“Looking good, Doc. Both of you.”
“Thank you.”
“Baby coming soon?”
“Next month,” Chloe said, accepting her cider. “Give or take.”
“Well, you got the best doctor in town taking care of you.” Maple winked. “Even if he is a little overprotective.”
He felt his face heat. “I’m not?—”
“You absolutely are,” Chloe agreed, but she was smiling. “It’s sweet.”
Sweet wasn’t the word he would have used. Necessary, maybe. Essential.
They moved on through the festival, past stalls selling handmade ornaments and winter preserves and a tiny Christmas village. Houston was playing a not entirely convincing Santa but none of the excited children waiting in line seemed bothered by his horns and fur. Then again, the line of children included everything from werewolf pups to young gnomes.
Ginger was assisting him, dressed as one of Santa’s elves. She grinned at Chloe and tugged her aside. Hyde didn’t like it, but he allowed it, using his enhanced senses to keep an eye out for problems. As a result, he heard their quiet conversation.
“I’m so happy for both of you,” Ginger whispered. “Was it hard to convince him?”
He could see Chloe smiling. “Not in the end. He came to my rescue when the blizzard hit and everything just kind of… worked out. I guess you were right about being snowed in together.”
“I told you. Nature to the rescue.” Ginger laughed, then frowned at Chloe. “At least I suppose it was nature. You don’t think Flora had anything to do with the storm, do you?”
What?Was Ginger suggesting that Flora had been responsible for putting his mate in danger? Remembering the way she’d shown up at his door to tell him to go to Chloe, he couldn’t suppress a growl. Both women turned to look at him. Chloe must have seen the anger on his face because she immediately returned to his side and patted his arm soothingly.
“I’m pretty sure Flora didn’t arrange for a county-wide blizzard,” she said calmly. Ginger didn’t look quite as convinced, but he took a deep steadying breath. Whether Flora had arranged it or not, the blizzard had brought them together and in the end, that was all that really mattered.
“Let’s catch up after the festival,” Chloe told Ginger, and the other woman nodded before going back to handing out candy canes.
They continued on, stopping to admire an ice sculpture contest that Sam was judging. The tall Kraken was standing near the edge of the square, his dark hair pulled back. Sharp blue eyes watched the crowd with a protective intensity he recognized.
And beside him, tucked close under his arm, was Nina, small and delicate with soft grey eyes and light brown hair escapingfrom under a knitted cap. She looked up at Sam with absolute trust. The same way Chloe looked at him. Hyde rumbled approvingly.
“Let’s say hello,” Chloe suggested, already heading toward them.
Nina spotted them first and her face lit up. “Chloe!”
The two women embraced carefully, navigating around Chloe’s belly.
“You look beautiful,” Nina said. “How are you feeling?”
“Huge. Tired. Constantly hungry.” She grinned. “But happy.”
“That’s what matters.”
Sam nodded to him. “Walk with me?”
He glanced over at Chloe. She was already deep in conversation with Nina, comparing notes about pregnancy cravings and nursery colors. Safe and happy.
“Yes.”
They moved a little way away from the crowd for privacy.
Sam was quiet for a long moment. “You look different.”
“I’ve gained weight,” he said. “Chloe keeps feeding me.”
