“Oh, yeah, you’re right.”
“I’m very proud of you, my love,” Avaleigh said.
“Why?” he asked, slowing his pace and reaching his hand back for her to take.
“Because you’re adjusting very well to Angelle coming into her own.”
“I’m amazed by you. I thought for sure you’d be fighting it with everything you had.”
Avaleigh smiled as she held his hand and strolled beside him. “I didn’t have to. You did, and that allowed me to see just how much I needed to advocate for her, instead of trying to hold her closer.”
“You’re right. And I know that Boon isn’t a bad male. But don’t tell him that, yet. I feel like he still needs to work for it.”
“Your approval?” she asked.
“Yep. I am the father, earn my approval.”
“If I’d have had a father to give you such a hard time, would you have bothered to earn his respect, or would you have just snatched me up and run away?” she challenged.
Daniel smiled, then he looked down at Avaleigh walking beside him and clinging to his hand. “You had five fathers, or brothers, should I say? And each was more protective than the last. I had to earn the respect and approval of all of them.”
Avaleigh grinned up at him. “And you did. You never wavered in that.”
“Because nothing — not a single thing — was going to separate me from you.”
“And that’s what you want to see from Boon.”
Daniel nodded.
“Hopefully, they won’t have so much to overcome.”
Daniel looked down at her thoughtfully. “You’re right. I hope they have it much easier.”
“They already do.”
~~~
Angelle turned over in bed, a little confused as she began to take in the unfamiliar room. Then in a split second it all came rushing back. She lay there for a minute or two, her arms and legs splayed out, breathing deeply, a silly smile on her face, as she realized this was most likely home. If all worked out as it seemed it was going to, she’d live her life here, raise her children here, love her mate and build a life with him here.
She stretched her body, enjoying the feel after a good night’s sleep, then she recognized a scent wafting to her through the house. She sat up and inhaled deeply. “Coffee,” she said to herself. She got out of bed, and without a thought to her bed-head-hair, or flushed skin from sleeping cocooned in all the covers, she stumbled toward the familiar scent beckoning her to leave the bedroom. She opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway, her gaze taking in the family room.
Surprised to find Boon wasn’t in the room, she peeked around the corner toward the kitchen and realized he wasn’t there either. Deciding he must have gotten up and gotten an early start while allowing her to sleep in, she made a quick stop in the bathroom. Only minutes later she opened the door and without paying attention to what was in front of her, instead looking back into the bathroom she’d just used, she stepped out of the bathroom and walked right into Boon.
“Good morning!” he said happily, as he reached out to steady her as she bounced off him.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” she said, grabbing his upper arms to steady herself at the same time he put one hand firmly on her waist to help her keep her balance. “Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well?” he asked, as he made sure she was good before offering her the cup of hot, steaming coffee he held with his other hand.
“Ohhh, I need this,” she said, taking the coffee from him and sipping it appreciatively.
“I thought you might. I considered making tea, but tea is something you make to enjoy later in the day — to me anyway. Coffee is the jolt you need to force your body up and ready for the day.”
“I didn’t know we have a coffee maker, or I’d have set it to make coffee for us,” Angelle said.
Boon refilled his cup, as he looked questioningly at her over his shoulder.
“What?” she asked. Then it hit her. “Oh. There’s no automatic coffee maker.”
