“Wait a minute,” Liam warned, pulling the truck to the side of the road.
He had hoped Billy would be asleep by the time they arrived so he could have a conversation with Ms. Lane, but that would have to wait until the boy was reunited with his mother. He shut off the engine and opened his door, while Ginger and Billy got out of the other side.
“Billy!” Ms. Lane jogged toward them, tears rolling down her cheeks. Billy ran toward her, meeting her in the middle of the street. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Billy!”
“Mommy!”
Giving the Lanes some privacy, Liam leaned back against the hood of his truck. Ginger stood off to the right of him, so he could still see her out of the corner of his gaze. Damn, she was beautiful. Beautiful and off limits. She didn’t want him and he wouldn’t force her to accept him. Though one thing had changed in the last bit of their trip—the tension had dissipated a little, making their closeness seem less straining. Would it stay gone, or would it return once they were alone and on their way back to Crimson Hollow?
“You were good with him.” She kept her voice low as she continued to watch the family reunion.
“So were you.” He wasn’t sure what else to say to her, but just then Ms. Lane rose to her feet, interrupting them.
“Billy, go on inside. Grandma has been waiting up to see you. She’s in her room. She’s been waiting up to see you.” When the boy did what she asked, Ms. Lane stood there for a moment, watching him until the door to the house closed. Then, she came to stand next to them. “Thank you for bringing my son home.”
“You’re welcome.” Liam straightened so that he was no longer leaning against the hood of his truck. “When Billy told us that you were caring for your mother, we knew it would take you longer to find someone to sit with her than for us to bring him home. This is where he needed to be.”
“Sheriff Rogers called about an hour after we spoke. He…”
“Is livid.” He finished. “Don’t worry about the sheriff. I already spoke to him when we stopped to get gas. He likes to do things his way but in the end it would have been the same outcome. You have custody of Billy and allowing Sheriff Rogers to handle it would have taken longer for him to get back home. He wanted his mother and we wanted to see that happen. He’s been through enough.”
“For the last time.”
“Ms. Lane…your son was concerned he was going to be punished by his father. Is his father abusing him? Is he abusing you?” Ginger shifted from foot to foot and shook her head. “That sounds harsh and nothing like I rehearsed in my head since he told us.”
“But the question still needs to be asked,” he added. “If you or Billy are in danger, maybe we can help.”
Ms. Lane wrapped her arms around her chest, hugging herself, and refused to meet their gazes any longer. “Billy’s father is a great man when he’s not drinking but at the first sip of alcohol he’s someone you don’t want to be around. He’s a different man when he drinks, full of anger, hate, and violence.”
“Is that why he was in prison?” he pressed, wanting more answers before he could be satisfied that Billy would be safe there.
She nodded and hugged herself tighter. “I got stuck working a double and I couldn’t get word to him. Our phone had been shut off because he decided to spend the money on alcohol. When I got home, he attacked me. I was still on the porch when he grabbed the bat. My neighbors called the police.”
The pieces fell into place and Liam looked at Ginger, who didn’t seem to understand it yet. Maybe she hadn’t seen the news, so she didn’t know who he was. “Mr. Lane wasn’t released from prison, was he? He’s the escaped convict.”
“Escaped?” Ginger inhaled deeply, making him wonder if she had seen the news report after all.
Ms. Lane nodded. “He’s supposed to be serving a twenty-five-year sentence. This should have never happened. Billy should have been safe!”
“You both will be now. Wait here for a minute.” He went around the side of his truck, grabbed a little notepad he kept on the side of his door, and jotted down his name and number. “Ms. Lane, this is my name and number. I want you to keep it and if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, you call me.” He pressed the paper into her hand.
“We’re not that far and we can be here quick,” Ginger added.
We? He liked the sound of that but couldn’t get his hopes up. Rather, he kept his attention focused on the other woman. “My cousin is a lawyer and he’ll give you a call in the morning. He’s going to make sure we get years added onto Billy’s father’s sentence so this can never happen again.”
“Thank you.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you both for everything. Thank you for protecting my baby.”
“Everything’s going to be fine now.” With his gaze on Ginger, he returned the hug. The whites of his mate’s eyes changed to a yellowish color. She wasn’t happy about him embracing another woman. Is my wolf jealous?
Chapter Six
The hour was late and exhaustion clung to Ginger as the miles stretched on. They weren’t even halfway back to Crimson Hollow and all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep. Knowing that Billy was safe with his mother and the whole situation concerning his father had left her feeling overwhelmed. The way she’d asked about the abuse had been tactless but all she’d rehearsed earlier flew out the window as she stood in front of Ms. Lane. She had hoped Liam would bring it up but when he didn’t right away, she couldn’t wait any longer. She wanted answers and she needed to know if Billy would be safe in her care.
The little boy talked so highly of his mother and was such a sweet kid, she wanted to make sure he was protected. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about the things adults worried about. They were supposed to be carefree, be able to play with their friends. Being a child was supposed to be the simplest time in a person’s life. Billy was forced to witness some of the horrors life offered but he was still a child and deserved to have some of his innocence saved. There was plenty of time later to learn all of the shitty aspects of this world and the people who inhabited it.
