“I’m just gauging your mobility.”
“Uh-huh.”
Before I could dig myself further, East’s hand slipped into mine.
I stiffened. “What are you doing?”
“Now you don’t have to worry or wonder if you’ll accidentally brush against me.”
I opened my mouth, closed it again.
Tingles ran through my hand and up my arm in a reaction that made me feel seventeen all over again. But I didn’t pull away.
“East, you’re my patient. We shouldn’t—”
“What if I need you for support? My knee’s feeling very unsteady, Doc.”
His eyes glittered.
Oh, he was enjoying this.
Unfortunately, my heart couldn’t take much more. Not when I knew how this story ended.
“Do you remember when I first told you I was a wolf?” he asked.
I cut him a sharp look. “You mean when you showed me you were a wolf.”
He laughed. “It’s not my fault the change happened right around the same time we started thinking about sex.”
“I thought I had it bad with PMS mood swings.”
“You remember that day?”
“Of course I do.” My cheeks heated as the memory replayed.
“One minute, we were making out like normal teenagers. The next, I was literally pawing you.”
I rolled my eyes at his terrible pun. “Not exactly where I expected it to go.”
It wasn’t lost on me that Travis had shifted near me, and I’d run in terror. Yet, when Easton had done the same, there had been zero fear. Easton Raines had always made me feel safe.
“You were so cool about the whole thing. I still can’t get over how easily you rolled with watching your boyfriend half-shift into a four-legged predator.”
I shook my head. “You were a mess. Wouldn’t come near me again for weeks.”
He frowned. “I didn’t want to risk hurting you.”
I squeezed his hand, inexplicably needing to comfort him. “You didn’t.”
At least, not physically.
“You’re the only girl I ever told,” he said after a moment.
I looked over in surprise. Maybe I shouldn’t have been shocked he’d held back that part of himself. People in this town knew enough to at least accept the idea of supernaturals, but the rest of the world had no idea. Still, it sounded lonely, knowing he hadn’t been able to truly be himself in a decade. “Well, I’ve kept your secret. If that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Thanks.” His smile was sad. His gaze far away now. Still troubled. Or tortured. “What I meant is you’re special, Cat. Always were. Seeing you here again is a reminder of that.”
My belly jumped at his words. As much as I wanted to hear them, I knew I couldn’t let us go down this road. “Look, East, I think you and I—”
“Cat?”
I cringed at the sound of my name coming from behind us. Or, more specifically, at who said it. Fleetingly, I wondered if I could just pretend not to have heard. But East was already turning. And then, my name came again.
“Cat.”
Louder this time. Determined. No avoiding it now.
I turned, bracing myself as Travis strode up.
“What do you want, Travis?”
“I went by your office,” he said, his tone accusatory. “They said you took the morning off.”
“I’m with a patient,” I said simply.
Travis’s sharp gaze flicked to Easton and then straight down to our joined hands. His eyes narrowed.
East’s hand in mine tightened.
Great. A pissing contest.
But I didn’t pull my hand away. Not when doing so would feel like an admission of guilt.
“Can we talk?” Travis asked, ignoring East completely.
“I think we’ve said everything there is to say.”
“I disagree.” His voice took on an edge that reminded me of that night.
My hands went clammy at the memory of the vase he’d sent flying at my head. Then Travis’s face as it’d twisted in fury. When I’d screamed at him to get out, he’d begun to tremble. His skin had turned to fur in patches. And his hands had grown claws.
Then he’d—
“Listen, I think the lady’s made it clear she doesn’t want to speak to you.” Easton’s voice was a calm, controlled warning.
Underneath, I could hear the steel.
Travis glared at him. “The lady can speak for herself.”
“And she did,” Easton said. “You just aren’t very good at listening.”
“Who the fuck are you, anyway?”
“I told you. He’s my patient,” I cut in.
“Yes, this all looks very professional,” Travis snapped.
Easton let go of my hand and slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “The truth is Cat and I are old sweethearts. In fact, we’re having dinner tonight so we can catch up.” He leaned in. “Pick up right where we left off, eh, kitty cat.”
The old nickname was a joke between us. Unfortunately, our third wheel didn’t know that. I swallowed hard as Travis fought for control, his nostrils flaring with every angry breath.
East tensed, and I knew the moment he realized what Travis was—and what he was trying hard not to become right here on the sidewalk in broad daylight.
“Easy,” East said quietly. “Exposing yourself here would be a mistake. One you might not live long enough to learn from.”
“I don’t know who you think you are, mutt, but you don’t get to come here and threaten me on my turf,” Travis hissed. He turned to me and snapped, “This isn’t over.”
Then he stalked off.
I felt the fire draining out of me as he went.
“That was unexpected.”
East’s words forced my attention away from Travis’s retreating figure. Suddenly, I was not only hyperaware of the attention we’d gained during our little face-off but Easton’s arm still wrapped around my middle.
