Craved Mate (Cybermates #6) - Candace Ayers Page 0,2

me badmouthing his family. “I don’t know, Warren. But I feel lucky as a pig in a mudpuddle getting to spend time cuddling this chubby little drool-dlebug.” I wiggled my finger against her ribs and she responded with a three-toothed giggle.

Warren slid his sandwich away. He’d only taken a single bite. “Hand her to me.”

“You eat. I got her.” I sat her little diapered butt on the table and took a bite of my sandwich before booping the tip of my finger to Ame’s nose.

“I am capable of holding my own fucking granddaughter, Mac. I’m not dead yet.” His hoarse growl belied his frustration at his situation. Warren was a proud man, a strong man. He’d withstood so much already, and life was still beating the shit out of him.

“You’re not going to die, asshole. Not on my watch. I forbid it. I am not putting up with my sister if anything happens to you. So, pull your head right on out of that shadowy place and eat your fucking sandwich.” I growled back at him, my wolf growl far more menacing than his human growl. “I’ll hand her over when she’s done playing with her favorite uncle.” I turned to Ame. “You want to be with Uncle Mac, don’t you? Yes, you do.”

He yanked his sandwich back and made a production of taking a huge bite. His narrowed eyes were on me, anger oozing from his pores. I didn’t care. I could take it, and I knew most of that anger wasn’t about me anyway. “There are days I’d like to kick your ass back to Ohio.”

“There are days I’d like you to shut the fuck up. Wish in one hand…” I played a tickle game with Ame. Poking my finger into the belly of her pink frilly dress and accompanying it with a squeak like she was the Pillsbury Dough Boy. It made her laugh every time. “Why does your mommy insist on dressing you like this?”

“It’s Heather’s doing. She did the same damn thing to Jenny. Dressed her up like a china doll from the day she came home from the hospital.”

A rare, sweet memory of my niece surfaced. “I remember. She was in pink lace and ruffles until she turned ten and finally learned to put her foot down.”

“I wish she’d learn to pick it back up once in a while.” Warren sighed. “My daughter’s head is not on right.”

No disagreement from me. When her family needed her most—her parents and her nine month old daughter—she was so wrapped up in her own selfishness that not only was she not a help, she was a hindrance. She treated her ailing father like a burden and hurled a disrespectful attitude at her mother—as well as everyone else within her immediate vicinity.

My own temper began to spike just thinking about it, and I looked for a way to diffuse it. “Want to see if there’s a game on TV?”

Warren laughed, the sound so rare these days that it was sweeter to my ears than a Beethoven concerto. “Hell, yeah. You’re finally becoming tolerable to have around. Thought the day would never come.”

I waited until he swallowed another bite of his sandwich before I handed Ame to him. Weariness and stress showed in his eyes. Warren was in no shape to take on the responsibilities of being a dad to a youngster again. He needed to focus his strength and energy on himself and his health. Heather needed to focus hers on her mate—and herself. Jenny was going to get a piece of my mind when I caught up to her.

“Well? You comin’ old man?” I grabbed the handles of his chair and wheeled him, with Ame on his lap, to the living room. “I think the octogenarians at the old folks home move faster than you.”

“What’s the big rush, bow-wow? In a hurry to chase your tail, or can’t wait to lick your testicles?”

3

Mel

The bell over the door rang shrilly as I entered the B&B. A young man in his late teens sitting behind the front desk offered me a friendly smile.

“Welcome to Rise and Shine Bed and Breakfast. I’m Jacob. You must be…” He scanned the computer screen in front of him. “Miss Melody Cameron.”

“Call me Mel. Nice to meet you, Jacob.”

He reached out and I slipped my hand in his for a quick shake before he stood and rounded the desk. “We’ve already got all your information, so I’ll just show you to your room. Mom