Closing her eyes, she wondered what it would be like to have a child with this man. It would be epic. She knew that.
Once she was asleep, the dreams she’d been having the last few days came to the surface. This time they were more vivid, colorful, it seemed. She and Jonas around a large Christmas tree, with a dozen small and big kids there with them. Then, like before, she fell into a deep sleep that had her dreaming of nothing more.
Waking in the big bed alone, she was disappointed. But then she stretched out, pulling muscles that were tender and sore, and decided she was glad for being alone. Hearing the shower running, she made her way there after slipping on Jonas’s shirt he’d had on last night. He was whistling, a sound she’d not heard from him before.
When he turned off the shower, she kissed him when he opened the shower door. His body was just too good to resist, and she ran her fingers through the tufts of fur on his chest. When he laughed, she looked up at him.
“As much as I’d like to reciprocate, I’m sore. I have to admit, I’ve never had sex before where I was just too sore and achy to have it again and again.” She told him she was too. “We’re going to have to keep it low-key for at least a day or two. I don’t want you hurt any more than I want to hurt myself. And I do believe I would. Even getting hard is painful. By the way, you look very fetching in my shirt. That should be your mode of dress for bed from now on.”
“I think I will. Usually, when I go to bed, I’m naked, so if you want me dressed, then that’s—” Screaming, she ran out of the bathroom when he came after her. Laughing hard when she was tackled to the bed, she told him how much she loved him. “I do, you know. Love you with every fiber of my being.”
Touching her fingers to his face, she moved a lock of his hair from his forehead. He kissed her then, gently. There was so much she wanted to say to him, telling him how he was perfect for her. That he’d saved her from a life of loneliness too. Jonas leaned down and kissed her, and Brooke felt like everything that needed to be said was said to each other in that one kiss.
“We have reservations for lunch at one. It’s eleven now.” He stood up off her and wrapped the towel around him that he’d had in his hand when he chased her. “Christ, you’re beautiful. But duty calls. While here, I’m supposed to look at three properties Rogen wants to purchase. Then tomorrow, sadly, when we get home, I’m to go with her to a meeting about some other things she has going on. Dawson might be there as well.”
She asked him why it seemed as if he was babbling. He told her. It was babble like a fool or jump her where she laid. Laughing, she sat up on the bed, pulling his shirt around her better.
“To be honest with you, Jonas, I feel like I’ve been run over about sixty times. After that, someone shoveled me up from the road and put me into a washing machine on full blast. Even my hair is a little sore.”
She went into the bathroom to shower. As soon as the stinging water hit her, she knew this was just what her poor body had needed.
They had an enjoyable afternoon and even a great lunch. They didn’t buy much for themselves, but they did for the kids. Christmas was coming up in a few months, and she decided if she started now, she’d be finished by Christmas Eve. Jonas told her he was excited to get gifts for all the kids this year.
“It’s the family’s first Christmas with children surrounding us. Mom and Dad are going to go all out, I’m betting. Dad was complaining to me the other day how Mom was buying things he’d been thinking about getting them. They’re even thinking of putting in a nice pool for when the kids come over to their house in the summer.” Brooke said she was glad they had one. The kids had seemed to enjoy it up until it was too cold to use it. “Bobby has been wanting to get into it since they moved in and found out that we had one. The kid has missed a great deal this summer with being in casts.”
After their lunch and seeing to the houses, both of them passes as far as Jonas could see, they made their way back to the hotel. Brooke was excited to be going home tomorrow. She missed the kids and her dad. Not that she’d been able to speak to him while they’d been gone, but Dawson had kept her updated on his progress.
On the way home the next day, they talked about how they were going to celebrate being home with their kids.