I stepped back, relieved and a little disappointed when he dropped his arm to give me space.
“God, I’m so sorry about that.” I ran a hand through my hair, waiting for the adrenaline rush to subside.
“Don’t apologize. You’re not responsible for someone else’s asshole behavior.”
“No, but it was still unprofessional.”
“Of him. Not you.”
I blew out a breath and met his bright, blue eyes. There was worry in them, and a calm that steadied me. “Thanks for handling him.”
“Seems like you handled him just fine on your own.”
I thought about the other night when Travis had almost attacked me. My knees rattled at the realization Travis had almost done the same thing again just now. In fact, if Easton hadn’t been here, I wasn’t sure he would’ve let it go. “I’m glad you were here.”
“Good. You can repay me by letting me buy you dinner.”
“You were serious about that?”
“Of course.”
“I thought you were just making a point.”
“I was. And the point is that you’re going to have dinner with me.”
I shook my head, a refusal on the tip of my tongue.
East stepped close, invading my space so quickly that my mind went blank. The words died on my tongue.
“Please.”
Maybe it was the sudden use of manners. Or the near-desperate look he flashed me. Before I could examine my actions, I felt myself nodding.
“Okay. Dinner. Tomorrow.”
“It’s a date.” East grinned, and my heart did that familiar tug—thrilled and aching all at once.
“It’s just dinner,” I said firmly.
“Just dinner,” he repeated in a voice that left no doubt he intended on dinner—and a whole lot more.
9
Easton
Despite the ache in my knee, I felt lighter than I had in months. After a cup of coffee and a buffet breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage, I escape
d the noisy B&B and headed for the ski shop. Maybe my old buddy from high school was still behind the counter, but even if he wasn’t, I had a mind to ask the guys about business on the mountain these days. Not for any reason, of course. Not because I’d ever entertained staying, but maybe a weekend trip back at some point for a follow up with my physical therapist wouldn’t hurt. And if I took her out for a snowboarding lesson, hoping to catch her when she fell, that wouldn’t hurt anything either.
The bell over the door jingled as I entered. The guy behind the counter looked up.
“Stone.”
It took him a split second before recognition registered, then he grinned. “Easton. How the hell are you, man?”
He came around to give me a slap on the back; the universal man hug.
“Not dead, so I guess I’m good,” I said.
He laughed. “Guess I’ll claim the same then. Where you been hiding? Haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Got an instructor gig at a resort out in Breck,” I said. “Doing some competing on the side.”
“Congrats, man. You were always a stellar boarder.”
“Yeah, it was a pretty nice gig until I busted my knee a few weeks back.” I patted my leg and gave Stone the quick version of what happened.
“A supercat, huh? You crazy or just stupid?”
“Both, obviously,” I said with a snort. “Landed the wildcat okay before that, so I thought what the hell, right?”
“Right.” He laughed.
“So, you runnin’ the place now?” I asked, gesturing to the nametag he wore that said “Manager.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, been managing for about five years now.”
I glanced around at all the life vests lining the walls. “Looks like you branched out.”
“I talked Len into expanding so we could do year-round business,” he said. “It’s kind of what landed me the promotion, actually. During off-season, we rent canoes and kayaks and do rafting tours.”
“How’s business on the slopes?”
“Gets busier every year.” He glanced at me with a gleam in his eye that, in high school, had always been the signal for some kind of scheme. “You wouldn’t be looking for a job, would ya?”
“Not looking for much of anything until this knee heals up,” I said. “Why?”
“Bobby Potter moved back East with his new wife, which means we’re down an instructor for the season. Len’s already freaking out, and we’re weeks from opening.”
“Len freaks out about everything,” I said, and Stone laughed.
“You’re not wrong. Hey, isn’t that your pop?”
I frowned and followed his gaze to the window. On the sidewalk, with both hands on hips and a scowl on his weathered face, stood my dad. He glared at me pointedly, obviously waiting for me to come outside.
I gritted my teeth together.
“Guess I’ll let you get back.” Stone clapped me on the shoulder. “Good to see you, East.”
“Good to see you, too,” I said distractedly as I headed for the door.
“If you change your mind about that job, come find me,” he called.
“Will do,” I said as I shoved through the door and out into the sunshine. Despite the cheery light, I couldn’t help but feel like a dark cloud had just descended over me.
“What?” I demanded.
“Don’t ‘what’ me. You’ve disappointed your mother by staying at that damned bed and breakfast like some kind of stranger, and I’m tired of watching her mope around.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, boy. Come home. She made up your bed; the least you could do is sleep in it.”
The scent of alcohol on his breath was strong enough to nearly knock me over.
“I’m not staying at your house,” I said quietly.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me what you ain’t doin’. I’m your pop. You do what I say.”
Rage rose swift and hot, bubbling over before I could beat it back. “Or what?” I challenged, taking a small step closer. Just enough that he noticed I was taller than him now. Not by much but still. I made sure to look down at him as I spoke. “What will you do when I don’t show, huh? Beat me? Or her?”
