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Roe’s youngest had only just turned three. He stood on a chair and held the plate still for Mack to fill up. Benji chattered nonstop, fully refreshed from a full night’s sleep.
“It’s no problem,” Mack said, smiling at Roe. “Everyone has to eat, right? Now, tell me more about Pepper and Carrot.”
“Pepper on broom,” Benji said, wiggling in place. “Carrot kitty flies with.”
“Wow,” Mack said, grinning. “This is all from a comic?”
Benji nodded. “The best. Daffy read ’em.”
Roe struggled not to explode with pride. His little boy loved a good story. He would be reading along with them soon.
“Daphne,” she corrected, exasperated. “Daffy is a duck.”
Benji blew her a kiss. “Quack, quack, Daffy duck.”
Mack’s head fell back as he laughed, and Roe stared helplessly. With his silver and black hair and his strong jaw, the man was gorgeous. Even better, he was kind. Wally made Roe and the others feel safe, but being around Mack made Roe feel at home. If Roe were to paint him, he would be a mixed media oil painting with acrylic. Maybe an underpainting of blues and grays with a darker-hued portrait with texture. Definitely not a traditional canvas. He would shape it himself. Smooth and rolling edges with a custom-made cherry wood frame.
Roe settled his chin onto his fist and enjoyed the laughter filling the kitchen. Last night, he had slept better than he had in years knowing that Wally and Mack would handle any trouble that showed up. Not that he would ever tell Cain that. The alpha already had a big head, and Roe wasn’t about to tell him he had been right in sending them here.
“The Book Worm has story time every afternoon for little bits like you, Benji,” Mack said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Maybe you can go and bring your comic. I bet the other kids would likePepper and Carrot,too.”
“Oh, what time?” Daphne asked, brightening. “Is it within walking distance? I can take him, Dad.”
Benji clapped. “Please, please.”
“It’s at one, Monday through Fridays.” Mack set a plate in front of Roe. “It’s only two blocks away, but I can take them if you want me to, Roe.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Roe said, his mouth watering at the sight of all that bacon. “I can take them.”
“We could walk,” Daphne said, rolling her eyes. “It’s just two blocks, Dad.”
“It’s a new town, sweetheart.” Roe groaned as he chewed. Why did pancakes taste so much better when someone else made them?
“I’ll walk with them, Dad.” Tris yawned and rubbed his eyes. The teen wasnota morning person, but bacon was enough to get him out of bed.
“Ian, does that sound okay?” Roe asked. “You know your town best.”
Mack nodded with a smile. “They’ll be fine. I’ll let the bookstore know to expect them, too.”
Roe would have liked to go with them, but he was still hurting quite a bit and could use the rest.
“Deal.”
Benji clapped and jumped up and down on the chair, prompting Mack to pick him up and set him down on the floor. “Careful there, Little Bit.”
Tris moaned appreciatively as he stuffed his face. “Your pancakes are so much better than Dad’s.”
Roe snorted and held his hand over his heart. “Et tu,Brute?”
Mack grinned. “I like cooking.”
“We like eating,” Roe said, taking another bite.
Mack sat down across from him, eyes shining with laughter. “We’re a good match, then.”
The comment warmed Roe more than it should, so he focused on helping Benji into his booster seat. “Remember to use your fork, baby boy.”
Benji wrinkled his nose, but he did as he was told.
