Ian was swayed. “We’d have to stop by home to grab Gwen’s nightclothes.”
Brad nodded at the department store entrance. “We’ll buy some new ones, get them washed. Won’t take that long.”
Ian groaned. “But it’ll cost more—”
“I’ll pay for it,” Brad said. “I’ve got seven years to catch up on my dad duties, Ian.”
Ian shivered. “I can’t move a lot further.”
“I’ll hop in and out with her real quick,” Brad said. “Watch my things.”
And now Ian had nothing left in him to protest with. “Yeah. Okay.”
Brad rumbled, tipping Ian’s face up. He pressed kisses down Ian’s jaw. “Be back soon.”
He brought Ian across the road, waited for Ian to hug Gwen. Then he took Gwen into the store. Ian sank down onto the stool Gwen had been sitting on, wrapping her blanket around himself. There was a half-eaten box of grapes sitting on Brad’s speaker, still damp from washing.
Had Brad bought that for Gwen? He must have.
Ian bit down his smile, delighted. He couldn’t help smiling at the things Brad had been doing for their daughter. He’d given her a blanket so she wouldn’t be cold. He’d kept her fed and entertained when Ian couldn’t, and Ian was starting to rely on Brad a lot more than he wanted to.
It didn’t take long for Brad and Gwen to emerge from the store, a bundle of clothes tucked under Brad’s arm. They stopped in front of him, Gwen’s cheeks flushed, her eyes bright.
“We found some truck PJs!” she said, reaching up to take her new clothes from Brad. “Look, Daddy!”
The pajamas were soft against Ian’s fingers, and they seemed like they’d fit. Ian couldn’t help grinning. “Looks good to me.”
“This is for you,” Brad said, dropping a bag of candied ginger into Ian’s lap. “Just in case you feel nauseous.”
Ian met his eyes, his heart skipping. “You’re spoiling me, you know.”
“Yeah?” Brad grinned. “So I’m doing the right things?”
“Depends on what ‘right’ is.”
“If it makes you smile, then it’s right,” Brad said, glancing at Gwen. “I’m correct, aren’t I?”
She nodded, grinning at Ian. “I want Daddy to be happy!”
Ian chuckled, kissing her cheek. “C’mon, let’s not stay out here,” he said. “It’s kind of chilly.”
Brad frowned. “Then you’re waiting in the car with Gwen. I’ll move the things.”
“But—”
“But yourself,” Brad said, dropping a kiss onto Ian’s forehead. “Let me have a chance to be all alpha.”
“I want to be all alpha too,” Gwen said, looking at Ian with her puppy eyes. “Can I?”
Ian laughed; Brad snorted. It wasn’t as though you could choose to present as alpha or beta or omega. “If you want,” Ian said. “But be careful. No heavy things.”
“Uh-huh. I helped Brad earlier.”
Ian walked with Gwen and Brad to the car, his daughter and alpha loaded up with things. The grapes and blanket felt heavy in his arms, and even though Ian wanted to carry more, Brad refused to let him.
Brad unlocked the trunk, tucking his speaker inside. Gwen set down the cables, and Brad unlocked the doors. Then he slipped his arm around Ian, pulling a couple other things out of the trunk—a tin of cookies, and a box of soap.
Ian’s heart squeezed. “What’s… what’s this for?”
“For you.” Brad looked steadily at him.
Ian traced his fingers over the cool metal tin, his heart thumping. “How did you know?”
“I told him!” Gwen beamed.
“I asked,” Brad said. “And that’s some better soap for your skin. It’s moisturizing. You might get stretch marks, so… I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
Brad rubbed his fingertips along Ian’s side, just next to his belly. Ian couldn’t speak. Couldn’t remember the last time anyone had bought him things he liked, just because. “Thanks,” he croaked.
Brad shrugged, his eyes warm. “Anytime.”
Ian trudged to the passenger door, his heart pounding. Brad opened it for him, and Ian climbed in. He couldn’t stop staring at the gifts in his arms.
They were simple things, cookies and soap and candied ginger. But the thought behind them… Brad had been thinking about Ian. He’d cared enough to buy all these, and maybe Brad was falling too far into this relationship, deeper than he should.
Ian squirmed around, watching through the window as Brad and Gwen brought the rest of the things back to the car.
The equipment thumped in the trunk. When they were done, Brad brushed his hands off, crouching to check on Gwen. He looked her over, asking her something Ian couldn’t hear through the closed doors. But there was concern in his eyes, and Gwen nodded with a smile. Ian’s heart felt too full, suddenly.
Maybe he liked Brad Saxon. Maybe he liked Brad in a way he shouldn’t.
What do I do?
Brad straightened, opening the back door for Gwen. “Get in,” he said. “We’re having a sleepover at my place. You get your own bed!”
Gwen gasped, staring at Brad, then Ian.
“You like the sound of that?” Ian asked, smiling weakly.
“Yeah,” Gwen said, her eyes round. “I get my own bed! I feel like an adult.”
Outside the car, Brad laughed. He slid into the driver’s seat, and Ian breathed out, unsure if that reflected badly on him.
“Hey,” Brad said, his tone gentle. He reached over, setting his large hand over Ian’s. “It’ll be fine.”
Ian didn’t want to unload his worries on Brad, not where Gwen could hear. So he waited as Brad drove them through town, past the busy streets and down some winding lanes, where the better houses in Meadowfall were.
Decades ago, Ian had grown up in this area. He’d moved out of his parents’ place as soon as he could, into an apartment of his own. Then he’d stayed there until he’d had Gwen, and they’d moved into the dingy apartment they now called home.
It had been six years since Ian had a decent bed, and he couldn’t help looking forward to tonight. Sleeping with Brad, curling up with him. Having Brad press him into the mattress, his hands heavy on Ian’s skin.
Ian gulped, his thoughts wandering. Would Brad agree to touch him?
