Grabbing the heavy tray of sandwiches and iced tea, Elizabeth was at the door before she realized that the porch was gone. Well, that wasn’t convenient. She was a good three feet up from the ground. She looked around for a solution and saw that Conner had seen her predicament and was heading her way. Before he got there, though, his brother Jacob was in front of her.
“Go ahead and hand me that tray, Mrs. Larkin, ah, Elizabeth, and then I’ll lift you down.”
“Are those sandwiches?” Zack asked, moving up next to Jacob and sniffing loudly. “I’m starved. You’re awesome Mrs. L.”
Elizabeth handed over the tray with a smile and Zack quickly snatched it from Jacob’s hands. Jacob just shook his head with a grin and lifted his hands up to help her down. She had just braced her hands on Jacob’s shoulders when she heard a rather disturbing growl. Snapping her head around, Elizabeth spotted Clyde sleeping in the shade of a tree a few feet away. “Did the dog just growl in his sleep?”
Jacob and Conner glared at each other for a moment as if they were having a silent argument before Jacob muttered, “Who knows what must be going through his head to have him growling like that?”
With Jacob’s hands firmly planted on either side of her waist, Elizabeth was on the ground in seconds. She smiled her thanks at Jacob and then turned her attention to Zack who had set the lunch tray on the open tailgate of the truck. He was shoving half a sandwich into his mouth. “If you’re hungry, you may want to get over there before your brother eats everything.” She said with a chuckle.
“Hey, Mom.” Jeremy said, joining her and Conner as Jacob made his way over to the food. “Did you know that Conner plays guitar? He wants to jam. Can we do it tonight?”
Elizabeth looked from her son’s excited face to Conner’s, and then back to Jeremy. “Um, well, I don’t know if Conner will be in the mood for it tonight. I mean, he’s working so hard on the porch…” She trailed off, looking at Conner to see what he would say. Jeremy had kind of put them both on the spot and she was certainly willing to give him an out if he needed one.
Conner eyed her for a moment and then shot Jeremy a genuine smile instead of the practiced one she was usually the recipient of. “I’ll need to go home and shower and get my guitar after we’re done here. I don’t have a piano at The Stag, otherwise I’d suggest that.”
Jeremy let out a little yelp of excitement. “You can come back for dinner. My mom makes the best lasagna. It’ll be great.”
Elizabeth loved seeing Jeremy so excited. However, she’d now have to make a trip to grocery store since she didn’t actually have the stuff to make lasagna, but it would be worth it.
Conner caught her attention just then and his eyes held a decidedly wolfish gleam as he said, “I look forward to tasting it.”
Elizabeth shivered despite the heat of the day, Conner’s words conjuring all sorts of inappropriate thoughts that she would do best to banish quickly.
Rome may not have been built in a day, but the new porch certainly was. The Pierce brothers had finished up late in the afternoon. The new, unpainted wood stood out bright against the dark exterior of the camp. It almost made her want to tear down the camp and rebuild it just to match the porch.
Elizabeth had been able to run to the grocery store to get what she needed for dinner while the men had worked and the smell of lasagna was currently filling the small camp with its delicious aroma. She was once again grateful to Conner for the air conditioner. She couldn’t imagine how wilted she would have been trying to make lasagna in that awful heat. Her stomach growled and she looked at the clock. Conner should be here soon and that knowledge had her skin prickling. The question was – from what? Fear? Anticipation? Was she actually looking forward to seeing him again? No, certainly not. After all, their last dinner had been a disaster. She was simply looking forward to seeing her son have a wonderful evening with a new friend. And obviously, she was just nervous that he wouldn’t show and end up disappointing Jeremy. Yes, that made sense. She’d run with that answer and hopefully, if she told herself that enough times she’d actually begin to believe it. Because the truth was, the more she saw Conner Pierce, the more attractive he became.
Oh, sure, he’d come off as a complete asshole the night before, but once they’d joined the others in the living room and he’d stopped trying to be charming with those practiced smiles, he actually seemed pretty interesting. Add to that, the way he was with Jeremy… very attractive indeed.
