Gray Back Alpha Bear(20)

“I shouldn’t have said that.” Guilt gutted her, and she sniffled. “I shouldn’t have said I couldn’t trust you with our kid. You should’ve asked me first, but you were trying to make my dog feel more comfortable.”

“It’s okay. I understand why you were upset, and you’re right. I should’ve called. I thought I would surprise you with his haircut, and you would think it’s cute, but clearly I know nothing about women.”

Gia laughed thickly and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling against him. “I just went crazy.”

“I Googled pregnancy shit all last night, and this stuff is normal.”

Gia eased back and searched his eyes, but he didn’t seem to be joking. “What did you Google?”

“Uh, how to be a supportive partner, what to expect in the delivery room, what you can’t eat.” He leaned back on his locked arms and drew his knee up so she could lean on it. “I even watched a birth video, which was horrifying. It gave me nightmares. I have a whole new respect for women. If it was up to men to go through that, we’d be extinct. Now, what were you going to show me before you got pissed about Spike?”

She narrowed her eyes at his use of a name that was not her dog’s, but padded into the living room to retrieve the bag of maternity clothes she’d picked out with Willa today. Carefully, and aware that he was watching her every move, Gia set the clothes out one by one on the bed.

Creed grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled on the elastic waists. “No more rubber bands on your buttons.”

“Nope.”

“Go put these on. I want to see them,” he said with an indulgent grin.

There was no way a busy, burly, alpha lumberjack was interested in a fashion show from her, but she’d play along because she really wanted to show him her new clothes. With a relieved sigh that he wasn’t mad at her for the maniac tantrum she’d just thrown, she grabbed the jeans and a new, red, long-waisted sweater, and changed in the bathroom. “You know,” she called through the door. “Clothes are really cheap in Saratoga.”

“Yeah? Did you have money left over? You could’ve bought yourself more.”

“No, I didn’t have to spend any of the money you gave me. I had enough. More than enough.”

“Oh. But I wanted to take care of some of this stuff for you. You’ve spent so much on doctor’s appointments already, and I haven’t done anything. I want to take care of you.”

She smiled and opened the door. “Sweet daddy bear,” she murmured, turning this way and that for him to see her new outfit. “I made an appointment with a new doctor in town, so you can pay for our next appointment if you really want to.”

“Yeah. Would you mind if I came to it with you? Or is that…?” He shook his head and shrugged with a confused look on his face.

“I think it would be okay.” Unexpected shyness washed over her and warmth crept up her neck. “I mean, I would like you to be there with me. This all feels less scary when you’re around.”

Creed scratched the back of his head and nodded. “Good.”

“Porch is done!” Jason yelled from outside.

“Okay, are you ready for another surprise?”

“What surprise?” she asked suspiciously. Because Peanut Butter being taken over by the Gray Backs had definitely not been a pleasant one.

“You’ll like this one, I promise,” Creed said, offering his palm to her.

She slid her hand into his and followed him out of the trailer onto the sprawling porch.

Jason was standing outside the door, a hammer resting on his shoulder. “I’ll accept your apology now.”

She snorted and gave him a tiny side hug. “There.”

Jason beamed. “Good enough. Accepted.”

“So,” Creed said, leading her down the stairs. “I know the trailer isn’t what you’re used to—”

“It’s fine. Really.”

“Yeah, well Willa told me about the mansion you grew up in with the big ass rose gardens and all, and I know I can’t give you that, but look.” He gripped her shoulders gently and turned her to look at the porch.

In the evening light, 1010 really did look much better with the beautiful outdoor space the boys had built. Clinton was even hanging strands of outdoor lights from a pergola above the porch.

“In the spring, I’ll build you some flower boxes to put around it and maybe some bench seating and a spruce-wood table if you want it. I’ll make it a safe place for our kid to play. Willa told me you’d always wanted a big porch with rocking chairs, so I went to Asheland Mobile Park right after I got back from the landing.”