by Melissa Haag
“We would like to go upstairs,” he said quietly, reaching for his brother’s hand.
They were asking for permission to be excused. At their ages?
“Of course,” Winifred said. “Go see your new clothes.”
They went racing inside.
“Don’t worry,” Winifred said when she caught me looking after the boys. “We’ll do what we can to bring them around.”
“But will it be enough?”
Unable to just stand around and wait, I went to the garage and pulled out the push mower that Jim hadn’t destroyed. Jim had managed at least half the lawn with the riding mower before it broke, or he broke it. Either way, the rest needed cutting. After checking the oil and gas, I fired up the push mower.
Conveniently, Jim came out on the porch after I was already cutting a swath. I hated the noise within minutes and couldn’t blame Jim for taking the other one apart. Not only did it make it hard to hear much of anything beyond the drone of the motor, but it was hot work. I paused to take my shirt off and tucked it into the back of my pants.
A minute later, I heard Winifred call out that she was on the porch.
I glanced up just as Michelle stepped out. She was still wearing her old clothes. She caught me looking at her and quickly turned to Winifred.
“I wanted to thank you for the clothes, Nana,” she said, handing Winifred money. “And I was wondering if I could borrow a towel and shampoo for a shower.”
Tell her to keep her money, I sent Winifred.
Winifred looked at the bills.
I have more tact than that, she said silently to me before saying, “This is more than what I spent on the clothes.”
“It’s okay. I really appreciate what you did for us. It saved me from having to—it would have been boring for Liam and Aden, and I didn’t want to leave them alone.”
Winifred nodded as if in understanding.
“How about we send Jim to the store to buy some picnic food? Then, we can go to the lake tomorrow like he suggested. It’s a public lake but remote enough that not many people go there.”
Michelle stared at the porch floor for a moment then nodded. Winifred handed Jim one of the bills.
“I’ll be right back,” he said with a mischievous laugh.
Michelle glanced at me, and I focused on cutting the lawn.
Winifred’s warning tone as she said Jim’s name had me looking up just as he swung a leg over my motorcycle and inserted the key. I let go of the mower, killing the engine just as the bike’s engine roared to life.
“Damn it, Jim. Get your own bike.”
Jim laughed loudly and revved the bike to drown out my words. With a salute to Michelle, he took off.
“Nana,” I said in frustration. “You couldn’t stop him?”
Just then, Jim revved the engine again out by the road and squealed a tire on the blacktop. The sound faded rapidly.
Nana glanced at Michelle with a small smile.
“Jim was lonely without Emmitt.”
I heard her quiet words as I went back to the mower.
“Missed me or missed my bike?” I said under my breath, knowing Winifred would hear.
“I can tell,” Michelle said absently.
I rubbed my hand through my hair in frustration.
“Did Emmitt miss Jim, though?”
“Not even a little,” I said.
Winifred laughed. “Let’s get you that towel, Michelle.”
* * * *
After I finished the backyard, I moved to the front. Jim still hadn’t returned when I heard Michelle and the boys come outside. It was probably good he was taking his time. I’d cooled off some. He was just trying to stir up trouble and redirect attention like he usually did when there were problems.
The motorcycle roared into the yard not long after that thought.
“I’ve got some cool stuff for tomorrow,” I heard him say loudly.
I stopped the mower, curious about what Jim had found and considered cool. Rounding the corner of the house, I saw Winifred and the boys look down into a plastic bag Liam held.
“James Grayson Cole,” Winifred said. There was a definite warning growl in her words. “That wasn’t your money.”
I saw the immediate effect her tone and words had on the kids and Michelle. Withdrawal. Fear.
“I got what we needed, Nana.” Jim met her eyes steadily, silently challenging Winifred.
The big idiot was going to get his butt handed to him in front of the kids. What was he thinking? I stepped forward, drawing Michelle’s attention. She looked relieved to see me, and I heard her heart skip a beat.
I winked at her, trying to break the tension, and she blushed. What a sight. I almost forgot what I was doing.
When I neared, I glanced at the contents of the bag and saw what had caused all the trouble. Fireworks and sparklers.
“Let’s save this conversation for another time,” I said softly, setting a hand on Winnifred’s shoulder.
The kids look ready to pass out. You’re destroying your grandma image.
Though Winifred nodded, her eyes promised Jim she wouldn’t forget what he’d done. We were raised to pinch pennies and give back to the pack to help everyone. We didn’t waste money on fireworks.
Still, I smiled at Liam.
“Do you think we should light some of these tonight?”
Liam’s eyes darted to Michelle, then between Jim and Nana.
“I think we should go inside,” Michelle said, holding her hands out to the boys. Liam dropped his bag, and Aden immediately did the same. They went to Michelle and quietly walked inside with her.
“New rule,” I said softly. “Never show anger around them.” I turned to Winifred. “I can still taste their fear.”
“You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“Jim, stop making it so easy to get mad at you.” I walked away without waiting for his smart response. After I finished mowing, I found the third floor door firmly closed and everything quiet.
“Have they been down for dinner?” I asked Jim, walking into the apartment.
“No. They’re barely moving up there.”
