by Jessica Lee
Shit.
Eion yanked free of her grip.
“Oh, my God…” Tawny looked up from under her lashes with a low growl. “It’s much worse than your father imagined, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?” Eion backed away and unlocked his truck. He climbed inside behind the wheel, but before he could crank the engine and get away, Tawny darted around the bumper, popped open the passenger door and joined him inside the cabin. Of course she would. She’d been relentless ever since she was a little girl when she used to chase him on the playground and pull his hair.
“You can’t blow me off that easy. I recognize that scent and what the temperature of your skin means.”
“Bullshit,” he grumbled, and shoved the key in the ignition.
“Your skin is burning up and you can’t deny that you’re aroused as hell.”
Eion fell back against the seat, defeat heavy in his limbs, his gaze trained on the blinking open sign in Take a Break’s window.
“Individually, you know as well as I do that alone those signs can be taken at face value— you have a fever and the other, you’re horny,” Tawny brushed her hand over his forearm, the heat cooling with Liv’s absence. “Together, they mean something much more.” A low rumble vibrated off her chest.
“You have to keep this between us,” he said, still focused on the steady blink of the neon.
“You’ve bonded to that human.” She snarled. “At least your scent hasn’t altered, and I can’t smell her on you,” Tawny spat. They both knew what that meant—he hadn’t slept with Liv and completed their mating.
“Damn, Tawny.” The way she’d uttered the words, Eion would have sworn she had vomited the statement all over his leather. “You need a barf bag?”
She rolled her eyes. “I can’t remember the last time anyone has mixed outside our species. If they have, they’re not living with the pack, that’s for sure. It’s just so…so…unnatural.” Her lip curled in disgust.
“It is what it is,” he growled. “Natural or not.”
“When did this happen? How?”
What the hell. Knowing what she did now, why not unload the whole saga? It might even help ease some of the tension he’d carried around forever, not being able to tell a single soul. Hesitantly at first, then gaining steam and propelling out of him, his story unraveled, taking him back to the place where everything had changed.
His eyelids lowered, and like a movie screen, the moment in time flickered past. Bright green irises had stolen his breath, captured his gaze—his very being. “Liv looked right into my eyes…it was like nothing I’d ever felt before,” he said, his voice hushed. Eion groaned and dug his fingers into his scalp as if the act could somehow erase the memory from his mind. He pulled his hands free and rotated his head in Tawny’s direction.
She stared back, tapping a finger on the center console.
“Damn,” he growled. “Say something.”
“This is so fucked up.”
“Thank you so much for that professional analysis.” He rolled his eyes.
“What?” She tossed her arm up, shooing away his comment and reaction. “It is!” Tawny leaned back, centering herself into the passenger seat. “Oh, my God. Your father is going to go ape shit when he hears his rising alpha son is bonded to a human.”
“My father will hear nothing,” he chewed the words through his teeth, the threat in his tone unmistakable. “You hear me, Tawny? I’ll decide if and when there is a need for anyone else to learn about this.”
“Fine.” She crossed her arms under her breasts. “I just can’t believe you allowed such a thing to happen.” Tawny scowled. “You were destined for so much better.”
“Oh, really? And by that you’re insinuating that would be you?” She flinched, but she’d pushed him too far and he didn’t give a rat’s ass if his words stung. “Let’s get a couple of things straight.” Eion leaned in, making sure he was close enough that she didn’t miss a word. “First: you know as well as I do that no one allows a bond to occur. As much as our pack would like to believe otherwise, so that their bigotry against the human race would be a bit easier to swallow, it’s beyond our control. Second: you and I were never meant to be more. Third: for your sake, I’m going to choose to ignore your implication that Olivia Wilson is beneath us.” Eion reached over, clutched Tawny’s chin between his fingers, and turned her head, forcing her to face him. “This time,” he qualified. His vision sharpened, signaling that his attempt to control his beast over her comment about his human had not been one hundred percent successful. Tawny’s breath hitched, her eyes widening.
