“You don’t have to go through, so—” Alistaire tried to say but was cut off by Rosemary.
“We’d love to stay. I think it’s a marvelous idea. I came here to visit and talk with you both about business, and it might be a while, so let’s just enjoy the day. Besides, the snow should let up sometime after dinner and will be safe for us to drive home.”
Seriously, grandmother. We are thirty minutes away from home.Alistaire narrowed his eyes at Rosemary.What are you up to?
“Well, that’s settled,” Aria said, walking back over to Rosemary, putting an arm around her shoulders to guide her out of the foyer.
“Captain Vale, how tough is your stomach?”
What the fuck kind of question is that?“Um…pretty good, I think. Why?”
“Love my wife dearly, but if you want to leave here tonight with a full stomach, not in pain, I think we need to go in there and rescue the kitchen.”
“Don’t let mom hear you say that,” a soft female voice said from across the room.
Alistaire looked up to see a gorgeous pregnant female with two handsome men flanking either side of her walking down the stairs.
“Alistaire, I’d like for you to meet my son, Zev, and his mates Corbin and Moressa.” Zev shook Alistaire’s hand in greeting, and Corbin gave him a head nod.
“Alistaire, as in Alistaire Vale?” Moressa asked.
“The one and only.”
“We have an appointment today.”
“Yes, we do,” Alistaire answered.
“I was heading to my office to call you and cancel our appointment. My mates feel I’ve been working too much and have forced me to take a week off.”
“That’s because you need to rest, baby.” Zev kissed her on the cheek, and Alistaire watched her lean into his touch.
“So, why’s Mom trying to cook?” Corbin asked.
“For our honored guest,” Barret answered. “It’s her way of thanking Alistaire for saving Fox and Genesis.”
“Honestly, it’s not necessary,” Alistaire butted in.
“You’re a hero to us,” Zev said, looking at Alistaire intently. “I get the feeling you think you don’t deserve the gratitude you’re getting, but you saved the heart that beats in this family. Without him being alive, we’d be lost.”
“So allow us to show you our long-overdue appreciation,” Moressa interjected.
Alistaire sighed, looking at the people in front of him. While he saw his actions as part of his job, they saw it as much more.
“Okay, but under one condition,” Alistaire said.
“What’s that?” Barret asked.
“After today, it doesn’t get mentioned again.”
“I can’t promise Fox won’t say anything about it when he sees you today, but we won’t bring it up anymore,” Zev agreed, and everyone else nodded.
“Now that we have that settled, let’s go rescue the kitchen,” Corbin announced.
“Um…can someone point me to the bathroom?” Alistaire asked.
“Sure.” Moressa smiled and pointed to the room to the left. “Through the family room, it’s the door on the left.”
“Thanks.”
