If Kendrick had been Addie’s ex-fiancé, he’d have grown angry that Addie had left the safety of the house, would growl at her to get back to the kitchen where she belonged. Kendrick only met her gaze with one that held reassurance.

“Addison, this is Seamus McGuire, my tracker and my second. Seamus, this is Addison Price. I trust her.”

The last words were said emphatically, as though imparting that if Seamus didn’t also trust her, there would be a problem.

Seamus roved a thorough gaze over Addie. Not as a man might check out a woman, but as a stranger assessing another stranger. Finally Seamus gave her a formal nod.

“Nice to meet you, Addison.” Seamus’s accent was Scottish, Addie thought. “Kendrick has told me absolutely nothing about you.”

“He’s told me nothing about you, so we’re even,” Addie returned. She looked Seamus over as fully as he’d studied her. “Can we trust him?” she asked Kendrick.

She already knew the answer. Seamus wouldn’t be standing next to them if Kendrick couldn’t.

“Yes.” Kendrick said simply. “What’s for dinner?”

Addie rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance. “Men—always thinking with your stomachs. It’s going to take a little while, but I think you’ll like it.”

She turned her back on them and started down to the house.

Seamus and Kendrick didn’t follow right away. Addie felt the weight of their stares on her, and she turned back. They were watching her, both of them with odd looks on their faces.

She had no idea what puzzled them so much, but she was sure it was a Shifter thing. She continued down into the house, where Robbie was watching out the window.

Brett and Zane tumbled out of the back door toward Kendrick and Seamus as the two approached.

“Uncle Seamus!” They chorused. Brett grabbed Seamus’s leg and jumped up and down. Zane climbed Seamus as easily as he would in tiger form.

Seamus, laughing, caught them both and hoisted them into his arms. “How are you, lads?” He bounced them and gave them each a noisy kiss on the tops of their heads. “How are you holding up, Robbie? I bet it’s tough having to look after this lot, including your dad.”

Robbie shrugged, trying to hide how happy he was. “They mostly behave. Brett and Zane do anyway.”

Brett and Zane were busy hugging Seamus, tugging at his hair, each vying for his undivided attention as they all ducked into the house.

“Where have you been, Uncle Seamus?” Brett asked on one side.

“We’ve been hiding,” Zane said on the other.

“Isn’t Addie pretty?” Brett continued. “She likes us. She’s going to be our new mom!”

Addie swallowed a breath, which came out a cough. Kendrick reached out and firmly took his sons from Seamus. Seamus gave Addie an interested glance with tawny eyes that twinkled with good humor.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Seamus said.

Addie flushed. “Well, not out of the mouth of me. We need to finish helping Charlie with supper.”

The younger boys wriggled out of Kendrick’s grasp. “We’re having lots of meat,” Brett declared, and Zane finished, “And yucky vegetables. I’m not eating them.”

“You don’t have to,” Kendrick said. “Shifters are different,” he said to Addie. “Different metabolism.”

Seamus skipped the discussion and lifted Robbie into his arms. “How are you, little lad?”

Though Robbie tried to be more dignified than his adoptive brothers, he was still very young. He hugged Seamus with enthusiasm and laughed out loud when Seamus tossed him up in the high-ceilinged kitchen and caught him.