“We should order some pizzas for the kids for dinner tonight. I’ve noticed that between the four of them, they could make it a food group all its own.” Brooke said she’d noticed that as well. “I miss them. Very much. I know we were only gone for a couple of days, but I have missed putting them to bed and hugging them.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Who would have thought only a few weeks ago neither of us had any kids. Now, not only do we have four, but we’re happy with them too.” Jonas agreed. “Watching them come into their own is going to be fun. I can already see bits of their adult personalities coming around. Can you?”
“Yes. Thomas is going to prove himself, I think. I can see him as an attorney for the underdog. Hailey will be in research. Germs and such that can be put into things that will harm others. It’s hard to tell about Sarah.” She asked him about Bobby. “Him? Well, I don’t know for sure, but Bobby is going to be someone that can be trusted with government secrets and hold them tightly to his chest. Like Rogen. Have you noticed that he hangs out with her more than any of the other aunts?”
“Yes. He’s not afraid of her either like the rest of us are.” Jonas said that was very noticeable to even Thatcher. “I only want them to be happy. Seriously. If they never leave home, I say this now, then I’d be very content.”
They were still laughing about that as they pulled up in front of their home. The kids, all four of them, were there to greet them. Brooke didn’t think a better homecoming could be had than this. Children made the world a tolerable place, she thought.
~*~
Being back home now, Jonas felt like he belonged. He knew that he did belong here, but there was something about having his life settled that made him feel like he was in charge of his own life. Laughing, he realized he wasn’t in charge of anything as soon as Bobby, who was sporting a boot on his leg, came hobbling into his office and sat down.
“I don’t like girls. Not one bit.” Just catching his laughter, Jonas asked him what had happened. “There is this girl, a yucky girl at my school, that says she’s going to marry me. I’m just a kid. How the heck is that even going to happen? It’s not, I can tell you that. I don’t even like her at all. She is yucky and a girl, Dad. Yuck.”
“I see. This girl, do you happen to know if she’s a wolf?” He said she was. “Okay, now this is important. Did she say that you were her mate? Like Brooke is to me? Or did she tell you she was just going to marry you? Remember now, she’s a wolf, and wording can be important in this.”
Bobby thought about it, cocking his head with his eyes closed. “She said I was her mate. Oh, no, Dad. I’m just a kid. I don’t want to have to kiss her and stuff. Have I told you that I don’t even like girls? You have to fix this for me. Please? I’ll do whatever you want. I don’t want to be her mate for nothing.”
Jonas thought about an eight-year-old being mated, and he had to stop and think about how that was to work for them.
“Who’s mates?” Brooke came into the room and sat down on his lap. “Have you found your mate, Bobby? That’s wonderful news. You’re going to be so happy with her.”
“I’m happy now. I don’t need some dumb girl to make me happier.” Bobby made a couple of gagging sounds and got up to leave. “I think this is dumb and not even going to happen. She’ll just have to find herself another mate. Someone that likes girls more than I do. Which can be anyone so long as it’s not me. Double yuck. I think I’ve been set up like a chess game that I’m going to lose.”
When he left them, both he and Brooke started laughing. “I’ll contact Shane and see what he knows.” She asked him if it was Shane Picket. “It is. Do you know him by chanc
e?”
“I do. He had a couple of things going on a few years ago, and I worked with him taking some pictures. I don’t remember what it was for now that I have time to think on it, but I’m sure it’s the same one.” She snapped her fingers. “His pantry. He has it laid out in a way that not just saves the product in it, but also keeps things at hand when they need them quickly.”
“I’m sure it is the same one. And I’ve seen how he does the food storage. It’s amazing. The fact that he also has a shed that handles goods someone might need in the event of a house fire or something is wonderful. His pack is huge now, and they’re helping us with a great many things. I’ll call him so you can talk to him as well.” Picking up the phone, Shane answered on the first ring. He was talking a mile a minute, and it took Jonas a moment to realize that Shane was talking about how Belinda Donaldson was the mate to his son. “So, it’s true then. Bobby was just in here talking about how he was mated to some yucky girl.”
