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He gave a careless shrug. “You’re so easily distracted I can’t be sure you won’t wander off. This way, I know you’re with me.”
“Oh, this is a form of supervision?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Stifling a smile at her unimpressed huff, Deke opened the door wide and then pulled her inside. He wouldn’t admit it, but he liked taking possession of her hand; liked that he had the right to.
As they reached the elevator, he went to press the “up” button. It wasn’t necessary. The doors slid open with a ping.
His mother stepped out and full-on grinned at the sight of him and Bailey. “Well hello, you two.” Her eyes dropped to their joined hands, and her grin widened. “Don’t you look cute together.”
Deke grunted, seriously fed up of the smug looks Livy kept gifting him. In her view, she was the reason he and Bailey were now together. Yeah. Because baked goods totally seduced women.
Livy pointed at them. “Don’t forget you’re coming for dinner tonight. I’m making pot roast.”
“I’ll bring your dish with me,” Bailey told her. “That Devil’s Food cake was to die for, by the way.”
Deke frowned at his mother. “You’re still taking her food?”
Livy shot him an arch look. “Is that a problem?”
He felt his mouth tighten. “You don’t need to anymore.”
“Why, does she no longer eat?”
Bailey snorted.
Sighing, Deke shook his head. The two women were impossible.
Livy waved. “See you later on.”
As he tugged Bailey into the elevator, she said, “I really like your mom.”
He’d noticed. “She likes you, in case you didn’t guess.”
“It was hard not to pick up on that.” Bailey hit the button for their floor. “We’re still going to the Tavern tonight, right?”
They’d made plans to meet the Alphas, Betas, Aspen, and Camden there. Hauling her close, he buried his face in her neck and nipped at her pulse. “I’d much rather we spent the evening alone at my place.”
“What, for a change? Because we never do that.”
He gave her earlobe a punishing bite. “Snarky little shit, aren’t you?”
“Among many other things. Don’t you just feel endowed with good luck now that you have me in your life?”
Deke smiled. “Something like that.”
Leaning against the wall a few feet from one of the Tavern’s pool tables, Deke had to fight a grin. Alex wasn’t someone who tended to amuse people. He spent most of his time scowling and growling and generally being antisocial. But as he fisted the pool cue tight while glaring at a smiling Bailey, Deke couldn’t help but want to laugh. “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you lose.”
The wolverine cast him a dark look.
Sitting on a stool near a high-top table, Bree smirked. “He’s gonna sulk about it all night. Watch.”
Alex frowned at his mate. “I’m a dominant male shifter. We don’t sulk.”
“Oh, what a lie.” Bree winced and put a hand to her swollen belly. “Ow. This kid is strong. They kick like a champ.”
Alex placed his hand over hers, his expression softening in a way Deke had never before seen with the tough-as-fuck male.
“Do you have the nursery ready yet?” Blair asked the soon-to-be parents, leaning back into her mate, who had his arms curled around her.
“Oh, yeah,” replied Bree. “Everything’s ready. Except me. I’m still adjusting to the fact that I’m pregnant.”
A mask of concern slipped over Alex’s face. “Want to go home?”
The female omega’s brow furrowed. “No.”
Alex let his hand slip from her belly. “You shouldn’t exhaust yourself.”
“There’s really nothing tiring about sitting here watching other people play pool.” Bree dug into her purse and pulled out a pack of beef jerky. “Here. Stop bothering me.”
Bailey tapped the end of the pool cue on the floor. “So, who’s next?”
“Me,” declared Luke, disentangling himself from his mate. “But I’m not playing against you.”
“Why?” asked Bailey. “Because you know you’ll lose.”
“Yes,” he readily admitted, taking the cue from her.
On a chair beside Camden, Tate chuckled at his brother. “At least you’re honest.”
Just then, Havana and Aspen—who’d taken a quick trip to the restroom—reappeared.
“I don’t know,” Aspen said to the Alpha female. “Probably my favorite book, a luxury tent, and a bottle of pink gin.”
“What?” Bailey asked them.
“We’re talking about what three things we’d want to have with us if we got stuck on an island,” explained Havana. “I said a kettle, a fishing net, and a lighter. What would you want?”
Bailey looked at her as if the answer were obvious. “A helicopter, an aerial map, and some snacks for the journey home.” Her forehead creased. “Why would you want to stay on the island?”
Aspen’s lips thinned. “We wouldn’t want to stay, it’s—Ugh, you’re spoiling the game.”
“You call this a game?” Bailey shot them a disappointed look. “You guys are sad.”
Something that suspiciously sounded like a chuckle came out of Camden.
Aspen rounded on her mate, narrowing her eyes. “Did you just laugh?”