“I would never hurt you, Tawny, but within our pack, I do have power and connections that should make you think twice about what we’ve discussed. You hurt Liv…you hurt me. Don’t go there.”
Tawny jerked away from his grip, the tips of her own canines flashing.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” she growled and exited the truck in an irritated huff.
Eion clenched the steering wheel and put his head down on his hands. Please don’t make me regret opening up to you, old friend.
Chapter Ten
Olivia closed the clinic’s back door and scurried down the hall to their office, carrying the sandwiches she’d acquired at Betty’s. The drive from the diner hadn’t been nearly long enough to get her head back on straight. Seriously, had she really thought Eion hadn’t had lovers all this time? He was a man. Of course he had. However, Tawny flaunting it in her face that she was living with Eion had Liv’s stomach slamming into the back of her throat and her heart squeezed tight. Olivia hadn’t really had time to discuss with Kris how things were going at the ranch, but she couldn’t help but taunt the bimbo with info on how close the three of them had been. And of course a little misinformation of sorts of how bonded they still were had helped to soothe Olivia’s green-eyed beast a tad. Too bad her cool and collected exit turned out to be an epic fail, delivering a hard smack to her pride when she had to turn around. Real smooth there, Olivia.
Eion had tried to convince her they weren’t involved. But, come on, the other woman was beautiful. Tall, curvy, gorgeous hair, voluptuous. And staying in his house. Why else would she be there? With those looks, she sure wasn’t cleaning his floors, and her body language had screamed possessive. As if Olivia had better not dare to trespass on her territory. Please.
The office door opened and Taylor met her at the threshold. “Hey there.” He reached out for the bag in her hand. “Can I help you with that?”
“Hey.” She gave him a smile. “Sure can.” Olivia handed over her purchase. “I picked us up some lunch after my drive out to check on the Hammond’s colt.”
“Great.” Taylor turned, taking their lunch bag back to his desk.
“No problem. I knew you wouldn’t stop long enough to eat if I didn’t bring you something back.”
Taylor sank into his chair. “You’re probably right.” He dug into the brown sack, pulled a sandwich free, and inspected the contents. “Mmm, turkey on rye.” After placing his on the desk, Taylor handed the bag over to her. “My favorite.”
“Like I could ever forget. That’s all you ever ate back in vet school.” She smiled.
“Pretty much. And I still love it.” He stuffed a bite into his mouth.
Liv tugged the edges of the plastic wrap from her lunch, watching as Taylor eagerly consumed his. “I’m glad we can both sit down long enough for a bite to eat in the same room. We’ve been so busy this week that we haven’t had much alone time.”
Nodding, Taylor swallowed. “Yes. I agree. This is good.”
“I wanted to apologize for how awkward we left things the other night.” Liv rose and grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the mini fridge by the door. She handed Taylor one and returned to her seat.
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for.” He shook his head, screwing the cap off the water. “We’re doctors. We have commitments, plus you have to keep an eye out for your brother
and the ranch. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
Olivia picked at a green leaf poking out from beneath the bread. “You’re very important to me, and I don’t want you to ever get the idea that you’re not.” Silence from the other side of the room made her look up.
Taylor eased his bottle onto the desk, pushed away from his chair, and made his way over to Olivia. He snagged the spare chair from against the wall, dragged it close, and dropped down. “Thank you,” he said, his voice soft. Taylor reached up and placed his hand in hers.
She was happy—well, satisfied. Taylor was going to make a great husband one day. She had to move on with her life. Get past her hesitation in the bedroom and allow Taylor to love her completely. Allow herself to love him with all her heart. She needed to finally stop measuring every boyfriend she’d ever had against her fantasies of a man who had never loved her and never would. So foolish and irrational. She was going to die an old maid if she didn’t grab onto what was in front of her. Eion had certainly moved on with his life and wasn’t cold at night. Wasn’t it time she did the same?
