7. Savvy

7

Savvy

“ A re you okay?” Cat asked.

“Yeah, why?” Savvy said.

“Because you kept looking toward the wood line while we were playing outside today,” Drake answered.

“Sorry if I was distracted, guys. I guess I was expecting a herd of unicorns and fairies to come charging out of the forest and offer to grant us three wishes.”

“There aren’t any unicorn shifters around here, silly,” Cat said.

Drake was quiet for a second and said, “Is that three wishes each, or one wish for each of us because there are three of us.”

Savvy said, “I don’t know. What do you think?”

“I think we should get three wishes each,” Cat said. “I know what I would wish for.”

“What’s that?”

“A horse. I also want a motorcycle like Daddy’s,” she said.

“Those are great wishes,” Savvy said.

“Me, too,” Drake chimed in. “Plus, all the cake I can eat.”

“With ice cream.”

“That sounds like a tummy ache,” Savvy laughed.

“What would you wish for?” Cat asked.

A picture of naked Rory, holding her close to him while he kissed her, popped into her mind.

“I don’t know,” Savvy replied. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

Rory had to work late so the rest of them ate dinner together and played games until it was bedtime. Then, Savvy went out onto the back deck with some sweet iced tea and a book.

“You are falling in love with him, aren’t you?” Cassia asked.

“Of course not. I hardly know him,” Savvy said. “I see him a few minutes in the morning, and an hour or so at night.”

“You know that he’s a good man and how much he adores those kids.”

“That’s true, but that hardly implies romantic love.”

Cassia giggled and said, “No, but the fact that you are constantly thinking about him and have very erotic fantasies about him might. I had to disappear last night while you were taking care of your needs after thinking about him. I closed off my mind in a hurry. You are going to corrupt my innocence.”

“I need a flyswatter,” Savvy said.

“Do we have a bug problem?” a deep voice said behind her.

Savvy jumped and put her hand over her chest.

“Sorry. I thought that you could hear my footsteps.”

“No,” Savvy said. “An annoying fly buzzing was zooming around my head a few seconds ago, but it seems to have disappeared.”

Cassia laughed in her ear and said, “I’m right here.”

Savvy had to bite her tongue to keep from replying. She didn’t need Rory thinking that she was a nutcase.

“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been teaching the kids about community and the importance of giving back to the world. Beth and Conner told me about the food bank. Micah, Lucy, and Angie have stocked it and they’ll be giving out groceries and other supplies tomorrow. I was wondering whether it would be okay if I took the kids so they could help, too.”

Micah was a billionaire who partnered with Angie. Her parents had also been billionaires, and the two of them had worked together to fund multiple causes in the area. Angie was married to the alpha of a wolf shifter pack in the shifter world but often came to the human world to take care of her pet projects. Lucy was Micah’s wife.

“I think that would be a wonderful idea,” he said. “We aren’t billionaires, but we have more than plenty. I think that it would be a great experience to meet other people who aren’t as privileged and to realize that they can make a difference for others.”

“Terrific,” Savvy said.

“Has there been any sign of trouble out here?”

“Nope. I’ve been keeping an eye out, and Colby is always outside with us when he can protect us. The kids talked him into playing games with them. Today, they had him hula-hooping.”

“I would have loved to see that.” Rory laughed.

“It was funny. Rosa and Amy had to come out and watch. The kids tried to get them to play, too, but they refused.”

“What about you?”

“Nope. I could never get my hips to move right.”

Rory laughed. He sat down next to her and his knee touched hers. An electric shock nearly made her jump out of her chair. Rory had loosened his tie and the top several buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, giving Savvy a glimpse of his well-defined chest, making her fingers itch to touch him.

They talked about the kids for a few minutes, and he asked, “How do you like it here?”

“It’s amazing. I love the kids. Colby, Amy, and Rosa are like the family I never had.”

“You don’t have any brothers or sisters?”

“No. My mom’s still alive, but we don’t talk,” Savvy said. “I guess I need a shower and bed. We’re going to have a big day tomorrow.”

She and the kids left for the foodbank right after breakfast. Conner, Beth, and Taryn were already there, as were Micah and Angie. She brought her constant companion, a black and white border collie, Apollo, with her.

Drake and Cat fell instantly in love with Taryn, who took them under her wing. She explained the process to them and what their jobs would be.

“She is going to be the perfect big sister,” Savvy said.

“I know.” Beth smiled, rubbing her belly.

The doors opened and people seemed to flood in. People from Angel’s Creek and the surrounding areas came in, hoping to get a hand up in troubling times. Everyone was extremely grateful for the assistance.

Cat and Drake had the chance to meet a lot of kids who didn’t have all of the toys and clothes that they had. At the end of the day, the little ones were just as tired as the adults, but they felt good about the fact that they had helped.

