Chapter 121

“Is this your baby?” the man asks. He doesn’t wait for a reply. “She’s adorable, just like her mom.”

His smile is soft and boyish. It, like the sudden compliment, catches me off guard.

Mia looks at the man curiously. The she looks at me and pats the side of my cheek. I’m pretty sure my mouth is open.

I’m shell-shocked. I can’t believe this is working. I haven’t really even done anything. I’m just standing out here with a baby.

What did Beau say? Look available. Look fertile.

The man drags his gaze down the length of my body. He’s staring at my hips like he’s sizing them up. Thinking about how many babies I could shove through?

Gross!

I have no idea how to feel about this. I’m definitely in over my head.

But the guy isn’t exactly a creep. He gave me a cheesy line, sure, but he has the decency to look a bit embarrassed about it. And it isn’t a crime to think the person you are flirting with is hot.

I wouldn’t want to date someone who didn’t think I’m attractive. Even if that means they really like my hips. Why not?

The man licks his lips. “Would you want to have more children?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say, instead of the more honest, yeah, probably. Someday. Not like, tomorrow.

“I think you should,” the man says. He steps a bit closer to me. I shift Mia so that he’s not so close to her. Of course, this puts him closer to me instead. I wouldn’t trade it, but I’m starting to feel uncomfortable.

Well, more uncomfortable.

“Maybe if you found the right man, he could convince you,” he said.

“Maybe,” I mumbled. “I guess.”

The man reaches up a hand and brushes the hair back from my shoulder. His thumb brushes the skin of my neck. It’s too close, too intimate. It startles me and I flinch.

In the next instant, Beau is suddenly beside me. He’s holding the man’s offending hand by the wrist and glaring.

The man blinks. “Can I help you?”

“You can keep your hands off my girlfriend,” Beau says, and throws the man’s hand away. In the same breath, Beau wraps an arm around my shoulders. Mia reaches for him, so he rubs a finger down her cheek. She catches it and holds it with both of her hands.

“Thanks for waiting for me, honey,” Beau says to me. To Mia, “And our little sweetheart.”

I’m too stunned to move. Girlfriend bounces around in my brain, unable to be processed. My brain cells have no idea what to do with that term coming from Beau.

And… is he implying that Mia is our baby?

Did he just call me honey?

It’s too much. My mouth is definitely open now.

So is the man’s. “I… uh… Didn’t realize she already had a boyfriend. She’s not wearing a ring or anything.”

“Well, she has one, and we are a very happy family of three,” Beau says. He’s smiling but there’s an edge to it. He gets that same look right before he mocks someone relentlessly. He’s giving this guy a pass, in just asking him to leave. “So get lost, huh? Before I make things ugly.”

“Oh… o-of course. Sorry.” He dips his head in apology, first to Beau, then to me. Then once to Mia, like she can understand. Then he turns and scurries away.

Beau continues to glare after him until he’s gone. He keeps his arm around my shoulders for even longer.

Slowly, the neurons in my brain start firing again, and I realize Beau is pretending to chase that guy away. But wasn’t this outcome part of the plan?

“I’m confused,” I say, once Beau removes his arm from around me. “I thought the point was to show werewolf guys like single moms. Why did you scare him off?”

Beau breaks out his cell phone. He scrolls through something and barely looks at me, like he couldn’t care less about me. The insufferable asshole.

He still answers my question though. “That guy wasn’t right for you. Actually, you shouldn’t use any of my dating advice.”

“What are you talking about?” Now that the shock has worn off, I start to smirk. I place my hand on my hip and ask, “I thought you were mister infallible when it came to picking people up. You aren’t starting to become self-aware, are you? Realizing that your over-flirtations aren’t all they are cracked up to be?”

Beau lowers his phone to scoff openly at me. “My flirtations are fine. The problem is you.”

“Hey,” I say, offended.

He rolls his eyes at me. “You are too good of a girl for the things I usually pull, Nanny. You need a nice boy, some steadfast, hardworking, earnest type. Like a farmer or something. My tips are best for casual sex or quick hookups.”

“I could be looking for that,” I say.

He gives me a disbelieving look. “Maybe you have my brothers fooled, but I see through you. You eventually want to settle down.”

I don’t want to admit that, especially not to him, so I deflect, “Doesn’t everyone?”

Beau looks at me like I’m someone to be pitied. “No, Nanny. Not everyone.”

A bit of embarrassment shoots through me, but I ignore it. I refuse to be humiliated for eventually maybe someday wanting a family of my own. It’s not like it would be easy for me, either. I want to be warrior, first and foremost. Anyone I settle down with would have to understand and respect that.

Beau doesn’t press, which surprises me but I’m not about to call him out on it.

“Come on. I’ll walk you home,” he says.

“I don’t need an escort,” I say.

He eyes Mia and me, then looks off into the direction that man went.

“I think it’s best to keep up appearances a little longer,” Beau says.

“Pretty sure you scared that guy way off.”

“There will be others,” Beau says and drops his arm back across my shoulders.

That’s… different.

We start to walk back toward the Pyramid together, and I’m surprised by how much I don’t… hate what’s happening here.

People are looking. If they recognize Beau, which most of them do, I can only imagine that they see me as nothing more than his next, or latest, conquest. Though, regardless, his closeness does keep all the other potential suitors away from me… and from him.

Mia giggles and I tickle her to hear more. Gods, I missed her so much when I was sick.

“She’s happiest with you,” Beau says.

I look up and catch him watching me. He has a strange look in his eye, but I don’t recognize it.

Too quickly, he glances away.

Much later, after Mia is put to bed and most of the house is asleep. I stretch to prepare for my run. I’ve already alerted Steven and he’s agreed to keep an ear out for Mia tonight, so that I can finally get some exercise.

“I need to get my strength back,” I said to Steven, when his brow started to furrow.

Now, I step out into the cool night air and begin to job. My muscles are tense. It’s been too long since I’ve done this. But the strain of exercise pulls them in just the right way.

I just have to push myself. I’ll be back at the top of my game before long.

Aside from Steven, I didn’t tell any of the other brothers where I was going. It’s none of their business. And with how adamantly they are against my training, they’d probably be against me doing even this.

“Sneaking out?” says Archer’s voice.

At first, I think I imagined it. But then I look to my left and jump a little.

Archer is right there, dressed in his own joggers and sneakers. He’s keeping pace with me.

And he’s glaring.