A bitter, acrid scent caused me to stop walking. I turned back and then took off running before I’d even fully processed what I was smelling. Smoke. Coming from the direction of the bed and breakfast.
When I got closer, I spotted a couple people rushing out the front door. I didn’t see Carter. My heart rose in my throat and beat double time as I charged into the hazy, smoke-filled house. Barging through the door into the kitchen, I spotted the fire climbing the back wall behind the stove and Carter standing across from it, stupified.
I grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back several feet away from it as I looked around for a fire extinguisher. I found it adhered to the back wall, and quickly doused the flames, putting out the fire.
I dropped the extinguisher, letting it clank against the tiled floor, and looked Carter over for injury. She was clutching a frying pan, but she wasn’t hurt. Her eyes were still wide and she looked like she was in shock.
The relief I felt was so immense that I shook as I dragged her into my arms and pressed my lips to hers. I could’ve lost her so easily. She could’ve died and I never would’ve held her again. I cupped her head and kissed her deeper. I had to make this situation right. Before I lost her.
Just as quickly as I’d started kissing her, a crashing pain shot across the side of my head, sending me stumbling backwards. I cupped my head in my hand and looked for the cause of the blow. We were alone.
“What the fuck?”
Carter, still holding onto the frying pan, glared at me. “Don’t you dare kiss me like I belong to you, Mr. Patterson. You’re still just a stranger and an engaged one, at that. Go back to your fiancée and then the two of you crawl back to wherever you came from.”
I watched in complete surprise as she slammed the pan down on the counter and then strode out of the room leaving me reeling and harder than hell. My mate could play rough.
14
Carter
I stared at the blackened kitchen wall and shook my head again. I’d been doing the same thing for almost an hour, despite the fire fighters coming in and out and Muddy pacing back and forth shaking her head, too. I’d nearly gotten myself killed. The fire had grown taller and taller while I just stood in front of it, staring like an open-mouthed idiot.
“The wall behind the sheetrock is flame retardant. Nothing else will be damaged. Once I change it out and do some heavy-duty cleaning, we’ll be good as new. We’ll be up and going again in no time.” Muddy sighed. “I’m sorry, Carter.”
I frowned. “It was an accident.”
“The grease fire was an accident. Running out of here in a panic wasn’t. I hate fire, yes. But, I just left you standing there.”
I snorted, unable to stifle the sound. “You’d think someone had dropped you in a pond.”
She frowned even harder, her nose crinkling. “Is that a cat joke?”
“If the purr fits.” I grabbed a pair of gloves and looked around. “What first?”
“No, I’ve got a crew coming in. You get the rest of the day off, since I almost killed you and all.”
“It was my fault, too. You started it, but I just stood there watching it. I could’ve let the whole place go up in flames while I just stood here, frozen in fear.”
“It scares the hell out of me to think of what could’ve happened if shit-for-brains hadn’t run in here when he did.” Muddy grabbed my arms and pulled me in for a hug. “It wasn’t your fault, though. Go home. Go shopping. Go out to eat. I don’t care. Just go. I’ll have tomorrow’s breakfast for the guests catered. Hey, you get time off, like you wanted.”
The idea of being at home alone didn’t appeal to me, though, after all. I didn’t know if I could handle being alone with my bear and my thoughts. I looked at her with a pleading expression, but she just pointed to the doorway.
“Out.”
“Fine. I want to get Jellybean a welcome home gift, anyway.”
“You were just talking about how much stuff she has. Besides, she won’t be home for a while. Just go home and rest.”
I scowled at her once more before strolling out.
“Love you, too!”
I grunted without turning back and just kept walking. Getting away from the place wasn’t the worst idea. I could tell that Alec was lurking somewhere and no part of me wanted to run into that man again. Okay, that wasn’t true. A lot of parts of me wanted to run into him, but the sensible part knew to stay away. The last thing I needed was another self-centered, self-absorbed asshat walking all over me. Been there, done that.
