Rebel Lion

by Anna Lowe

  She raised a finger and wiped his cheek too. It was perfectly dry, but still. The tears were hiding back there somewhere, even if he didn’t let them show.

  The grandfather clock in the hallway of the plantation house bonged, and for the first few low, sonorous notes, she stared into Dell’s eyes, mesmerized. But when the last bong sounded, she jerked her head up.

  “Oh God. What time is it?”

  He flapped a hand, unconcerned. “Maybe seven?”

  Anjali jumped to her feet. “Oh no. That makes it noon in Chicago. Excuse me a second.”

  She ran into the room, grabbed her work bag, and rushed back out onto the porch, digging out her phone. She’d promised to check in with work that morning and, damn. She was already behind.

  Up until that moment, she hadn’t even noticed how relaxed she’d felt. Between Dell, the baby, and a perfect Maui morning, she’d almost forgotten that her office was out there somewhere. But now that she remembered, the stress came rushing back, settling over her like a familiar weight.

  Quinn finished the bottle and looked up at Dell through sleepy, satisfied eyes. Cub was an apt description, now that Anjali thought about it.

  “You okay burping her?” she asked.

  Dell cracked into a grin and opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly thought better of it. “Sorry. Temptation nearly got me there.”

  Anjali grimaced, picturing all the dumb jokes a guy might make about burping. Luckily, Dell had resisted the impulse. That said something, right?

  “No problem,” he said, catching her dubious look. “I got this.”

  Anjali stood still. Did he? A clock ticked away in her mind, reminding her exactly how late she was.

  “Hey, little cub,” Dell cooed, standing with Quinn. His voice was a little shaky, though, and so were his hands. He settled her against his shoulder in a series of endless careful pats and shuffles. Maybe his hands were too big for a baby that small.

  “She won’t break,” Anjali murmured, echoing what Lourdes had once said.

  Dell pursed his lips and went on being overly careful. “I’d hate to be the one to prove you wrong.”

  It was amazing, how he could go from frat boy to overcautious uncle.

  “You have to…” Anjali started, then petered out as Dell nestled Quinn into the right position and started to pace.

  “I got this,” he murmured, as much to himself as to Anjali.

  She dashed inside, grabbed a towel, and placed it over his shoulder. “Believe me, you’ll need it. I learned that the hard way.”

  He looked confused, but she insisted, having had too many dress suits soiled by Quinn. Of course, Dell wasn’t wearing a shirt, so there was nothing to ruin. But, hell. The less she looked at that wide, muscled expanse, the better chance she had of keeping her head in the right place. She wasn’t the baby’s mother, and she wasn’t in Maui to find a hot date. She was head of the North/Central Marketing Division at Gleason Associates, and she’d better remember that.

  She turned and tried to concentrate on her phone, muttering to herself. “Oh God. Oh God…” She turned this way and that, trying to catch a better signal.

  “Pain in the ass boss?” Dell asked.

  She shook her head. She was the boss, at least, of her department. But even so, missing the check-in she’d promised to make was not good. She paced down the porch and around the corner to the front, then stopped abruptly. An invisible rubber band pulled her back toward the baby — and Dell — for every step she took.

  She frowned. Why Dell? She barely knew the man.

  Sure would like to get to know him better, her girl parts giggled.

  She frowned and focused on her phone. Dozens of messages appeared the moment she turned it on, and she scrolled through them in dismay. Where to start?

  Just as she hit the number of her assistant, she caught sight of herself in the reflection of a window. She was still wearing the extra-long T-shirt she’d slept in, and her hair was a mess. A damn good thing her colleagues couldn’t see her now.

  She caught herself smiling. Dell hadn’t seemed to mind.

  Crystal, her assistant, answered in a rush. “Anjali? Where have you been?”

  Anjali stared at the Pacific. Saying Maui really wouldn’t do. “Like I said. I had to bring the baby to her relatives.”

  Her hunky relative, the vixen part of her mind added, setting off a whole stream of unexpected emotions. Emotions she’d kept locked away, because romance and career ambition were two mutually exclusive things.