Liam yawned and glanced over at her. “We’re going to have to stop for some coffee.”
“We’re both exhausted and we have more than two hours’ drive ahead of us still. We should just find a hotel and get some rest. Jase will understand and we can head back after a few hours of sleep.”
“You don’t want to be alone with me. Who knows what I’d do?”
“Liam!”
“Sorry.” He dragged a hand over his face. “I shouldn’t have said that. I get cranky when I’m tired but that was no excuse. I’m sure you’d rather be back—”
She turned in her seat to face him. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I was worried that you’d hurt me.” The words left her mouth and she wondered when she had determined that he meant her no harm. It also occurred to her that now they were alone, the tension of being locked in the truck with him was missing. Had she started to accept the fact he was a lion…and her mate? She wasn’t sure but she did know he wasn’t going to hurt her.
“Come on, Liam, we’re both exhausted. Let’s just find a hotel.”
Without answering, he took the next exit and followed the signs toward the few hotels listed on the map. They’d get some rest and then they could be back on the road in a few hours. She could do it and maybe that time together would allow her to adjust to him being around. Maybe this trip with them being thrown together for Billy’s sake would bring them together. What am I thinking? He’s already proven he doesn’t want me. Otherwise he wouldn’t have allowed the week to pass without me getting so much as a hello from him. I did this…I lost him. There’s no one to blame but myself.
Ten minutes later, they were tucked safely into a hotel room. As much as it would have been nice to have two rooms, the hotel was booked for a convention, leaving them to share a suite that had been booked for one of the members who’d missed his connecting
flight. She dropped her purse on the small table by the door and looked around. The small sofa would fold out into a single bed; besides that, the only other furniture was the bar with a mini fridge and microwave. A bathroom separated that space from what she assumed would be the main bed.
“I’ll take the sofa.”
“Be realistic. You’ve got to drive, which means you need to get some sleep. We can share the bed.” Her heart pounded against her ribs. Share the bed with him. What was she thinking? They were shifters, it wasn’t uncommon, but that didn’t mean it made her less apprehensive about being so close to him.
“I think we’ve pushed your boundaries enough for one day. Don’t you?” He plopped down on the sofa and let out a deep sigh.
“Damn it, Liam. It’s late, I’m tired, and I’m offering you a chance to get a decent night’s sleep. If you want to sleep on a lumpy pull out sofa, be my guest. I’ve done it enough times to know you’ll wake up sore and just as tired. We both know the bed is big enough and whatever is happening between us can wait until morning, but it’s up to you.” She snatched her purse off the table and marched into the bedroom.
If he wanted to be an asshole and sleep on the sofa, that was his call. She had done something nice, something she wasn’t completely sure she was comfortable with, but she couldn’t see him sleeping out there because of her. Not after he’d taken them to reunite Billy with his mother. She knew he had tried to get out of it, but Jase had refused his request. She’d heard their exchange through the living room window while she was tending to Billy’s head wound. This had been another clear indication that he didn’t want to be around her.
* * *
When Ginger stormed off into the bedroom part of their room, Liam sat there feeling like an ass. He wanted to go after her; his lion snarled at him, wanting him to take her up on her offer. To be close to her, even if only for a few hours, would make it worth the pain from the aloofness that would return between them when they got back to Crimson Hollow. The mixed signals coming from her proved beyond annoying. She didn’t want a lion as her mate, but she would share a bed with him? She had even been willing to be alone with him for several hours as they took Billy home. What did she want? Did she even know?
He knew what he wanted—he wanted her, and not just because she was his mate. Something intrigued him about her, something that made him want to get to know her. His body ached for her, not just in a sexual way, but simply to be near her. Seeing her in passing for the last week had only made it worse, yet he kept his distance. She had come to Crimson Hollow for Swift and then she’d move on. Without her scent hanging in the air maybe he could move forward and put the fact that they were destined to be mates behind him.
“Liam.”
Her voice was so soft, he wasn’t sure if he heard it or not, but when he looked up to find her peeking around the wall, he knew he was a goner. She had removed her sweater, leaving on only a thin tank top that clung to her curves. Her auburn hair cascaded down her bare shoulders in soft waves, making him want to drag his fingers through the strands and pull her close. She was gorgeous.
Before he could say a word, she took a step into the room, slowly closing the distance between them. “I’m sorry I snapped. You’re respecting the boundaries I set in place…” Growing more uncomfortable with every word, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Maybe I don’t want that anymore.”
He waited a moment to see if she would continue but she just stood there, uneasy. “What are you saying?”
“I was wrong.” She took a couple of steps to him and sat down next to him on the sofa. “Judging you based on your animal and my past wasn’t fair. I had no right to do that.”
“A scent can bring back memories—”
“I know.” She let out a deep sigh before continuing. “A lot of things can bring back the memories but I can’t let them control my life. They’re dead, but I’m alive. It’s time to remember that. If I can’t do that, how will I help Swift?”
“Sometimes people have to help themselves. She has to want to move past what happened when she was a child in order for anyone to be able to help her.”
