That spark of emotion gave him hope. At least she wasn’t indifferent to him. “Good. I don’t expect you to.” Every instinct in his body told him to stay. His tiger pleaded him not to leave their mate. We have to go, he told it. But it won’t be forever.
The things he had said to her to push her away had been cruel, even if he didn’t mean it. And he knew he had to make it up to her, somehow. He would face every punishment she meted out, anything she did or said, he would accept like a lash on his back. Because he deserved it. So, despite his tiger’s protests, he turned and walked out of the room.
As he made his way back to the waiting area, something caught his eye—in the room opposite of Darcey’s. The door was open just a crack, but it was enough for him to see inside. He crept closer, pushing the door open.
There was a woman sleeping on the bed, and some kind of machine hooked up to her. But that wasn’t what caught his attention No, it was the large, hulking man in the chair next to her, head hidden by a curtain of dark hair, his humungous hand covering hers. Krieger didn’t move or make a sound except for the steady rising and falling of his chest as he slept. Huh. Something clicked in Anders’s brain.
To be a better man.
He understood the other man’s words now. He wanted to be a better man. For her.
As he finished a silent prayer to whatever god could hear him, Anders could only hope he could be better too. For Darcey and their baby.
Chapter Sixteen
Darcey stared after him, still reeling from shock. She didn’t know how long she stood there, slack-jawed, her eyes fixed on the door. It must have been a long time, because it felt like she didn’t move, not until Sarah came in.
“Darce?” Her sister cocked her head as she approached. “Are you okay?”
“I … yeah.”
“What did he say?”
She shrugged. “Can we go now?”
“Sure, Darce.”
They left the room and headed straight to the exit. Daniel was already there, waiting by the car. As he opened the door of his truck for her, he gave her a sad, sympathetic smile.
The ride home was silent, and soon they reached the house. They were barely inside when Adam came rolling out of the kitchen. The look on his face—a mix of shock, relief, and joy—broke Darcey’s heart, and she opened her arms to him. Sarah said they told him everything that happened, except the pregnancy part. He had insisted on coming to the hospital, but Daniel assured him multiple times that Darcey was all right, but the doctor wanted to keep her overnight just in case.
“You’re okay,” he whispered as she hugged him, his face pressed into her side.
“Yeah, I’m tougher than I look.” She ruffled his hair. “That’s the advantage of having a sister who’s a shifter.” Hopefully that would reassure him. He must have been worried out of his mind—first, Sarah and Daniel had been attacked by an anti-shifter group last summer, and now Darcey was the one whose life had been threatened.
“I made breakfast,” he said with a sniff. “I figured you’d be hungry.”
“Breakfast sounds awesome.” Though to be honest, her stomach felt queasy, but she would try to eat what she could. “Let’s eat and we can talk.”
After the events of the summer with Sarah and Daniel’s accidental marriage, they had all vowed to be honest with each other and not keep things from Adam since he was nearly an adult. So, as they ate the pancakes and bacon Adam made, she told them about her real parents, Cassius, and what happened the previous night.
Daniel’s jaw hardened. “I’ll call P.D. and get an update on that guy. Last I heard, they brought him to the hospital and he’s alive, but we’ll make sure to put him away for good for what he did to you and your mother.”
“Hold on.” Adam put his fork and knife down. “If your bio dad is from a bevy in Perth and the brother of the Alpha, then that means he could still be alive, right? And that you have other family?”
With all the events of yesterday and this morning, she hadn’t even thought of that. “Maybe. If he didn’t die when they were separated, like my mother.”
“At least we could find the rest of your bevy,” Adam said. “And connect you with them.”
Sarah reached over and covered her hand with hers. “Darcey, if it’s true … I’m so happy for you.”
“I …” She didn’t know how to react to that. All her life, she thought she was the only one of her kind. To think that there may be others … and they could be her relatives … “Sarah, I told you—”
“I know, Darce. We’ll always be family. But if you have a chance to get to know that part of your background and your shifter side, you should take it.”
