All Chapters of The Gray Ranch: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

ANN POV I laugh as my roommate takes another whiff of our soured milk. Her scrunched nose and pinched face show just how out of date it is. "Which one of us is doing the shopping this week," she asks as she sets the jug back instead of throwing it out. "Well we both work doubles for the next three days, so no one I guess," I respond while grabbing a protein bar from our pantry and throwing her one. She sighs and unwraps the disappointing breakfast. "Well at least our paychecks will be amazing," she says around her bite of cardboard and I laugh again. Working at the hospital doesn't give us much free time, but our bills are paid and our savings accounts are growing. We grab our stuff and head for my car since it is my turn to drive. When we get to work we split up and I head for the reception desk of the small emergency room. I typically don't have many patients come in, but it is flu season so we might have a small rush tonight. I set up the desk to my liking a

ANN POV I return to the front desk with a smile. Ms. Phillips is indeed pregnant and so happy with the news that she seemed to forget I was giving her stitches. I pick up the phone to call the pharmacy about her prescription and a shadow falls over me. I look up and my breath catches in my throat as I lock eyes with Mr. Gray's concerned gaze. He looks so breathtakingly beautiful I want to dissolve into a puddle. His chiseled jawline and kissable lips are calling my name. If only he was a single man. "Excuse me? Is Carmen alright? It has been a while," he says and I nod. "She is all stitched up. I am placing an order for her at the pharmacy now. The doctor is currently speaking with her, so she will be out soon," I say with a smile, and he exhales loudly before smiling. "That's a relief. Thank you... (he goes to walk away but pauses and turns back toward me) I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I understand you were doing your job. I was just worried about her... She is umm. She

ANN POV "Yeah, I'm free tonight. I am actually off today and tomorrow," I reply as I close the fridge and reposition my cell phone. "Awesome, we are having a BBQ to celebrate my pregnancy and the new additions to our family. I would love for you to join us. The other wives would also like to meet you," Carmen says excitedly and I grow nervous as the unknown number of strangers begins to loom in my head. "How many people will be there? I have no problem with crowds, but I will only know you... and Mr. Gray " I say as he creeps to the front of my mind yet again. "I am sorry. Let me give you a breakdown so you don't get overwhelmed when you join us tonight. There's me and Mike, then Samantha and Daniel. They have two kids. Angelica and Andrew. Then Tabitha and Stanley. They have a newborn named Grace, after Tabitha's late mother. Then there is Mariah and Benji. They have an adopted son named Trevor, and their newborn is the youngest. Her name is Makenzie. Then there is Boyd, Lewis, a

ANN POV"Come on, Ann. It will be fun. We haven't gotten to do anything fun recently," Claire begs again, and I sigh before looking at her.She has been hounding me for hours about going on the triple date Carmen somehow arranged, but I keep refusing. I don't want anyone forcing Finley to go out with me. I have some pride. I am a decent looking woman. I don't need a man giving me some kind of pity date his friend organized."We went to a pretty cool BBQ three days ago, I would call that recently," I say to be snarky, and she glares at me for a second before responding."It's going to be fun. Work has been our life for months... Plus, I am nervous, and I would like my best friend to have my back on this one," Claire says, pulling out the big guns. We have a quick and silent stare-down, but she knows she won. I won't go against her needing me. This is her first official date with Lewis, and if she says she needs me there, I will be there."Fine. But for me tonight isn't a date. Finley

FINLEY POV I jump up as soon as the doorknob jiggles. I have been waiting for three hours. I knew Lewis and Claire would probably be a while, but I had no idea it would be early morning before he got back home. He walks in looking proud and smelling of Claire. His mate match seems to be a good one and I am truly happy for him. He is a good male and he deserves a good partner. "Hey man, we need to talk," I say quickly and his smile drops off his face as he looks me over. "What's wrong," he asks and I shake my head a little. I said that way too forcefully. After everything that has happened to the pack I probably sent his blood pressure up by saying it like that. "I am probably freaking out more than I should about this, but I wasn't prepared for it... Claire and Ann know about shifters," I say and he looks surprised before taking a seat in one of our oversized chairs. "How do you know," he asks and I follow his lead and sit back down. Calmer feelings begin to course thr