I watched as his face flushed with temper, but my wolf didn’t flinch. Not even when I felt the air between us heat as his beast stirred.
“You listen here, you disrespectful little shit. I don’t know when you got so high and mighty, thinkin’ you’re too good for your own family, but your place is at home. Your momma needs you—”
I wrinkled my nose. “What Mom needs is a husband who doesn’t rough her up every time he has a temper tantrum.” He opened his mouth, his expression angry, but I kept going. I’d held this shit in for too long. “What she needs is to not fear violence at the hands of the person who’s supposed to protect her from it. What she deserves is a man, not a monster.”
“You watch your fucking mouth right now, boy. You ain’t even livin’ here anymore. Haven’t been home for a damned decade, and you think you can talk like that to me?”
I could see the indignation in his splotchy face. Could hear it in his voice. It was a tone I’d heard before and one I knew meant nothing I said would get through to him. He was too pissed and full of himself to let my words sink in.
“You know what. Fuck it. I’m done with this. I’m done with you.”
“Like hell. We’re done when I say we’re done. I’m your elder.” His voice dropped as he added, “And since you like to think of yourself as a lone wolf, technically I’m your alpha.”
Like hell he was. I balled my hands into fists to keep my wolf from ripping into him right here.
“I have no alpha, and don’t you forget that.” The words tumbled out in a fit of fury, which only made him look more smug. Something in me snapped.
I got in his face. “I tried taking her with me, but she refused. Did you know that? I promised she’d never have to deal with you ever again. Never have another bruise or split lip from the person who is supposed to love her most in the world. She turned me down.”
I was trembling now. A few people had stopped across the street. No one dared speak to us or even pass by too close. I knew it, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Or look at them.
All I saw was him. His rage. His temper. His sorry excuse for being a father and a husband—and a wolf. It was all I could do not to kick his ass right here in the middle of town with half the Falls population watching.
“Your momma and I have an understanding,” he said gruffly. “She knows I don’t mean to hurt her, and when I do, I apologize for it. Ain’t none of this your business, anyway. It’s between a man and his wife. Damn disrespect is what this is.” He shook his head, huffed, and turned away.
My wolf wanted to rip his throat out.
The human in me would have settled for a sucker punch.
He stopped and turned back. “I take back my invitation. You stay away from us. A son who can’t respect his father is no son of mine.”
Ignoring his words, I said, “You let me hear of you putting your hands on her again, and I promise you’ll regret it.”
He scowled, muttered some more words about disrespect, and walked off.
I stood, watching him go, rage boiling inside me and complete calm claiming my outsides. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as the pedestrians all began to move again. No one spoke to me, but I felt their weighted gazes, some curious and confused, some knowing.
I suspected quite a few knew about my father’s temper. After a lifetime in a small town like the Falls, word got around. But no one would admit to it.
Gossip.
Hushed conversations.
Sideways looks.
That’s all it was to them.
To me, it was my entire life.
But no more. My father had been right about one thing. I was no son of his. And as much as it hurt my heart to leave her behind a second time, I’d have to walk away from my mother, too. I couldn’t stay
in a town with him in it. I couldn’t have these run-ins on the sidewalk. Couldn’t think about what he might be putting her through later because of his temper toward me and his habit of drinking his feelings.
I wouldn’t live like that again.
When my leg healed, I was done here. Done with him. Forever.
I could eat dinner with Cat and leave town when this was over. I could even kiss Cat and still leave town. If I was really good, I could have my way with her and then drive into the sunset.
Fuck. Even as I thought the words, I knew I was lying to myself.
My brain needed to escape this place, once and for all. My heart needed—who knew what it needed anymore. But my wolf? My wolf needed her.
And it wasn’t going to settle for one dinner or one kiss or even one roll in the sheets.
I was so screwed.
But there was no going back.
The sun had set by the time I knocked on Cat’s apartment door for our dinner date. I’d gone to her old house, the one she’d grown up in, but the woman who’d answered the door had explained Cat had sold it a year back. Now, she lived in an apartment downtown. The woman had given me the address without hesitation. A perk of a small town, I guess.
While I waited at the door, voices filtered out from inside. One male. One female. My hand tightened into a fist.
A moment later, footsteps sounded. The door swung open. At the sight of the male, jealousy reared up, ugly and vicious. Then, he smiled in a way that felt non-threatening and maybe even a little flirty.
“Easton Raines, as I live and breathe.” His southern drawl was a little too heavy, almost as if he was making it up.
“Nice to meet you.” I offered my hand, which he gladly accepted.
“Rudy Rascal, the roommate. And the pleasure is all mine, believe me.” He waved me inside. “Come in. The beauty queen is almost ready.”
I stepped into a short hall that opened into a large living space done in modern lines and soft furniture.
“Cat, your prince charming is here,” Rudy sang.
I bit back a smile. Prince Charming? Sure. Why not?
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