Taylor grinned and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “I admit I was wondering if you still really wanted to continue our relationship outside of the office. I’ve been replaying that night in my head over the last few days.” His gaze bore into hers. “Have I done something wrong, Livvy? Is there something else bothering you that you’re not telling me?”
“No. Of course not.” This was what she was afraid of. Her issues were causing Taylor to believe that he was the one with the problem. “Thank you for being so patient with me,” she whispered.
Taylor loves me. I can trust him. He’s right here in the present.
She leaned back in, allowing their lips to reconnect. Taylor deepened the kiss with a moan and cupped the sides of her face. Olivia dug her fingers into the sleeves of his scrub top.
Nothing.
Damn you, Eion Mandrake!
No tingle down her spine. No butterflies in her gut.
He traced the seal of her mouth, and she opened, determined to eradicate the other man from her mind. Taylor darted inside, gently teasing her tongue with his own in an erotic dance before pulling back. Trailing delicate kisses along her cheek, Taylor moved toward her ear. “Do you have any idea how crazy you make me, Livvy?” he breathed, his voice shaky. “How much I want you right now?”
Instead of a rush of arousal from his words, a wave of panic gripped her core, rocketing her pulse into an erratic drumbeat against her sternum. Her head swam.
Taylor’s hand fell away, his fingertips skating over her nipple in the process before his palm captured her breast. Olivia tensed, and her teeth bit into her lip for restraint to keep from snatching his arm away.
This was so unfair.
Other women had casual sex. Why did her conscience always have to get in the way, making her feel as if she were cheating on a man who would never know how much she loved him? Loved him? Oh, hell no. No way was she in love with Mandrake. She clamped her hand over where Taylor held her, putting a stop to any further exploration.
“Taylor…” Olivia cleared her throat, and he slowly sat back, confusion written on his features. “Over the years, you and I have talked a little about our dating history, but in light of how honest you’ve been with me about your needs and feelings…I should have probably shared something with you a long time ago.” She dropped her hands to the tops of her legs, her palms going moist at the topic. Olivia rubbed them on her thighs.
“Okay. This sounds serious.”
“Not serious.” She shook her head. “Nothing for you to be worried about. Just something you have the right to know.”
“I’m listening.” He settled back into his chair.
“You see…” she began. “Wow.” She released a short laugh. “This is awkward.” Olivia plucked her bottle of water from the desk and took a swig.
“There’s nothing you can’t tell me, Livvy.” He leaned in and brushed his hand over her thigh. The proximity of his touch ratcheted her pulse up another notch, but not with desire. Reflex had her easing her leg closer to the other. Taylor’s gaze narrowed as he sat back.
“You know I had a couple of boyfriends during college.”
“Yeah.”
She toyed with the clear bottle in her hand, rotating it around on its base, the remaining water level sloshing about. “I was lucky. I dated some good guys. Cute. But none of them ever felt…right.” She glanced in Taylor’s direction. “When we were alone. If you know what I mean?” The dawning realization of what she was trying to say widened his eyes. “It’s probably so old fashioned,” she babbled, a nervous chuckle bubbling out. “But I have always had in my head a vision of what that night would be like, and none of the guys felt right—none of them was the one I wanted to share that part of myself with.”
“I had no idea.” He slowly shook his head. “I can’t believe I never knew. I wish you had told me.”
“It never seemed to be the right time. We were friends long before we actually started dating, and I was embarrassed. Over twenty and still a virgin.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s not something you blurt out to a guy.”
“Now I feel kind of like a jerk, letting it go as far as it did the other night.”
“No…Taylor. You had no way of knowing.” Olivia sighed. She hadn’t wanted him to feel like he’d done something wrong. “That’s not what this is about. My intention wasn’t to make you feel like a bad guy, but to try and explain what’s going on inside my head.”
