Page 150 of All Packed Up

“You give as good as you get,” Wendy agreed, thankful Grif hadn’t treated her with kid gloves.

“I’ve heard that a time or two,” he teased, and Wendy gaped at the innuendo.

“Grif!” she chastised in a laugh, accidentally shortening his name.

“You walked right into it,” he retorted. “It’s your own fault.”

Wendy rolled her eyes, the smile on her lips growing easier and easier to let curl around this alpha.

“What are you gonna say to Nic?” Wendy’s only motive for asking was pure curiosity. She was nosy.

With a hum, Grif eyed her before shrugging. “Tell ya what, if things don’t immediately go south with Nic, I’ll tell you the whole story, start to finish.”

“Good,” Wendy agreed. She hated to admit it, but Grif was a good alpha, and Nic knew that. She believed they’d be able to mend things if they’d just talk. “I prefer stories with a happily ever after anyway.”

Chapter 34

NIC

By the time the tires bumped over the gravel driveway, Nic had been standing on the porch nursing a hot cup of tea for about fifteen minutes. His hands were warm from the cup, but his cheeks were getting cold from the chilly air, anticipating the return of Wendy and Griffith.

The old red truck rumbled to a stop, shut off with a groan. Nic sat his mug on the banister and stood, comically relieved to see two forms in the cab. He didn’t know whether to be worried that they’d made it so long together without killing each other or relieved.

Wendy even seemed… like she was in a really good mood. She bounded up to the porch with bags in hand, the biggest grin on her face. Plastic wrinkled as she held them up. “It was a success. I can’t wait to show you these overalls.”

Instinctively, Nic reached out to take the bags from her, but she backed up and held them close. “Nope, I’ve got these. You could go help Grif.”

Grif, huh?

If the casual name didn’t surprise him enough, Wendy winked before turning toward the front door.

What the hell was that about?

The sound of Wendy’s gasp over the alphas’ surprise echoed behind him as he stepped off the porch.

It seemed like it had gone well. They both were in one piece at least. Gravel crunched under his shoes, and his breath came out in a cloud as he sighed. It was peaceful out here in the middle of nowhere. Quiet. Kind of a good place to talk to Grif about something neither of them would enjoy.

“Well, it looks like it was a successful trip,” Nic said in greeting as he approached the back of the truck.

Grif was already up in the bed, an armful of paper bags, and Nic motioned for him to pass them. The alpha squatted so Nic could grab the folded tops easier, and the smile he shared just about knocked the beta out. It curled his lips and folded the alpha’s laugh lines, made his eyes crinkle. “Yeah, I’d say so. Wendy seemed happy at least.”

“I’m surprised you both made it back in one piece,” Nic called out as he walked away with the bags. Grif’s steps crunched alongside his own.

He didn’t want to interrupt the alphas, so he sat the bags on the porch and motioned for the alpha to do the same. Grif arched a brow in a silent question.

“The guys worked on something for Wendy today, and they were really excited to show her. I figured they deserved a little time to soak in the glory,” he explained with a chuckle.

A slow grin curled Grif’s lips. “So that’s why Arlo wanted to borrow the drill.” He shook his head. “They are so whipped. It’s pretty damned cute, don’t you think?”

“Well, didn’t you, uh, build her a bed like two hours after you met her?” Nic teased.

Grif rolled his eyes at him before jumping up in the back of the truck. The alpha was still so limber, and Nic didn’t know why it was such a surprise. Maybe he was simply struck by the sight of those damn jeans molded to his ass.

“That doesn’t count. I can’t take in a bunch of people and not have anywhere for them to sleep,” he countered, and handed down a few more bags to Nic.

“Uh-huh,” Nic drawled, but didn’t believe him one bit. “That’s kind of something I wanted to talk to you about,” Nic admitted.

Grif’s boots landed in the gravel as the alpha hopped down with more groceries in hand. “What about?”