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Nubia squeezed his hand and pointed out the food on his plate. “We haven’t had authentic Italian in years. And this is delicious. We may have to do a date night in Aisling soon. Thank you, Bailey. This was very thoughtful.”
She beamed at them both, then hopped up to hug Axel awkwardly. “This means I can stay the week, right? Might as well, I’m already here.”
She rushed around the room, unpacking the rest of the dessert and appetizers, making sure they saw everything she brought. “I have to run for a couple of hours. Got another box of food to deliver, then I’ll be back. I’m excited. Not sure if Nas told you, but I’m challenging his training skills on this one horse. Thinkshe can break her, but I think he can’t. She needs a different hand. That only gives me one week to prove I’m better than him. So, anyway, I’ll be back tonight.”
“Stop. What? You won’t just drop all that information and then walk away. And you can’t have free run of this pack.”
She paused, cocking her head in mock confusion. “Why not? Am I a danger?”
“No. Yes. I mean, you’re in danger. And secondly, you’re not challenging my best trainer to anything. You don’t know anything—”
“She’s the best horse trainer Aisling has. An eye and a soft hand for it. She just doesn’t do it anymore.”
Ajax calmly interrupted Axel, not even pausing in his chewing, and she immediately appreciated his presence. She knew he was only defending her because it would irk his brother, but hey, a win was a win.
“The best?”
“She’s an Easton. Specifically, Tayon’s only child. You think she wasn’t raised to be the best? Go on, Bailey. Have Nas bring you home. That way you’re not roaming the pack, causing his blood pressure to skyrocket.”
“Yes, sir.”
She fake saluted Ajax, then dramatically bowed to Axel before practically running out the door. Before she knew it, she was driving along the neighborhood streets to Nassau’s house. This was one route she hadn’t forgotten.
Chapter 21
Sunday, November 21
6:40 p.m.
Things had moved so quickly, she hadn’t a second to think about what she was about to do, or what she was about to say. He wasn’t expecting her, and although she had met his mom before, she hadn’t met his dad, and this could be awkward. Just thinking about it filled her with nervousness, and if she hadn’t been so focused on what she would say to them, she would have laughed at herself.
She wasn’t nervous talking crazy to her Beta, ordering around the head of their mobile army, convincing Tuisa warriors to cross the border, or fast-talking the Tuisa Alpha, but Nassau’s parents? She was full of jitters.
Tugging the hoodie lower, she wished she had worn longer shorts as she picked up the huge box and carried it to the front door. Using her elbow, she pushed the doorbell and waited, her stomach doing little flip-flops.
When Ife answered the door, she pulled the whole box from her hands. “Oh my, when Lana texted me not to make dinner, I had no clue this was why. Did Nubia make all this?”
“No, ma’am. We have our family restaurant in Aisling called Mariana’s. I just wanted to come over and thank you foreverything you and Nas did for me this week. Brought some of our authentic Italian dishes, desserts, wine…”
“Aren’t you the sweetest thing? It’s too much.” Together, they set the food on the dining table, and Nassau’s dad stood up from his armchair.
“Look, Red. Bailey brought us dinner. Ohh, look. I haven’t had tiramisu and cannoli in ages. Not since college.”
Nassau was a spitting image of his dad, and as much as his mother chatted away, Red didn’t say a word, only examined every dish she pulled out of the box.
“Sorry I’m a little late. Had trouble getting across the border since I didn’t exactly have Axel’s permission. Then I had to convince him to let me stay another week.”
“Oh, baby. That was an accomplishment all by itself. You didn’t have to do any of this. But I am appreciative. It smells heavenly.”
In all the flurry with his parents, it took a moment to realize Nassau wasn’t there—no characteristic tingle of his presence or his scent swarming her senses. She must have been looking for him because Ife pointed at the front door. “My baby is across the street. He’s there almost every night watching our neighbor’s boys while they’re still at work.”
“Oh. I didn’t know. Are they young?”
“Not many people do. He’s not a talker, especially about himself. Been doing that for what…maybe about five years, four nights a week. They used to be young. They’re older now, but he loves those boys. Loves kids in general.” She paused while opening the containers. “You want me to call them all over? The boys never turn down food. They’d eat all this up.”
“I don’t want to mess up his plans for the evening. I need to get back to the packhouse anyway.”
“No actual plans. Just sits over there with them boys, keeping them company, feeding them dinner. Here. Take a couplecontainers with you, and me and Red will cozy up on the couch alone. Have us some of this wine, enjoy our night in. Don’t worry about knocking over there. Go right in. But take your time coming back and definitely knock if you come in. I like to get naked before bed.”