And, Alec was proving to be quite the asshat. He had sex with me the night before and then came down the very next morning smelling like another woman and displaying her bite mark on his neck. In the exact spot where my bite mark should’ve gone!
My bear had been clawing at me so badly to shift and rip her throat out, that I had to take off running as soon as I saw it. The worst part was that it wasn’t her fault. He was her fiancé. She hadn’t done anything wrong. I had.
I really had to keep that man out of my life. Jellybean had survived her father’s mean, ugly spirit unscathed. She was still a bubbly, loving, happy little girl. I wanted her to stay that way. I was sure she could not go through another of my bad relationship choices without being affected.
* * *
That night, while I was wallowing in my misery, I was blessed with a surprise visit from Cannon, Matt, and Jellybean. I was so happy to see them that I cried. Jellybean crawled into the chair with me, shoved the bowl of ice cream that I was eating away, and planted a big kiss on my cheek. Cannon followed with a kiss to my other cheek while Matt sat down across from me with the contented smile of a man who had it all.
“Surprise!”
I stuttered out words that didn’t make any sense and then squealed. “You’re all here!”
Cannon sank down next to Matt and grinned. “We’re here!”
I wrapped my arms around Jellybean and held her close until she wiggled away from me and ran towards her bedroom. “What are y’all doing here?”
Cannon made a face. “She wanted to see you and we had some time off. We wanted to surprise you, but we won’t stay for too long.”
“Suckers. You drove all the way here because she got homesick?”
Matt looked pained. “She cried. It was heart wrenching.”
I laughed and stood up to put my bowl away. “Sounds like a pint-sized princess has two full-grown men wrapped around her little finger. Come on. I’ll make snacks.”
Matt trailed gratefully. “Sweets. Any sweets will be appreciated.”
“I’m having some issues with the sweets lately…” I pulled sandwich stuff out of the fridge, knowing that Cannon was always ready to eat and assuming Matt was the same. “Everything I make sucks.”
“Not possible. You’re the best baker I’ve ever met. No sweets?” Matt looked like he’d lost his best friend.
Cannon held a perplexed expression. “What’s happening? You only go through bad baking episodes when shit’s hitting the fan in your life.”
I kept my back to Cannon and focused on making the sandwich. “Nothing’s happening. Mayo or mustard?”
Jellybean screamed from her bedroom, the excited shriek of a kid with a new toy. “You got me a new animal!”
“I thought you said no more toys?” Cannon narrowed his eyes, came around the counter and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Talk to me.”
I looked up at him, into his caring eyes, and knew that I couldn’t. I was ashamed of what was happening. Once again, I was involved with a loser. Maybe Alec wasn’t going to physically abuse me, but he certainly wasn’t the loyal, devoted family-man type.
I was a magnet for men who didn’t, maybe couldn’t, truly love me. The heaviness in my chest was too much to share with Cannon. It hadn’t escaped my notice how many times he and Matt had smiled lovingly at one another in the short time since they’d arrived.
Instead, I shrugged and faked ignorance. “I don’t know, honestly.
I think it’s just been stressful getting settled in and not having Jellybean. It’s not a big deal, though. I’ll adjust.”
Cannon pressed his lips to my forehead and blew a raspberry. “Liar, liar. That’s fine, though. You can tell me when you’re ready. I think we’ll stay tonight and then head up to Wild Water tomorrow with Jellybean, if that’s okay.”
“You think you’re up for a kid at an amusement park?”
He looked over at Matt with a goofy smile on his face. “Now’s our chance to find out.”
“You’re using my daughter as a test dummy?”
Matt grinned. “As if Jellybean would ever let anyone do that. That girl’s a force.”
* * *
I was thinking the same thing the next morning. My daughter and I went out early to find Cannon and Matt a gift for bringing her all the way back home just because she’d cried a little.
