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“Yeah, but I didn’t know you were good with them,” Boone said.
Cooper just shrugged before kissing the infant’s head again and inhaling deeply. “Who’s the sweetest little cub? Is it you? Yes, it is. You’re a sweet little cub.”
“What is happening?” Boone said quietly as Mateo reappeared. He held a second baby, this one wore a pink sleeper, and she was sucking hard on a soother as Mateo held her against his chest.
“What can I do for you?” Mateo asked, making no effort to take back the other baby from Cooper.
He had a smear of poop across one forearm, and Boone’s tiger chuffed again when the wailing of yet another infant started from somewhere behind Mateo.
“How many babies are in this house?” Boone asked.
Mateo ignored him, sighing deeply when the baby he held started to fuss. He held her against his shoulder and patted her back. “It’s okay, Sarah. Shh, don’t cry.”
The baby made another short wail, spitting out the soother, and Boone winced when she threw up with a loud wet splat. The scent of sour milk assaulted Boone’s nostrils as Mateo, weariness etched into every line in his face, made another deep sigh. “Feel better, baby girl?”
He held the baby out to Boone. “Take her.”
“No way,” Boone said.
Mateo glared at him as Cooper shifted Sarah’s brother to one massive arm. “I’ll take her.”
Mateo handed her off, and Cooper grinned delightedly at the two babies in his arms as Mateo, the back of his shirt covered in baby puke, stomped away and disappeared into another room.
The wailing from a mystery part of the house grew louder as Cooper cooed to the babies. “Hi, baby cubs. You’re so cute. Yes, you are.”
Feeling like he’d stepped into an alternate universe, Boone took his phone out of his pocket and snapped a picture of Cooper with the babies. He and Cooper might be in some weird fucking alternate universe, but the urge to take a picture of the giant lion shifter holding two tiny babies was undeniable. Daisy would be all over this shit.
Mateo returned, wearing a fresh shirt but with the poop smear still on his forearm and a warm cloth in his hand. He gently wiped Sarah’s mouth and chin before saying, “What can I do for you?”
He didn’t take back either of the babies from Cooper, but what did it matter? Cooper and his lion were completely smitten with the cubs and would be of zero help if Boone’s tiger decided to try to kill Mateo.
Like that’s gonna fucking happen.
His inner voice had a point. His tiger had retreated, completely disarmed by the crying babies, the smell of vomit and poop, and Cooper’s purring and cooing to the two babies in his arms.
“Hello?” Mateo said impatiently.
“I’m here because of what you did to Hedra Miller,” Boone said.
Mateo blinked at him, and Boone could smell the confusion rolling off of him, even with the sour scent of baby vomit that still covered him. “Hedra? I haven’t seen her in years.”
“We know what you did,” Boone said. “The threatening texts, the cow tongue, cutting the brakes in her car.”
“What the actual fuck are you talking about?” Mateo said.
“Don’t play fucking stupid,” Boone said. “I know you blame Hedra for what happened to Dianne.”
Mateo’s face paled, but he scowled at Boone. “I don’t know who the fuck you are or what the fuck you think I’ve done, but you’re wrong.”
“I’m Hedra’s mate, and I’m telling you to stay the fuck away from her,” Boone said.
“And I’m telling you, I haven’t been anywhere near her. I don’t even know where the hell she is,” Mateo said. “And I don’t fucking care.”
“Bullshit,” Mateo said. “You hate her for what happened to Dianne.”
“I did,” Mateo said, “but that was a long time ago. I’ve moved on.” He pointed to the babies. “Obviously, I’ve moved on.”
Boone growled at him. “Do you think I’m a fucking idiot? I know you -”
