Chapter 4
4
R ead needed something yummy.
He wasn’t sure what.
A cookie maybe or a piece of cake.
He loved spice cake with lots of cinnamon.
He started prowling the kitchen that he shared with Hamish, looking for something that might fix his sweet tooth.
He didn’t really want to bake, but he wanted to be able to eat just what he wanted too.
Unfortunately, after hunting through all the cabinets, the bread box, and the refrigerator there was nothing he wanted.
Reed sighed.
This was no fun.
Why wasn’t there something to fill this gnawing ache in his belly?
He’d had to deal with morning sickness for couple of months now, he was showing pretty well, and he was always hungry.
Sadly, half the time he had no idea what he wanted.
Maybe he could convince Francois, who was Starry’s chef, to give him something out of his stash.
Francois had an amazing pastry chef who kept the family supplied with good stuff.
Reed wandered out of his apartment, heading for the kitchens just see if he could just find a nibble.
“Hey, Reed. Long time no see.”
“Kevin!” Kevin was one of Starry’s drivers, and Reed really liked the guy, even if he didn’t get to go very many places right now.
Apparently, Des and Hamish were a little bit worried about his family coming after him.
They feared, if the rumors got out that he was pregnant, then his father would just come take him, or at least try to, which would cause a real problem.
So it was safer to hide him away and keep him out of sight.
The problem was he was chafing at the forced homebound feeling he had.
Now he understood why Starry, when he was pregnant the first time, had gone out to lunch to organize a charity event even though Des had told him to stay home, and had gotten himself kidnapped.
Now, if Starry hadn’t gotten himself taken, Reed wouldn’t be where he was, so he was actually pretty grateful.
Maybe good things happened when somebody didn’t follow directions.
“How’s it going, Reed? I heard congratulations are in order.”
“They are. Thank you. How are you doing?”
“I’m good. Bored. Starry is pregnant again too, so I’m not getting a lot of work.”
“Yeah? He doesn’t have anything planned for today?” He knew Starry wasn’t going out.
Reed planned his schedule, after all.
“Nope. I’m at loose ends.”
“So am I. I have the day off. Alistair is spending the day with Des and the baby. And Hamish is out on some sort of a security detail thing. I have no idea what. How do you feel about driving me to McAlister’s bakery?”
Kevin lit up.
“That sounds great to me. Are you all right with that, though?”
“Sure. I mean Hamish would like to keep me close to home, but the bakery is only a couple of miles away. I’m really craving something sweet. I don’t want bother Francois. I know how busy he is. Especially when Des and Starry are spending the day together, and he’s making some sort of decadent supper for them.”
“Okay. I’m happy to do it. You ready to go now?”
Reed looked down at his feet.
“Let me just go back in my apartment and put some real shoes on. I’ll be right back.”
Kevin grinned, nodding.
“I’ll wait right here.”
Jazzed, Reed ran inside his apartment and changed his shirt and put on shoes and grabbed his wallet.
Hamish would never know he was gone right?
He joined Kevin in the hallway again, grinning.
” Let’s go.
” He left the ‘before someone stops us’ unsaid.
Kevin led the way to the elevator, and they headed down to the parking garage.
Thankfully they didn’t meet anyone on the way, at least not anyone who would tell Reed that he had to stay home.
But then he felt a little guilty.
As soon as they were in the car, heading out toward the bakery, he texted Hamish.
going to the bakery do you want anything?
He got a string of exclamation points back and then,
Are you nuts?
Where are you?
Kevin is taking me to McAlister’s bakery I’ll be back in two shakes
He was going keep it casual.
There was no way he was going act like he was doing something wrong.
His phone rang, so he hit the answer button, knowing that if he didn’t Hamish would just come after him.
“Hey, babe,” he chirped.
“Have you lost your mind?” Hamish snapped at him.
“I have told you over and over again not to leave the high rise. Anything you want you can find inside.”
“Yeah, except that I want cake. Spice cake, and I don’t have a mix. I don’t want to bake it from scratch, and I don’t want to bother Francois.”
“Well, I don’t want you out there.”
“Babe, it’s like two miles. It’s not like I can’t get there and back in no time, and Kevin’s a good driver.”
“He is a good driver. He also got knocked over the head when Starry got kidnapped and?—”
“Babe, I know that you have a lot to do. I promise I will text you when I get home. I love you. I want my spice cake.”
Hamish growled, and the sound was so sexy.
He did love it when Hamish got his alpha on.
“Just be careful please.”
“I promise. You’ve taught me a lot about defending myself.”
“I have.” Hamish heaved another sigh.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Do you want anything from the bakery?”
“Yeah. Grab me up a chocolate croissant.”
Reed giggled.
“I’ll pick up a whole bag. That way we’ll have stuff for tomorrow too.”