“So what kind of music do you think Conner will want to play? I don’t have any sheet music with me and I don’t have that many rock songs memorized. Do you think he likes the same kind of music as me? He seems like he probably likes rock.” Jeremy said, barely able to sit still in his excitement.
“You have a pretty wide range of tastes, Jeremy, and Mrs. Kryczeck has always had a soft spot for some of the rock classics, so I’m sure you’ll find something you both know.”
It had amused her when Jeremy had told her some of the pieces his piano teacher was having him play. She had expected classical music, Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and while Mrs. Kryczeck did give him access those composers she also liberally incorporated music from Queen, his piano teacher absolutely adored Freddy Mercury, as well as Elton John, and Billy Joel.
Her stomach let out another growling protest just as she heard a vehicle pull into the drive. Jeremy jumped up with a whoop of delight and ran to the door to pull it open. A minute later, Conner’s broad shoulders filled the doorway. His dark red hair was still damp from his shower and combed back from his face. He was wearing a stark white T-shirt that clung rather nicely to his muscular torso, but Elizabeth would notice and appreciate all of that later, for in his hand, he held a bouquet of yellow roses.
She had to blink a few times, the gesture was so surprising. Yes, Jeremy had mentioned it the night before in his romantic advice, but she hadn’t actually thought Conner would follow through. How long had it been since someone had brought her flowers? Weston Prescott certainly hadn’t. She’d received congratulatory or birthday bouquets at work occasionally and Jeremy always got her flowers on mother’s day but otherwise, not since high school, since Thomas.
Conner smiled and lifted the flowers toward her. “For you,” he said and then. “Dinner smells delicious.”
She was just about to thank him, both for the bouquet and the compliment when her stomach decided to growl again. Conner chuckled and said, “I think we’ll save the small talk and get right to the eating.” Had she a paler complexion, she knew her blush would be rosy red.
An excellent idea. Elizabeth quickly fled to the kitchen with her flowers as Jeremy began peppering Conner with questions about music while she took a moment to compose herself. Everyone’s stomach growled when they were hungry she reminded herself. There was absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. She lifted the bouquet to her nose and inhaled deeply. Closing her eyes as the aroma filled her senses. She loved roses even more than she loved lilacs. Opening her eyes, she smiled. Point for Conner Pierce.
Chapter Fifteen
A subtle shift had occurred. Conner could feel it, that Elizabeth was now looking at him differently. Not like she wanted to jump his bones, he wasn’t that lucky, but this was a good start. Thank you, J.T for your excellent insight. It was also worth noting that J.T was also correct about his mother’s lasagna. It was delicious and he told Elizabeth as much. The compliment seemed to fluster her a little bit, but she also looked pleased. Gah, she was cute, he just wished she wasn’t so human. His mother would destroy her. That sudden thought made him frown. He really should be finding a way out of this situation, not encouraging it.
“Do you like banana cream?”
The question jolted him from his thoughts and he blinked in confusion. “Pardon?”
“I bought one of those frozen pies at the grocery story. I know homemade probably tastes better, but I think they’re pretty good.”
Dessert. She was talking about dessert. He forced himself to smile. “I
like them too, and banana cream sounds pretty good right now.”
With a nod and a smile she and J.T began clearing the dinner dishes. He started to stand up to help as well but Elizabeth placed a staying hand on his shoulder. The contact brought his wolf to full panting attention and he had to grit his teeth to bring himself back under control. If he reacted that way to such innocent contact, what would happen when he kissed her? And he really wanted to kiss her. Even if he was able to somehow break the bond, he still wanted at least one kiss from this woman. One kiss wouldn’t hurt anything right?
With pie eaten and the table cleared, Conner got down to the business that brought him here: music with J.T. Given the boy’s age, he wasn’t expecting much, but he was practically blown away when J.T sat down at the piano and began to play Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Conner listened for a moment before picking up his guitar, now wishing he had brought his electric and amp, he jumped in on the guitar solo.
