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“That fucker!” I couldn’t stop my anger from erupting, but seeing her jump made me tone it down at little as I asked the next few questions. “Do you think he knew what would happen? And how do we fix it?”
“There are many ways to fix it. It just depends on various factors.” She shrugged. “As to the other, I don’t know. He might have or he might not have. I know because I’m familiar with these pumps. I’ve used them before in other countries where electricity is scarce. He might not have been familiar with the technology and its downsides to using it in a cold climate.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling on the ends. Fuck. This was bad. I didn’t know everything that went on because I tried to stay out of the pollical side of things, but that didn’t mean I didn’t pick up things from the Alphas. And although I told Welly I’d handle this problem, it was above my pay grade. I, we needed their input before making a decision. Plus, I had a feeling Mel would need to know things that only they knew in order to formulate her different plans.
Without thought, I reached out, grabbing her hand. Her bare hand instead of a gloved one. Sparks attacked my skin and for a second, I thought I’d grabbed hold of a live wire because it felt the same as the one time I did. My muscles clenched, my jaw locked, and I had this urgent need to empty my bladder. But then it was gone. So fast that my slight gasp felt out of place.
Before I could say anything, I caught Freddy shaking his head and motioning to zip my lips from the corner of my eye. Since he was the most experienced with women, I trusted his advice and followed his lead. Instead of saying what I’d planned to, I changed my mind. “We’ll need to get you together with the Alphas to discuss the plan. I’m just not sure if they can meet with you today.”
“That’s okay. I should get home before the snow gets thicker any way.” A look out through the open door revealed fat snowflakes falling from the sky. The ones that looked like they’d settled in and would continue to fall indefinitely. I’d experienced blizzards before, and this felt like the beginning of one. And if Mel left, it might be days or weeks before we’d see her again. I wasn’t about to go that long from my mate.
Suddenly I remembered Amber’s ruse and how I told her that I’d send over the plumber to get her jewelry out of the drainpipe. “Actually, we have another plumbing emergency that we could use your help with.”
She glanced at the falling snow; her lips tight as she thought it over. “But the snow…”
Teddy stepped to her side, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about the snow. You can stay with us. We have room.”
When it looked like that wasn’t enough, Freddy bracketed her from the other side, putting us in a triangular shape around her. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but I don’t think you’d make it back to town even if you left now. This storm is coming up from the south which means it’s already been snowing for some time around town.”
She bit her lip and all I wanted to do was to lean over, using my teeth and lips to free hers. To taste her. To show her that she was mine, ours and how good it would be between us. She sighed. But when she looked at me, her gaze contained the most timid look I’d ever seen on her, something I didn’t ever expect to see considering the way she’d put me in my place when I thought she wasn’t the plumber. “Fine, but only if I’m not putting anyone out of their bed. I will take the couch.”
“No need for the couch. You can share mine.” Freddy wiggled his eyebrows at her, drawing a huff and a blush. But it was interesting to note that she didn’t protest or give an outright denial. It made me wonder if anything happened between them after we’d left. I’d thought I’d smelt a soft hint of desire from her, but it had been so soft that I thought I’d imagined it in my surprise of discovering that she was a sand cat.
“How about we head back to the cabin, and I’ll show Mel to the other emergency?”
“My car? I don’t want to leave it by the cabins.”
“If you give Freddy and I the keys, we’ll head back that way while Noel takes you to the other cabins. From here it is closer than to go back to the other ones before heading to the main complex area.” Teddy squeezed her shoulder and she leaned into him a little as if her body had reached its limit. Only then did I remember how the others talked about her feeling too warm. And while she hadn’t coughed again, she did look a little pale which worried me.
“We should go before the snow gets any deeper. Come on, Mel, I’ll let you ride me.” Both Mel and Freddy chuckled, leaving Teddy and I looking at each other until his lips began to twitch. Then it hit me what I said and while I wish it was meant that way, I couldn’t let them know that. Instead, I rolled my eyes. “You’re all dirty minded. You know I didn’t mean it like that.” But I winked at Mel to show I wasn’t upset with their laughter.
She continued to chuckle as she looked at Freddy with cheeks that grew redder, the longer she held his gaze. “I-it’s just that Freddy said the exact same thing.”
“My geniuseness is catching.”
Teddy reached around her to smack his twin on the back of his head. “Please, anything but that.”
While continuing to chuckle, Mel gave the brothers her keys before changing into her sand cat. She looked so cute as she dipped her paws into the snow. I knelt in front of her, grabbing her attention. “When we get back to our place, I’ll watch over you if you want to play for a little bit. The snow won’t be as deep due to the houses.”
At her excited meow, I shifted, lying down so she could climb up on my back. And wouldn’t you know, the feel of her tiny claws digging in, put me in the same predicament that Freddy had been in. Good thing she couldn’t see that from on top of my back. If so, she’d never feel safe around us again.
The race through the woods didn’t take long and before I wanted to, I arrived at our cottage grouping. Not wanting to face Amber right away, I crouched in a nearly bare area, letting Mel down before I shifted. “Why don’t you play for a few minutes and then I’ll show where the job is?”
She gave a little nod before she picked up a paw and batted at a snowflake. “Is this your first-time seeing snow?”
Her little body shook what looked like a no as she crossed the bare area to an area when some snow had begun to accumulate. She looked over her shoulder at me and I motioned for her to jump in. When she didn’t move, I told her to jump. She might have been a different feline than the twins, but if her cat was anything like their panthers, she’d end up loving the snow.
She jumped. Snow flew up around her, covering her until she looked like her gold fur had been frosted. And then she jumped again, and again as excited sounds came from her, making me smile. She started to race around, making little tunnel like paths, only to pop out again when she hit a patch that wasn’t as deep. I was so busy watching her that I didn’t realize which cabin she was in front of until I heard a scream. Water shot out, drenching Mel who immediately shifted, getting her clothes soaked.
“Stop it Amber. She’s a guest.” I raced to Mel’s side and tried to peel off some of her wet clothing. Despite all the layers she wore, Amber had used a great deal of water, drawing it from the moisture in the air, soaking through all of Mel’s clothes. “Come on Mel, let’s get you inside into a hot shower before you freeze.”
As I started to lead her to my cabin, I heard Amber screech. “Why is she going to your place if she’s a guest? That’s what the big house is for.”
“Because it’s full of all the people who are displaced from their cabins.”
“Then she should stay at mine, since I’m a woman. It’s not right that she stay with three bachelors.”
I scoffed but then wondered if I should give Mel the option. Not that I wanted her to stay at Amber’s or anywhere but our place, but Amber was right, Mel was a woman, and we were three men she’d just met.
