“He misses his brothers,” Bethany said. “Maybe you could figure out some way to get them back together?”
Beka’s head swiveled around. “He told you that?” She sounded stunned.
“He did. He doesn’t talk about himself much, but one day when I could tell he was feeling down, he told me he was missing his brothers. But when I asked him why he didn’t visit them, he told me they wouldn’t want to see him, because he’d done something terrible to them and wasn’t worthy of their company.”
“Huh. He probably said more to you than he has to anyone he knows since the incident,” Beka said, looking bemused. “None of us has seen him since he left the Otherworld, and the only communication we’ve had, if you could call it that, are the occasional postcards from across the country, usually smelling like beer. He didn’t do anything terrible, of course. Just didn’t do the impossible, which they all seem to have expected of themselves. I’m surprised he told you that much, though. He must really be comfortable with you.”
Bethany shrugged. “I don’t know why he would be. I’m usually bitching at him about something and I twisted his arm into taking care of the grumpiest, most uncooperative man in the world.”
This time there was actual amusement in Beka’s chuckle. “I suspect that makes him feel right at home. You should meet Barbara, the eldest of the Baba Yagas. She’s turned cranky into an art form, although less so since she met and married Liam, a Human sheriff.”
Bethany’s heart stuttered for no obvious reason. “Oh?” she said in a casual tone. “So you magical folks can marry Humans?”
“I did,” Beka said, flashing a fond smile as she thought of her husband. “Marcus is a fisherman and a former Marine. He’s as Human as they get. For that matter, so did my sister Bella, and both of Alexei’s brothers. But it isn’t exactly the usual thing.”
She gave Bethany’s face an intense perusal. “Not that it is any of my business, but you’re not falling for Alexei, are you? I mean, I wouldn’t blame you if you did, he’s a terrific guy. And I can tell he is attracted to you too. But this is the longest he has stayed in one place since he came across the portal from the Otherworld in California and started drinking his way across the county. I’m not sure he’s ever going to settle down anywhere. He’s too busy trying to outrun the ghosts of his past.”
“Oh, I realize that,” Bethany had said in a breezy manner, as if she’d never even considered the possibility of anything else. “I’m not looking for a man. Believe me. I had my share of going-nowhere small town boys and big city guys who think they’re god’s gift to women. I haven’t met one yet who treated me like I was his equal. Besides, I’ve more than got my hands full looking after my dad and running his damned tavern.”
But now she sat at her kitchen table and realized that somewhere in the back of her mind, some small sneaky part of her subconscious had been visualizing a future that still had Alexei in it; helping her with her dad, hanging around each night at the bar, spoiling Lulu, and…well, being around. Preferably with his shirt off. But none of that was going to happen.
One of these days he was going to pack up his few belongings, climb onto that huge Harley of his, and drive off to somewhere else. He’d probably never even think of her, of them, again. Besides, she’d seen enough of her parents’ relationship growing up to know what happened to women who tried to build a life with a man whose idea of coping with difficulty was fighting and drinking instead of actually trying to make anything better.
She shook her head, trying to clear it of such maudlin and unproductive thoughts. She needed to either work on the damned accounting papers or go to bed. Morning would come soon enough, whether or not she sat up brooding over things she couldn’t change. The last six months should have taught her that, if nothing else.
A knock sounded at the kitchen door, and Bethany glanced at the clock on the wall, startled. Who the hell would be knocking on the door at midnight?
It opened on creaky hinges and Alexei stuck his head inside, as if her thinking of him had summoned him.
“Hey there,” he said. “I saw the light on and figured I’d come tell you.”
Shit. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?” A part of her brain wondered if he would stay if she threw herself at him. Naked.
His dark eyebrows shot up. “Why would you say that? No, Lulu is having her puppies. I thought you might want to come watch.”
Bethany practically fell over getting out of the chair. “What? Now? Is she okay? Should I call the vet?”
The corner of Alexei’s mouth twitched but he considerately didn’t laugh at her. “She’s fine. Dogs have puppies all the time and there’s no reason to think she’s going to have a problem. You don’t need a vet, but you do need to hurry up if you don’t want to miss it.”
“Holy crap, we’re having puppies!” she said, following him out the door. And he’s not leaving. Thank god, he’s not leaving.
*
Alexei had seen baby animals born before, of course. Hard to avoid when you live as long a life as he had, much of it spent in rural Russia. But never to an animal he’d been as close to as he was to Lulu. To be honest, although he would never have admitted it out loud, he was a little worried. There were so many things that could go wrong. Lulu seemed calmer now that Bethany was here, and he kind of felt that way himself.
He had made a nest of sorts on the floor for the dog, figuring that Bethany wouldn’t be thrilled if a Great Dane gave birth on the couch in the guest house. Still, it was as cozy and comfortable as he could manage, and he was quite pleased with himself when he guided Bethany into the corner he’d set up in the small bedroom.
“Are those the sheets and blanket off your bed?” Bethany asked in a choked voice. “I had a stack of old towels set aside in the closet.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I don’t mind going without them for the night. I brought in the bedroll from my bike.”
“Terrific,” Bethany said. “I hope you like doing laundry.” But she knelt down by Lulu and stroked her on the head. “Aw, honey, you’re going to be fine.”
The dog whimpered, and Alexei translated. “She says she just wants to have these babies now. She is tired of feeling like a big sausage.” He laughed. “I think sausage is the word she means. What she actually said was ‘silly fancy hot dog.’”
“Yup, that’s probably a sausage. She always sniffs at them and makes a face before she takes a bite, when we offer her one. I think she is a hot dog snob.” Bethany sat between the bed and the window, next to Lulu’s pile of bedding. “Is she okay? She’s panting a lot.”
“That’s normal,” Alexei said. “It means she’s in labor. The first pup should make an appearance pretty soon.”
“Oh my god, this is so exciting,” Bethany said. “I’ve never seen anything born before. When I offered to foster her, I didn’t really think about this part of it.”