Chapter 167 Chapter 167
Blair couldn’t hear if Jay replied.
“Let’s all move inside,” Rayne suggested. “We’ll need to get a list going on what needs to be picked up.” She went over and held the door open for the men.
Blair stood there with Devin and watched everyone go inside. “I appreciate all the Alliance is doing,” Blair told him while trying to keep his emotions on a tight leash.
Jesse finally got out of the car, he was looking at his phone. With a shrug to Devin, he lifted his hands. “I have to bail. I’m needed elsewhere.”
“You just don’t want to paint,” Devin said.
Jesse smirked, “with the size of this place, there will be painting left to do when I get back this way.”
“Take care,” Blair told him with a nod. “Call if you ever need backup.”
Jesse saluted and turned back to the car.
Cale closed up the van and came over. As he did, he pulled his thick curly red hair behind his head with an elastic. He grinned. “This place is the epitome of private.”
Blair nodded. “That’s the only way to have it.”
“I had that.” Devin mused. “Now my campground is full of people in every direction I look.”
Blair watched Rayne run out the door to the van and grab her purse. “But your mate is happy.”
Devin nodded as he tracked her with his eyes until she was back in the house. As the door closed, he looked at Cale. “If you want to stay here, Dad says that’s fine. Blair is going to need all the help he can get.”
Cale nodded and looked around. He pointed to the small building down the driveway. “I was going to claim that and stay there if that’s okay. I just need a bed.” He glanced at the house, “my cat is afraid of staying in a house with nine females.”
Devin laughed.
As if cued, there was the sound of high-pitched squabbling between Nichelle and Annamarie carried through the emptiness of the house.
“Yeah,” Blair rubbed his hand over his hair and started for the door to find out what the problem was. He didn’t even get the door closed before a horn honked outside. Looking back, he saw Beth climbing out of her SUV.
Jake and Gary pushed past him; both had haunted looks on their faces. Her arrival was a good excuse for them to get away from having to see how broken Jay was.
Beth started toward him. In her usual fast walk. He loved that woman, she was the only mother he’d ever known. She was a tiny thing, but he’d learned the hard way to never piss her off.
She smoothed back her wavy, red hair, which was now streaked with grey highlights, and then stopped in front of him.
He smiled down at her.
“Glad you’re home, Blair.” She patted him on the chest.
“It’s good to be back, Beth.”
She bobbed her head a few times, “okay enough chitchat, we have a lot to do.”
Kobie, Franki, and Mika were standing in the kitchen when they went in.
“Hi, I’m Beth,” she grinned, “from the clan next door.” She pointed over her shoulder, “the boys are carrying everything in. I bought some groceries and all the dishes and things for the kitchen.”
She smiled at Franki. “I need sizes and then I’ll go out and grab some clothes. I only bought towels and linens this trip.” She looked over at Blair, “I gave Shep an earful—expecting an entire house to be set up in two days. It’s ridiculous.” She looked back at the women, “I spoke with Irene this morning and as soon as possible, they’re sending some people to pack up all of your homes and ship everything here.” Beth paused again to smile at Cortney and Daisie as they came in. “Shep is working with some Fish man to sell the houses and get some accounts set up for you.”
She nodded and smiled at Torrey, Kasia, and Nichelle when they appeared in the doorway. “Hi, I’m Beth—the Alpha’s mate in Blair’s clan.” She bobbed her head. “What else? Oh, Blair,” she didn’t even look to see if he was paying attention, “there’s a phone in one of these bags. You get it set up with all of our numbers in case they need something. We have three cars and a van being certified for you. Do you all drive? Beth waved her hand around, “it doesn’t matter, Cooper can teach anyone to drive.”
Jake and Gary came in and set down some bags.
“Now, more furniture will be here,” she glanced at her watch, “Oh, it’s late now,” she shook her head, “I’ll call and rattle them about it in a minute.”
Blair grinned, knowing how rattled they’d be once she was done with them.
“Don’t worry about dinner. Ed and I will be over and bring some once the shop is closed up for the day.” She looked over at Blair, “and I believe Gage and Kelsey are going to bring Cooper over to meet everyone later too.”