He knew he didn’t do it justice, not with how amazed he was by J.T whose posture and facial expression radiated sheer passion for the music. He didn’t know enough about pianists relevant to age whether the boy would be considered some sort of prodigy but he was certainly amazing in Conner’s eyes.
When J.T’s fingers finally stilled on the keys, Elizabeth clapped and hooted but J.T looked to Conner with a shy smile. Conner was pretty sure his mouth was hanging open. “You, my boy, are incredible. You should definitely be on the stage. What’s your going rate? I’ll book you for weekends at The Stag for the duration of your stay.”
J.T just laughed, taking it as a joke, but Conner would happily thrust this boy into even the tiniest spotlight if J.T and his mother would allow it. He looked to Elizabeth who shot him a small smile as she shook her head. She mouthed something but he was abysmal when it came to reading lips. He was about to walk over to her and ask what she had said when J.T asked, “Do you know “Come Sail Away”?”
Conner grinned. “Styx fan? Nice. Play it for me, big man.”
When Elizabeth started singing, Conner suddenly had an image of spending nights just like this and it made his wolf curl up inside him with contentment. He picked up his guitar to come in at his entrance.
They played some Elton John, Billy Joel, and a Simon and Garfunkel song that was apparently one of Elizabeth’s favorites. It was also one of Conner’s mother’s favorites as well and the reminder of his mother was like a bucket of ice water thrown in his face. This had been one of the best evenings he had had in a long time but he couldn’t keep these humans. They had no place in the pack and pack was everything to Conner.
Giving an overly exaggerated yawn, Conner stood up. “Well, boys and girls, I think it’s time to call it a night.” He started packing up his guitar. “Dinner was great and this was fun. Thank you.”
“Will you come back tomorrow? For practice? You know, for the baseball game on the fourth?” J.T asked, his expression so openly hopeful that Conner nearly groaned. He didn’t want to let this boy down but he also didn’t want to make promises he wasn’t sure he could keep. “I have some work I need to get done so I don’t know about tomorrow, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Conner was glad that J.T seemed to accept that answer and as he headed toward the door to make his escape, he was surprised that Elizabeth joined him. His wolf, on the other hand, was prancing around inside him like a pup.
When she shut the door behind them, leaving them illuminated in the soft yellow glow of the single porch light, Conner suddenly felt inexplicably nervous. Deciding on an innocuous subject he blurted, “J.T is an amazing pianist.”
Elizabeth nodded, a proud smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around her middle despite the pleasantly warm evening. “He is, but he was adamant when he took up music that he had no wish to perform.”
Conner nodded. “Do you think it’s a stage fright thing or do you think it has to do with the father thing?”
She stared at him a moment in confusion. “What father thing?”
Conner shared with her what J.T had told him earlier in the day. Not about how J.T felt about his own father, that may have been said in confidence, but about why he had dropped out of the sports and activities.
Elizabeth blew out a breath and shook her head with a self-deprecating laugh. “It makes so much sense, I don’t know why I didn’t put it together myself.” She leaned back against the outside wall of the cabin. “I wish he had told me. I may have been able to help.”
Conner shrugged and moved a step closer to her. “Maybe he didn’t want to make you feel bad since you’re trying to be both mom and dad to him. That can’t be easy.”
Elizabeth’s eyes seemed to lose focus as if she had gone inside herself and Conner leaned in closer. “Thank you for tonight.” He whispered, leaning in to get that kiss he so badly wanted.
Just as his lips were about to make contact, Elizabeth ducked out of the way and opened the door. “Goodnight.” She yelled, before firmly shutting the door in his face.
Conner leaned his head against the barrier she had put between them and groaned. It was probably for the best. He had to remember that he couldn’t be with a human no matter how much his wolf – and right now, the man – wanted her. What he needed to do was go see his father and find out how the hell he was going to break this bond.