He released a long, deep breath. “I wish I’d known so I could have planned better for your seduction the other night.” Taylor countered with a grin.
She smiled. “Even if you had, I would have still ended up bailing on you when Kris’s call came in.”
“True.” He laughed. Taylor leaned forward and clutched her hands, capturing her gaze with his. “I’m honored, Livvy, that you told me. I’ll try to be patient.” He winked. “But whenever you’re ready, and the time is right, I swear I’ll do my best to make sure it’s special for you.”
“You see…that right there,” she drawled, heat rising in her cheeks. “That’s why all the girls are in love with you.” Olivia chuckled.
“Really?” He grinned. “All of them, huh?” His brows lifted. “Too bad for the others it’s only the heart of the girl in front of me that I’m after.”
***
“What are you doing home with me tonight, Livvy?” Kris asked.
“Is my company so foul?” Olivia licked her finger, the zing of the butter and cheddar combo lighting up her taste buds. She plucked the spoon back up and stirred the pot of Mac & Cheese.
“No, you twit.” Kris sat the plate of burgers he’d pulled from the grill onto the counter, his ability to bear weight on his injured leg getting better every week. “Just wondering when you and Taylor last had a night out.”
“Don’t worry about me and Taylor,” she said and slid the pot off the heat. “We had a nice lunch together earlier in the week and we’ll probably get together sometime this weekend.” Olivia grabbed a couple of plates from the cupboard. “We’re fine, and besides, I like getting to spend time with you.” She tossed her big bro a smile. “With you spending so much time overseas, and me in school, we didn’t get to see each other much over the last, what, five years?” Olivia sidled up to Kris and rubbed her shoulder against his. “So sue me if I want some bonding time with my brother.”
Kris growled and shuffled away. “Oh, God, please save me from all this sisterly love.” He laughed. “I so need to get out of this house and on a date of my own.”
Divvying up the pasta between them, Olivia giggled. “You’re so dramatic. And I’m sure the female population of the world is breathing a sigh of relief that you’re off the prowl for a few months.”
“Who says I can’t prowl with one leg?” She looked back and he waggled his eyebrows.
Olivia laughed. “I guess that’s true. So why haven’t you?”
�
�Why haven’t I what?”
“Gone out. Had some fun.”
“Mind your own business.”
Balancing a plate in each hand, she made her way to the table, then went back for the burgers. “Oh, I see…” She huffed. “You can stick your nose in my love life but yours is off limits.”
“Now you’re catching on.”
“You are such an ass.” She chuckled and took her seat across the table from her brother. “But I love you anyway.” She grabbed a bun for her hamburger. “This was our favorite dinner on Friday nights when we were younger. Remember?”
“How could I forget? God, we ate it almost every weekend when I was in high school.” He slathered a dose of mayo over his bun. “You and Eion would always wind up in a macaroni war with more elbow noodles ending up on the floor than in the pot.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Things had been so good back then. Their dad alive, and of course, her world had been complete, simply because Eion had been there.
“So, speaking of Eion, I saw him earlier this week when I picked up lunch at the diner. He said things are going okay?” She shoved the pasta around on her plate with her fork.
“I hate to admit it.” Kris sighed. “But he’s been doing a good job.” He grabbed his glass and took a long swig of water. “He looked over the books and developed a temporary business plan that he thinks could have us out of the red in one quarter.” Kris picked up his burger. “Hopefully the collectors will now be happy, and it’ll keep us from going into foreclosure. It’s more hope than I’ve had for the place in a long while.”
“That is so good to hear.” She sighed with relief. “I’ve been holding my breath and staying out of the way. Wasn’t sure how well you two were going to get along.”
“We’ve kept it professional, and I can’t find anything to complain about with his work.” Kris gave a lopsided smile. “Actually, it’s been kind of cool having him around. He’s good, doesn’t take any shit, and having someone overseeing the place who knows what the hell he’s doing feels damn great.”