“Yeah,” Adam agreed wholeheartedly. “I’ll do the research. I’m sure it won’t be hard to find a Jack Kelly who’s a black swan shifter from Australia. Maybe you could go and visit them when we find out.”
The idea both scared and excited her, and her swan let out a joyous trill. Of course, traveling may have to wait. Which reminded her of her other news. “There’s something else you should know, Adam.” As she looked at Daniel and Sarah, they both gave her encouraging smiles. “You’re going to be an uncle.”
He blinked. “A what now?”
“I’m having a baby,” she said.
“Oh.” He chewed on a piece of bacon thoughtfully, then swallowed. “Is it Anders’s?”
Three pairs of eyes zeroed in on him. “H-how did you know?” Darcey asked.
Adam rolled his eyes. “Please. You think I haven’t seen him the backyard sneaking into your room?”
Darcey felt her face flush, and she shot an apologetic look to Daniel.
“So, you guys are mates? Are you going to get married, too?” Adam scratched his chin. “Is he moving in?”
Daniel choked on his orange juice. “Er …”
“No, Adam,” she said. “It’s not working out.”
“What?” His lips pursed together. “But he’s the father of your baby. Does he not want it? Why would he just leave you—”
“It’s complicated.”
“What’s complicated?” He nodded at Sarah and Daniel. “They’re mates, and they’re together. It’s supposed to be easy for you shifters, right? You just know? Doesn’t he want you?”
A heavy weight pressed against her chest. “I wish I knew what to tell you, Adam.” She fought the tears welling in her eyes. She didn’t know what to believe. The shock of nearly losing her baby had turned her inside-out. And then there were Anders’s hurtful words from the day before. There’s no place for you in my life.
He didn’t know she was pregnant before he told her all those things. And he was right: He’d always been honest with her about what he wanted and didn’t want. She was the one who invited him into her bed even though he said he didn’t do the mate thing. How could she be sure he wanted to stay with her because of her, and not just the baby or the shock of nearly losing it? Despite his confession of love, it was hard for her to believe him. What if he hurt her again? Frankly, her heart wouldn’t be able to survive it.
The doorbell ringing knocked her out of her reverie.
“I’ll get it,” Daniel said, getting up from his chair.
“You do what’s best for you, Darce,” Sarah said. “You and the baby. You know you’ll always have a place here.”
Adam huffed. “If he doesn’t want you, then … then he can go eat a dick!”
“Adam!” Sarah admonished.
“C’mon, Sarah, you’ve thought worse about him, I bet,” Adam shot back.
Daniel walked into the kitchen and looked at Darcey. “You might want to come see this.”
“See what?” But her brother-in-law was already gone.
Puzzled, she got up from her chair and followed Daniel out into the hallway and to the front door. He cocked his head outside.
She gasped as she peeked out. The front lawn was filled with flowers of all kinds—roses, peonies, sunflowers, daisies, gardenias—strewn about in various arran
gements.
“I gotta say, when he wants to catch your attention, he really goes all out,” Daniel said.
Her swan flittered inside her enthusiastically, but she squashed it down. “They’re just flowers,” she said.
“Yeah, and Kilimanjaro is just a mountain,” Adam said, as he rolled up next to her. “I think this means he does want you.”
“He wants the baby,” she pointed out. Not me.
“Aww, Darce, can’t you give him a chance?” her brother asked.
“You’re on his side?” That came out harsher than she intended. “Sorry.”
“He’s a good guy,” Adam said. “You know that, with all the work he does at the community center and those kids. He’ll be a great dad.”
“Kids?” Daniel asked.
“Community center?” Sarah said at the same time.
“Yeah.” Adam explained to them about meeting Anders and his work with the kids at the community center.
“I’ll be damned.” Daniel scratched his head.
“Are you sure that was Anders, and not his twin?” Sarah asked.
