Chapter Eleven
Jackie smiled as Marsha Granger told yet another story about Boone and his brothers when they were growing up. There were quite a few, and Jackie enjoyed hearing about every one of them. Boone was mortified. Jackie imagined that shoe would be on the other foot once his father arrived.
Watching Boone with his family and pride members was showing Jackie a whole other side of the man, one he hadn’t known existed. He was friendly with everyone and affectionate with his mother and the cubs.
He was a littler sterner with several of the single men who seemed to be hanging around. It took Jackie a while to figure out there was a pecking order, and they were lower on that order than Boone.
Hugh seemed to be at the top, which didn’t surprise Jackie. He had felt the need to bare his throat to the larger man since he walked in. Jackie just couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t felt it before. Hugh had always been intimidating, but Jackie never felt the need to go belly up before.
He felt the same with Boone, except he wasn’t intimidated by Boone. He just wanted to go belly up for the man. It really was quite odd.
Jackie glanced up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. “We should be heading home, baby,” Boone said. “We both have to work tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Jackie smiled as he stood. He glanced toward the end of the dining room table where Hugh sat with his mates. “Thank you for inviting me to visit. It was…interesting.”
Kye wiggled his eyebrows. “We’re fun, aren’t we?”
Jackie chuckled. “You are.”
He’d actually enjoyed himself, and he hadn’t thought he would. He had been positive he would be miserable. Before Boone, he hadn’t wanted anything to do with shifters. He still wasn’t sure he was comfortable being bosom buddies, but he was no longer frightened by the idea of being friends.
“Weather permitting, sunbathing day is next week,” Hugh said. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thank you,” Jackie said. “Maybe I will. Boone and I will discuss it.”
He didn’t want to commit if he couldn’t promise he’d be there. He hated it when people broke their promises. “My father is flying in, so I’m not sure if he’ll still be here then or not.”
“I take it he doesn’t know?” Hugh asked.
“No. Until yesterday, I actually hadn’t spoken to him since I was kidnapped.” Jackie shrugged. “I just didn’t know how to tell him.”
“Do you need help?” Hugh asked. “I would be happy to—”
“No, but thank you. I think this is something I have to do.”
Boone grabbed his hand. “We, mate. This is something we have to do.”
“You’re not alone anymore, Jackie,” Hugh added. “You belong to a pride now, and we take care of our own.”
Jackie blinked rapidly when moisture filled his eyes. He had been alone for so very long. Even with Boone in his life, he still felt as though something was missing. Maybe it was being part of a pride with other people who were like him, shifters.
“Thank you.”
Hugh nodded.
Jackie still wasn’t sure what to think of the guy. Did he actually smile?
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Boone said. “Jackie and I have a few things to discuss.”
Okay, Hugh did smile, but it was a knowing smile that made Jackie’s cheeks heat up. “We’ll see you tomorrow, brother.”
“What do we have to discuss?” Jackie whispered as they headed for the front door.
“Where we’re going to live, for one.”
Jackie stopped walking and just stared at Boone.
The man chuckled. “You haven’t thought of that yet, have you?”
