Loretta looks up at me with narrowed eyes. “A job? And a place to stay?”
I nod.
“With you?”
Another nod.
“For how long?”
“For a week, a month, six months... Whatever.”
“You don’t need a maid.”
“But you need a job.” And I’ve offered it, and now... Now, I can’t stay in my home when I’m most dangerous. Now, she’s going to see the wolfsbane extract tonic in the kitchen and wonder what it is, and see the “rumpus” room in the basement that looks more like a padded cell. She’s going to think I’m evil. Or just kinky.
“No pressure!” I blurt. I want her to say yes and no at the same time, and the confusion hurts my stomach. “I, um... I shouldn’t have offered that. I’m so sorry. I promise I’m trying to be chivalrous, but that was probably the worst thing to say. Probably insulting. Or stupid. You’ll want to be with your parents, and you’ll want to get your own life situated without being in limbo, living in some stranger’s home.”
The eyes slowly open to their full, beautiful blue-green depths, and there’s light in there. “Stranger who turned out to be a friend, I think,” she whispers. “I don’t know if I’ll need to take you up on that, but it was—it was a really nice offer.” She frantically rubs at her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I keep crying. You’re going to think I’m the whiniest, stupidest—”
I put the dishes down firmly, but I don’t let them crash. I can tell Loretta won’t like loud clattering. Anything loud, anymore. A woman’s home should be her safe haven, and her mate ruined it for her.
“I promise that I will only think good things about you, Loretta. I’m a reporter. I have instincts.”I’m a wolf. I have senses that you can’t imagine.“You have to know—not all men are like Matt. If I ever have a wife, and she wants her career to be staying home, raising our children, making this place feel like peace and happiness for everyone who sets foot here—then I will protect that peace with my life. And that woman and those kids will be protected, happy, and safe. Always safe. S-same forany guests in my house, even though I’m a pretty poor excuse for a domestic engineer,” I stammer out the last bit, before Loretta realizes what I’m saying, before she can see the truth of the words are meant for her. Like,reallymeant for her. They’re meant for her, as the future queen of my castle, the mate I’ve been waiting for, the mother of my children.
I need to slow down. Need an icy shower.
Need to breathe, for one thing.
Loretta smiles at me. “I know men aren’t all like Matt. It kills me to even say words like that... Thank you, Jasper. For reminding me. And do you mind if I use that title? Domestic engineer?”
“I’d be delighted. I’m going to shower—right across the hall. You’ll be safe. I promise.”
She nods, and the tiniest little smile peeps out from her exhausted face. “I believe you.”
I TOOK TOO LONG INthe shower, because when I come back and peep my head through the door, she’s asleep, mouth open slightly, baby clutched to her chest, one hand on her diapered bottom. I hate to wake her, but the baby could roll off the bed.
Unless I watch. Watch over them. Does that make me creepy?
I do the next best thing and make a wall of pillows all around the side that Ari is on, then realize maybe she’ll somehow shift or squirm and end up on the other. By the time I’m done, Loretta and Ari are in a moat of pillows and couch cushions that I’ve dragged up.
Annnnd, of course, Loretta opens her eyes when I’m placing the last bulky cushion next to her torso.
The wild-eyed fear and the way she clutches Ari make my wolf roar inside, hungry for blood.
Someone. Hurt. Our. Pack.
I put my finger to my lips, backing away without speaking so that the growling doesn’t project into my voice.
Loretta slowly breathes again, as if recalling how to erase fear and flight-or-fight reactions, looking around at my handiwork.
“I didn’t want to wake you to put her in the crib. But I didn’t want her to roll off, either,” I whisper as softly as I can, once I think I can control my voice.
Loretta beams.
“Sweet dreams. I’m going to be out here, and no nightmare things can come in this house as long as I’m here.” My voice drops to a low snarl somewhere in the middle, and I beat a hasty retreat before she can register it.
Chapter Six: Loretta
When I woke up and saw a man standing over me, I was about to scream—but something in the way Jasper crouched and backed away stopped me. I’ve seen that position before, but my mind is too sleepy to recall where.