“I’m sure. Say what you want about him, but he’s one of the good ones out there,” Adam insisted.
Darcey sighed. Adam had only seen that side of Anders, of course. He didn’t know the rest.
“Can we finish breakfast now?” the teen asked.
“All right,” Sarah said. “Darce?”
“You go ahead,” she said, waving them away. “I just need a moment.”
As the three of them went back to the kitchen, she remained at the door, staring at the sea of flowers. They must have cost a fortune, especially in this season. With a sigh, she hopped down the stoop and bent down to pick up a vase of roses.
“Darcey.”
A tingle ran up her spine, and her swan lifted its head, whistling enthusiastically. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stood up straight.
Anders stood at the edge of the front lawn, staring up at her. He’d showered and changed, though the stubble he had grown remained. Golden eyes bore right into her, and she tensed.
“You didn’t have to do this,” she said.
“I know. But I wanted to.”
She picked up another arrangement—a basket full of daisies. “You can’t send me a whole florist shop to get what you want.”
“Tell me what I have to do then.” His tone was deadly serious.
She stared at him and swallowed a gulp. The look in his eyes made her stomach flip, and her swan flapped its wings at her, urging her to go to him. But she ignored her animal. “I don’t know, Anders. I just … I need time. And space.”
He let out a breath. “All right.” Turning on his heel, he walked back to his truck. He slipped into the driver’s side, but he didn’t start the engine or pull away. No, he sat there, and even from across the street, his golden gaze pinned her to the spot.
Pressing her lips tight, she forced herself to turn around and walk back into the house. I can’t do this again. It was one thing for her to have her heart broken, but now she had to think of her baby. Her hand crept down to her stomach. From now on, she would have to think of not just herself, but the life growing inside her.
More deliveries came after the flowers later that day. Other gifts came too, like stuffed toy animals—including a life-sized tiger that she couldn’t deny made her smile—chocolates, cakes, and even a whole four-course meal that was enough to feed ten people.
The entire time, Anders was outside, sitting patiently in his truck. He didn’t approach her when she came out to receive the deliveries, but she could feel those golden honey eyes on her. Her swan pined hopelessly, but she ignored it, adding each gift to the over-flowing pile in the living room.
The next day, she insisted on going to work with Sarah, and sure enough, more flowers showed up outside the shop. At lunchtime, a delivery from Shin Nihon came, and in the afternoon, pastries and coffee from the cafe. When she got home after closing up, Adam was already digging into the boxes of takeout scattered across the kitchen table.
“General Tso’s?” he offered cheekily. “It’s your favorite.”
With a grumble, she sat next to him and grabbed a box. She was starving, after all. But this doesn’t mean anything, she told herself, even as the delicious spicy-citrusy flavor of the chicken appeased her hungry stomach.
“Aren’t you going to at least talk to him?” Adam asked.
She shoved more chicken and rice into her mouth to avoid the question. It was hard to believe that Anders had somehow swayed her brother onto his side.
By the end of the week, Darcey was running out of space for all the gifts and flowers, as well as patience. “This is getting ridiculous. This has got to stop,” she said as she deposited the bouquet of orchids on top of the counter next to the register.
“He sure is persistent,” Sarah said. “I have to give him that at least.”
“Hmph.” Clamping her lips shut, Darcey turned back to checking the invoices against their POS system.
Later that evening, as she was closing up the office, she heard the door open. No, not another delivery, she groaned silently. “We’re closed,” she called out. “You can—” But it wasn’t a delivery from Anders. It was Anders himself.
“Hi, Darcey.”
Dressed in a shirt, tie, and suit, she almost didn’t recognize him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to take you out to dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes. On a date.”
She blinked. They’d never been on an actual date before, since he didn’t consider the first time at Shin Nihon to be a date.
“On a real date,” he added, as if reading her mind. “Will you come to dinner with me?”
