Shaw (Alpha Geek #6) - Milly Taiden Page 0,60

there before. Never in her life had Poppy felt so secure and safe. It was a foreign feeling, but one that she welcomed.

“So, how are things going between you and your new mate?” Dakota’s hands were rubbing her round belly. She still had two months to go before she would become a new mom, but already she was fiercely protective of her little nugget.

Poppy looked away from her friend and scanned the spacious back yard until her eyes settled onto Shaw. He was holding a beer loosely in his hand while chatting away with Bennett, Gray, Nick, and three other men Dakota called the docs. It was quite the domestic scene, with all of these young men and their mates just having a good time. Pink streamers and balloons were decorating the deck. There was no way of knowing if the baby was actually a girl. They were doing a gender reveal with the cake after dinner, but Dakota was pretty confident it was going to be a little girl. For his part, Bennett didn’t care too much, though Poppy had the distinct impression that he would be happy with a mini version of Dakota running around, causing havoc just like her mama.

It made Poppy’s heart full. Maybe one day, in the not so distant future, they would all be gathered for her own baby shower. She knew Shaw would be a good father. Though she had some serious doubts about her own skill as a mother, she would lean heavily on her nursing instincts and hope it was all going to be okay.

“Earth to Poppy,” Dakota laughed. “You went somewhere deep in that brain of yours. How are things with Shaw?”

“Really great, actually. He’s a good man. He makes me happy.”

“Aw, that’s nice. I’m so glad you’re finally in a place where your family doesn’t loom over you.”

Poppy looked around again. “I think I found a new family.”

Dakota gave her a side hug, the only kind she could give now that her stomach was so huge. “Seriously, cut that shit out. You will make me cry. I’m so hormonal these days. I cried at a television commercial for dog food yesterday.”

“What?” Poppy giggled. “Why?”

“The dog was just so cute, it made me weep for a solid fifteen minutes.” She patted her baby bump. “Just things you can look forward to.”

“Not too soon, I hope.” Poppy shook her head. “We’ve only just gotten our own place settled. Besides, I’ve just gotten a promotion. I’m head RN now, and I just don’t think I could go on maternity leave so soon after being entrusted with such a huge job.”

Dakota rolled her eyes. “I really thought you’d stop being all career-driven as soon as you got some d on the daily.”

“Hey!” Poppy scoffed. “The lack of sex was not what was making me work so hard. I like what I do.” She added a shrug. It was true. Poppy loved her job. It was difficult, and she lost patients all the time. The old and frail didn’t live forever, no matter how beautiful and cozy their nursing home was.

“Can you imagine Nana Eagan’s face if you were to tell her about a baby? She’d love it.” Dakota clicked her tongue. “But you’ve got all of the time in the world. I mean, just make sure you’re using protection because shifter sperm and shifter eggs are some fucking fertile stuff.”

Poppy felt the color drain out of her face. “You know, we didn’t use anything for a little while when we first got together.”

“Yeah. That’s definitely a shifter thing. Especially when you’re getting it on with your mate. It’s like the damn animal knows that you’re mates and wants to make sure a baby is made ASAP.” She laughed, still rubbing her belly. “That’s how this happened.”

The two women giggled together happily.

“Okay, I’ve got to pee. This baby thinks my bladder is a toy.” Dakota waddled away, back inside of her house.

Shaw had broken away from the gathered men and walked toward her. Even though they had been together for a few months now, Poppy’s heart still skipped a beat when Shaw was close. Especially when he had that look in his eyes. It was nothing but loving and tenderness.

“What were you ladies talking about? It got kind of serious there for a second.”

“Oh,” Poppy waved him off, “nothing much. You know, just pregnancy stuff and the incredible fertility of shifters.”

Shaw’s face reddened. “Are you telling me you’re knocked up?”

“No,” Poppy swiped at the