by T. S. Joyce
“W-what?”
“Let me see the texts.”
She stood up straighter and lifted her chin. “That’s an invasion of my privacy.”
Burke pulled his phone out of his back pocket and unlocked it, opened a text thread with Leslie and Kieran, and set it on the counter in front of her. “Outside of my clients and a few guys we play poker with, these are the people I talk to.” He gestured to the phone. “You can read it. I think you’ll like what we said today.”
She glanced at the phone and then back at him. “You would let me just read your messages and look at your phone?”
Burke shrugged and ate another deviled egg. Around the bite, he said, “Doesn’t bother me at all. If you have questions about anything you see in there, you can ask me about it.”
She eased his phone up in front of her and read the message from Leslie out loud. “Leslie said, ‘I’m happy you’re taking Kimberly to the party tonight. It will be way more fun for her. Black sheep partyyyyyy.’”
Kimberly’s face relaxed into a laugh. “I’m not a black sheep.”
“The hell you aren’t. Don’t be convincing yourself you’re the perfect Wilson. That’ll turn me right off, and I have a pretty good boner going right now.” He wasn’t lying. She looked smokin’ hot, and his dick was throbbing to be inside her. “There’s nothing wrong with being a black sheep. Leslie just paid you a compliment, and by next year, you’ll be able to understand that compliment. I’m calling it.”
“Mmm,” she said nonchalantly. “Kieran said, ‘I’m happy for you, man.’ And then you said, ‘Mind your business fuck-face,’ with two middle finger emojis. And then a minute later you said, ‘Thanks bro. I think she’s pretty cool.’” Kimberly gasped and looked up. “You think I’m cool?” Her voice was all high-pitched and squeaky and cute right now. She looked at the text thread again and read quietly, scrolling through the messages, the smile on her face the prettiest thing about her right now. He wished he could take a picture of it.
When she was finished reading, she looked pleased as punch, and her cheeks were all pink. “You all said really nice stuff about me.”
“Yep. And no, I didn’t plan on showing you that. We just talked about you like that because you really are pretty cool.”
She shifted her weight from side to side and fidgeted with her phone. “The texts with my family weren’t as nice as that.”
“You don’t have to show me if you don’t want to.”
She hung her head and puffed air out her cheeks, then handed him her phone with the text thread pulled up.
He scrolled to the part where her mom had ordered her to wear a white dress and posted a list of eligible bachelor’s names. He steadied the roaring in his ears and sat at the two-seater table. When he read the part where Kimberly had popped off about wearing the red dress because he liked it, the roaring died down a bit and his animal settled. She’d mentioned him.
The fallout that followed had his heart in his throat. Her mother spewed advice against having anything to do with Burke.
…one lion shifter in this family is too much…
…Leslie is completely different now…
…he’s not welcome at our party…
…he will scare away all the good matches for you…
…don’t appreciate your rebellious nature today, Kimberly…
…have enough stress on me…
…you were the one who chose divorce…
…least you can do is choose a better partner next time…
…not some ruffian shifter who is clearly after your money…
…I looked into him. He cuts firewood for a living. FIREWOOD. And he lives in the woods like a mountain man…
That’s when Kimberly had apparently turned her phone back on and read those delightful messages because she had gone off. Some ruffian shifter? Brayden was the one who chose divorce, not me, and he’s human as fuck. A man is a man is a man, and I AM TRYING TO CHOOSE BETTER. I’m sick and tired of being unhappy and Burke makes me laugh. Of all days, tonight will be hard enough watching your precious Brayden flouncing around with his new lady while you parade me around like meat on a stick for rich men to say yay or nay to, so cut me some freaking slack. And Burke’s after my money? Seriously? He OWNS his firewood business, while I have seventy-two dollars and fourteen cents to my name right now, Mom, AND THAT’S BECAUSE I JUST GOT PAID TODAY. Calm your tits. Burke and I will be there at six, and if you have a problem with my date, you can tell me to fuck off at the door as well. Also, I EAT SPAM NOW AND I LIKE IT SO I GUESS I’M A RUFFIAN TOO!
The only response had been one from her dad. Bert Wilson had simply said, You are both welcome. We will see you tonight honey.
“You said the texts with your family weren’t as nice.”
“And they weren’t. It’s okay if you don’t want to go with me tonight anymore—”
“That was nice. You posted up for me. Posted up for a stranger.”
“Bodyguard,” she teased softly through a shy smile. “We’ve upgraded, remember?”
Had his heart ever pounded this hard for a woman before? “Leslie has a mason jar beneath the sink that will fit your flowers. I saw her get it out of there before.”
She bent gracefully and opened the small cupboard, then pulled out the big mason jar.
“We won’t be late,” he said as he poured water into the mason jar from the sink.
Kimberly began to cut the stems of the carnations. “We’re already late.”
“Nah. It’s called making an entrance. And you should. You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and the soft smile on her face was his new favorite. It only curved up the very corners of her full lips, but it touched her eyes. She was so damn pretty like this—vulnerable and open. “You’ve seen me in this ol’ dress before.”
