He shut off the ATV and glanced up to the third floor. “She met her at the end of the night, but it wasn’t enough for much. Poor Claire was done, she had enough of meeting everyone and we had to leave. Jackson is going to put Meshell through her paces this morning, giving Summer a chance to observe. Then they can meet again if Summer finds her acceptable.”
“I don’t believe Jackson is putting her through the paces just for Summer. It’s for you too. You need that final push to convince you she’s ready.” Lukas stepped off, stretching his legs as Jinx came around. “If you don’t want to risk her with your family, I’ll take her as one of my guards. It will give her the chance.”
“If I feel she’s not ready for Summer and Claire, I’m certainly not allowing her to guard you. If she’s not ready, we can move her to the outer perimeter and go from there. Maybe in a few months she’ll be ready for the next step.” He climbed the couple steps to the deck, Lukas behind him. “Now get some sleep. You have a lot to attend to in the morning.”
“Goodnight. I’ll lock up, you go to Summer.”
He didn’t argue. There was a bounce in his step and a lightness to his heart knowing that in just a few minutes he’d have his arms around Summer. No longer tired, he had another idea on how they could spend the rest of the night.
Chapter Eighteen
The soft glow of the moon shone through the window, casting just enough light for Summer to watch Jackson with Claire. The sweet girl had been terrified when she woke to the alarm going off. Summer had calmed her but when Jackson stepped into the bedroom to check on them she held her arms out to him.
The reaction from Claire had both been joyful and painful for Summer. It was good to see Claire connecting with others, but at the same time painful because she didn’t seem to want Summer to hold her.
In that instant she realized how blind she was in this parenthood. Normally parents, and the Elders, could feel a child’s emotions just as the Elders did for all the clan members, but not with Claire. She had no commitments to the clan, no blood bond to anyone in the clan, making her an enigma.
The elevator ding sounded like a quarter dropping in a silent room, sending a wave a fear through her. Carson already had his gun trained on the door when Jackson stepped around her, putting himself in front of her and the doorway to Claire.
“I think it’s Jinx,” she whispered, afraid to speak any louder.
“It should be,” he reassured her. “The elevator is only coded to open to those Jinx allows. The three of you, Lukas, Carson and me—no one else unless someone was able to override the system. With the triple steel doors that are supposed to withhold any attack, we can’t smell anyone inside. Just stay back until we know for sure.”
She glanced back at Claire, making sure she was still asleep, before turning her gaze back to the elevator doors. Never before had it taken an eternity for an elevator to go three floors, at least not until then.
The elevators opened and she heard Jinx’s voice. “It’s me and everything is under control.” He stepped out of the elevator and Carson holstered his gun. “It was a bear.”
Jackson moved aside and she went to him. “Animal or shifter?”
“Animal.” He slipped his arm around her waist. “Seems while I was away some of the guards decided to slack on their duties marking the perimeter. I’ll deal with them in the morning, and Lukas will see that the perimeter is marked. How’s Claire?”
“Jackson got her back to sleep.”
“Jackson?” He looked over at the Captain of the Guards. “Getting in some fatherly experience before it’s your time? Don’t blame you there.”
“She’s a sweet child, and surprisingly she took to me. I’m happy to do whatever I can to make things easier for her, and for both of you.” Jackson stepped away from Claire’s doorway. “Carson and I will leave now. If you need anything, we’re just downstairs.”
“Thank you.” Jinx nodded and turned back to her. “Now as for you…” He reached down, scooping Summer into his arms, and carried her toward the bedroom.
“What are you doing? Put me down.”
“I’ve been thinking about how much I want you, how I want to be buried deep within you.” He laid her on the bed and tugged at the tank top she threw on.
“Who knew an alarm call in the middle of the night could turn into something so exciting?” She unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall away.
“Take off your pants,” he ordered, pulling off his cowboy boots and stepping out of his jeans.