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Vivienne had arrived only minutes earlier at her family’s home to find that her sister, who’d rented a very nice apartment in the city, was visiting as well. The television was on, and Cassie was watching Discovery as they did an entire segment on extinct predators. Shocker.
“Nothing,” Vivienne replied, moving her body around to get to a more comfortable position. It was May, but her pregnancy made her feel like it was August in the Caribbean, so she wore a sleeveless, summer-like dress. She’d come with an overcoat just in case it became chilly.
“Nothing meaning your black-haired, blue eyed hunk of man?”
Cassie chuckled when Vivienne nodded and her smile grew wider. “Spit it out. I need other forms of entertainment.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here,” Vivienne said softly, grinning when Cassie shook her head and eyed the door suspiciously. Her sister had changed, not drastically but enough to notice, in seven months. She’d cut her hair into a short pixie cut, and permed it. Vivienne hadn’t liked it at first because it made them look different, but the cut had grown on her, and now she thought it suited her sister well. After the search for Drew had turned up negative and the worst had been assumed, Vivienne had found herself speaking to Cassie almost daily. She would sometimes call her just to hear her voice, to make sure she was fine.
“I’m positive he’s on his way here right now,” Cassie murmured, turning to look at the door as Evelyn stepped through with a tray filled with tea and sweets. From the moment she’d opened the door to find Vivienne there, she’d gone into the kitchen for the cookies. Pregnant Vivienne had a strange obsession with all things cookies.
“Conall just called,” Evelyn said, shaking her head when Vivienne grinned and grabbed a chocolate-chip cookie, looking extremely proud of herself. “I told him you were sitting in my living room, having a snack.”
Vivienne nodded, and bit into the treat, sighing as she chewed. “What did he say?”
“That he’s five minutes away,” Evelyn replied, trying to hide her smile as her daughter frowned.
Cassie laughed. “I told you so.”
She’d barely made it to her second sugary delight when the doorbell rang. As Evelyn stood and went to answer it, Vivienne turned and glared at her mother.
“You two are funny.” Cassie shook her head. “Strange, but funny.”
Her mother opened the door and she heard her mate’s voice moments before he came to stand behind her chair. Leaning down, he kissed the side of her neck, his standard form of greeting, before acknowledging Cassie. He took a seat on the couch next to her sister and smiled at Vivienne as he watched her.
Feeling wary, she picked up another cookie and ate it slowly, wondering at his jovial mood. He was normally upset, throwing mantrums when she did these things.
Moments later, Sloan entered the living room murmuring greetings as he took a seat. Evelyn brought out more tea and cookies, and the two weres thanked her as she placed them down. Cassie and Sloan fell into an easy conversation. Her sister had been to Cedar Creek numerous times in the past months, and seemed to fit in perfectly with Sloan, Raoul, and Eli. They all adored her, probably because she was so fascinated with them. Well, with their wolves.
Still confused at her mate’s strange mood, Vivienne finally relented and inquired, Why aren’t you mad?
You look beautiful, alainn.
Flattery will get you nowhere. I’ve seen myself in the mirror, and I understand the term whale, okay? Why aren’t you mad?
He frowned briefly but then his smile returned. Because I knew you would come here.
How?
I can access your thoughts, remember?
Feeling silly, Vivienne sighed and grabbed another cookie, this one was covered with melted Swiss chocolate. The babies obviously liked chocolate as much as she did because it was the one thing she could wolf down for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Why didn’t you stop me?
Because you weren’t in any danger.
I’m never in any real danger and you stop me anyway. She recalled times she’d wanted to walk through Cedar Creek alone when Conall had attempted to stop her because she might fall and hurt herself or the babies. Those arguments were always funny—in hindsight.
Sloan was following you.
Vivienne glared at Sloan, but he was talking to Cassie, and didn’t notice. I’m not leaving for at least another hour or two. It was important to savor the times she escaped Cedar Creek because they were few and far in between.
That’s fine. I’ve got nothing to do.
His smile was contagious and she found herself shaking her head and returning it. You really do look beautiful, alainn. Although isn’t that dress a bit much for spring?