“Yeah, well, this time it feels different.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re wearing it for me.” He closed the space between them and pulled her in against him. He wasn’t a hugger by nature, but with Kimberly, it felt so good. Warm and right. When he swayed her from side to side, she did something that touched him deeply. She melted into him and rested her cheek against his chest.
Fragile human. She felt safe with him. And she was.
“Are you purring?” she whispered, surprise swimming in the deep blue pools of her eyes.
He didn’t answer. She knew the answer already. She could hear it plain as day, even with her weak human senses. The sound rattled his entire chest and filled the small home.
“I don’t want to see you shaking with stress anymore, Kim. I didn’t like that. You’re safe. I think you’re starting to figure it out, but you aren’t going into anything alone. You have a monster at your back. Whatever words are spoken tonight, they aren’t important. No insult is important enough to stress you out so much. Look at your life.”
Kimberly looked around the small home.
“This is your safe place. It’s yours. No one can insult you here. I won’t insult you. Leslie and Kieran will be there tonight, and they won’t insult you. And then you’ll come back home, to your safe place when it’s all done. There are pockets of support that you can lean on if things get stressful. And you know what?”
“What?” she asked on a breath.
“We don’t even have to go to this thing. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“If I don’t go to a Wilson family party? Oh, God, I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Think about it now. What’s the worst that can happen? When we show up late, what’s the worst thing?”
“Insults. Judgement. Drama. Mom will guilt me, and Beth and Danielle will give me hell for making the party all about me. People will whisper…”
“Okay, what’s the worst that can happen when we walk in together?”
“Insults.”
“And?”
“Judgement. Drama. Guilt.”
“A
nd if we didn’t show up at all?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Insults, judgement, drama, guilt.”
“None of those things are the end of the world, and maybe we stir the pot. So what? Those people can go back to their gossiping lives because that’s all they have. At the end of tonight, I’m going to bring you back here to your home, you’re going to get out of that dress, remove the pins from your hair, wash your face, and get back to the important parts of your life.”
“Being happy.”
Chills lifted the fine hairs on his arms. “Good girl. You know what we just did?”
“What?”
“Gave the power back to you. Any time you don’t like something or feel suffocated, you don’t have to be there. I’m going to repeat that part because it’s important. You don’t have to be a part of anything you don’t want to be a part of. If you have enough, you give me a thumbs-down, and I’ll take you right out of there, take you out for a cheeseburger and we move on with life. Simple as that. And fuck anyone else’s feelings about your exit. If an environment does not encourage growth, you don’t have to waste your time there. This is your chance to train people on how they are allowed to treat you because they are going to see it real quick. You aren’t the same woman you were. You’re stronger now. You give me the signal, and I’ll say our goodbyes. We’ll still have a great night. I bet Leslie and Kieran would follow us right out. You have a team now, Kimberly.”
Her pretty eyes were rimmed with moisture, and he could see the wheels turning in her head. What he’d said had touched her.
She eased back from him by inches and pressed the palm of her hand over her heart. “You just changed something in me.”
And that right there was more powerful than anything else he’d done before. Oh, he was used to being strong. Scary strong. Humans had no idea what he was really capable of, and up until this moment, he’d thought that was real power. But this—being able to shift Kimberly’s way of thinking, being able to soothe her fear and watch her grow stronger—that was real power.
Kimberly lifted up suddenly and pressed her lips to his. It was a flash, a moment, just a second where he stood there, shocked to hell because his body had sparked and ignited. He searched her eyes, but he didn’t find regret there. Just the question…is this okay?
Yeah. Yeah, it was.
When he slipped his hand to her cheek, she leaned into his touch and, fuck, what was this? What was happening to him? He wanted to lay every fear she had to rest. He wanted her to know exactly how safe she was. He wanted her to know he wasn’t going to leave her on her own, that she was good and had the monster at her back always—looking over her shoulder and checking anyone who made her feel less-than.
He lifted her face up to his and leaned in, kissed her. Tasted her. Claimed her, but she didn’t need to know how deep he was already in this. She was his to protect. To support. To build up until she knew exactly how important she was.
He kissed her until she had relaxed completely and was leaning heavily into him. God, he loved how her body reacted to his. He could smell her arousal, and her lips were so soft against his. Her tits were pressed against his chest, and her arms were wrapped around the back of his neck, holding him close. And when he dropped his hands from her cheeks to her waist and squeezed her there, she let off this sexy little moan that made him want to bend her over the counter, ruck her dress up to her thighs, and slide into her. He could make her feel so good.
Not right now, though. Not right now.
Burke forced himself to ease back and kiss her softer. Peck at her lips. He brushed his mouth along her cheek, down her neck, and he gave into his animal just a little. He clamped down his teeth just hard enough to drag another moan from her lips.
And when he pulled back, she looked completely stunned. Her eyes were round and her shoulders lifted with her breath. “You gave me butterflies.”
A grin stretched his face. “Good.”
“No, you don’t understand. I’ve never had those. I thought those were just for the movies. I thought I couldn’t get butterflies, but my stomach was just fluttering everywhere that whole time we kissed.”
