.
“Go on,” Nami said to Beck with a smile. “You know you want to, wolf man.”
He brushed a kiss across her cheeks. “Thanks, babe.”
He hustled after Imani and Tamsin and Carl and was trying to look inconspicuous while talking to Carl as Dewi walked up.
“How’s Imani today?” Dewi asked.
Nami looked at Dewi’s baby bump, then up. “You know, I might be asking you to Primeherto ease up before we all leave today.”
Dewi snorted, then swore as she noticed she’d dripped something on her shirt. “Dang it! This was clean!” She swiped at it with her finger, licking it off.
“Is that…cake batter?” Nami asked.
“What? Oh, um…” Dewi’s cheeks flushed with pink, which Nami knew was notnormal.
