“But my pretty little Gwen…me and her daddy…” Then she purred. Seriously. Purred.”

“Blayne turned her head to look at Gwen, but caught sight of Dee-Ann standing behind them."Ahh! Where the hell did you come from?""Momma says from the love she shares with my daddy," Dee calmly replied.”

“Sissy didn’t know feeding Mitch would be so enjoyable—except for the expense, of course. He’d pretty much groaned and purred during the whole meal. Everything she put in front of him made him smile, and then he’d feed like he hadn’t eaten in days.”

“Gwen hates me,” she reminded him.“Don’t be narcissistic. She hates everyone.”

“It’s just taking some getting used to. The snarling, the hissing, the purring. Then I have to deal with it from the baby….” “Ha, ha,” Mace stated dryly.”

“Hey, hey!” Gwen said excitedly. “Look at this! Look at this!” She extended her arm and gave him the finger.”

“Whispering against her ear, he confessed, "When I'm really stressed out...I play with my toes."Gwen leaned back a bit and stared at him. "Seriously?""It's really relaxing and very bearlike."And very weird. And yet..."I'm oddly comforted by this information.”