“You know what?” Cat asked. “I think that maybe some of the kids would like to get a toy or a game, too.”

Micah and Angie looked at each other and smiled. “I think that would be a terrific idea. You, Drake, and Taryn will have to go shopping with us the next time we go and pick out stuff for the kids,” Angie said.

Cat smiled with pride because Angie liked her idea. After cleaning up, they went back home in time for dinner. Rory was there, waiting for them. While they ate, Cat and Drake told him about how they helped other people and it made them feel good. They didn’t know that there were hungry people and now they wanted to help them. Cat told him about her idea, and Rory praised her, making her beam.

After dinner, Rory took the kids outside so that they could shift and get some exercise. Savvy almost had to force herself to stay in the kitchen and not follow them outside. She wanted so much to catch another glimpse of Rory’s incredibly sexy body.

He left after the kids were put to bed. She grabbed her book and went outside, hoping that he would talk to her when he came home.

“You know, Cassia, being here is almost like having a real family, just without having a partner. Gabe and I always talked about having kids.”

“I know. You two would have been the best parents in the world.”

“I guess all of those dreams died with Gabe. At least I have Cat and Drake – for now. Soon, they will start school, and I don’t know if Rory will want to pay me to hang around when they aren’t even home.”

“I’m sure you’ll still be a part of their lives,” Cassia consoled. “They adore you and will want you to always be a part of their lives.”

“I hope so,” Savvy said doubtfully.

The next morning, the kids were still excited about their experience at the food bank. At breakfast, Cat asked, “Dad, can Drake and I gather up all the toys, books, and clothes that we don’t want and need, and donate them to the food bank so they can be given to those other kids?”

“As long as they are in really good shape. You don’t want to give them anything trashy or that looks extremely used,” he said.

“Savvy can help us find the good stuff,” Drake said.

“Sounds like a plan,” Rory said.

He kissed the kids and said “bye” to everyone else and headed out.

Savvy and the kids went upstairs and started making piles of items in very good shape to give to the food bank and decent shape to donate to the thrift store. They boxed up the clothes, books, and toys that were in excellent shape, and Colby collected them to take to town.

“We can lay stuff out on the tables and each kid can take one thing that they like. That way, everyone gets something that they like and there is enough for a lot of kids,” Cat said.

“That is an excellent plan,” Savvy said.

“Micah said he would meet me down there,” Colby said. “Please don’t go outside until I get back.”

“I promise,” Savvy replied.

“Why can’t we go outside until he gets back?” Drake asked.

“Because he wants to play tag with you two,” Savvy told them.

Colby shot her a look that promised revenge would come her way. Then, laughing, he left.

Since they had been so good lately, Savvy let them pick out a movie to watch. They cuddled up next to her and soon after it started, they were both sound asleep.

“Either that is a very boring movie or they are exhausted from all the work they did yesterday,” Cassia said.

“I’m guessing it was the work, plus sorting their belongings. That always takes a lot of energy,” Savvy said. “That’s why I’m a minimalist. I have you, my books, my clothes, and a few toiletries.”

“I’m glad that you count me as part of your prized possessions.”

“Don’t get a big head over it.” Savvy laughed.

Colby returned and Drake yelled, “Yeah. Tag.”

“How about if we shift and go for a walk?”

“Run?” Drake asked.

“No, walk. You know bears can’t run like wolves do and you have to stay within my eyesight.”

“Why can’t bears run fast?” Cat asked.

“We can run fast, but not for very long. Bears are built differently than wolves,” Colby said. “Just like Savvy wouldn’t be able to keep up with us if she went out there, too.”

“Don’t drag me into this. I only have two legs. I have an unfair advantage.” She laughed. “You guys are already faster than me when you’re on two legs. I lose at tag all the time.”

She sat on the deck and read a book while they were out. Savvy was at peace and relaxed. When they came back, they did some outdoor math games. They were so intent on figuring out what three plus two was so they could take the appropriate number of steps forward that they didn’t notice Rory watching them.

Finally, they all looked over at him when he yelled, “Rosa said it was time to wash up for dinner.”

The kids ran over, hugged him, and then ran into the house. Savvy followed along behind them.

He put his arm around her shoulder as though they were old friends and said, “You are doing an amazing job as their nanny. I’m so pleased.”

“Thank you,” she managed to squeak out as her heart nearly thundered out of her chest.

He dropped his arm, and they walked into the house in silence. Butterflies exploded inside of her stomach. She thought about Cassia’s assertion that she was falling in love with him.

Love, no. But maybe something more primal, like pure lust.

He looked at her and Savvy blushed, remembering that shifters can read other people’s thoughts. Hopefully, he had better manners than Cassia and stayed out of her head unless invited.