Chapter Sixteen
Conner found his father right where he expected him to be. Since Tara, Tarvahl’s only daughter had delivered her twins, the man had taken on extra patrols on the ridge that overlooked the old Mason property that housed the new additions to the family.
For a male pushing fifty, Tarvahl Pierce was still a force to be reckoned with. His dark red hair and beard had faded a bit over the years, his face weathered, but he was still strong, an alpha, a leader the pack would gladly follow. He was a man Conner was proud to call dad. That thought made him think of J.T. A boy who had had a war hero as a father in the eyes of most people, but would have preferred a dad who was home to play with his son.
“I didn’t think you were on the rotation tonight.” Tarvahl said as Conner came toward him through the trees.
“I’m not,” Conner answered, “just wanted to talk. All quiet?”
“My little ladies sent up a howl to let the world know they were hungry, but otherwise, it’s been pretty peaceful.” Tarvahl shot him a grin and Conner shook his head with a smile. Proud grandpa.
“What’s up?” Tarvahl asked, and suddenly Conner wasn’t sure what to say, or rather, how to say it. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans he cleared his throat.
Conner’s parents had never felt the mating bond. Tarvahl and Sherry Pierce absolutely loved each other, Conner had no doubt, but their marriage had been arranged to cement a union between the Malsum Pass pack and his mother’s pack in Montana. So was his father really the best one to ask?
He rocked back on his heels and cleared his throat again. His father’s brow raised at Conner’s hesitation. Finally he just spit it out. “Do you know of anyone who has broken the mating bond once it took hold?”
Tarvahl narrowed his eyes at his son. “If someone is lucky enough to find their true mate, experience that bond, why would they want to break it? Or should I ask, why would you? Did you find your mate, son?”
Conner raked his fingers through his hair in agitation. “What if she’s not acceptable?”
“Oh, hell. Don’t tell me you felt it with Lily. I love that little hell cat but I don’t think I could convince your mother to accept a feline as a daughter-in-law.”
Lillian Munroe-Kramer and her sister Daisy Munroe were feline shifters – Florida Panthers to be more specific – and they’d come to Malsum Pass to seek sanctuary from their pride after Lily’s mate was killed. Now settled in with new identities, Lily lived on the opposite side of town and was one of his best friends as well as his favorite sparring partner.
His father was absolutely right though, Sherry Pierce would probably welcome a human mate if the choice was be
tween one of her sons mating a human or mating a feline, so – bright side.
“Human” Conner said and waited for his father’s reaction.
Tarvahl sighed and nodded. “I see.”
They stood there in silence for several moments before Tarvahl asked, “Are you sure?”
“That she’s human? Absolutely.”
“No, that you felt the mating bond. Maybe you were just really attracted. Just because your Willy popped up to say hi doesn’t mean she’s your mate.”
Conner nearly choked on his laughter, but his father continued, “Riley’s one of the only ones in recent years who has experienced it, so maybe you should ask him what it felt like.” Tarvahl suggested.
Conner shook his head. “I barely touched a fingertip to her and it literally knocked me on my ass in the middle of the grocery store. Damned embarrassing.”
Tarvahl nodded. “I heard about that, figured you slipped.”
Of course his father had heard about it. Nothing happened in Malsum Pass that his father didn’t hear about. “I could barely keep my wolf leashed.”
Tarvahl blew out his breath in a long exhale. “You’ve seen her since?”
Conner nodded sharply. “I needed to confirm. She hired Jacob to do some repairs on her place out on Bingo Road so I went with him.”
“The single mom.” Tarvahl said nodding, again proving that he had his finger on the pulse of his pack. “I don’t envy you.”
Conner felt his hackles rise. “J.T’s a great kid. Her having a son isn’t the problem.”
Tarvahl placed a calming hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Calm down, that’s not what I meant. I don’t envy what you’ll have to face. You can’t tell her what we are until you have a firm commitment, Conner and there is no guarantee she’ll take it well.”
Meant To Be: A Malsum Pass Novel Page 7