  “Where do they live, Timbuktu?” Crystal demanded. “I hope they appreciate what you’ve done.”

  Anjali replayed the previous night. The others had all regarded Quinn as a problem, but Dell… She closed her eyes, remembering how he’d slid an arm across her shoulders when she felt close to collapse. The soft tone he’d spoken in. The bolstering smile, even when his eyes revealed his own uncertainty.

  Thank you. For taking care of Quinn. For finding me. For coming all this way. His words echoed in her mind, and she realized how closely they’d been sitting a few minutes ago. Hip to hip, in fact.

  Anjali frowned. At work, that would be unprofessional. And in her private life—

  You have no private life, she reminded herself with a sigh.

  Okay, so it had been a while since she’d made time for a date. Even back when she had, she hadn’t been the type to bump legs or hold hands on a first date. But with Dell…

  That wasn’t a date, she told herself. It’s just business. Soon, she’d be leaving Quinn in Dell’s care and flying away forever.

  Funny how the thought made her feel sick.

  “So, how soon can you get back?” Crystal went on.

  Anjali bit her lip. “Um…first flight I can get.”

  “Do you want me to book one for you?”

  “No,” she barked a little too quickly. “I mean, I’ll do it.”

  “Well, whatever you do, you should do it fast,” Crystal confided in a lower, hushed tone. “Richard is gunning for that new position, you know. Your future position as marketing director for the entire North American division.”

  Instinctively, Anjali finger-combed her hair into place. Back in Chicago, she’d been practicing for an interview for her dream job. But then Lourdes had come along, putting her life into a tailspin. Luckily, the interview process had been held up while the big boss was on a business trip, but as soon as he returned…

  “You know they’d rather hire you,” Crystal whispered. “But it’s not a sure thing. If you want that job—”

  Anjali held the phone in her tightest grip. Of course she wanted that job.

  “—you’d better get back here, quick.”

  Anjali wiped the sweat off her palms, fumbled in her work bag for a notepad, and started scribbling furiously as Crystal related a thousand details about several open accounts. God, there was so much she’d missed.

  The sea breeze shifted, sending the rich scent of exotic flowers her way. Around the corner, Quinn gurgled happily, and Dell laughed. The floorboards of the porch were smooth under her bare feet, and her hair moved in the wind. Her legs were bare but warm in the tropical breeze.

  Anjali closed her eyes, trying to block all that away. Then footsteps sounded, and she looked up to see one of the women she’d met the previous evening — Hailey — ascend the porch steps with a friendly smile and two mugs of steaming coffee. Somehow, Hailey seemed familiar, yet Anjali couldn’t figure out how.

  Did you sleep well? Hailey mouthed.

  Anjali didn’t actually say, I slept the best I have in years, but it must have shown, because Hailey smiled.

  “I’ll leave these with Dell.”

  The aroma of rich Kona coffee wafted by as Hailey passed, and a wisp of steam spiraled in the air before ghosting away on the clean, fresh breeze.

  “So, when are you coming back?” Crystal asked on the other end of the line.

  Anjali jerked around, eyeing the driveway that led up the hill to the
outside world. There was so much work waiting for her, and that job was everything she’d ever dreamed of. So why did she find it so hard to picture herself back at her desk?

  “Um…I’ll be there…” she whispered, looking in the direction of the guest room. “…just as soon as I can.”

  Chapter Six

  Dell paced across the porch, patting the baby on the back, wondering if he was doing it right. Quinn wasn’t burping — not the way he expected, at least, though she made little hiccupping sounds from time to time. Her tiny fingers brushed his shoulder and tugged on his hair, making him think of lion cubs playing with their father’s mane and ears. The thing was, the male lion in his mental image was a noble, alpha type, not a happy-go-lucky wanderer who had yet to make his family proud.

  And really, he’d never minded playing that role. He liked it, in fact. Living relaxed, feeling free. In fact, he’d taken a certain pride in rebelling against the strict expectations of lion shifters. All that crap about being dignified, serving others, and acting responsibly. Not every lion was cut from the same cloth.