I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, considering what I should do. Twisting off the top, I heard Winifred open her door. She joined us in the kitchen and grabbed a beer for herself.
“I don’t think we should push them right now. If they get hungry enough, they know we’ll feed them. I think they just need to feel safe for a while.” She took a drink, her gaze pinning Jim. “Jim, you need to be on your best behavior tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I didn’t believe him and from the look Winifred gave, neither did she.
Chapter 5
The quiet from the third floor drove me crazy. I paced Jim’s apartment until Winifred opened her door and told me to go for a run. It helped, but not much. When I returned, I lay on the couch for hours, just listening. I didn’t crash until near dawn.
Jim woke me with an overly enthusiastic pat on the back.
“Guess what day it is?” he asked with his usual humor.
“Sleep in day,” I said, reaching out to shove him away.
“Bro, it’s swimsuit day. How can you want to sleep in?”
The image of Michelle’s suit popped into my head, waking me instantly. I sat up and rubbed a hand over my face.
“What time is it?”
“A little after eight. I heard the boys moving around up there and figured I’d start pancakes.”
The thought of that sweet aroma I now associated with Michelle’s interest set my pulse racing.
“Yeah. Good. I’ll shower then invite them down.”
I lifted myself off the couch, my lingering exhaustion fading at the thought of seeing Michelle. The shower didn’t take long, and by the time I went to the stairs, I heard her and the boys slowly coming down the steps. Were they worried Winifred was still upset with Jim? If I knew it would reassure them, I’d tell them Jim tended t
o annoy Winifred often. I didn’t think it would help, though.
When they rounded the corner of the second landing, I saw Michelle. Though the boys were wearing their swim trunks and ready for the day, she was not. Still in her pajamas, she shuffled down each step with care. The stiff way she held her head and her pale cheeks had me worrying. Liam held her hand tightly as if guiding her. Her other hand gripped the railing. Aden impatiently trailed behind the pair. When he saw me, he brightened a little.
As soon as Michelle reached the last step, I moved forward and lightly touched her forehead. Werewolves never caught human colds. But I’d been around enough humans to see the signs of sickness. She looked pale, tired, and in pain. However, she didn’t have a fever.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” I said gently.
“Nothing. Just a headache,” she said, holding the railing and Liam’s hand.
Aden moved around them and hopped off the last step.
“I’m hungry,” he said tentatively, looking up at me.
“I bet,” I said, setting a hand lightly on the top of his head. “You skipped your supper. Would you like some pancakes?”
Aden nodded and reached for my hand. The feel of his little fingers wrapped around two of mine calmed some of my worry. Everything was fine. Michelle was with me, and I’d take care of her. I looked up and gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile as Aden steered us toward Jim’s apartment.
“Would you like some aspirin or something?”
She carefully shook her head and followed us inside. As she and the boys settled onto the stools, I scented her discomfort. She really wasn’t feeling well.
Nudging Jim aside, I started to make cartoon pancakes for the kids, something Uncle Grey had done for us while we’d lived at the Compound.
The final product brought a smile to both boys’ faces but only because it was a sad failure.
“Well, that didn’t work so well,” I said, sliding the plate toward Liam. “Try a bite and let me know if it tastes better than it looks. I’ll start another one for your brother and sister.”
While I started the next pancake, Michelle scooted Aden onto the stool and quietly left the apartment.
Both Liam and I watched her leave. He turned and caught my eye.
“Her head really hurts sometimes.”
“I’ll see if I can help her. Jim, think you can take over?”
“Finally,” Jim said. “Aden, let me show you how to make that pancake the right way. Emmitt didn’t use enough batter.”
Leaving Jim in charge, I followed Michelle out to the porch. She leaned against a column and rubbed her temple. The pain she felt radiated from her. She needed to take something.
Winifred’s phone rang and Michelle flinched. Unable to stand by while she suffered, I moved beside her.
“Liam said your head really hurts. Are you sure I can’t get you something?”
“No, I’m fine.”
She didn’t sound fine. She sounded miserable.
Then the way she held herself changed. She went from stiff misery to swift attention. She turned her head slightly toward Winifred’s window.
Winifred was talking to Sam, another Elder. From the sound of it, Sam was trying to get her to help him with stock investments. I doubted that was the real reason for his call. For as long as I could remember, Sam had always found some excuse to call and speak with Winifred. It was always legitimate pack business, but Sam never spoke to Grey that much. If it weren’t for the fact that they were both Elders and were forbidden from Mating, I would have sworn Sam was sweet on Winifred.
Though their interactions sometimes made me curious, it wasn’t with the same light I now saw in Michelle’s eyes.
I moved down to the step in front of her in an effort to reclaim her attention.
“If not aspirin, maybe Nana has something that could help.”
Michelle shushed me. This time, she turned toward Nana’s window, fully listening.
I inhaled, scenting Michelle’s growing excitement as Winifred rattled off some stock nonsense then said, “Just pick?”
“Pick the first one,” Michelle said rather loudly for someone with a headache. “Ride for a one-point-six increase then drop it.”
