Finn smiled fondly, no doubt at the memory of pursuing his mate. “Good point, cousin.” His clan leader paused a second and continued, “Before I even attempt to convince the DDA of allowing the human to live here long-term, I want to meet this Gina MacDonald and assess if she’s a threat to the clan. If she passes my check, then you still need to convince the human to accept you as her Guardian.”
“I’m fairly sure I can convince her. But, if I can coax the lass to agree, BroadBay might try to take her back. Can the clan handle another threat?”
Finn waved a hand. “You always worry too much about the clan. In this, you focus on Gina and I will deal with BroadBay if they show up.” His clan leader gripped his shoulder. “You are one of the hardest working and least recognized clan members, Fergus. You deserve a chance to seize your own happy ending. And not just because you’re my cousin. You’re a fine male, Fergus MacKenzie. Any female would be lucky to have you.”
Fergus had never been good with praise, so he didn’t acknowledge it. “So when will you have a decision?”
“That anxious to have the female to yourself, eh, Fergus?”
>
Fergus frowned. “Not all of us think solely with our cocks. She’s alone and on the run. I bet she wants to know what her future holds for both her and her son.”
Finn sighed dramatically. “You always were the logical and noble one, Fergus.”
Grinning, Fergus winked. “Well, someone had to be. My mum needed an ally to help with the responsibilities, and you and Fraser weren’t about to do it.”
“We were a bunch of wild teenagers, weren’t we?” Finn’s mobile phone beeped with a text message. “Sorry to cut short our walk down memory lane, but that’s probably Grant wanting to talk about Gina’s background check. Go home and put on some clothes. I’ll let you know when and where to meet Gina after I talk with her.”
Fergus nodded. “Okay, but just don’t scare the human too much. She’s quite pregnant and Arabella will have your hide if she finds out you scared a pregnant woman.”
“Hey, now, I don’t scare people. I just hint that it’s in their best interests to behave.”
The door opened before Fergus could reply. Arabella stood in the doorway. “Grant’s pestering me to the point I had to get off the couch. Call him, Finn, so I can take a nap.”
Finn’s expression turned concerned as he walked to his mate’s side. “Are you okay, Ara? Do I need to call Dr. Innes?”
Arabella sighed. “No, for the tenth time today, I don’t need the doctor.”
Placing a hand over the small bump of Arabella’s abdomen, Finn whispered, “Come on, babies. Give your mum a rest. Otherwise, she’s cranky.”
“Finn,” Arabella growled.
Having heard Finn and Arabella’s back and forth over the triplets before, Fergus motioned toward the door with his head. “Call me when you’re ready, Finn.”
His cousin nodded and Fergus rushed out of the cottage. Breathing in the cool winter air stirred his dragon. I wish he’d stop being overprotective with Arabella. It’s really irritating me.
Fergus snorted. As if you’d be any better. If we can convince Gina of the Guardian idea, you’ll be just as protective.
Maybe. But it won’t matter because then she will be ours.
Not quite, dragon. Protecting her and winning her over are two different things.
If you say so.
Despite the possible danger to his clan and the very real chance Gina would tell him to fuck off instead of agreeing to his being her Guardian, there was a small flicker of hope in his chest. The thought of waking up next to Gina in his bed and feeling the kick of a child under his palm sent a rush of warmth through his body. He’d nearly given up hope he’d ever have a family of his own. And now, he might have one.
The trick would be in convincing the headstrong American to stay with him.
Chapter Six
Gina waited inside the Protector’s security building at the main gate and willed herself to sit still.
Yes, she was a tad nervous about meeting Lochguard’s clan leader, Finlay Stewart. But being surrounded by the well-toned, imposing forms of Lochguard’s Protectors made her want to run out the door and never look back. Not because they could snap her in two without breaking a sweat. No, it was because it reminded her of Travis and his buddies back in the US.
No. Forget about him.
If only Fergus had made an appearance, she might be able to do that. Yet the dragonman had yet to walk through the door and she doubted if he ever would or not. She was still torn between her fear of him using her and being interested in the dragonman who was able to coax her kitty into the house.