I wanted to call them weak, but I knew for a fact that when my girl wanted something badly enough to cry, it was hard not to give in. Her face was made of happiness and sunshine, it seemed. Sadness didn’t sit right on her.
We wandered from shop to shop, her picking out things she thought they’d like while I looked with a more discerning eye. Her “it’s-the-thought-that-counts” choices of rice, a candle that smelled like bacon, and handmade leather pants wouldn’t go completely unappreciated, but I wanted to get them something special.
She’d managed to finagle her way into getting herself a long piece of rope candy and a new T-shirt that boasted a picture of Wonder Woman. She was wearing the shirt over her other shirt and chewing at the candy like a madwoman when her head snapped up and she grinned and took off.
I chased after her, her pale blonde mop of hair like a flag beckoning me along. When I got to her, I swore under my breath and tried to remember if I’d put on a bra or deodorant. Not that it mattered, except that Jellybean had led us straight to Alec and Chelsie.
They were standing, sipping coffee next to a little food truck that sold donuts and coffee in the heavy tourist season. Jellybean stood beside them, her eyes glancing back and forth between the donuts and Alec several times.
Finally, the man won out. She stomped over to him, and looked up at him with her hands on her little hips. “You smell like my mommy.”
My face heated to a burning fire, and I knelt beside her, taking her hand in mine. “What have we said about you running off? You know it’s not allowed. Even in Helen’s Corner.”
She looked from me to Alec and grinned. “Can I have a donut if I promise not to?”
I groaned. “Did Uncle Cannon teach you that?”
Amy Lynn, the cart owner, laughed happily and leaned over the cart. “Little Miss Jellybean, you’re in it again, aren’t you? You’re back earlier than I expected. I don’t have any of your favorite today.”
Her face twisted, but then her smile came back. “What about the pink ones?”
She looked amused and laughed again. “I’ll prepare one special just for you.”
Before I could stop her, Amy Lynne got busy. With the promise of a special donut, Jellybean had nothing to focus on but Alec and Chelsie, who were still standing beside us, watching. Chelsie’s face looked like she’d been sucking lemons.
“Why do you smell like my mommy?”
Chelsie frowned. “I haven’t a clue. I highly doubt we use the same perfume.”
Jellybean shook her head. “Not you.”
Chelsie glanced back at Alec and stiffened her shoulders. Her eyes narrowed on me, but she didn’t say anything. It was obvious the woman was fuming mad.
Alec knelt in front of Jellybean, like I’d just done, and held his hand out to her. “Alec Patterson. And you are?”
Smitten already, Jellybean grinned from ear to ear and stuck her sticky little hand in his. “Jillian Marie Ray. I like to be called Jellybean. This is my mommy, Carter Ray. Uncle Cancan told me to tell everyone that she’s single and looking for some fun.”
15
Carter
“Jellybean!” I was going to throttle Cannon. I forced out a fake laugh and tugged her hand. “Don’t repeat things that Uncle Cannon tells you. He’s trying to give Mommy a hard time.”
Alec looked up at me from where he was squatting and a slow smile spread across his handsome face. “She’s adorable.”
“The cutest.” Chelsie did not sound like she meant that. She grabbed Alec and pulled him up. “Time to go. After our couple’s massage, I’ve got a few more lingerie outfits to model for you.”
My stomach flip-flopped and I quickly scooped Jellybean up and held her to my side like a shield against the pain I was battling. I turned slightly so we weren’t facing the couple head on and watched Amy Lynn. Christ, the woman was slow. She had to be almost finished. I needed to get away before my stomach exited my esophagus.
“Alec Patterson, can you come over for dinner? My mommy makes super yummy food. She made me a unicorn cake for my birthday.”
“A unicorn, huh? I bet that was something.” Alec chugged his coffee and tossed the empty cup into the trash. The lines around his eyes seemed tight and he was obviously unhappy. He held out his hand to Jellybean again and chuckled when she fist bumped him instead. “It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you around.”