  But here he was, contemplating those three things. Was he doing so for Quentin? For the baby? For his own, sorry soul? Or was he just trying to impress Anjali? Because there was something about her that made him want to show off. Not that she’d fall for that — she wasn’t the type. In fact, she wasn’t his type. She was too uptight. Too nice girl. Too straitlaced. And yet, every move she made, every word she uttered, fascinated him.

  I told you, his lion said. She’s our mate.

  He cleared his throat. Maybe she wasn’t his mate. Maybe he was just plain old attracted to her. That was possible, right?

  His lion scowled, giving him the silent treatment.

  Anyway, Anjali had nothing to do with why he felt compelled to take care of Quinn. Which left the question — why exactly was he dead set against the idea of giving up the baby for adoption to a good home?

  He patted Quinn on the back, cursing his brother while he paced back and forth. Technically, he wasn’t getting anywhere, but in his mind, he saw himself wandering down a long, winding road. One he never would have chosen to set off on, but it seemed he had no choice. There were a hell of a lot of hills and valleys ahead, and where the road ended, he had no clue.

  Destiny, his lion whispered.

  He made a face. Destiny was supposed to call on born heroes like Quentin. Not a guy like him.

  “She looks just like you,” he whispered as if his brother could hear. “And she drinks like a cub who’s last in a litter of four and used to not getting enough.”

  He grinned at that one. Little Quinn sure was something. She’d desperately sucked down three-quarters of the bottle before finally sighing a little and slowing down.

  She didn’t seem to be burping any more, so he sat back down on the couch and cradled her against his chest. He looked down while Quinn looked up, eyeing him with a suspicious expression that asked, Who gave you permission to be my helper today?

  Destiny, he wanted to say.

  Her yellow-brown eyes darted all over the place as if searching for a better option, and Dell swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. Was the baby looking for Anjali, or was she looking for her mom?

  “What you see is what you get, kiddo,” he whispered sadly.

  He cupped the baby’s cheek and stroked it as softly as he could. The bottle was warm in his hand, and the baby smelled all flowery and sweet. Staring into Quinn’s eyes was like staring into a mirror, or at least staring into a mirror from his memories, because those eyes were clearer and more innocent than his had become.

  Then he leaned forward and closed his eyes shut because, shit. A tear had slipped out of his eye. First one, and then another. Tears for his brother, who’d never get to hold this tiny miracle. Tears for the baby, who’d lost so much, so early.

  Footsteps sounded, moving softly across the porch, and Dell steeled himself to fake a smile and look up. But it was Joey, not Anjali or one of the others.

  “Heya, Joey,” Dell said in a scratchy voice.

  Joey hesitated before stepping closer. “Are you…crying?”

  Dell forced a smile as a second tear escaped. “Yeah, man. I guess I am.”

  The little redhead considered that one for a long time before asking, “Why?”

  Because my life is a mess and I’m not sure what to do wasn’t an appropriate answer, so Dell went with, “Because I’m sad, I guess.”

  Joey frowned. “Is the baby sick?”

  Dell’s heart seized. Oh God. Please. No.

  “No. This baby’s dad is my brother, and I miss him.”

  Joey settled in beside him on the couch and nodded earnestly. “I miss my dad.”

  There it was again — that flip of the stomach, the stab in the heart. Some days, life seemed so sunny and beautiful. Other times, it seemed so cruel.

  “But Mommy says to close my eyes and imagine Daddy, or to look up at the stars,” Joey added.

  Dell closed his eyes and pictured Quent. He was ready for an image that would make him even sadder, but what he found was Quent nodding in one of those rare times when Dell had gotten things right. Hmm. What was that all about?

  “What else does your mom say?” Dell whispered.

  Joey scrunched up his face, thinking hard. Then he shrugged. “Nothing. She just hugs me.”

  A second later, two thin arms closed around Dell’s neck in a tiny, kid-sized hug. Kid-sized, but lion-sized at the same time, because that kid had more courage than he knew.

