Groomed For Love: A Steamy Standalone Instalove Romance, Flora Ferrari [macos ebook reader .TXT] 📗

Parker starts too and before long, we’re all howling. With a tear in my eye I know I’ve found my tribe.

My pack.

My alpha male.

My only.

Michael Parker.

Mine.

EPILOGUE

THREE MONTHS LATER

Parker

“You can sleep in baby, I don’t mind,” I tell her. “Are you sure you’re not getting sick again?” I ask her in a gentle whisper.

Naomi groans softly, rolling over and showing me some more of what I already had last night as the sheets roll off her.

Damn.

If she doesn’t make me hard every time I see her body, but today it’s been going on too long. No matter how hot she looks.

I know girls have their time and all that, but this has been different. Bella’s not herself either and Moose is just acting plain weird.

Come to think of it, Naomi hasn’t had her time for a while now.

Moose is worried about something, I can tell and so am I.

About all of them.

About both my girls.

“We’re going to the doctor, and then the vet,” I announce, pulling my pants on at the same hour I’m used to.

Five a.m. wake up’s are a bad habit still, or maybe a good one I reason to myself.

We’ve had three months of bliss and I’m not taking any chances. Nothing is going to jeopardize our life, Naomi and me.

“I’m fine, Parker,” she growls. “Just let me sleep will ya?” she protests.

I lean over and press my lips to her forehead and I can feel what might be a temperature.

Twenty years of service comes with plenty of training and I know when someone needs a doctor.

Dogs too. That swelling in Bella’s abdomen is beyond something I can just glance over anymore.

Today’s the day.

I forget my usual morning rituals and try to call the doctor first, then the vet.

I leave a message to arrange for an appointment for Bella at the emergency vet clinic, scheduling a doctor’s appointment online seeing as they aren’t open yet.

“I don’t need a doctor, Parker,” Naomi complains to me between calls, narrowing her eyes and giving me that vibe she gets when we’re about to have an argument, but she suddenly slumps back into the bed, exhausted.

“Take Bella to the vet, fine but I seriously don’t think I need a doctor.” She groans again, making me frown with frustration.

She’s been putting it off for so long, I want her to go get a check-up anyway.

“I’ll get us breakfast on the way,” I try and coax her, but today more than ever she’s not interested.

“I don’t need a doctor Parker,” she says again firmly, pulling the covers over herself and pretending to go back to sleep.

I want to press my point, but I don’t want to make her any grouchier either.

Naomi’s had some mood swings lately, and try as I might, I can’t figure out if it’s anything I’ve done or if it’s just getting used to being with someone twenty-four seven.

We’ve never been happier, but there’s something on her mind. I just wish I knew what it was.

I put it out of my mind, for now, letting Moose and Bella outside for their morning ramble.

“You okay boy?” I ask Moose, noting him fretting a little as we both watch Bella trot around the yard.

He gives a low growl and then barks, wagging his tail suddenly and giving me the sign he uses when he’s found something once she comes back closer to us.

He sniffs at Bella and gives the signal again.

I know Moose well enough, his training hasn’t worn off just because we’re not on the beat anymore.

He knows a lot more than I do most days and today he’s trying to tell me something.

“Alright, boy. Maybe we’ll have the vet look you over too,” I tell him, kneeling down to pet them both. There’s nowhere Bella goes that he doesn’t anyway.

Might as well get a physical while I’m at it, I tell myself. Figuring I can still use the appointment if Naomi won’t go.

The vet calls me back, letting me know they’re ready when we are so I get both dogs ready to go.

“You sure you don’t want to come with us?” I ask through the bedroom door, poking my head around to see the bed empty.

Hearing the shower running I ask her again through the bathroom door.

“Go on ahead, I’ll be fine,” she tells me, sounding a little more cheerful at least.

It’s not what I want, but I shrug and decide to leave Naomi to it. Double-checking the house is locked and the gates closed before Bella, Moose and I head off to the vet.

“Hope it’s nothing serious, girl,” I tell her, rubbing her head as she leans over from the back seat.

The vet pretends to tell me off for not bringing Moose back sooner since he’s been given the all-clear but it’s obvious at a glance he’s fine.

“It’s Bella I’m worried about,” I tell him, pointing out her swollen belly.

He smiles politely enough and runs his hands over her, feeling her and listening through his stethoscope.

I give him a sideways glance when he gives me a quizzical look.

“Bella’s a girl, right?” he asks calmly and I agree.

“Sure she is,” I tell him.

“And Moose is a boy?” he says slowly like he’s explaining things to a child.

My phone pings and I glance at it, a message from Naomi which I open straight away before dealing with the vet and his weird questions.

At the same moment, I see the photo Naomi’s sent, I join the dots.

Some detective I am. I guess I’m a little out of practice. Plus I was sure Moose had been neutered.

Isn’t he?

Obviously not.

She’s sent me a picture of a blue plus sign, another one comes through as I hold my phone, frozen on the spot.

It’s a pregnancy test.

I think I know what’s ‘wrong’ with me. Her message reads.

“I’m gonna be a daddy?” I murmur to myself, my hands trembling as it sinks in.

“Well, Moose is too,” The vet adds, chuckling to himself as he strokes Bella some more.

“Huh?” I ask, wondering how the vet could possibly know