“She’s a good kid. I’m not sure what yucky means to a kid, but she’s beautiful. I’ll send you a picture of her.” His cell phone dinged, and he and Brooke looked at the gorgeous little girl. “I’ve never seen this happen with a human and a wolf before, but I’m thrilled by it. This way they can grow up together, and protect each other too. I’m sure that Bobby will soon grow out of thinking he doesn’t want a mate.”
“No doubt sooner than we think, too.” Brooke told him who she was. “I believe you and I worked together on a project for the wolf council about four or five years ago. They liked the way you had set up your food pantry and wanted to make the plans available to every pack. It is you that I worked with, correct?”
“It is. Holy shit, Jonas, you didn’t tell me you were married to someone like Ginger. She’s a catch. How the hell did you get so lucky?” He said he was lucky, he thought. Then he told him that she went by Brooke now, as it was her first name. “Good for her. How are your sister and Dad, Brooke? I’m betting she has a passel of kids by now.”
“Sissy has been hurt, Shane. Badly. She’s in the hospital in a medically induced coma.” Shane told Brooke that he was sorry. “My dad is here as well. I’m betting he’d love to see you. He only just bought him a house nearby and is having fun with our kids. Bobby will no doubt have plenty to tell him when he talks to him later. They’re good at putting their heads together about things.”
They spoke for a few minutes more before Brooke’s cell phone rang. It was the hospital, she told him as she left him to answer. Shane told him he’d keep an eye on the budding relationship and would tell him what he knew.
“I’ll send you updates when I get them. It’s kind of fun to be able to watch the two of them as they grow into this. As I’m sure they will eventually.” Jonas asked about sex and that sort of thing. “I don’t know that they ever feel that as young as this. As I said, I’ve never seen a human and wolf come together. They’ll be protective of each other for sure, which is what you could expect. As for sex? No, I’m sure his body and that of his other half, in this case, Belinda, will tell them when they’re ready for it.”
When Brooke came back into the room, she looked pale. Hanging up from talking to Shane, he went to her. Holding her in his arms, she nearly collapsed. Picking her up, he took her to the couch in his office, holding her until she was ready to talk.
“My sister died an hour ago. That was Thatcher, who called from the hospital. He said her temperature spiked, and there wasn’t anything they could have done for her when she had three strokes within the span of about five minutes.” Jonas held Brooke as she sobbed. “I never got to talk to her about anything. There were so many things I wanted to share with her. Oh, Jonas, I have to tell my dad too. He’s going to take it especially hard.”
She cried again, and he reached out to his brother. I was here when she stroked, then coded. Brooke’s dad had put in an order for her not to have heroic efforts made, as we weren’t sure what her life would be like after the swelling went down. Jonas asked what had happened. We were regulating her intake of fluids when they simply stopped. Kidney failure was my first thought. Before I could send her for any kind of X-rays, she stroked the first time. Then a second time, which left her with her brain swelling more. After the third one, there was no brain activity at all, and I made the call. It’s the hardest one I’ve ever had to make. But as soon as she was pulled from life support, she didn’t have any activity at all on her brain or heart. I’m so sorry.
Heath had been visiting her daily before he was changed. Today was his first day back to see her. Was he there when this happened? Thatcher said he was until a little while ago. When Thatcher had come in to see him, Heath told him he couldn’t believe how different Sissy looked. Heath had held Sissy’s hand while she flatlined. Christ, this is just horrific. I know you did all you could for her, and I’m very grateful for that, but I think Brooke is mostly upset that she didn’t get to see her sister one more time after the argument they had.
