Chapter Six – Kit

Kit’s visit to the barn to install the motion-activated camera did not last long. He didn’t want his human scent to linger in the cold barn, so he quickly set up the camera, pointing it directly at his bait, the chicken sandwich, which he’d wrapped in tinfoil with the hope of stopping it from freezing too quickly, and a Thermos of coffee.

Once satisfied everything was set up, Kit went back outside, leaving the barn door ajar, and jogged back to the house, his boots making a crumping sound in the freshly fallen snow.

The temperature was dropping rapidly as the snow clouds thinned completely, leaving a clear sky with a crescent moon. Even with his hot bear-blood pumping through his veins, he could feel the chill in the air. With one backward look at the barn, he entered the house and shut the door firmly, bolting it securely.

“I didn’t think people locked their doors around here,” Suzie commented. She was standing looking at him from the doorway leading into the sitting room.

He looked at the door guiltily, and then back to Suzie, who still held Storm in her arms. “I don’t want whoever might be out there to come in here.”

Suzie's face paled, and he knew she got his meaning. “Why would someone dump a baby at the hospital and then come back and take her away?”

“We are assuming it is the exact same cat. What if it’s another cat, same shape prints, similar size? I got a good scent of this cat, but not the one at the hospital.” He took a deep breath and carried on, although he didn’t want to upset Suzie. “We are also assuming the paw prints at the hospital belong to the cat who left baby Storm. What we don’t know is if the cat was coming to retrieve what was his, or hers. Or if Storm’s mom left her at the hospital to keep her safe from someone else.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Suzie admitted. “So someone else might have left Storm at the hospital and the cat tracked them?”

“Perhaps.” Kit walked toward the sitting room, and Suzie went back to the fireside, while he checked the camera screen. It was blank; there was no movement in the barn. “If that’s the case, we have to make sure the house is locked, and Storm sleeps with us.”

“Us?” Suzie asked. “I thought separate rooms were the plan.”

“They were.” He turned to her, an apologetic look on his face. “I’m going to be honest. I want you two where I can see you, where I can protect you.”

Suzie looked down at Storm. He was ready to defend his decision, he was ready to argue his point of view, but Suzie simply nodded. “OK. We’re better together.”

“We are,” he replied. “And please don't think this is a way for me to push you into my bed. If you prefer, I’ll sleep on the floor, or there’s a chair in the corner of the room…”

Suzie put her hand up. “It’s OK, you don’t have to explain yourself. Sleeping in the same bed, doesn’t mean sex is mandatory, does it?” She looked down at Storm and said, “Sorry, you don’t need to hear things like that, do you, sweetheart?”

“I think you are OK. Sex won’t be the first word out of her mouth,” Kit joked.

“If you keep saying it, it will,” Suzie chided.

“Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving.” Kit headed for the kitchen, and then stopped, turning to Suzie, hands on hips. “You are going to have to put her down at some point.”

“I don’t know where,” Suzie said, looking around.

“I’ll go grab the crib. She can stay in here where it’s warm while we make dinner.” Kit left Suzie and went into the guest bedroom, which was where his foster children slept, unless they were babies. Kit always set a crib or cot up in his bedroom when he fostered babies. Thankfully, abandoned or orphaned shifter babies were rare.

He grabbed the crib and came back to the sitting room. “Here we are.”

“Do you foster many babies?” Suzie asked, passing Storm to Kit.

“I do,” Kit admitted. “Any shifter baby in need of a temporary home usually ends up at my door.” He kissed Storm’s head and then placed her in the crib. “As a pediatrician, I’m committed to giving all children the best start in life, and then helping them throughout their early years.”

“You are a committed man,” Suzie said.

“Does it bother you?” Kit asked.

“Why would it?” Suzie replied with her own question. She didn’t understand what he was asking. If he asked her outright about how she felt about fostering children, what would her answer be? Would she make him choose?

“I foster shifter children. When we're together…” Kit hesitated. “And I truly believe we are meant to be together.”

“It’s OK.” Suzie placed her hand on his arm, sending all kinds of wonderful sensations coursing through his body. “I know what you are asking. And no, I will not be telling you to give up fostering. Maybe when we have a child Storm’s age, I might not want a house full of other children for a week or two. But aside from that, I’m OK with it. More than OK.” She touched his cheek, brushing the back of her hand across his stubbly chin. “We’re in the same business. So to speak.”

