Page 24 of When She Needs Them Most
“My point, exactly.”
“I had a plan for that. It would be simple enough to plant a false trail. Why would he do it himself when he could hiresomeone?” Kase grins, like he’s won something. “I can frame anyone.”
“Let’s save that for later, if it becomes necessary.” I clap him on the shoulder. If I shut him down too hard, he’ll react out of spite. I’m also drawn to Chelsea, but I can’t tell how much of Kase’s interest is obsession, which is dangerous because when it fades, he’s only left with apathy. “Grab the gas can. It’s time we get back inside. It’s cold as shit.”
“It’s supposed to be sleeting by the time we wake up,” Kase says, snagging the can.
“Did she…” What the fuck am I even doing? “Does she look warm enough?”
He shrugs. “She’s got the space heater you and Arden bought. Then like three blankets. She’s probably fine. It doesn’t seem like she’s shaking or anything.”
I nod, swiping a cold hand over my face. Unless I plan to sneak in to check for myself, I’ll have to take his word for it, even if it is killing me.
I’ve never had someone trigger my instincts before, and it’s ridiculously hard to fight the urge to see that she’s safe with my own two eyes.
Arden drags Kase into the office early the next morning. I’m not sure how I won the vote to stick around and keep an eye out for Chelsea, but I’ll take it.
Sky and I go for our morning run, and we’re just on our cool-down lap around the block when I spot the repairman’s truck parked behind Chelsea’s car. He knocks and waits, but there’s no answer. He must have already tried a time or two, because hejogs down the stairs and back to his truck, like he’s about to haul ass. Honestly, I’m surprised he showed up at all on a Sunday.
“Hey,” I call out. “Don’t leave. I’ve got a key. She might be in the shower or something.” Frowning, I tug Sky along with me as I jog back to our house. There’s almost no chance Chelsea would shower knowing she’d have to climb out to a freezing house.
I snag Chelsea’s key off the keyring by the door and release Sky to go grab her after-jog drink. She tries to follow me back out the door, but I carefully close her inside.
There’s a part of me that relishes having an excuse to check on Chelsea, but an even bigger piece is just concerned.
The repair guy heads off toward the basement, and I beeline for Chelsea’s room. Knocking gently produces no response, so I let myself in like I have the right.
She really fucking needs a security system.
Or a dog.
The trainer we used for Sky is excellent, but I’m pretty sure she’s got a wait list. The room is warmer than it was in the rest of the house, which helps me feel minutely better.
Taking a seat on Chelsea’s bed, I stretch a hand over and brush my fingers along her cheek. “Chelsea, hey, sweetheart.”
Her pretty blue eyes pop open, but they’re bright red. She jolts, and her hand comes to rest on my thigh. “Lincoln?”
“Sorry. The repair guy is here to check out the furnace. He was about to leave…” I move to cup her forehead. “Are you running a fever, or is that from the space heater and all the blankets?”
“I’m fine,” she says, but she’s not very convincing. “I need the bathroom really bad, though. Would you mind hopping up?”
“Shit, sorry.” Pushing myself up, I twist to offer her my hands. She throws off the blankets, and I help her stand.
A smile crosses her face for a split second before she waddles off at a rapid pace. My eyes stay glued to her ass in that long-sleeve cotton pajama dress until the door closes, blocking my view.
Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, I find myself twisting to scent her sheets. Not only are they soaked with sweat, but her sweet sugary scent is everywhere.
My mouth waters, and the illogical urge to lick the material washes over me from nowhere.
Goddamn.
I would expect pregnant omegas to smelllessappealing, notmore.The sudden urge to bite her has to be because we’re a scent match. Her mattress just happens to be saturated with her scent, and that’s why my head is foggy.
It smells too much like a nest.
Speaking of which, this house doesn’t have a dedicated setup for one. She could use the smaller bedroom upstairs, but that would be a lot of work and might even require some renovations. Even then, I’m guessing she’ll eventually take over the two bedrooms upstairs for her and the baby, which would leave this room as the nest. It’s too big and has too many windows for that to be an easy transition.
She shouldn’t have a heat until the baby is somewhere between three months and a year old, but I’ve always heard that omegas nest regularly during pregnancy.