Her personality changed with the brain swelling. Tell her that. Her sister wasn’t her sister, as her brain was swelling up so badly and causing her so much trouble. I’m sure Sissy might not have known things were any different than they were before being hurt. There should have been more care taken when she was in the hospital when she was admitted. Had they done a better job of looking at the X-rays, she might well have been alive right now. As it is, the hospital is being investigated—not my call—but they’ll figure out what happened, and this will be thoroughly investigated. Jonas said he would talk to Brooke, but he didn’t think it would do much good until she spoke to her dad. He’s on his way home. I sent him home in the limo. I didn’t want him driving. Heath isn’t taking it as hard as I thought he would, but then he was here daily, seeing the changes to her meds and monitors too. I honestly think he was relieved to know she’s not suffering anymore. We, as doctors, have no way of knowing what is going on in a patient’s mind when we induce them like we did her. But I’m sure she was hurting in a lot of ways we’ll never understand.
Jonas held Brooke as he told her what Thatcher had told him. There was little to nothing that could have been done for her. And that her dad had been there when it happened. She asked him how he was.
“Thatcher said he was doing well when he left there. He thought that he was slightly relieved to know she was no longer suffering.” He went on to explain it the way his brother had. “Heath is on his way here. Thatcher sent him home in one of the cars so he’d not drive. It might hit him hard once he sees you.”
“I’ll try to be strong for him, but I have a feeling we’re both going to fall apart once we’re together. She was so young, Jonas. Not even in her late thirties.” Jonas didn’t comment. He knew she didn’t require him to, so he just held her. “I’m also worried that the kids will have terrible memories of her. Maybe I can get Thatcher or Dawson to talk to them about how she’d been very ill for a long time and wasn’t the person they were with that week. Do you think one of them will do that?”
“I do. They’d gladly do that for them.” He asked Thatcher if he would, and he said that he was going to suggest it himself. “Thatcher said he’d do it. Talk to them about what had happened to her and how it changed her deep in her mind.”
When the front door opened and closed, Brooke went to it. He knew it was her dad as soon as they both starting crying. Getting up, he led them to his office, then closed the door so they could talk. As he was leaving, he heard Brooke telling her dad what he’d told her. He knew they needed time to deal with this.
Hailey came down the stairs as he was standing there.
“What happened?” He told her about her aunt and that she’d passed away. “That’s terrible. I didn’t like her much, but she was nice when she wanted to be. Do you think we’ll have to go to the funeral too?”
“I think Brooke and your grandda would like you to be there for them. A child, even as ornery as you are, is very comforti
ng when there is a death in the family.” She laughed and then stopped suddenly. She told him how sorry she was. “You can laugh, Hailey. It’s all right to be just a little sad and happy when someone dies.”
“I don’t know anyone that has died. Well, my mom did, I guess. But I didn’t see her.” She came to him, and he picked her up in his arms. “I’m glad you took us in, Dad. I don’t think any of us would have lived much longer had you not found us. Even Cindy told us how wonderful of a person you are. And now we have a good mom that treats us nice.”
“I’m glad to know you’re happy, honey.”
They ended up in the kitchen, where both Thomas and Bobby were. They were arguing over the snack they wanted. Mel, their new cook, smacked her hand down on the table between them, and that got their attention.
“I’m the cook here. You’ll eat what I put before you.” They both looked down at their laps as they agreed with her. “Now. I can make you apples and peanut butter and apples and fluff. I’m very good at that.”
In the end, the kids shared their snacks with each other, and Sarah was given peas to eat. Jonas laughed at how she had to concentrate so hard on just being able to pick up one of them at a time. Hailey had a peanut butter and chocolate sandwich with apples on the side. He had a bite of everything.
Heath and Brooke joined them a few minutes later and joined the six of them in arguing what was the best snack in the whole world. Mel won. Having a nice fruit salad with creamy sweet dressing was even his favorite.
Chapter 8
Thatcher was exhausted. He knew Dawson was as well. The two of them had been called to another center like theirs to work. Nineteen agents had been shot. Four of those had died at the scene. While they’d not told them what had happened, Rogen told them what she was aware of. So earlier in the day, he’d asked her what the hell had gone down.
Jonas: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance Page 10
