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He had a baby. A son.
A fucking ticking time bomb.
The five of them had sworn this infection, as Hollis liked to call it, would end with them. Hollis. Dante. Anders. Malachi. And him. They had no way of predicting what their offspring would be, so kids, families, were off the table. None of them wanted anyone else getting hurt…
Anders would give him shit, but he’d laugh it off.
Dante’s expression would say it all. It’d be hard to look him in the eye for a while.
Hollis was disappointed. But the man was a scientist first, and there was no denying he was excited to see Finnegan Dean’s latest creation.
But Malachi. Mal hadn’t said one word to him in nine years. This wouldn’t change much. Unless Mal decided to come kick his ass. Finn wouldn’t even fight back.
They needed to know. They had a right to know. This baby would impact them all.
As much as he valued his independence, he’d never felt so alone. He’d fucked up big. Again. Hollis was his answer man, and he didn’t have any. Only time would tell.
How much time was another question.
But for now, this baby needed to be kept safe. Away from the world. Away from those that would see his existence as a threat. From those that would hunt him.
That’s why he would put up with Jessa.
Why did her presence make his other side fight to take over? Some haywire instinct wanted her close—even though keeping her at arm’s length was the right choice. She was the ultimate temptation for a man like him, and he’d just invited her home.
Fuck it.
Six weeks. He could do this. He would do this. He frowned. Temptation aside, instinct told him he could trust her. He’d have to hold on to that and hope the odd reaction his wolf was having would fade. Either way, when time was up, he’d find a place for her. One that kept her far from him. He had a London office, which might be the best option.
“Thomas needs to install it,” Jessa was saying to him.
Who the hell was Thomas? He’d been blindly staring at his phone, so lost in his thoughts he’d missed her arrival. A store clerk stood holding the enormous car seat that would carry his baby son home. His name badge read Thomas.
He’d been pacing, currently he was blocking the car door. He moved without a word, watching as the young man climbed in and walked Jessa through the safety features and how to ensure the seat was secure. She stooped, leaning in to see and hear. The view of her delectable backside snagged Finn’s full attention.
The wolf wasn’t the only one appreciating her lush hips, trim thighs, sculpted calves, all showcased by her fitted pencil skirt and heels. He closed his eyes, the thump of her heartbeat echoing in his ears. He listened, the primal thrill of connection sending his blood south and making him shove his hands in his pockets. He was rock hard, the zipper of his pants uncomfortable.
Jessa was off-limits. She had to be. For her safety.
She probably already had some adoring boyfriend that sent her flowers, remembered her birthdays, and enjoyed snuggling on the couch and watching movies with her. A normal guy, without full-moon phobias and the tendency to rip people to bits. Lucky bastard.
She stepped back, her heel catching in the sidewalk crack, and tipped backward. He moved, catching her. The crush of her curves against his straining erection had him biting off a curse. His hands tightened on her arms, ensuring she was safe. He held her, blindsided by the surge of ownership that tore through him. Let her go, he demanded of his wolf. He released her, sidestepping around her as the clerk climbed out of the car.
He avoided her stare, grappling with the rush still coursing through his body. What the fuck was that? He didn’t know. He didn’t want to know. Ignoring her, ignoring this, was the right choice.
“That should do it. If you have questions, you can call me.” Thomas’s tone was a little too friendly for Finn’s liking. Clearly, Thomas wasn’t immune to Jessa’s charms. And he had no problem being obvious about it, either. “And if I can help you with anything else, you know where to find me. Anytime.”
Finn shot the young man a look. “We need to go,” he said.
“Yes, of course,” she agreed, hurrying around to get into the car.
Get a fucking grip. This was not the time to get territorial. He rested his head on the seat back until the roaring pulse in his veins eased. Only then did he risk glancing at her. If he wasn’t careful, she’d walk, money or not, which was something he couldn’t risk. He needed to keep his shit together. If he was lucky, she’d never learn what he or his son were. Jessa Talbot was an essential employee—nothing more. She seemed to be inventorying the contents of the large bag at her feet. His eyes traveled over her profile, the curve of her nose, the length of her neck. A beautiful essential employee. And her pulse, her breathing… Was she aware of him? Or was she simply anxious from all the changes the last thirty minutes had delivered? Dammit. “Supplies?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“I tried to be quick. Diapers,” she said, peering into the bag. “And wipes. Some bottles, infant formula, a few gowns and blankets. This won’t last long.”
“I imagine you could call Thomas and he would deliver?” he asked, sounding far too condescending.
She turned, regarding him with bright green eyes. “Probably.”
