Page 16 of Rubber Duckie Shifter Next Door

Rachel shakes her head. “Your parents left you in my care, Lisa. I gave up custody when I left. But I want it back so I can always be here for you. With Nana. Not instead of her. Never instead of her!”

Rachel’s voice breaks, and I place a comforting hand on her shoulder, lending my silent support. Her skin is warm beneath my palm, and I have to fight the urge to pull her into my arms and hold her tight until she feels better.

She shoots me a half-smile, and that’s enough.

She turns back to the kids. “Please tell me you’ll give me a chance?”

The kids exchange looks, as if they’re not sure what to think, and Rachel’s shoulders droop.

I shoot Reaper a look that screams help, because I’m fresh out of ideas, and he glances at the pool. Is he telling me he wishes he could swim away? Or is he telling me that the best thing for everyone is a nice refreshing swim?

He’s definitely not telling me to cannonball into the pool and duck in mid-air. Though if I did, that would distract everyone. And lighten the mood. Or seriously freak out Rachel, considering she didn’t take it well last time. But a repeat performance might do the trick. And if I plan to make her and the kids my family, they’ll need to know about my duck side eventually. So why not right here, right now?

I get ready to shift, but Anna beats me to it. Not by shifting, since she’s definitely human. She’s also far too young to have a shifted form even if she were a Bayan like me.

She speaks up, voice trembling, “So Nana really is coming back?”

“Of course!” Rachel nods emphatically. “When she calls tonight, she’ll tell you so herself.”

The kids exchange hopeful glances, and some of the tension seems to seep out of Rachel.

I forget all about shifting and let this moment be about them, not me.

Noah wipes his tear-stained cheeks with the back of his hand. “Does that mean you’ll stay in our house?” he asks Rachel.

She nods.

“Well, you can’t stay in my room.” He pouts, and it’s hard to keep a straight face. The kid is adorable!

Lisa rolls her eyes. “Rachel wouldn’t take our rooms, Noah,” she tells her little brother.

I don’t miss the fact that a few minutes earlier, she was emphasizing Rachel’s name the same way. Girl’s got attitude, but she’s a good kid.

She turns to Rachel, “Where will you stay?”

Rachel chuckles. “I’m fine on the couch for now. I’m planning to find an rental nearby.”

“You don’t have to do that. You can stay at my place,” I blurt.

Her surprised deer-in-headlights expression tells me I’m coming on too strong.

“I have a spare room,” I quickly add, even though that’s not what I want. I want this woman in my bed. In my house. In my life. In my future.

I want us to break down the walls between our two houses and combine them so there’s enough space for all of us, Nana and all the babies we’ll have included. Or we could always buy a bigger house. After we get married.

But Rachel’s human. I can’t expect her to instantly be on board with our relationship like a shifter would be. She doesn’t have the built-in faith that the magic would never steer us astray. I have to give her time to catch up.

And judging by the panic in Rachel’s eyes, she’s going to need a lot of it. But I’m up to the challenge, and I plan to romance her and make her mine.

For now, I shrug, like it’s no big deal. “Think about it,” I tell her.

Then I back off while she talks with the kids. After a lot more questions and hugs all around, I kneel in front of the kids. “Okay, you three. I want your word that you won’t give Rachel any more trouble. And that means daily baths.”

“Or showers,” Rachel quickly jumps in.

“Baths,” I repeat, using my no-nonsense voice.

Noah grins. “Showers are for chumps. Right, Sig?”