Murph #2
I glance at the kitchen window that looks out over the backyard, though I can’t see Win or Ben from the dining table.
From where I’m sitting, it’s just blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
I could get up, but that would put distance between my mate and me, and I’m not ready or willing to do that just yet.
Whatever Win is doing out there, Ben sounds like he’s having the time of his life.
That’s not a surprise to me, and it wouldn’t be to anyone who knows him.
Win is like that. Friend to everyone within minutes of meeting them. Even loners like me.
My attention swings back to the skittish omega sitting across from me.
“Like I told your son, my family are ranchers. I sometimes go back home to help out when I can, but I’m a construction worker.
” I tilt my head, scrutinizing her through hooded eyes as I struggle to understand why this is an issue. “Is ranching a problem to you?”
I’m close to my family, so I’ll introduce Rose and Ben to my parents and two brothers at some point, and we'll likely visit them more than once a year. If this is going to be a bone of contention between us, I’d rather know now rather than later.
Maybe she’s a vegetarian or a vegan, and meat farming bothers her?
She rubs a hand over her face. “Yeah. Just not in the way you think.”
Curious, I wait for her to tell me, when I’m used to saying what I want and not apologizing for who I am. It’s important that she feels she can open up to me.
She peels her hand from her face, and I’m entranced by the faint dusting of freckles over her pert, upturned nose.
Is this gorgeous woman really mine?
“Do you have a hat?” she asks.
“A hat?” I echo.
“Cowboy hat?”
Does she want me to wear it? Will she kiss me if I do?
“Yes.” I put my hands on the edge of the table and move to get up. “I can—”
She slashes her hand through the air. “Never wear it around my son. Not even once.”
The evasiveness of her gaze makes my lips curve, and my voice is husky as I ask, “Can I wear it around you, sweetheart?”
Her cheeks flush a deep pink, and she scrambles to her feet, nearly knocking her chair over. She spins around, turning her back to me. I’m smiling, ready to cross over to her when she whispers, “My alpha died.”
The smile drops from my face.
She turns back to me, head down, eyes on the ground as she hugs herself.
“Six weeks ago, we were celebrating our sixth anniversary, and he was late for dinner. He died saving someone, and I was supposed to take this three-week road trip with Ben so he would learn to laugh again after losing his dad.” She swallows hard and continues, “And then I started throwing up. So I’m pregnant, and I still need to tell Ben, and I haven’t told my parents or—” Her voice cracks.
Without a word, I get to my feet, walk around the table and gently pull her into my chest. This isn’t a hug with heat.
No kisses.
No roving hands.
No desire.
Just a fierce need to comfort my hurting, heartbroken mate and a wish I could give her back the thing she lost and desperately misses, even if it separates me from her.
“I promise you,” I say into her ear, “that I might not be what you want, but I can be what you need.” I cup her chin, lifting her head so she meets my gaze.
Her eyes are red, and her pain literally guts me.
I wish I could bear it for her. “And I promise you I will give you and your son all the time you need to grieve, heal, and learn to laugh again. Pack is family, and you all just became mine.” I rest a hand on her still-flat belly so she knows I’m not just talking about the little boy giggling in the backyard.
Her eyes shimmer with tears as her fingers grip the bottom of my shirt.
I’m in the fight of my life not to press my lips to hers.
She smells fucking amazing, but she feels even better tucked against me like this.
It’s the sweetest, most perfect homecoming I don’t deserve.
But a kiss won’t take away Rose’s pain and heartbreak. She needs more from me than that.
Ben bursts into the kitchen with an excited yell, and we break apart. Rose turns her back and hastily swipes a hand over her eyes.
“Mommy? What’s wrong?” Ben asks.
“Nothing,” she says, turning to look at him with a strained smile. “Just grown-up stuff. But, well, we’re going to be staying in Rios for a little longer. In this house, since you like it so much.”
“Yay!” He jumps up and down.
Win, who followed him in, grins at him.
Rose blinks, surprised. “You’re not sad about stopping the road trip?”
“Nope,” Ben declares. “I want to ride the fire truck with Joel and eat ice cream cake, and Win said Murph doesn’t have any horses here, but maybe he can bring one from Wyoming for me to ride.” He peers up at me. “Do you have a cowboy hat?”
I look to Rose for a clue about what to say, but she avoids my gaze, embarrassed that her son nearly caught us kissing.
Please do not let me mess this up.
I drop into a crouch in front of Ben. “I will have to look real hard to find it, and then I promise to wear it just for you.”
Just as soon as Rose explains why I can’t wear my hat around her son. Maybe a painful memory?
Ben beams at me, then glances at Rose. “You have to wear it for Mommy as well.”
Okay, so it’s not a painful memory then. It can’t be with the way her cheeks are burning. This is something else.
I look at Rose. “Then I promise to wear my cowboy hat for your mom.”
Deep red sweeps over her cheeks.
“And she gets to ride a horse too?” Ben asks me.
I keep my eyes on my beautiful mate. “She gets to ride whatever she wants.”