CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Ryan~
Jimmy was a dead weight on Ryan’s chest. “Can I have another story?” His eyes were drooping but the cub was still bargaining.
Ryan put his arm around Claudia and kissed her cheek. She too looked ready to drop, but she pulled herself to deal with this last demand. Ryan gave her a quick squeeze. He had this. “It’s bedtime, Jimbo. Do you want to walk or ride on my shoulders?”
“Ride!” Jimmy shouted.
“Indoor voice,” begged Claudia.
“Sowwy, Mommy.” Jimmy dropped his voice a micro-decibel.
Ryan hoisted the boy onto his shoulders. “Let’s go, son.”
Little fingers found his cheeks. “Daddy’s all better,” Jimmy crowed.
“I am. You healed Daddy’s snakebite.” Should he ask? Would the kid even know? “What did you do, son?” he inquired softly.
“I made you cool off,” Jimmy explained solemnly.
Figured that the boy had been running on pure instinct. What else had Ryan expected? That at three years old, he had developed a full-blown medical theory of paranormal infection? “So you did, Jimbo. And I got better. Thank you.”
“Can I have another story?” Jimmy asked hopefully. His cheek was pressed to the top of Ryan’s head.
Claudia, who was trailing them, chuckled. “Nope. It’s bedtime, sport. You have daycare in the morning. Miss Sybil is going to take you to a farm to choose pumpkins for Halloween. Remember?”
“I want the biggestest one!”
Ryan flipped back the covers and dumped Jimmy in one smooth movement. It felt great to have his normal coordination back. “What are you going to do with your pumpkin?” he asked.
“Paint it!”
Ryan raised his brows at Claudia.
“They each get a pie pumpkin to paint and bring home. It’s too early to carve one, and anyway knives are too risky at daycare,” she explained. “Not enough supervision.”
“Ah.” He pulled the blanket up to Jimmy’s chin and kissed his cheek. “Good night.” He stepped aside and turned out the light.
“Good night, shut eyes tight,” Claudia whispered before she too kissed Jimmy.
“‘Night.” Despite his attempt to prolong his bedtime routine, Jimmy was already half-asleep.
“Are you going to work?” Ryan asked once they were in the living room.
Claudia glared at him. “Not tonight. Don’t you think now that Jimmy is asleep we have stuff to discuss?”
Uh oh. Even a dumbass Marine knew that tone meant trouble. Was this the moment when she told him that a permanent husband was a deal-breaker? He had hoped to avoid this conversation until he had had an opportunity to convince her that fate had brought them together forever.
It almost made him wish he was still going to die. Almost. Life was pretty attractive, but it would be a thousand times more attractive with her by his side. What he needed was a major distraction. “I guess you’re curious about what happened after you left the Bean.”
She looked incredulous for a moment, but she took the bait. “I assume you let Garrett persuade you to pay for a new gym.”
“That’s the plan. But not today. Babcock figures I have to let the council lean on me a bit. He wants them to think sticking our clan with the bill for that gym is their idea. Today I hummed and hawed and asked Somerset why the Rutherfords should be on the hook for a memorial to their ancestor. Old Cuthbert is a West Haven hero. I suggested that the honor would mean considerably more if the town paid for it.”
“Oh. Well, a high school gym would be nice,” she said wistfully. “As it is, the community center is overused. For example, the senior aquafit classes have to take place at night because the kids need the pool during school time. And there are no mommy and baby playgroups, because the gym is always booked by students.”
“I know. Walter and Quinn explained it to me. Don’t worry. I was ready to write a check immediately, but Walter convinced me that appearing reluctant would make the councilors feel one up on us cougars, and get them off your and Jimmy’s backs at the same time.”
Her face tightened. “I thought that letting people know that Jimmy is a healer would accomplish that.”
He lifted her onto his lap and hugged her. “Don’t worry. Things are under control. Talking about Jimmy being a healer will help. But it’s really you they’re worried about.” He nuzzled her ear. “Want to tell me why a talent detector has their collective shorts in a knot?”
Her shield slammed into place. His heart sank. Surely if she felt their bond, she would tell him the truth about her talent?
Her bottom squirmed over his erection. “I guess you really are feeling better,” she said as if she had not just shut him out.
“I am. I had a swim in cougar today. I’m a new man. A new cat.”
“Feeling frisky?”
He nuzzled that fragrant place behind her ear. “I always feel frisky around you.”
“Want to show your wife a good time?”
Was it his imagination or did she put special emphasis on ‘your wife’? “Always, Mrs. Rutherford. Always.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her giggling into their bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.
He set her tenderly on the carpet and looked into her eyes. Her shield had disappeared, and her pupils were enormous. Her scent had changed too, from worried to aroused. He should put his futile concern about her still being in love with his cousin out of his mind and concentrate on wooing her.
“Is it my imagination, or are you stronger tonight?” she asked flirtatiously. At least he thought she was flirting.
He chuckled. “I’m almost back to normal. Want to watch me do chin-ups?”
Her hands traced his biceps through his shirt. “Maybe later. Do you usually go to the gym?”
“I weight lift, if that’s what you’re asking. I had a session at Mom and Dad’s place after my swim.”
“They have a gym too?”
“All the comforts of home. Everyone in my family enjoys working out. What about you?” He stroked her waist under her T-shirt, savoring the soft skin and supple muscle.
“I like doing stuff. Swimming, hiking, sailing. But I loathe running on a treadmill or using an exercise bike.” She kissed his throat.
“Does you more good to do things outdoors as much as possible. And it’s way more fun. But I still like the convenience of a weight room. We’ll take the kid on a hike this weekend.” He caught her mouth beneath his.
Her mouth softened. She sighed and leaned into him. It was a surrender of sorts. Time to show his woman that she was his one and only mate. He figured that with his mind and body now running on a full tank, he would be able to blow her mind. Or if not her mind, her pussy.