He couldn’t be any more pleased with himself if he tried. “It won’t be the last time you get them.” It was an easy promise. He knew he could make her happy, make her feel good, make her lose the jumble of thoughts that rattled around that beautiful mind of hers.
She’d just given his animal a purpose.
Chapter Twelve
What’s the worst that could happen?
Tonight was the first party as the new her, and as Burke drove them to Mom and Dad’s mansion, she repeated it in her head to get rid of her nerves. What was the worst that could happen? People didn’t like the new her? Okay, that would sting, but she would be okay.
Burke was driving with one hand and slid his other to her thigh, squeezed it as he cast her a quick smile, then his attention back to the road. They were in her parents’ neighborhood now.
When Kimberly slipped her hand over his, he turned his palm up and linked their fingers. And there they were again—the butterflies.
“There’s Leslie and Kieran,” she said, pointing out her window to the driveway where they stood waiting.
Burke slowed, and Kimberly rolled down her window. “Did Mom kick you out already?”
“Har, har,” Leslie called. “We’re waiting for you two. Hurry up, I’m freezing my tits off out here.” She was wearing a short blue dress and sky-high heels and was enwrapped in Kieran’s suit jacket.
Burke drove forward and found a parking spot a few spaces down on the curb.
“Never did I ever think Leslie would be the sister waiting out front for me,” she murmured. Life was weird now, but in a good way.
Burke jogged around and opened her door, then helped her down so she didn’t fall face-first into the snow. The tires on his Bronco were huge!
But when she stepped right onto an icy patch, Burke picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like she was a sack of potatoes. She yelped and wiggled, but he steadied her with a hand on her ass.
“My boobs are coming out of my dress!” she squealed, struggling to cover them.
“Good,” he said with a laugh, the brute.
The second he set her down near Leslie, the front door of her parents’ mansion swung open, and out of it came a tornado.
“What are you doing?” Mom yelled. “The windows are open, and all of our guests just witnessed you carrying my daughter around like a caveman! This is not how we behave here.”
Kimberly was shamed into silence. Sure enough, the guests were crowded around the front window. Their looks ranged from curious, to amused, to downright judgmental. The mayor’s wife was wearing her most dour frown.
Burke leaned forward and offered his hand to Mom for a shake. “Glad to see you again, Mrs. Wilson.”
Mom just glared at him, and just as Kimberly stepped forward to start a war, Leslie pressed something into Burke’s outstretched hand and then into Kimberly’s.
She stared down at the little shot glass in confusion.
“Mom, we made you one, too.” Leslie then muttered something under her breath that Kimberly could’ve sworn was “so you can chill the fuck out,” but her hearing wasn’t as good as the two giant shifters on either side of her, who snorted and coughed to mask their laughs.
Mom’s eyes squinted to slits. “I’ve put a lot of effort into this party, and you’re already causing a scene. Leslie, you should be ashamed of yourself for dragging your sister into your lifestyle with these—these—”
“Men?” Leslie asked.
“Animals,” Mom whispered. “Kieran, I’m trying. I really am, but this is all too much. Everything I do revolves around the pair of you, and now you’re bringing Kimberly into your charades?”
“Uh, no one dragged me into anything,” Kimberly said. “And no one is making a scene but you.”
Dad appeared in the doorway. “All of you inside. I’m about to
make the New Year’s toast.
Mom inhaled deeply, rolled her eyes closed, and exhaled for a three-count. “This is exactly what I’ve been working on in therapy. I will not let the ungratefulness of my children dampen my efforts for my family.”
Who is she talking to? Leslie mouthed to Kimberly.
Kimberly just shrugged and mouthed back, The devil?
“Well, this has been fun,” Kieran murmured, but we are going to head inside and spike the punch. It’s good to see you again, Gladys.”
“It’s Mrs. Wilson to you,” Mom growled. She turned to the window with a bright smile on her face. “Everything is wonderful,” she called out to be heard through the glass. “It is time for our annual toast where we will give thanks for the blessings of the year and honor the year before us.”
This stuff used to be exciting, but not anymore. Kimberly tossed back her shot. It was the cheap whiskey and tasted like fire. She coughed and sputtered just enough for her mother to cast her a disparaging look over her shoulder as she clomped up the porch stairs toward Dad.
“You ready?” Burke asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His shot glass was empty, too.
“I was born ready.”
“There she is.” He rested his fingertips lightly on the small of her back, and though it was a small gesture, it settled the anger that was bubbling through her veins.
And then the misfits marched on the Wilson mansion. She linked her hand inside Burke’s offered elbow and followed Leslie and Kieran into the party where there was still a good crowd standing near the huge picture window.
“Now, wave,” Burke murmured.
Kimberly gave a pageant-girl wave to the onlookers.
“Now bow,” he said, a smile in his voice.
She bowed slightly so the crowd didn’t get Act Two of the Exposure of her Titties play.
Burke pulled her right through the cavernous entryway, passing under the giant chandelier sparkling above them, to the sprawling den. Partygoers were gathering under the banister where her dad, Bert Wilson, was clinking a spoon against a glass goblet to quiet everyone down. The servers were winding through the gathered crowd, trays of champagne in their hands for the toast.