Chapter Fifteen

Gordon

“What happened? Who’s at the door?” I demanded, dropping the pitchfork by the door, then striding over to Red to haul him into my arms. He shook, even as I felt a mixture of fear and lust shoot through him. My mate was meant to be safe here, not scared by random visitors.

Maximus, who’d rushed in after me, patted my arm. “Stand down, Gordon. Your mate is safe here. We’ll protect him.”

I gave him a tight smile. I knew that, but it was hard not to react to Red’s constant fight-or-flight mode. He wanted to run, and I needed to fight. But then our pride hustled around us, like a barrier against the outside world, and I breathed easier.

Red forced a smile and held onto my arms. “I’m sorry. It was instinctual. It’s hard not to react to something I don’t expect, but I do feel safe with your pride and my brothers.”

I held him tight to my heart, running my hand down his spine. We took a moment to breathe in unison and calm our racing hearts.

“Is everything all right?” Doc Picker, dressed in scruffy jeans and a plaid button-down, asked from the doorway, Burke right behind him.

“I just panicked at the doorbell,” Red admitted awkwardly. “I panic at everything.”

Doc Picker hummed as if he were processing that, his gaze moving around the occupants of the room. “Understandable. Why don’t we talk after I’ve visited with the papas and the babies?”

I felt Red’s reluctance, but I whispered, “He’s almost pride now. The babies call him Uncle Doc. He could help.”

Red snorted out a laugh. “You’re saying if unborn rhubarb and a calf can trust him, so should I?”

“Yes,” I agreed, not seeing what the issue was. The little tykes might not have arrived yet, but they had revealed their cheeky personalities for sure.

“The same babies that leave their daddy stranded up trees and poles without any clue how he got there. You want me to trust their judgment?”

“He has a point,” Burke said, disguising his chuckle behind a hand.

Ricky wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, maybe using the babies wasn’t the best frame of reference for the doc.”

Doc Picker chuckled, wearing an amused look as he watched our interaction with interest. “I’ve had worse. Red, was it you making breakfast?”

Red nodded. “Omelets.”

“Why don’t you finish the omelets first? I’d love one too if there are enough eggs? Do you have any bell peppers?”

I was about to protest that one of the others could take over when I caught Doc giving me a pointed stare and I got it. He wanted Red to be focused on something else. I had the perfect distraction, but we couldn’t get down and dirty in the kitchen. I guess fun times would have to wait until later.

Is the bed finished? Red asked, sounding like he was looking for an escape route.

Five minutes and it’s done.

Of course Tim was listening in. Finish it off and we’ll help Red.

I scowled at his order and held Red even closer. Shouldn’t I be the one with my mate, especially when he melted against me like this? I never wanted to let him go, and it worsened when he got distressed.

Someone slapped me on the back. “Come on, Gordon. Let’s get this finished.”

Great, now my alpha was joining in.

Red reached to kiss me. “My brothers want some stalk time with me. I’ll make you breakfast. We can share an omelet before I talk to Doc.”

The forced gaiety in his voice meant I might argue with my pride, but not my mate.

If you need me, just call. I’ll be here in two shakes of a goat’s tail.

Yes, I know that’s not what the saying was, but I’m a goat in love with a rhubarb, so cut me some slack.

“How did I get so lucky?” he whispered against my lips.

“I’m the lucky one,” I assured him.

Ignoring everyone, I cupped the back of his head and pulled him in for a kiss, tangling our tongues together for a brief but thorough exploration of his tonsils. When I pulled back and licked my lips, I relished his taste, making sure he knew just how much I loved it.

It’s time my goat explores your rhubarb.

“Later,” he promised, giving my ass a pat.

I headed for the kitchen door, retrieving my pitchfork, aware of Red’s eyes on my butt. I may have added a sway of my hips just for his benefit. Did I care that someone snickered? Hell no. This was just for my mate. He loved my ass.

Tease. But he gave a sweet chuckle.

Ya know it.

I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I headed into the yard.

Maximus turned to me as we reached the newly turned soil. “It’s not easy, loving a stalk. But it’s worth it.”

As Maximus had spent the first half of their wooing running away from Tim, thereby subjecting the whole town to a frantic disco soundtrack until he gave in, I considered it a mature thing not to laugh in my alpha’s face.

Okay, I’m not mature.

The laughter came in big belly rumbles until he scowled at me, then I laughed harder still, head down, hands on my thighs, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“What’s so funny?” he groused with a touch of amusement he couldn’t hide.

“You hafta be joking. You ran away from Tim.”

“I didn’t know what to expect,” he snapped, all lion teeth. “I gave you and the others the chance to know what to expect!”

I sobered a little because he was right. Once Tim came into our lives, we started to find our mates. I had no doubt Randy, Drew, and Leonidis would, too. “What would have happened to us if we hadn’t found each other and moved into Valentine Growville?”

Maximus seemed to give that some serious consideration as his brow furrowed and he leaned on his pitchfork. “I think we’d have ended up here whatever happened. The Fates arranged this. We are fated to be together, as a pride and with our mates.”

I slammed my fork into the soil as I thought about it. There were so many variables that could have stopped us from getting together, and yet here we were. Town and pride, and potato. I couldn’t forget Doc, as he seemed to be planning on sticking around. Maybe he had a rhubarb mate, too?

It was meant to be, Red murmured, cutting off my train of thought.

A huge grin widened as I worked my fork into the soil. You bet your rhubarby ass, it was.