“Sounds good. Don’t get it in trouble babe.”
“I’ll do my best. Bye.”
“Bye.” He hung up, and Kevin met his gaze in the rearview.
“All good?”
“It is. He wants chocolate croissants.”
“Cool. I think I want an eclair as big as my head.” Kevin chuckled.
“I’m a sucker for choux and pastry cream.”
“Ooh. If they have more than one, I’ll take a couple of those too.”
“That is a good choice,” Kevin said, and soon they were pulling up outside the bakery.
It really didn’t take any time at all.
“Okay, wait in the car for just a minute while I check everything out,” Kevin said.
“I don’t really want this going the same way it went with Starry that time.”
“You got it.” When Kevin got out of the car, he locked the doors again, and Reed sat there while Kevin made his way into the bakery to check things out.
He came back just a few minutes later opening the door for Reed to step out.
“Looks like everything is all right. I remember what your dad looks like from the peace meetings with Des, and I don’t see him or your brothers.”
“Thanks, Kevin.” He didn’t want to see any of them ever again.
It still felt super weird to have even the suggestion of a bodyguard, but he really didn’t want to go back to his family’s clan, so Reed was grateful.
He headed into the bakery, the smell of it almost overwhelming him.
His morning sickness was pretty much over save the occasional bout with something that truly surprised him, and the bakery had this intense scent of baking bread and spices and sweet cream.
He walked to the counter, smiling at the young lady behind it.
He wasn’t familiar with her, but he hadn’t been out and about too much lately.
“May I help you?” she asked.
“Do you have any spice cake?”
“We do. You have whole cakes or slices.”
“Oh, I want a whole one to take home please. And a slice for on the way home.” He could tell she was family and not human, so he patted his belly.
“I’m eating for two.”
Her polite smile widened.
“Congratulations. Can I get you anything else?”
“I need a dozen chocolate croissants if you have them, and my friend here would like an eclair as big as his head. If you have more than one of those, I would like a couple to take home too.”
She laughed.
“I can do all of that. Give me a minute to get it all bagged up. Would you like something to drink?”
“Do you have any herbal tea?”
“We have peppermint, or we have hibiscus.”
“Hibiscus, please. That will go great with the pastries and cake.”
“Perfect.” She walked to the back, and he turned to study some of the art on the walls.
The owner’s daughter, Casey McAlister, was a fine arts student, and she sold her paintings here.
The door opened, the bell ringing, and he looked up, freezing when he saw who walked through the door.
His father.
Panic struck him first, and he looked for a place to run, but there really wasn’t one.
Hamish!
Hamish, my father is here!
Help!
He cried out across the bond, making a desperate plea.
“There you are, you worthless boy!” His father advanced on him, anger on his florid face.
“Making me hunt you. Making me sign a peace with the DeBeques!”
He reached for Reed, but Kevin stepped between them.
“Not on my watch, old man.”
His father sneered.
“Can’t even fight your own battles. Still. Absolutely pointless child.”
And suddenly, rage built in his chest.
He wasn’t worthless, and he was an omega father now.
He would protect his child from this furious, mean old dragon.
“I am not worthless,” he snarled, his dragon form trying to push through.
He could feel scales popping up all over him.
“I am Reed, mate of Hamish. I am a ranked member of the DeBeque clan! And I am not afraid of you!”
His father actually took a step back, and the girl behind the counter cheered.
Kevin chuckled, even as he stayed between Reed and his dad, but it was the sound of a huge whomp of wings outside, and the shadow of an enormous dragon, that made his father turn, fear on his face.
Hamish strode into the bakery, tugging on his shirt.
“What the hell are you doing on DeBeque territory, you old bastard?” He grabbed Reed’s father by the neck.
“He’s my son,” his father gurgled.
As relieved as he was to see Hamish, he was even more furious at his father.
“Not anymore,” Reed spat.
“Now I am his mate. And Alistair DeBeque’s assistant and best friend. And I never want to see you again.”
Hamish dragged his father to the door of the bakery and flung him out.
“You heard him. And if I ever see you on this territory again, the peace is off, and I will kill you.”
Reed ran to Hamish as soon as they were sure his father was gone, hugging him hard.
“Thank you for coming for me.”
“Always, my love. But I think you had this well in hand. And thank you, Kevin.”
“Wasn’t going to happen to me again, sir.”
“Good deal.”
“I got all your stuff ready,” the girl said.
“Thanks, Hannah,” Hamish murmured.
Clearly, he got here a lot more than Reed.
“Thank you,” Reed put in.
“We should go home now, huh?”
“Yes. But I won’t keep you prisoner, love. We’ll go out more.”
He leaned up to kiss Hamish’s cheek.
“As long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Hamish said.
“Let’s go home.”
“Let’s do it.”