“On it boss.” Curtis grinned. “It’s just as important to me.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Sidney and Harper you are on lunch duty.”
“The beans are already cooking.” Nicole offered. “You only need cornbread and what you want with it.”
“Thank you Nicole.” Harper said. She nodded graciously. Maybe this would be okay.
“Okay, Green Valley, move it.” Ryder carried his dishes to the dishwasher.
Harper showed Sidney around then they helped Cindy with laundry. Sidney worked in a clothing store and showed them how to fold in record time. Her phone rang in the middle of the lesson. “Got to take this, it’s Max.” Harper and Cindy kept folding but stayed quiet so Sidney could hear Max.
“You have Sidney.” She smiled at Harper. “Yes, I did. I wanted to let you know that I have decided to mate.” She looked down at her fingernails and frowned. Sidney was a regular at the Manny-Pedi Hut in town. “No, you don’t know him.” She paused. “Yes he’s in Ryder’s pack.” She scowled. “His name is Curtis.” Sidney’s jaw clenched and Harper stopped to watch her the way Cindy already was. “I’m sorry Max. It’s not as if the males in our pack never had a chance. I’ve been out with a lot of them and this one is the one. He’s made me feel better than any of your males.” She took a deep breath and eased it out. “I’m sorry Max, like I said, I am mating Curtis. I called to let you know. I wasn’t asking permission. I don’t think that I should have to ask you if I can have a mate or happiness. I’m sorry this disappoints you but you have no suitable males.” She listened then said goodbye.
“He didn’t take it well did he?” Cindy said quietly. Sidney shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it. You have us and Curtis now.” Harper went back to folding the socks.
“He’s really pissed.” Sidney finally said. “And I probably should have kept that permission bit to myself.”
“Sid, what were the chances of you mating with any of them? Slim to none right?” Sidney nodded. “So what are you supposed to do? Are you supposed to sit in your house alone for the rest of your life? You can’t help who you fall in love with and besides who is Max to stand in the way of your future. A good Alpha would have wished you well and sent you on your way.”
“He did, but he’s still mad. I expected that he would be, there are still hard feelings over you. They’re afraid that all of the females will come over here.”
“If all of the females want to, they’re welcome. We have plenty of hot single males.” Harper giggled. Cindy gave her a soft shove. “What? We do. I think we should load them up and parade them through the park.” She winked at Sidney who chuckled. “Now that I think about it, Lee and Tanya would be perfect together.”
“You’re going to start a war.” Cindy said laughing. She piled two stacks of tee shirts into a basket. Sidney grabbed a stack of underwear and loaded it into another basket with all of the socks. “There. Done for the day.”
“Really?” Harper asked. Cindy nodded and picked up a basket. Harper reached for the other but Sidney beat her to it.
“Not on my watch kid.” Sidney smirked. “Take care of the pup.”
“Is it true?” Cindy asked her eyes moist. Harper shrugged.
“It could be but I don’t know for sure.”
“Three jelly biscuits at breakfast. That’s all I got to say.” Sidney laughed and carried the basket up the steps. Cindy followed and Harper brought up the rear. When she got to the landing by the front door she saw Ryder and the pack outside on the porch. They had plans open and were discussing. She wandered outside.
Chapter 20
“I’m thinking over there.” Ryder pointed toward the pond past the barn. Nicole looked where he was pointing and nodding. “Four bedroom.” She nodded again and Will scratched his head.
“Does this have a basement?” He was studying the plans.
“No, it’s on a slab. The three bedroom has a basement. The four will be faster to put up.” Will nodded. “Good.” Ryder handed a sheet of paper to Lee. “Go order all of this at the lumber yard, schedule the cement trucks and don’t forget the windows.”
“Got it.” Lee grinned and took off at a jog toward the where the vehicles were parked. Harper put her arm around Ryder’s waist and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
“We’re going to start digging the foundation. Do you want to grab a shovel?” Harper shook her head thinking about what Sidney said. What if she was pregnant? What if Sidney were right? Were they ready for that this soon? Harper’s mind drifted with the possibilities and the responsibilities. She was gazing up into Ryder’s eyes now with his finger cupped under her chin. “Hi.” He said softly.