13. Riley
Chapter 13
Riley
My hands trembled as I adjusted my tie for the hundredth time. Blake insisted that I didn’t need to dress up, but it felt disrespectful to show up at his mother’s house on Christmas Eve in my grubby clothes. So, I was wearing a new-to-me suit we picked up in town.
The mirror wasn’t kind as it reflected my nervous expression, a stark contrast to Blake's calm demeanor as he slipped on a sweater. "You look great, Ri. Mom's gonna love you."
I forced a smile, my stomach churning. "I hope so. I just wanna make a good impression."
Blake wrapped his arms around me from behind, his warmth always settling me in a way nothing else could. "Just be yourself. That's who I fell in love with."
My breath hitched as I turned to him. “You love me?” We hadn’t said the words yet, even though it was clear we both felt that way.
He pulled me into his arms and stared right into my eyes. “Of course I love you, sweetheart. I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I knew from that first night. But don’t feel like you have to?—”
I threw my arms around his neck. “I love you too, alpha. So much!”
He kissed me briefly then swatted my ass. “Good. And now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get on the road or we’re gonna be late. And Mom hates when I’m late.”
“Then hurry up already.” The drive to Ms. Beverly's cabin felt endless. Snow-covered pines blurred past as we went deeper into the woods.
"What if she doesn't approve of us?" I blurted out. “I’m not a bear like you, so maybe I’m not good enough.”
Blake squeezed my hand. "Of course you’re good enough, sweetheart. Besides, your apple pie will win her over instantly." He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it.
A few minutes later, her cabin emerged from the trees, and I was officially out of time. Just as we stepped onto the porch, the front door flew open. Ms. Beverly stepped out, beaming at us as if we were her best Christmas gift.
"There's my boy!” She gave Blake a bear hug, practically suffocating him despite her petite stature. Then she turned to me. “And you must be Riley. Come in, come in! Dinner's almost ready."
The cabin looked like it was straight out of the North Pole. Snowmen and glittery lights were everywhere, and the scent of cinnamon and pine filled the air.
"It smells amazing in here, Ms. Beverly."
"Oh, please, call me Bev or Mom.” She winked. “And I hope you boys are hungry. I may have gone a bit overboard in the cooking department."
The dining table was full, and my stomach growled, ready to dig in. A massive turkey took center stage, surrounded by potatoes, Brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, stuffing, and at least three different pies.
As we sat down, I noticed a wistful look pass between Blake and his mom. He told me they usually spent Christmas Eve hunting in their bear forms, and a pang of guilt hit me – they'd changed tradition because of me. I hoped neither of them resented me for that.
Bev served herself and then waited for me and Blake to get plated. "Blake tells me you're quite the baker, Riley. I can't wait to try your pie."
I blushed, nervous that her expectations were already too high. "It's nothing special. Just a family recipe."
"Nonsense. I'm sure it's delicious. Speaking of family..." Ms. Beverly set down her fork, a mischievous glint in her eye. "When were you planning to tell me I’m going to be a grandma?"
I choked on my wine. Blake patted my back, looking equally stunned. "Mom, we don’t know that for sure yet."
She raised an eyebrow. “Well, I know." She looked right at me. “And you are. Congratulations.”
I smiled and squeezed Blake’s hand under the table. We’re having a baby.
As Ms. Beverly launched into her list of potential grandchild names, I caught Blake's eye. His were as glassy as mine as he pulled my hand to his mouth and kissed it. As she continued on about birth plans and vitamins, he leaned over and whispered into my ear, “Congratulations, sweetheart. I love you.”
I kissed his cheek. “I love you too.”
This really was the best Christmas of my life.