She breathed deeply, and I watched in amazement as her color improved. The slight bend in her stance disappeared with that same breath. It was as if I’d just witnessed her headache vanish.
Winifred didn’t miss a beat. As soon as Michelle said her recommendation, Winifred repeated it to Sam.
Michelle caught me studying her and blushed slightly before looking away. It didn’t take a body language expert to interpret that. Whatever had just occurred was a closed subject.
“We were still thinking of going to the lake after breakfast,” I said, as if what just had happened didn’t matter. Because it didn’t. Michelle seemed better, and that was all I cared about at the moment.
“Nana already went for groceries this morning. Will you come to the lake with us?”
She nodded, and I grinned.
“You might want to change.”
She looked down at her pajamas and wrinkled her nose. When she met my gaze again, her blush deepened.
“I’ll just go get ready,” she said.
I watched her dash up the stairs, then went to tell Liam and Aden that their sister was feeling better and had gone to get ready for the lake. Their excitement was palpable, and Jim and I grinned at each other while we ate the remaining pancakes.
As soon as they finished, the boys ran upstairs to help their sister. Without any witnesses, Winifred packed the car in record werewolf time then came in to help me with the dishes. Jim quietly sat at the island, eating the scraps and avoiding work.
“You should take the bike, Emmitt. Might be the only time she touches you,” he said when we were almost done.
“Best behavior, Jim,” Winifred warned.
Jim laughed and went to get his trunks on while I continued drying and putting away dishes and considered what he’d said. Michelle was complex. She didn’t trust us—didn’t trust me—and was running from a man, or several men, who made her very afraid; after what I just witnessed on the porch, she was maybe hiding something else, too. Yeah...complex was an understatement. As her Mate, I needed her to trust that I could protect her. But she didn’t know I was her Mate, and I couldn’t tell her that until she trusted me. Yet, would gaining her trust before exposing my secret possibly risk destroying her new trust in me?
“You’re too deep in thought,” Winifred said. “Go get ready. I’ll finish up here.”
I let her take the cup and towel then leaned against the counter.
“Will telling her chase her away?”
“Who’s to say? Your mom stuck around. Michelle’s only been here two days, Emmitt. And, we got off to a rocky start. Don’t rush this. Trust the pull.”
I nodded slowly, then went to change into my swimsuit.
When Michelle and the boys came down the stairs, we had the car seats in the car, but I was still debating whether to take the bike or the truck. The truck would probably make her more comfortable, but the idea of her on the back of my bike heated my blood.
As soon as Michelle walked out the door, Jim opened his big mouth.
“Emmitt, take the bike. That truck’s too much of a gas hog.”
Michelle glanced at the truck, then the bike, and finally the car. I could see she didn’t understand what Jim was really suggesting.
Winifred threw her two cents in.
“It would be safest if the kids rode in the car. That leaves the front seat open for someone while the other two follow on the motorcycle.”
Michelle’s gaze flew to me, and when her mouth opened in a slight “O,” I knew she understood. I waited while she thought it over.
“Do I need to go change, again?” she finally asked.
I eyed her shorts, t-shirt, and sandals.
“No. You’ll be completely safe.” With me. Always.
She l
ooked doubtful but didn’t say no. After helping the boys into their seats, she came to me. Watching her cross the driveway with purpose in her eyes made my heart skip a beat. God, I wanted this woman. I wanted her in my life, at my side. Forever.
I had to look away and get on the bike first before she caught me watching.
“How do I get on?” she asked when she reached my side.
“Put your left foot here and swing your leg over the seat.”
To my disappointment, she mounted without touching me and settled onto the seat with a soft bounce. She apologized and shifted her weight as Winifred started her car and pulled down the driveway. When Michelle still didn’t touch me, I glanced back.
She had a death grip on the bar behind her.
“Are you sure you can hold on like that?”
She nodded without looking at me. The blush she wore had me inhaling the rich scent of syrup-soaked pancakes. I loved knowing what that smell meant. She was feeling the pull. And based on her averted gaze and grip on the bar, she was trying her best to ignore it.
I hesitated a moment, trying to think of something to say to get her to hold me instead of the stupid bar. Winifred’s words had me closing my mouth. I wouldn’t rush Michelle. I’d give her some time.
I put on my sunglasses and handed a pair back to Michelle. I was confident she wouldn’t need a helmet or other gear. My reflexes were too quick for anything to happen to her even if I somehow managed to dump the bike. But the glasses would help with the wind, which I couldn’t do a thing about.
She kept her center of balance as I pulled down the driveway and followed Winifred onto the main road. My hope that she’d change her mind and hold onto me withered after she tucked her hair into her shirt at the first stop sign.
Frustration had me taking off again a little faster than I should have. Her gasp and laugh, though, let me know it was all right, and I opened up the throttle.
When we caught up with the car, Jim stuck his hand out the window to show me the digital camera. I passed Winifred and let him take a picture. I really wanted to know how Michelle looked behind me.
A few minutes later, I turned onto the graveled lake entrance. The county kept the place nice even though not many people came to use the beach. When we reached the parking lot, I didn’t miss Michelle’s quiet “wow” or the excited exclamations from the boys in Winifred’s car as we parked.