I pulled her closer and blinked away the sharp stab of pain. Jellybean didn’t need random men hanging around giving her false hope. When Amy Lynn turned towards us with a chocolate donut topped with pink sprinkles, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I swiped the donut and gave Amy Lynn a look that I hoped conveyed how sorry I was for not staying to chat as I usually did, especially after all the work she put into the special doughnut for Jellybean. “Thank you so much, Amy Lynn.”
She waved me off when I tried to pay. “Anything for the munchkin.”
I turned and hurried away, bouncing my protesting daughter the whole way. There was a struggle when we got closer to the house because the donut almost slipped and fell since I was practically running.
Even though it hadn’t fallen, Jellybean still let out a piercing cry and shoved her even stickier face and hands into my hair to sob into my ear properly.
Cannon stepped outside onto the porch of the house and shook his head at me. “You broke her.”
I nodded and blew out a rough breath. “Yeah, I did. I don’t know if she’s going to be up for an amusement park today.”
Like magic, her little head flew up, strands of my hair sticking to her, and she blinked away large tears. “I can go, Mommy.”
Even as stressed as I was, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You think you can, huh? Are you sure? Because you were just crying a few seconds ago about almost dropping your doughnut.”
Her little mouth turned down in a pout, her face still dampened by tears, and she shook her head. “I wasn’t crying about that. You didn’t let me say goodbye to Alec.”
My already churning stomach threatened to vacate my body. Running into them together had been a worst-case scenario for me. I was so ready for them to be gone so I could go back to enjoying my town.
“Who’s Alec?”
“He’s Mommy’s friend. He smells like her.”
Cannon’s eyebrows raised almost to his hairline. “Oh, he does, does he?”
I pushed him aside and entered the house, determined not to discuss it. “I’m going to get us cleaned up. She’ll be ready to head out in just a little bit.”
I avoided talking to Cannon about it like my life depended on it. I knew he’d know why Alec smelled like me and I wasn’t ready to start the discussion it would take to explain. After cleaning Jellybean’s face and hands, I sent her out to Cannon and then I showered. I took my time and only came out when I heard Matt telling Cannon it was time for them to leave.
Cannon narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head. “Coward.”
Matt wagged his finger. “Play nice, boys and girls.”
Jellybean tumbled out of her room with her tiny backpack stuffed full of toys. “
Ready!”
“I don’t think you’ll need all these toys, baby.” I pulled a handful of stuffed animals out and grinned at her. “You’ll have all sorts of stuff to play with there.”
She shrugged and held her arms in the air for Matt to pick her up. “I’m ready! Uncle Cancan, told me all about the rides. I want to go on the teacups, Uncle Matt!”
I said my goodbyes to her and grinned while I watched Matt scoop her into his arms and toss her over his shoulder. She squealed and laughed, already having the time of her life.
Cannon and I watched as he carried her out to the car.
“It’s good to see things worked out for you and Matt. You two had a rough start.”
“That was partly my fault. I assumed it would be easy. You find your mate, run into each other’s arms and live happily ever after, or so I thought. Turns out that was a delusion. Life is not that simple.”
“You stuck with him. I mean, all the difficulties weren’t easy on you, but you never gave up.”
“Hell, yes. We may have had a rocky start, but I can assure you, it was worth every painful second. Is there a reason you brought that up?” He eyed me suspiciously.
I wasn’t even sure how I would start the conversation or what I would say. The entire situation made me feel like a damned fool.
“Just seeing you two together now. It’s like you were made for each other.”
“He’s my mate. We were made for each other. Sometimes love is messy.”
I half smiled through a sigh. I was afraid to meet his eyes. Afraid he might see something and guess my secrets.
Cannon wrapped me in a hug and sighed into my hair. “Little sister, you’re hiding shit from me.”
Shifter Starter Set Page 21