Boarlander Bash Bear 2(29)
“Right,” Bash said, loosening his death-grip and letting them out of the hug.
Emerson thought he would tell Audrey about them trying for a cub because he looked all bright-eyed and feverish with excitement, but he gave her a wink and zipped his lips instead. Relief slid over Emerson’s shoulders. She wanted to clutch onto their little secret for a while longer to keep the pressure off in case she didn’t get pregnant right away.
“I’m really excited to have another girl in the trailer park,” Audrey said. “I love the boys, but it’ll be nice having a conversation that doesn’t involve sex or toots.”
Emerson giggled and said, “Too bad for you that’s all I talk about.”
“Perfect,” Audrey teased. “I have to show you something I found this morning when I moved the rest of my stuff out.” She pulled Emerson by the hand through the large bedroom on the other side of the kitchen to a bathroom at the end of the trailer.
“I hope you didn’t move out because of me,” Emerson said, suddenly worried that she’d caused much more chaos here than she’d realized.
“No, you just gave me the push. I’ve been sleeping over at Harrison’s for a while now. I was ready to make the move official.” Audrey flashed her a friendly smile and squatted down in front of a pair of white-washed cabinets under the bathroom sink. She pulled the door open and gestured to something inside. “Look.”
Emerson knelt beside her and peered inside, then froze. Against the back left corner was a nest of grass, shredded paper plates, and pillow stuffing, and inside it, there was a gray mouse with three little, hairless, pink, wriggling babies suckling on her. Emerson’s fear of mice was currently warring with her awe at the new lives she was seeing.
“I assumed Nards was a boy,” Emerson whispered so as not to disturb the little family.
“This isn’t Nards,” Audrey said, matching her quiet tone. “This is his lady-mouse, Nipples.”
Bash knelt down behind them and leaned over Emerson’s shoulder. “Nards had babies?”
“Yeah, look.” Audrey pointed to the other side of the cupboard where a hole had been chewed in the side, and sure enough, a mouse with giant testicles was dragging a potato chip toward the nest.
“What a good daddy,” Emerson crooned softly as she watched the sweet little family. Nipples and Nards were taking good care of their tiny wiggly peanuts.
Bash would be a good father like Nards someday.
As if he could read her mushy thoughts, Bash leaned in and kissed the side of her hair. “Now do you believe me?”
“About what?”
He locked his gaze on her and smiled. “About ten-ten being magic.”
Wide-eyed and heart thumping against her chest, Emerson dragged her attention back to the little family. Any other day of her life, she would’ve been terrified of these field mice, but today was different. Maybe it was because the mice barely paid attention to the three of them, or maybe it was because Emerson was flanked by a freaking bear shifter and a tiger shifter, and a mouse was the least terrifying animal in the room.
Or maybe, just maybe, Bash was right because this place certainly felt important.
Emerson cradled her stomach and smiled emotionally.
Maybe 1010 really was magic.
Chapter Eleven
Audrey was one of the nicest people Emerson had ever met. She’d given her a tour of the trailer, told her all the tricks to get it working in top shape, and had filled the pantry and glossy, new-looking fridge with food. She’d even told her which snacks Nards liked best, which was why Emerson was placing a jalapeño-flavored potato chip on the kitchen floor right now.
She would’ve just given it directly to Nipples, but she had the distinct feeling that Nards liked to actively take care of his family. Respect.
Next time she was at the store in Saratoga, though, she was going to get some seeds and mouse food from the pet store to make sure Nipples and Nards had a balanced diet.
“You hear that?” Bash asked from the kitchen table.
“No.”
“Oh, I forgot you have dull human senses. The boys are off-shift and coming down from the mountains.”
“I do not have dull senses. They are just not as heightened as yours.” She stuck her tongue out and re-tied her loose bikini top behind her neck.
“Come here, pitiful human,” he said through a baiting grin.
Bash pulled her up against his chest and hugged her gently. Too gently. He was barely touching her, which made her giggle. Bash wasn’t naturally a careful man. He was a stomping, clumsy beefcake who sloshed drinks and broke stuff regularly, but with her, he moved in slow motion, like she was a butterfly protectively cupped in his hands.