Page 36 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid
"Mrs. Abernathy!" Nina squeaked, blushing furiously.
"Oh please, dear. I may be old, but I'm not blind. The way you moped every time you took the elevator downstairs." She gestured at us with her soup spoon. "And you!" she said, pointing the ladle at me, "You have been like a lovesick puppy at every condo board meeting. Or wolf, as the case may be."
My wolf huffed indignantly at being called a puppy, but I couldn't hide my smile. "Was I that obvious?"
"Painfully so." She patted my cheek. "But then, the best ones usually are. You reminded me of my Arnold, all gruff on the outside, but pure marshmallow when it comes to matters of the heart."
Through our bond, I felt Nina's delight at this revelation. Great. I'd never live this down.
"I knew from the moment she stepped into this building," Mrs. Abernathy continued, pressing cookies into Nina's hands. "Such a spark about her. Exactly what this gloomy tower needed. And what you needed too, dear," she added, fixing me with a knowing look. "Though I must say, you could have skipped the dramatic rearrangement of your furniture."
I didn't know whether to be mortified or impressed by her matter-of-fact handling of supernatural drama.
"Thank you," Nina said softly. "For everything. Jenkins told us how you helped fix everything."
"Nonsense, dear. What are neighbors for?" She stood, smoothing her immaculate skirt. "Now then, you two need rest. Real rest," she added with a pointed look. "Those ribs won't heal properly otherwise, no matter how quick wolf magic might be."
She gathered her things, pausing at the door. "Oh, and Dean? Next time you feel the need to redecorate, give me a heads up. I know an excellent supplier for claw-resistant furniture."
With that parting shot, she swept out, leaving behind the comforting scent of soup and the distinct impression that we'd been adopted whether we liked it or not.
Nina's laughter, though careful of her ribs, filled the room like music. "I love her."
"Yeah," I admitted, pulling Nina close again. "Me too."
Chapter 15
NINA
Dean's dark lashes cast shadows on his sleeping face, softening the sharp angles that usually made him look so intimidating. I traced a finger along the curve of his jaw, across the morning stubble on his cheeks, remembering how that same face had transformed into a fierce wolf just days ago to protect me. The memory should have frightened me, but instead, warmth bloomed in my chest.
This was my mate, both man and wolf, protector and partner. Even relaxed in sleep, he kept one protective arm draped across my waist, his predator's instincts never fully at rest.
"Your sister's car just entered the parking garage," Jenkins announced softly.
Dean's eyes flew open, instantly alert. His anxiety rippled through me, though he tried to mask it with a grumpy morning scowl.
"Breathe," I reminded him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "They're going to love you."
"Maggie's very protective of you," he muttered, rolling out of bed with predatory grace. "And after everything that happened, I don’t blame her.“
"Hey." I caught his hand, tugging him back. "No more dwelling on that. We're safe. We're together. And you, Mr. Nightfang, are about to be ambushed by the world's most enthusiastic five-year-old."
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "At least Max can't be scarier than my mother."
"Don't bet on it. He's fueled by sugary cereal and superhero cartoons."
Dean's nervous energy manifested in constant adjustments to his appearance. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him smoothing non-existent wrinkles and fixing his already perfect tie. For someone who regularly commanded boardrooms and faced down rival wolves, he was adorably flustered by the prospect of meeting my family.
The elevator chimed. My heart skipped as Dean's fingers tightened around mine.
"Last chance to run," I whispered, trying to lighten his mood.
The elevator doors whooshed open with a musical chime, and Max burst out like a tiny tornado of excitement, his Spider-Man sneakers lighting up with each bouncing step. His backpack, stuffed with what looked like every action figure he owned, rattled behind him as he spun in circles, mouth open in awe at the penthouse's soaring ceilings and gleaming surfaces.
My heart swelled at the sight of my nephew, his enthusiasm so pure and untainted by the darkness we'd faced. Through ourbond, I felt Dean's wolf stir with protective instinct, but also curiosity. This was a side of my life he'd only heard about, and now it was bursting into his carefully controlled world with flashing sneakers and endless questions.
"Aunt Nina! Aunt Nina! Mom said your new house is in the sky and you have a robot butler."