  Dell patted Joey’s arm, fighting the sting in his eyes. “Thanks, buddy.”

  Joey pulled away. “Do you want to play?”

  Dell laughed. It was funny how a five-year-old could remind a man how to live.

  “I’d love to, man. But maybe no X-wing flights today.”

  They ended up taking Quinn to the sandbox and playing construction there. Well, Joey played construction. Dell sat on the edge of the box with Quinn, making suggestions and handing over dinosaur figures — because dinosaurs loved construction, as he told Joey. Quinn, meanwhile, was transfixed. Anjali was still up on the porch, making a million calls that sounded really urgent for reasons he couldn’t comprehend. It was nice listening to her, though. Hearing the cadence of her voice, watching her twirl her long hair. And every time she paced closer, he caught a whiff of her enticing scent — part incense, part jasmine, with just a hint of marigold.

  Then he caught himself and snorted. Babies might feel soothed by knowing their special person was nearby, but he shouldn’t be.

  Anjali is special, his lion growled.

  He swung his jaw from side to side and tossed Joey another dinosaur. “Watch out. Low-flying pterosaur.”

  Joey picked up the toy, making it swoop over the sand mounds he’d built. “It’s a dragon.”

  Dell shot a glance in Anjali’s direction. She seemed too busy to hear, and if she had, so what? Kids could play dragon, right?

  Cynthia came out at one point and watched him and Joey, wearing one of her most inscrutable looks.

  That’s very noble. But think it through…

  Dell avoided her gaze. He was thinking things through, damn it. But somehow, he kept concluding he could manage the baby on his own.

  Cynthia pursed her lips. Had she caught a hint of his thoughts? Dell doubted it, but he shot her a firm look all the same. Cynthia might be co-alpha of his pride, but damn it, this decision was his and his alone.

  Cynthia cleared her throat and disappeared inside, but somehow, that didn’t help. And it really didn’t help when Connor trundled along. Cynthia called Joey into the house for breakfast, which left just Dell, Quinn, and Connor, who stared at him for a long time.

  “What, already?” Dell demanded when the silence became unbearable.

  Connor rolled his head from side to side. “I’ve been thinking about what Cynthia said last night.”

  “The part about investigating Lourdes?” he said without bothering to hide his sma
rt-alek tone.

  Connor scowled. “The part about finding the baby a home. A good home with shifters who can take care of her properly.”

  All Connor’s emphasis was on good and properly, and Dell bristled.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of doing what my brother would do for me. Now quit making her nervous.”

  Connor made a face, but he did lean back from an increasingly fussy Quinn. “Look, I know you’re trying to do the right thing…”

  Dell stared, making Connor say the rest. Knowing it would be something like, But you’re going to fail, and fail big.

  Connor cleared his throat. “My first instinct was the same — that we owe it to Quent to take care of this baby. But the more I think about it, the more I think Cynthia is right.”

  Dell scowled. “What happened to ‘You might be surprised what Dell can pull off’?”

  “I meant it. But still. Taking care of a baby — really taking care of her, like a real dad — that’s going to be hard. Really hard.”

  “No kidding,” Dell growled. Then he motioned to Quinn. “Look. I’m trying. What else do you want?”

  “What if trying isn’t good enough? I thought about it all last night and couldn’t figure out how I would manage a baby right now, not even with Jenna’s help. How are you going to do it on your own?”

  “I’m already taking care of her. I gave her a bottle and everything.”

  Connor snorted. “There’s a difference between babysitting and parenting.” Then he sighed and softened a little. “Look, you’re great with Joey. But entertaining a kid for an hour or two isn’t the same as raising a baby.”

  “So, give me time,” Dell insisted. “I’ll learn.”

  Connor studied him closely. “I know you want to. Hell, I want you to. But you know that goofy saying — if you really love something, you set it free? That applies here too. If we really want the best for Quinn, maybe we’d better admit we’re not her best option.” His voice was scratchy as he spoke, and he had to pause for a moment. “It kills me even to say that. But it would be better for Quinn.” A long, silent moment stretched out before he leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Cynthia has already contacted some people.”