“You can’t keep doing this,” she said. “You need to stop with the gifts and deliveries.”
“I will. If you go out to dinner with me.”
“I—” She rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “All right.”
His face lit up. “Really?”
“Let’s go before I change my mind.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
They ended up at the French restaurant a few blocks down. The food was good, and the atmosphere was romantic. Well, almost. It would have seemed like a romantic date, except that Anders barely said a word. He sat across her, looking at her somberly, like he was afraid to say anything that might upset her. So, he remained quiet, only asking her if she liked the food or if she needed more salt.
“Thanks for the meal,” she said, as he paid for their check.
“You’re welcome.”
There was something not quite right, and she didn’t know what it was. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. He walked her to her car and said goodnight, then hopped into his own car. Of course, as she drove back, she saw him right behind her, following her all the way home. When she pulled into the driveway, he remained parked outside, not leaving until she was safely indoors.
The next day, there was still that niggling feeling. She opened the boutique since Sarah wanted to go to her usual Saturday morning yoga class. To her surprise, her sister didn’t come back afterwards alone. J.D. and Anna Victoria joined her.
“Hey, ladies,” she greeted. “It’s been a while.”
J.D. immediately enveloped her in a hug. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner. Work’s been hell.” Darcey had given Sarah permission to tell them everything that had happened.
“I’m sorry too,” Anna Victoria added, chewing her lip. “Been working on a couple things.”
“We just came back from visiting Dutchy,” J.D. said.
“Oh my God, how is she?” Sarah had relayed to Darcey about the young woman Cassius’s driver had run over. While it had made it easier for Anders and Krieger to catch up to them, Darcey felt awful that the young woman had been hurt in the process.
“She’s improving everyday,” J.D. said somberly.
“But she’s a shifter, right?” Darcey asked. “I know getting hit by a car is worse than what I went through, but I healed up right away. What could be the matter?”
J.D. shrugged. “We don’t know. The doctors don’t have an explanation as to why she’s not healing as fast as she should be, either.”
“What about Krieger?” Sarah asked.
J.D. and Anna Victoria looked at each other, and the mechanic spoke up first. “He’s … hanging around her.”
“Do you know what happened there? With them?”
J.D. shook her head. “Not at all. No one knows.”
“I think Damon knows, but he won’t break Krieger’s confidence,” Anna Victoria added.
“But how are you feeling?” J.D. asked, glancing down at her stomach. “And …”
“It’s fine. We’re fine,” she said with a smile, her hand going around her stomach protectively. “Dr. Parrish said it was a good thing I’m a shifter and heal quick. If I had been human, the impact of the car crash could have …” She choked, suddenly realizing how close she had been to losing her baby.
“Shh … it’s okay.” Sarah put an arm around her.
“Say, are you guys opening a flower shop?” J.D. asked, glancing at all the bouquets and vases around the boutique.
Sarah rolled her eyes. “They’re from Anders.”
“All of them? You’re shitting me.” J.D.’s gaze narrowed at Darcey. “Is he doing the grand gesture thing?”
“Grand gesture thing?” Anna Victoria’s brows furrowed.
“You know.” The mechanic let out an exasperated sigh. “Like in the movies, when the guy has to prove his love to the girl by doing all these grand gestures. What else has he done?”
“We went out to dinner last night,” Darcey confessed.
“Really?” Sarah looked at her incredulously.
“Yeah.” She relayed to them what happened, including that weird feeling she had that there was something off with him.
“You know,” Sarah began. “Daniel told me Anders is getting quite the ribbing at work.”
She didn’t want to ask, but she couldn’t help it. “Why?”
Sarah snorted. “It turns out all that bad boy, man-whore act was just that—an act.” She relayed the story of how Anders would “take home” women, but was really protecting them. “He never slept with any of them, according to Damon, who confirmed it from a reliable source.”
Blackstone Ranger Rogue: Blackstone Rangers Book 4 Page 17