Clasping her hands in front of her, she turned back and surveyed the women standing there. Before anyone could speak, she waved a hand at Blair, “well, get to putting this away.”
Blair took the bags from Jake and went over to the counter.
“I have a list started.” Rayne came in, “Oh, good you’re back,” she smiled at Beth, “we need to go over this and see what you’ve already taken care of.”
Beth nodded and started for the door, “everyone, I need sizes and preferences, so once this is all sorted, come and tell me.” She nodded again and went into the other room with Rayne.
Devin came in carrying more bags. “I think she bought a grocery store.” He mumbled.
“Is that your mom?” Daisie looked up at Blair.
He smiled, “only one I’ve ever known.”
Daisie smiled back at him, “I like her, she’s happy.”
Jake snorted, “and that’s the way you want her to stay.”
Daisie watched her mother emptying a bag onto the counter and then darted over when she spotted cookies.
Setting the bags down on the counter beside Kobie, he gave her a questioning look. “Are you okay?”
She looked up at him and his heart jerked in his chest to see those deep blue eyes swimming in unshed tears.
“They’re doing so much.” She whispered.
He checked to see that everyone else was occupied, then took her hand, “come here.” He headed for the first door in sight. Opening the door, it surprised him to see it was a small bathroom. Leaving the door open, he pulled her in and then turned and perched on the counter’s edge, so they were the same height.
The tears were now trickling down her cheeks. “Oh, babe,” he pulled her to stand between his legs and gently wiped them off, “don’t do that. My heart will shatter if you cry.”
She sniffled, “I just—I didn’t expect…”
He leaned forward and kissed her mouth softly. “This is how my clan, my family is. They know you all mean a lot to me, so they’re going to look out for you just as much as I am.” He frowned when she didn’t look happy about that. “What?”
Casting her eyes down, her lashes shielded them and so couldn’t see what she was thinking.
“I wanted you to be a big jerk once you got home.”
Blair grinned, “sorry to disappoint you, babe. What you see is what you get.”
When she looked back at him, the expression in her eyes had changed. His cat nudged him as if he didn’t recognize a heated look when he saw it. She was playing with the material of his shirt on his chest and just that slight contact had his blood simmering. Touching her chin with just a fingertip, he leaned closer. His cat was practically chanting inside him and it was distracting as fuck.
“Oh, there you are.”
They both turned to see Beth standing in the doorway, smiling at them.
“Kobie was feeling a little overwhelmed.”
Beth’s expression changed to that understanding motherly look. “You poor, dear.” She tsked. “You’ve endured so much.” She gave her a soft smile. “You are so brave,” the smile widened, “and absolutely gorgeous.”
Before Kobie could say a thing, Beth pulled her into her arms and hugged her. Grasping her arms, she leaned back. “Don’t you let him step out of line, you hear? You have my blessing to give him a wallop upside the head if he does.”
Blair couldn’t see Kobie’s face, but she nodded.
“You are a sweetheart.” Beth whispered, “and you can trust that all my boys are the best catches in any clan. I raised them up right. There’s none of that he-man stuff in our clan. If you want to drive a rig and have your nails hot pink, then that’s what you do.” She released her and looked at him. “Gage wants to know if he should toss your belongings and bed in the truck when he comes over.”
Kobie watched him, waiting for him to reply.
He nodded, “yeah, I’ll bunk out in that building they cleaned out.
“Okay, then. I’ll tell him to bring your dresser and things over.” She smiled at Kobie and then was gone in the other direction.
Kobie smirked at him. “How do you keep up with her?”
Blair shrugged, “You don’t.” When she went to leave, he blocked her with his arm and turned her to face him. “Not so fast.” Holding her eyes with his, he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the mouth. It wasn’t nearly the kiss he wanted, but he wasn’t going to push the issue. “That will have to do for now.” He straightened and grinned down at her.
“Do you have to be so damn charming all the time?”
Blair chuckled, “It’s built-in, babe. I can’t turn it off.” Taking her hand, he pulled her out of the room and went down the hallway. “Come, show me who’s called dibs where.”