Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3) by Kathi Barton (read a book TXT) 📕

she got up but did call him for a quick conversation. She told him she was exhausted, and he seemed to understand. But he did tell her about the money that would be coming to her house for Lily. She said she’d wait for him to show up before she called her over. After that, she fell asleep on Quin’s shoulder for the rest of the ride home. Quin didn’t bother waking her when they got there but picked her up and put her into their bed. They had the rest of their lives to make love, and he wasn’t in any kind of hurry to do it. Well, he was, but he thought he could hold off for one more day.

Smiling to himself as he made his way down to the kitchen, he laughed when not only was Jude there enjoying a hearty breakfast, but his in-laws as well. Sitting with them, he figured he might as well get used to it. They were family, after all.

Getting his day started early was something he enjoyed more than getting started on time. Of course, he knew he was going to be exhausted when he was finished up for the day, but he was working on things he would need at his office at the horse ranch when Brook joined him. She was really getting large with child, so he made her have a seat before she could talk to him.

“I’ve only just realized that it’s almost the end of summer.” He nodded, with no idea where she might be going with this. “I’m getting there. Just hold your horses.”

“I didn’t say anything.” She looked at him, and he was terrified she was going to start crying. He thought of a joke and told it to her. It was as lame as he thought it would have been, and she just stared at him. “I didn’t want Ronan to come here and beat me up because I’d upset you.”

“You didn’t. I’m upset all the time now.” He said it wouldn’t matter to Ronan. “I’ve noticed that too. He’s very…I was going to say weird, but that’s not it either. It’s almost like he’s about to explode or something. I’m terrified to tell him I’m in labor. What do you think he’ll do?”

“Explode. Just like you said.” He thought about what she’d said. “What do you mean, you’re terrified to tell him you’re in labor? You mean when you go into labor, right?”

“No. I’m in labor now.” He didn’t move for nearly a full minute, then he made sure she was comfortable. Not that she was an animal, but he examined her and said she was as ready as she’d ever be. “Yeah, I thought so. As I said, I didn’t want him to freak out. Will you tell him where I am and what’s going on?”

“Sure, throw me under the bus.” She laughed—having someone confirm she was in labor must have loosened her up a little because she laughed hard. “All right, but I want you to tell Rogue I love her very much, even though I had to more than likely deliver your baby while fending off the king of lions.”

Telling Ronan was easier than he thought it would be. He didn’t actually tell his brother but told his mom so she could tell him. When he showed up at his office with her, Quin was having Brook hold off on pushing so Ronan could be there when his child was born. As soon as he was ready, he had her bear down like she was having the greatest shit in the world.

“What a thing to say to someone.” Rogue showed up with the bag that had been packed for Brook and the baby. Then she helped Ronan stay on his feet when his daughter made her entrance into the world. Christ, she was the most beautiful baby he’d ever delivered.

The second child was a little longer coming, but when she came into the world screaming and crying, the entire room seemed to just break loose in cheers. He was an uncle again. And his brother was a dad. Nothing could have been better than to have a newborn, or in this case, newborns, bring everyone to a good mood. He certainly was now.

Since he wasn’t a medical doctor, Brook made a call to her obstetrician. Once it was established that she was going to rest and be pampered, she okayed for Brook to recuperate at her own home in bed for the next couple of days. If the doctor had seen Brook while talking to her, she would have understood there wasn’t any way she was going to rest, much less do it in a bed.

Taking the new family to their home, they had a small celebration with pizzas and cake.

“Do you want children?” Quin asked Rogue if she was asking him a trick question. “No. I’m serious. However, I can see where you’d think it was a joke. I want children. Not hundreds, but a couple. You?”

“As many as you will allow me to have with you.” She rolled her eyes. “Now I’m being serious. It’s your body, and I’d never do anything to make it so you weren’t happy with me. If you only wanted one child with me, I’d be thrilled beyond words to see you large with our child. Or fifty. Which, I might point out, isn’t a hundred.”

“I’d like kids. Soon.” He nodded, then wiggled his brows at her. “Yes. I know how that works. We have to find time to actually make children to have them. My job, your job. Someday we might have to run away and have us a good fuck-fest without any interruptions. What do you think?”

“Fuck-fest? Yes, I’m all for a fuck-fest. When?” She said she’d have to make a couple of calls. “I will as well. I need to see if my insurance is paid up to date. You might not be able to kill me, but you