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Lewis looked back at my parents and nodded. We led them the rest of the way into the back room and Lewis surprised me when he took Elowen over and handed her back to Evan.

I took a deep breath and tried to remember my manners. It was time to not only figure out why my parents were here but also be a good host to Chief Daegal, Master Edison, and Alpha Mate Mael. I couldn’t remember the last time there had been so many in our living room. Hopefully they wouldn’t stay too terribly long.

Chapter 24

Lewis

“Ilove you. I adore you. And I’m being honest when I say that I genuinely like your parents. But I’m so glad they’re gone.” I did. Dunstan and Catherine were nice. And they were quite taken with Elowen, but I was more than ready to be alone with my mate and daughter. They’d been here a week, and although they didn’t stay here at the house with us, they showed up at nine in the morning, every single day, and stayed until after supper. It was a lot when you didn’t know them.

“I’m so thankful that we’re already mated and that you couldn’t run away from me when they suddenly showed up.”

I glared at my mate. “Why would I ever do that? No mate would do that. You’re my mate, not a boyfriend.”

“Little mate, I know my parents were a lot this week, and like I’ve said every night this week, I’m so sorry that they decided to just show up.”

“I know,” I said as I slid my arms around his waist. I laid my head against his chest and held him as tightly as I could. “I started with the fact that I love and adore you,” I reminded him.

“You did, and I’m so very grateful for that.” I felt Vaughn’s fingers thread into my hair. “I’m still going to apologize for them showing up unannounced and then staying for a week.”

I turned my head and looked up at my mate. “Eh, it is what it is. I liked getting to know them. They seem really nice.”

Vaughn’s eyes widened. “I have never heard either of my parents ever be so chatty before. Nor have they ever been so… outgoing. I don’t know who they were or where any of that came from.”

I snorted. “I can’t say because I don’t really know them like you do. Maybe they’ve changed while they were in Europe? What if your brother had something to do with it? Maybe he’s been on them because they’re not really involved with any of their grandchildren?”

Vaughn sighed deeply. “Maybe. I’m pleased they wanted to meet you and Elowen. I’m just not sure what to expect in the future.”

I grinned up at my mate. “Well, at some point, we need to get in contact with your brother and decide when it is a good time for us to visit them out in Washington. I don’t want to just show up like your parents did. That would be rude in return, and that’s not who I am.”

“No, little mate, we won’t be doing that.” Vaughn ran his fingers through my hair again and smiled. “Since they’re gone, and they’re not coming back tomorrow as they’re leaving for Washington to go drop in on Wilder, and Elowen is asleep, why don’t you go take a relaxing bath? It’s been forever since you have, and I know you would enjoy that.”

My smile grew. “Will you join me? You haven’t relaxed in the bath either. And Elowen is right there in our room so if we leave the door open, we’ll hear her if she wakes.”

I fully expected him to say no, but when Vaughn picked me up, I laughed as he carried me up the stairs. I was quiet by the time we made it to the bedroom because I didn’t want to wake Elowen before we could even make it to the tub. Vaughn was right. It had been so long since I’d taken more than a quick shower. At the end of my pregnancy I was just uncomfortable. I was just getting into a routine with Elowen when his parents decided they were coming for a visit. By the time they left at the end of the day, I was exhausted and Vaughn and I fell into bed and passed out.

Vaughn carried me into the bathroom and gave me a knowing look. “You ran the bath?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Did you want to wait for the tub to fill? I’m already tired, because today has been just like every day for the past week and playing host with a newborn is tiring.”

“Would you prefer to wait on the bath?”

I glared. “No. You mentioned soaking in a relaxing tub and that’s what I’m going to do. If you no longer want to join me, then that’s fine. I want you to do what you wish. I’m certainly going to spend the next fifteen minutes soaking in that tub if I can.” I wiggled and Vaughn set me down on my feet. I was naked by the time I crossed the few feet to the tub and then I put my hands down on the side as I climbed into it.

“Cutie, I would have helped you in if you’d waited,” Vaughn said with a bit of a laugh in his voice.

I sat and sighed. Yes, this felt absolutely amazing. I looked to my left and watched as Vaughn reached behind his neck and pulled his shirt up and off. He tossed it to the side and then undid his jeans and they went down next. His socks somehow came off with the jeans and then he walked to me and climbed into the tub in front of me. I couldn’t but help staring. My mate was magnificent and he was naked and in the tub with me. It had been about six week since we’d been intimate. That was completely on me. I’d been so incredibly uncomfortable at the end of the pregnancy and then well, I’d had a baby.

Vaughn leaned back against the tub and opened both his legs as well as his arms. “Come here, cutie.” I didn’t even hesitate. I moved to the other side of the tub and turned around. Vaughn pulled me against his chest, and I closed my eyes and sighed. This was perfect.

“I’ve missed this,” I said quietly.

“Me too. We’ll have to make sure you at a minimum have time for relaxing moments like this.”

“Why not you too?”

“Because I’m going to be taking care of Elowen while you get time away from her.” Before I could argue, his hand covered my mouth gently. “I’m going to be taking care of her because I know you are going to run yourself down once I go back to work.” Vaughn sighed. “I only have another week before I have to go back to work, cutie. You are more than capable but I know you will be full-on all day from the time I leave until I return.”

He wasn’t wrong. I knew me and so did Vaughn. I was going to be stressing about everything I was certain. “I’ll try to not be overwhelmed.”