“This is a heavy conversation and we’re both exhausted. Come to bed and we’ll pick this up over breakfast.” She rose off the sofa and held out her hand to him. “You’re a good man. An honest, trustworthy, and compassionate one. I’ve seen it since I came to Crimson Hollow but tonight, with how you handled Billy, it opened my eyes to the man I’m to be mated to. I can promise you one thing: I’m a hard woman to live with. Just ask Garret. But I hope you’ll find me worth the trouble.”
Taking her hand into his, he replayed her words through his thoughts. It sounded like she was accepting their destiny but he didn’t want to get his hopes up. If he moved too quick, she might go back into her shell and push him away. Slow and steady would get him his wolf.
As he rose to stand in front of her, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to feel her. Without making any quick movements, he looped his free arm around her back, gently pressing his hand at the small of her back, and pulled her closer to him. “I have no doubt you’ll be worth it.”
“You might regret that later when you find out just how bad my bite is.”
“A wolf with a bite, who would have guessed?” Since she didn’t pull away, he slipped his hand under the thin material of her top and caressed along the soft skin of her back. “Still, I’d rather have my wolf in my bed.”
“Did I mention I’m a cover hog?”
He watched her eyes twinkle, full of mischief, but he didn’t care as long as he had her. Screw this. Scooping her up into his arms, he headed for the bedroom. “Oh baby, I sleep nude and wouldn’t want to distract from your view with covers.”
Chapter Seven
Through the fog of sleep, Ginger could make out the faint sounds of a phone vibrating, but as much as she tried, she couldn’t force her eyes to open. Whoever was calling would have to wait. She wasn’t ready to be up. She snuggled back into the warmth of the blankets and—
Shit! Her eyes sprang open as she realized the heat wasn’t coming from her blankets but from a man. Still deeply asleep, Liam lay stretched out on his back and, true to his word, he was naked as the day he was born.
She still couldn’t believe he’d climbed into bed next to her completely naked. It had taken things a step further than she had planned but damn, he was a fine looking man. They had started the night on their own sides of the bed and not touching, but sometime during the night, she gravitated toward him.
Shifters liked warmth when they slept and it wasn’t uncommon to find some sleeping together in a big pile. Such a sight always reminded her of a puppy pile, as they all cuddled together. The lack of someone to sleep with had her cuddling with a heating blanket instead. It wasn’t a good substitute but better than a cold, empty bed. Only this morning, she woke up to not just another shifter that had shared her bed, but the man who was to be her mate. A soft moan had her tipping her head up to get a better look at him, only to find him awake and watching her.
“Morning, beautiful.” With the arm he had wrapped around her, he pulled her tight against him. “I thought you’d steal the covers away and enjoy the view.”
“Maybe I was about to,” she teased and pulled the covers down, not quiet revealing his manhood.
“Teasing won’t end well for you.”
“Really, lion.” She rubbed her body along his, drawing her fingers along the contours of his chest, working her way down toward his waist. “I think you might have that reversed. The woman holds the power and we tease you into the position we want you. If we let you think otherwise, it’s for your own benefit.”
“Is that so?” Without giving her time to answer, his arm tight around her, he rolled her onto her back so that he was arched over her. “Shall we see about that?”
“Liam…” His name came out on a whisper as she continued to explore his body. She didn’t want him to stop but was she ready? She wasn
’t sure.
“Go with it.” He nuzzled the side of her neck, planting gentle kisses along the curve before working down her collarbone. “Stay in the moment and remember it’s me. No one else, just me and you.”
“I know it’s you.” She caressed along his sides, debating for a moment if she wanted to tell him everything or keep it to herself. “Last night, as you lay there beside me, your scent surrounded me. Instead of fearing the scent, as I did when I first met you, I noticed key differences. It’s not just a lion scent. There’s more to it. I can smell your tribe—Jase’s bear and Sin’s fox are the strongest but there are others who blend into it; even Garret’s wolf lingers within the mix. There are also hints of hickory, apples, and fall leaves. So I always know it’s you.” She cupped the side of his face, stroking her thumb along the stubble on his jaw.
“Good.” He tipped his head toward her hand and kissed her palm.
“I should have realized it before but I let my fear get the best of me. Never again.” Not waiting for him to make the first move, she arched up toward him and claimed his lips. He met her kiss with desire of his own.
As the kiss ended, he leaned back from her and watched her for a moment. “Are you sure about this?”
“Completely.” She grabbed a hold of his hips and drew him down toward her. “Now come here.”
He leaned into her, pressing his lips to hers, not allowing her a chance to deny him, and making her crave more of him. No longer would she allow the fact he was a lion to keep her from her mate. Destined mates were the perfect match for each other and she had to trust that destiny had led her to him for a reason.
With passion controlling her, she pressed into him as his fingers hooked the bottom of her tank top. “I let you sleep in the tank top and panties, even though I was naked, but now I want these gone.”
“I didn’t force you to get naked.”
“Maybe not, but you enjoyed every minute of it.” He tugged her shirt up to just below her breasts and gave her a cocky grin. “Don’t think I didn’t catch your glances in my direction.”
A Lion's Chance: A Crimson Hollow Novella Page 4