Kit sighed in contentment, ignoring his need to take Suzie by the hand and show her how much he wanted to make a child with her. This wasn’t the time, not yet. “We are in the same business, the business of making children’s lives better.”

“You are a lucky girl, Storm,” Suzie said to the baby, who was drifting back off to sleep.

“I hope you think you are lucky too,” Kit said, and then winced. “I didn’t mean that to sound so conceited.”

“It didn’t. And I know what you meant. And I hope I am a lucky girl too.” Suzie gave him a soft smile, and her cheeks, already reddened from the cold wind, flushed a brighter red. “So far, I believe I am. If that makes you happier.”

“It does,” Kit said. He was leaning in toward her, and he pulled back, snapping out of the delirious state of happiness that threatened to smother him.

“What about that food?” Suzie said, her cheeks redder, her tongue slipping out to moisten her full lips.

It took all of Kit’s self-control not to reach for her, and pull her into his arms. However, he didn’t want to go too fast. He wanted them all to sleep in the same room tonight, preferably with Suzie in bed with him. If he pushed her too fast now, she might chicken out and insist on staying in the guest room. A shudder passed through him, and his hackles raised. Until he knew for sure who, or what, was out there, he wanted Suzie and Storm close to him.

“Let’s see what I have in the cupboards.” He glanced back at Suzie as they walked into the kitchen. “I am going to admit that cooking for one is not my favorite thing. I often eat at the hospital.”

“This from a man who keeps his house prepared in the event he has to foster a child at a moment’s notice,” Suzie asked, eyebrow arched.

“That’s different.” He grinned. “I have Tater Tots, or I could rustle up mac and cheese. There’s probably a pizza too.”

“Comfort food at its finest,” Suzie commented with a sliver of a smile.

Kit turned to face her. “When a foster kid arrives, that’s all they want, comfort.” His face was serious, all humor gone. “It’s heartbreaking.”

“I know,” Suzie said. “I think it’s an amazing thing that you do. To take a child into your home and make them feel safe.”

“I’m no hero, Suzie,” Kit answered humbly. “I do what I do because I can. Because I needed to fill this void within me. A void made by my need to have a mate, a woman in my life.”

“Wow, that is scary.” Suzie reached out her hand to steady herself, resting it on the countertop. “I’m going to say it back to you. I am no hero either.”

Kit smiled, all tension leaving him. “You might think differently when you've lived with me for a few months.”

“Only a few months?” Suzie asked.

“Yeah, by then you’ll know I’m a terrible cook. I’m not so great at yard work either.” He shrugged apologetically.

“That’s OK. I love cooking, it’s one of the things my mom and I used to do together. Outdoors is where my mom feels at home, so we tended the back yard, and filled it with blooms.” She gave Kit a sly smile. “So yard work is one of my favorite pastimes.” She sighed. “It’s going to be difficult for me to leave my house and garden behind. And my mom…”

Kit cocked his head thoughtfully. “That means you intend to live here with me.”

“One day.” She dipped her head and her long, mousy brown hair slipped across her face. “I want to be sure.”

“I know you do.” Kit closed the space between them, wanting to comfort his mate. Stroking her chin with his fingers, he tilted her face up so she had to face him. “Are you scared?”

Tears misted Suzie’s eyes. “Not of you,” Suzie told him honestly. “But of this whole relationship. Yes, it scares me. Part of me knows it is the right thing to do. I might not feel the same bond as you, but it doesn’t mean I don’t feel something.” She sighed. “And then there is the other side, the practical down-to-earth side, that is yelling I am making the biggest mistake of my life. A mistake I swore I would never make.”

Kit frowned. “What made you swear to not make a mistake?”

Suzie tried to tear her eyes from his, but he held her gaze. “I didn’t want to end up pregnant and alone.”

“You won’t ever be alone.” He slipped his hand around her waist and placed it on the small of her back. “I’m not the kind of guy who runs out on a woman. Shifters don’t do that.”

Suzie turned and looked out of the room. “Is that what Storm’s mommy thought?”

“Hey, we don’t know Storm’s parentage. She might not even be a shifter. But one thing I do know, and that is if she was born from a shifter bond, something catastrophic must have happened for her mother to abandon her, and for her father not to be around to stop it from happening.”

Suzie brushed her tears away. “I know. Deep down, I know.” She nodded. “It’s going to take me a little while to believe it, though.”

“We have all the time in the world,” Kit said, and unable to help himself, he lowered his lips and kissed her.

“Sealed with a kiss,” Suzie murmured.

“And by fate,” Kit replied.