Page 71 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

Mary froze on the sofa, and Lincoln looked across to her as his phone lowered by inches.

His scent changed so fast the room seemed to tilt toward him. “Mary,” he said.

She lifted the glass in a tiny, doomed toast. “Surprise.”

Chapter 13

Lincoln

Mary looked too pale. She also looked as if a strong breeze might talk her into leaving her body behind.

I didn’t like it.

I liked it less when she looked at the menu with a sigh.

“What do you need?” I asked.

Mary lifted her eyes. “A slice of black forest gateau but I know I shouldn’t.”

Hudson sat beside me, one hand around his water glass. His mouth lifted at one corner. “You can eat anything you want to.”

“I’m going to get fatter.”

I growled and it made her eyes pop open. “You’re pregnant. And you’re not fat, you’re perfect.”

Hudson lifted his hand and gestured to the waiter.

“Have you seen my breasts? I look like I could model for a Hucow romance book.”

“A what?”

“Human cows. It’s a BDSM type of book where woman roleplays—“

I held up my hand. “I can guess the rest. Is that what you like to read?”

She bit her lip to hold back a grin. “And breeding books. Especially when the man is really hot for it. A little like you and Hudson were in my heat.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You think we got you pregnant on purpose?”

She shook her head. “You didn’t know I wasn’t taking anything. I know it was just words and the heat of the moment.”

Hudson cleared his throat. “Or maybe we wanted you pregnant and permanently in our bed, but we didn’t know how to tell you.”

She gripped the white tablecloth as the soft music was interrupted by another cleared throat. “Are you ready to order?”

“A large slice of black forest gateau please, two glasses of champagne and…” He turned to Mary who was smiling. “What would you like to drink?”

“Sparkling water please.” Her hand stopped twisting the tablecloth and rested in her lap beneath the table.

When the waiter left, the silence came again.

Mary folded her napkin on her lap. She did it carefully, smoothing one corner, then another. Her nails were short, with a faint smudge of blue paint near her thumb.

I wanted to ask about it.

I wanted to ask everything. I would.

A few minutes later, her slice of cake arrived with our drinks. Mary stared at it.