Penny looked up and nodded and the men groaned.
Darian sat forward a devilish look on his face. "Okay sweetie, gloves are off. You're going down."
Half an hour later Meryn and Beth watched on as Gavriel and Penny faced off as the last two remaining players, staring at each other across the table without blinking.
Meryn held up her pen like a microphone. "We're down to the professionals folks."
"Hey!" Aiden, Darian and Keelan protested.
Meryn ignored them. "On this side of the table we have the epic vampire legend of the past two millennia and on the other, the stoic toddler." Beth and Meryn giggled.
"I believe she is bluffing," Gavriel announced. "I call."
Without changing expression, Penny laid her cards on the table. The men crowded around, their jaws dropping. Groaning, Gavriel dropped his head to the table.
"She swept the table," Noah whispered in awe.
"How old is she again?" Jaxon asked.
The men all looked up and answered as one. "Four!"
CHAPTER NINE
When Rheia turned over in bed, it immediately registered that she was alone. She opened her eyes and rolled onto her back. Being with Colton had been the hottest experience of her life, but she couldn't forget the look in his eyes when she'd told him that she wasn't ready to be claimed. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to explain it in a way he would understand, that for that level of commitment she needed to be sure. She knew she was close to saying yes, but needed more time.
He was a shifter, he'd grown up with the knowledge that, one day, if he was lucky, he would find the one person meant just for him. Growing up human, she knew there was no guarantee for her, she had fully expected to marry another surgeon, have a late in life baby, divorce five years later and live out the rest of her life as a single parent.
Now, the rest of her life was looking like it would last much longer than she had anticipated. She ran her hand over the indention his body had left in the mattress. What was with him always getting up before she was awake? Feeling grumpy, she got out of bed and got ready for her day.
She was still kinda pissed when she went downstairs in search of Penny and Colton. She paused at the doorway of the dining room and glared at Colton, who was completely unaware that she was there. Keelan saw her first and stood, the rest of the men following suit. When Colton turned and saw her expression, his face dropped. She walked over and pulled his face down to hers. The taste of him was more potent than coffee. Sighing she stepped back and had to hide her smile at his dazed expression.
"I don't like waking up alone," she grumbled.
"You may have to explain that to me again," he teased.
Ignoring him, she walked past his chair and sat down next to Penny. "Did you have fun with Jaxon and Noah last night?"
Penny nodded and reached for her backpack as Colton and the rest of the men sat down. She opened it up and Rheia saw that the inside of the bag was filled with candy and small individually wrapped cakes. She looked around the table. "Where did this come from?"
The men looked down with sheepish expressions. Rheia's eyes narrowed and she turned back to Penny. "Penelope Carmichael, did you hustle these men playing poker to get snacks?"
Penny shrugged one small shoulder and turned back to her breakfast. Rheia was about to scold her when she noticed what the girl was eating. "Are those cinnamon rolls?"
Ryuu walked in carrying a cup. "I thought I heard you come down. Here's your coffee and yes, those are homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh from the oven. It was one of the many recipes that I received as a housewarming gift from the Alpha Unit."
Rheia reached for the plate and snagged two with her fork. "Looks like everyone can benefit from a present like that." She lifted the warm, sticky pastry and took a bite. She couldn't help the moan that came from her if she tried. "Oh God!" Her head fell back on her shoulders and she closed her eyes. To her right she heard a low rumble. When she turned to look at Colton, he was growling at Ryuu, who completely ignored him as he walked around the table refilling water glasses.
"I thought you had a man crush on him too?" she asked surprised at his reaction.
"I do, but damn baby. I should be the only one who sees that expression," Colton said pouting.
Rheia looked down at Penny. "They never grow up. Remember that." Penny nodded.
Winking at Penny, Colton simply grabbed an entire pan of cinnamon rolls and put it on his plate. Penny's eyes widened. "I'm a mighty wolf, I need my energy."
"You're adorable."
"My puppy."
"You are cute," Rheia, Meryn and Beth said at the same time, then looked at each other, before smiling. The men around the table burst out laughing.
"Cute wittle puppy," Aiden teased.
Meryn elbowed him. "I wouldn't say anything; I prefer his wolf to your bear."
Aiden's mouth dropped. "I can't believe you just said that."
Meryn turned to him. "Have you seen a shaved bear, they are fugly! If that's what you look like under your poofy fur, it's gross," she shuddered.
"What's fugly?" Aiden demanded.
"Fucking. Ugly," Colton said, barely able to get the words out he was laughing so hard.
Aiden's face was like a thundercloud. "I am not fugly!"
"I didn't say you were, I said a shaved bear was. When you're all poofy, you're my teddy bear," Meryn assured him.