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For a man who held his shifter heritage in such high esteem, Michael found himself a bundle of nerves at the thought of asking Abby to marry him.
And now the time had come. Abby’s parents had arrived.
Michael heard the pop of snow and gravel as their car climbed the driveway, and when he lifted his head to look out the window from where he sat on the couch, Abby sprang up and ran to the door. The two of them had been watching something on their new television to pass the time.
Cold winter air rolled in through the door as Abby opened it, and she called out and waved to her parents from the doorway before they could even get out of the car. Michael thought it was adorable. He stood, brushed off his pants, and smoothed his shirt. Making a good impression was important.
Moments later, Abby’s parents were at the door. Abby’s mother was a shorter, older version of her daughter, while Abby’s father was a tall, heavy-set man with a receding hairline and a thick mustache.
“Mom, dad!” Abby exclaimed, rushing forward to sweep her mother into a hug, and then her father.
“Jake,” enthused Abby’s playful voice from behind her parents. “Oh my God, Jake, it’s so good to see you again!”
Jealousy threatened to turn into rage as soon as Michael heard the voice of another young man, but when Abby squeaked and pushed past her parents to sweep Jake into her arms, Michael knew there was nothing he could do. The fires cooled as soon as he heard her speak.
“Bro!”
“Hey, little sis,” Jake said with a grin. “Wouldn’t want to miss seeing the old place now that you got it all fixed up.”
“It wasn’t me,” Abby declared. She took a few steps back so she could face all three of them at the same time. Jake closed the door behind them, and the chill faded away. “Michael was the one who did all the work around here. Mom, Dad, Jake, this is Michael—my boyfriend.”
“It’s good to meet the man who’s put my daughter in such a stellar mood for the past six months,” Abby’s father said. He took a step forward, and Michael closed the distance between them to shake his hand.
“So handsome,” Abby’s mother cooed. “Honey, this one’s a keeper.”
“Mom,” Abby groused, embarrassed. She scratched at the back of her head and looked away. “I mean, I agree, but do you really have to say that in front of him?”
“Of course I do.” Abby’s mother laughed. “Never let a good man go. If you love him, tell him so.”
“That goes for good women, too,” Michael said, deciding to stake his place in the conversation. “And I assure you, Mr. and Mrs. Collins, that Abby is so much more than a good woman.”
Abby blushed, and her parents exchanged pleased expressions.
“Call me George ,” Abby’s father said. “I have a feeling that we’re all family here.”
* * *
“I have a surprise for all of you,” Abby declared as dinner drew to a close. She’d spent the morning making a hearty stew she let simmer all day in the Crockpot, and it was one of the most delicious meals Michael had ever tasted. Paired with homemade bread to sop up the gravy, he’d eaten more than his fair share.
“You’re not pregnant, are you?” her mother cried out with excitement. She clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. Michael was sure that it was a positive sign. He didn’t detect any hostility in the air.
“Mom!” Abby complained. Jake laughed.
“She’s not even married yet, mom. One step at a time, yeah?”
“Being married doesn’t mean anything,” Abby’s mom replied. She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin high. “Being married isn’t necessary when it comes to baby-making.”
“Are you all serious right now?” Abby asked, looking between them in disbelief. “How about we stop this conversation now before it derails into family-unfriendly territory?”
“Deal,” Jake said with a nod.
Michael snorted, but he couldn’t hide his grin. Now he understood why Abby had wanted to meet his family—hers was delightful. It had never been like that between his brothers and himself. And if his father joked around? Michael probably would have thought that the world was ending.
“This is what I wanted to show you.” Abby leaned over and opened one of the nearby drawers. From it, of all things, she withdrew a book. Michael was dumbfounded; she must have put it there earlier that day without him seeing. “After five years of writing, I did it! I made the New York Times Bestseller list and even the USA Today Bestseller list. Not only did I finish the book I’d been struggling to write when I packed up and left for Cub’s Cove, but, my agent says it is the best I have ever written.”
Michael leaned forward to look, as did the rest of Abby’s family. The cover boasted her victories, but what caught Michael’s eye wasn’t the award listed on it—it was the title.
“‘In A Tiger’s Claws!’” Michael laughed.
