“Shortly. First, I wanna check out the room, then get some grub. It might be a long wait till our mark shows up.”
“Got it.” Smokey hesitated for a moment before opening his door and climbing out of the car. “Seize one, kill both,then get back to find your mate so you and him can get kissy-kissy. Easy-peasy.”
Snorting, Ghost climbed out, tucking his gun into the front of his pants. “Meet you two at the room.” Grabbing his bag, he headed for the other side of the building to check it out.
“What’s got him so skittish?” asked Smoky.
“Our animals are not happy. Grab your bag and let’s go. Keep sharp,” growled Glenn, taking his gun out of the center console, and holding it at his side as he got out of the car. Sweeping the area with his eyes again, he saw nothing that should be agitating his tiger, but knew better than to ignore it after years of his animal saving his ass. Gesturing for Smokey to go first, Glenn hung back at the bottom of the staircase waiting for the all clear from above before heading up to their room, eager to give Riley the go ahead.
~/~/~/~/~
Mac claimed one of the last empty chairs at the dining table, noticing that Quin and Mase were already seated.
“Hey Mac,” Jackson said, “how’s everything?”
“Good…Sofia told me to get my ass up here…she and Aunt Hope are having dinner together.”
“My mother said ‘ass’?” asked David.
“No, no, sorry…that’s just me paraphrasing the very nice and polite way she encouraged me to have dinner upstairs,” Mac said, his cheeks becoming tinged with red.
“Oh, that’s a relief…I mean…I never heard her swear…” David stopped, unwilling to hurt Mac’s feelings. Turning to Zane, he whispered, “Cuore mio, help!”
Leaning into David’s ear, Zane murmured, “Mac isn’t upset. If anything, he’s embarrassed because of what he said. I’m surprised Ian didn’t say something cuz he keeps trying to get Colton to clean up his language before their pups are born.”
“I don’t think he is going to have a lot of luck,” whispered David.
Kissing his mate on his cheek, Zane smiled. “I agree…Jackson tried for a while…well until Daniel said his first word but now I think he’s following Colton’s advice about not making it a big deal.”
Just then, Steel burst into the room with two platters of steaks, setting them down on the table. “Norm is helping Theo and me tonight so the rest of the food will be out shortly.”
“Thanks, babe,” Jackson said, trying to keep Daniel from grabbing the silverware off the table. “And please pass on my thanks to Theo and Norm. I know dinner’s going to be delicious.”
“Will do.”
“Hey Jackson, why don’t you put Daniel in with Jessie and Jake?” asked Cody. “They can keep each other occupied while we eat.”
“Good idea.” Placing his son in the playpen with his cousins, Jackson stood there for a moment looking down at the three pups, smiling as Jessie jabbered something at Daniel who shook his head in reply. Laughing, he sat down, then said, “Let’s hope there won’t be any fights until we’re done.”
Making sure everyone was present including Steel, Theo, and Norm, Willow stood, tapping her knife against herglass. Once the table fell silent and all eyes were on her she said, “I have a surprise for you all tonight.” Then raising her voice, she called, “Sofia!”
Confused, everyone was looking at each other, trying to see if anyone knew what was happening, but when they heard Kieran gasp loudly, all eyes turned to him.
Tears running down his face, he said to Logan, “Macushla! Isn’t it amazing? I never expected it so soon!”
“Oh my gods! Squirt! He’s coming!” Jumping up, Logan scooped Kieran into his arms, looking frantically first at Jackson then at Mac. “What do I do? Oh my gods, Colton, help me!”
“What?” Confused at the unexpected turn of events, Willow sat down, her announcement forgotten at the news Kieran was having his pup.
Rising quickly, Mac rushed over to Kieran. “How often are the pains?”
“Macushla!Put me down!”
“Okay…Mac do you want me to take him downstairs or maybe you should look at him on the couch first…you know just in case the pup is coming!”
Joining his brother, Colton said, “Downstairs would be better…right Mac? Just in case…”
“Macushla!Put me down! NOW!”
