Del's Pirates [Sequel to G'baena's Pirates] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Rachel Clark Read Free Book Online

door.”
    “I did?” It wasn’t like Ruth to be confused, and again Avery wondered if she shouldn’t just ignore the woman’s protests and drag her to the medical bay. Under different circumstances Avery might have, but yesterday had been traumatic for all of them and the medical bay still held many wounded crew members. “But I saw you…with the knives.”
    “Yeah, well, Del managed to save the guy so it doesn’t count.”
    The relief on Ruth’s face was a clear indication of why she’d felt the need to apologize. She’d probably thought Avery had killed the man, and Avery knew the woman well enough to know she’d blame herself if that had happened.
    “Well, look at that. Both my favorite ladies in the one place.”
    Avery smiled when she heard Cooper’s voice. He’d always been the charmer and Ruth had always liked him. Ruth, of course, looked very relieved to see him.
    “What do you want?” Ruth asked in her usual straightforward manner.
    “You,” he said with a wink. Avery smiled at Ruth’s snort and felt a little more confident that Ruth probably didn’t need medical attention after all. “Actually, G’baena asked me to come get you so that you can meet the baby.”
    “Now?” Ruth asked, glancing around the room. Breakfast had been a struggle, but lunch was mostly prepared and dinner was already organized. Avery could finish the rest on her own—assuming that she could convince the woman to take a break.
    “Yes, now,” Cooper said with mischief in his eyes. “I also am under strict instructions that if you refuse I’m to throw you over my shoulder caveman style and carry you to G’baena’s quarters.” Ruth patted her ample hips and snorted once more. Cooper just gave her a confident grin. Ruth might not be a lightweight, but Cooper was more than capable of carrying her. Finally, the stubborn woman laughed and backed down.
    “Fine, I was planning to drop by later. I’ll take some food with me, just in case G’baena isn’t quite up to coming to the dining room.” She hurried around the room collecting enough food for a party and preceded Cooper out the door.
    Cooper winked at Avery, mouthed the words “Back soon,” and then followed the woman from the room.
     
    * * * *
     
    As soon as he caught up with her, Cooper relieved Ruth of the heavy tray of food. The woman was as stubborn as they came, but she was also the closest thing to a mother many of the younger crew members had ever known. Both Avery and Del thought of Ruth that way.
    “G’baena had a girl, yes?” Ruth asked, sounding far more enthusiastic now that the decision to go had been made.
    “I believe so,” Cooper answered with a wide grin. Ruth would one day make as doting a grandmother as G’baena’s mother, Flynn, was proving to be.
    “You haven’t seen her?”
    “Not yet, but I’ve been reliably informed that she is the most beautiful child ever born.”
    Ruth chuckled quietly. “Which one of her fathers told you that?”
    “Both of them,” he said with a grin. “Did you know that Avery delivered G’baena’s baby yesterday amid all the chaos?”
    Ruth looked stunned. “She didn’t say anything.” Ruth glanced back the way they’d come. “Maybe she should be the one taking some time off.”
    “Already organized,” he said, feeling a little smug. “Avery is taking the afternoon off. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
    Ruth placed a hand on his arm to stop him. “You’re a good man, Cooper. I can’t think of anyone better to love Avery.” Cooper dipped his head, feeling the heat of embarrassment travel across his cheeks. “Or Del,” she added with a knowing smile.
    “Yes, I love them both,” he confessed quietly.
    “About time you came to your senses,” she said with a look that proved she was far more observant than many people realized.
    They finally reached the door to G’baena, Devlin, and Kam’s quarters. Ruth lifted up to press a motherly kiss to his cheek as she took the tray from