Tarnished(28)

“You’ll see.”

The giggle that escaped her lips warmed him. She was so fucking sweet. He adored her already, and she hadn’t even let him claim her.

He rounded the corner and found just what he was looking for.

“Drake,” his mom yelled from across the room. “Over here.” She smiled broadly and motioned with her hands for them to join her. She was trapped with six small children hanging onto her legs.

Mackenzie gasped. “Drake?”

He turned to her and beamed. “Surprise.”

She closed her mouth and swallowed while he watched her absorb the scene. “You…”

“Yeah. We have a camp the first week of the month for children with special needs. Twenty at a time. Gives them a chance of a lifetime to play and learn with other kids while their parents get a much-needed break from the constant work required of families with handicapped children.”

She stood rooted to the spot, taking in the chaos while his mother made her way toward them, dragging one leg that a small girl still clung to and laughing at the silly child’s attachment. It took a few moments. “You must be Mackenzie.” Her voice was soft. It always was. Even when Drake was a small kid and she’d had to deal with three wild boys at once, she’d been calm. That’s what made her perfect for this sort of work.

Natalie Spencer was born to work with kids. She reached out a hand and took Mackenzie’s in a warm, welcoming shake. “Welcome. It’s total craziness around here this morning, but later we’ll find some time to talk.”

Kenzie nodded and smiled at his mother. “Thank you.” She glanced back around the room. “Can I help?”

“Oh, heavens no. You just got here. There’ll be plenty to do around here for the next fifty years. Enjoy yourselves today.” His mother’s words were kind as she backed into the fray once again. Of course, he’d expected nothing less, but it still made him proud to bring home his mate, knowing his family would treat her with such respect and adoration.

Kenzie looked deflated. Her shoulders hunched as she glanced around. She even rubbed her hands together.

“You like?”

She smiled up at him again. “You were holding out on me. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“It was a surprise. I had to have something in my arsenal to keep you interested in me.” He took her hand again and pulled her deeper into the room, pointing out the amenities. “Over there we have an art station. And on that wall a place for water play. The kids split up into two groups most of the time. One group goes riding in the morning and the other after lunch. My dad is probably out with the group riding.”

“They ride? Horses?”

“Yep. Of course. It’s a dude ranch. What else would they do?”

“That’s awesome.” She looked into his eyes. “I don’t even know how to ride.”

“I can teach you.”

She didn’t comment, but wriggled free of his clutch and wandered around the room investigating. He watched her explore. She was in her element. That was for sure. And thank God.

When they stepped out of the barn twenty minutes later, Jerome Spencer was heading right toward them with a welcome smile on his face.

“Dad,” Drake spoke as his father approached, “this is Mackenzie. Kenzie, my dad.”

“So nice to meet you.” His father winked as he spoke. “Drake’s told us … nothing.” He laughed then, and Drake was glad for the banter that made the introduction easier.

Kenzie smiled at his father. “I love your ranch, sir. It’s so peaceful and serene.”

Drake’s father nodded toward the barn. “Except where you just came from.” He chuckled again. “There’s nothing peaceful or serene in that room.”

Kenzie tipped her head back and looked at the sky. “True. But I love children, so that doesn’t bother me a bit.”

Drake cleared his throat and took Kenzie’s hand. “I’m just giving her the tour. We’ll catch up with you later. Okay?”

“Of course.” His father stepped aside and swiped his arm in a wide gesture. “Enjoy the sun. It’s a beautiful day.” He headed into the barn without another word, leaving Drake relieved at how both his parents had played the cool and calm part instead of going all mushy on him and embarrassing Mackenzie, who was hanging onto this new reality by a thread.

Drake needed more time with her before his parents and brothers started teasing and cracking jokes about their mating. It was hardly a mating yet.

By the time he’d shown her around the rest of the ranch and they’d grabbed lunch back in the barn with the children, Drake was ready to have her all to himself again. “Let’s go back to the house.”