by Susan Bliler
Still staring out the window she asked, “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
She waited, and when he offered nothing else she turned to look at him. “What happened? Why are you so different now?” She watched his jaw tick.
Finally he responded. “I messed up, Grace. We shouldn’t have…” He shook his head hard. “I shouldn’t have shown you those things. It wasn’t my place.”
That had her guts twisting. “You…you didn’t enjoy it?”
“Of course I enjoyed it,” he snapped and shot her a dark look before dragging his eyes back to the road. “Your body is…” His words died off though and she saw his stomach clench through his form fitting thermal shirt. “Last night was the best night of my life, Grace, and that’s the problem. I was sent to retrieve you. I’m on the clock. This isn’t supposed to be fun. It’s work.”
His words felt like a slap. She jerked her head toward the window. “I’m just a job to you. I get it.”
“You don’t get it, and I can’t explain it to you. All I can say is that we need to distance ourselves from each other before something happens.”
“Something already happened,” she gritted out angrily.
“Something bigger,” he warned. “Roads are still too bad to get you to Glacier, but I can get you to StoneCrow, and from there Monroe can take charge.”
“So you’re passing me off?”
When she looked at him, he turned and gave her a dead stare. “Was always the plan, Grace.”
Something cold and dreadful filled her stomach, and Grace wanted to puke. She’d shared something with Baymac. It was something wonderful and special and something no one else had shared with her before, and now he was acting like it was nothing. Maybe it was to him, but it had been everything to her. Well, up until ten seconds ago. Now, she wanted away from him just as badly as he apparently wanted away from her.
***
As they pulled up to the manned gates at StoneCrow Estates, Baymac made small talk with the guards for a few minutes, mostly laughing in disbelief about the weather. They were waved in and Grace couldn’t help but fidget. Baymac had offered to stop at the café in Belt, but Grace was too emotional to eat. She was sick with how cold Baymac had turned and she wanted the drive over as quickly as possible. He’d nodded with a look of relief when she told him to just keep driving and that hurt even more.
The drive to the main house was short, and she leaned forward in her seat to stare up in awe at the castle like manor. It was huge and wonderful and…huge.
Baymac put the vehicle in park and she asked, “So, what happens now?” She was nervous now and wanted to stick with him because she didn’t know anyone here, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“I’ll take you to Monroe. He’ll handle things from there.”
“Monroe?”
“Monroe StoneCrow.”
“Oh! Your Alpha.”
Baymac smirked. “Yeah, something like that.” He turned serious. “Look, it’s best you don’t let it slip that you know about Skin Walkers. Monroe’s got pretty explicit rules about humans knowing about us, and if he finds out, there’s a good chance you won’t be leaving the Estate.”
That worried her. “What do you mean ‘won’t be leaving’?” One hand lifted to her throat, “Is that a threat?”
“No one’s gonna hurt you, Grace,” Baymac snarled. “Just.” He was shaking his head. “Maybe keep all of everything we did and all you learned while at Kris and Mary’s to yourself. It could create unnecessary complications.”
His words sounded like he was trying hide what they’d done, but why? Is he embarrassed? Regret and hurt swamped her and made it hard to breathe.
Baymac’s snarl had her eyes drifting to him only to watch as he hurried from the truck. Through the windshield she could see him pace to the front of the vehicle where he slammed his hands on the hood and took in great lungs-full of air like he was trying to catch his breath. Part of her wanted to get out and see if he was okay. Another part of her hoped he choked and keeled over.
Chapter 15
Three weeks! It had been three long weeks since Grace arrived at the Estate, and in those weeks, she hadn’t seen Baymac, not since he’d escorted her to Monroe StoneCrow’s office and disappeared without a word. It was a dick move and had her thinking less of him. Monroe, on the other hand, had been quite courteous—in direct contrast to his reputation—and had settled her into a lovely suite on the second floor. It’s where Grace now paced, going a little stir crazy. Her meals had been brought up to her, and she rarely left the suite. After weeks of nothing but TV, delivered meals, and hoping Baymac would make an appearance, she was ready to rip her hair out.
Quickly, she put on her boots and coat and stepped out into the corridor. StoneCrow Manor was breathtaking. A wall of glass windows, showing the wintry night, greeted her as she stepped out of her room and paced to the railing that ran the length of the floor. Looking down, she could see the elegant navy carpet on the ground floor. A few people came and went. Looking up, she craned her neck to look at the two floors above her, but only saw empty railings. Good. No one had told her she couldn’t leave her room, but still, she didn’t want confrontation about it either.
Grace walked toward the glass elevator but opted to take the grandiose staircase. The wooden banister was ornately carved and matched the dark wood of the walls. The colors and décor of the Estate made the place feel regal, and she had to admit, she really liked Mr. StoneCrow’s style.
At the bottom of the stairs, she walked to the double main doors and pushed one open, inhaling sharply at the bite of arctic wind that blasted her. Montana storms were the worst! The day they’d arrived had been just in time because in the hours after their arrival, three feet of snow had dumped on the mountain, and in the weeks that followed, more and more snow fell.
Damn it’s cold! But it felt good after being cooped up for so long. At the bottom of the steps in front of the building, she wasn’t sure where to go, so she decided to just follow the shoveled walk until she ran out of sidewalk. Her pace was slow. She tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat and hunched her shoulders against the cold, wishing for a hat, scarf, and gloves.
A few people came and went from the building and several people bustled to somewhere behind the main house. She wondered what was back there and decided to check it out. She was surprised at how well the grounds were kept. Lighted posts dotted the walkways, and she never did run out of shoveled walk because apparently they kept up on it, which had to be a monumental task. There were places as she walked where the snow drifts were taller than her. It reminded her of The Shining.
Stepping through a passage that led through a wall of immense pine shrubbery, she discovered the sidewalk broke into multiple paths that led back to rows and rows of cabins. Here, children were playing in the snow, some having snow ball fights while another group built a giant snow-man with the help of what she assumed were their parents. A group of teens walked past and she heard one say excitedly, “We’ll get Cindy to drive! RedKnife would never let us hooky bob. Cindy will though, she’s cool!”
Grace had no idea what hooky bobbing was, but it sounded like mischief.
“HEY!” A familiar voice boomed from beside her and had her startling hard. She spun to find Baymac frowning down at her. “What are you doing here?”
“Uhhhh.” Her heart gave a little start at the mere sight of him. “Walking,” she replied breathlessly.
“No,” his eyes pinched. “I mean what are you still doing here?”
Rude! His abruptness stung. “I’m not sure. Mr. StoneCrow said someone would come for me when the roads to Glacier were passable. That was three weeks ago. Apparently there’s still no way to get me out.”
“Fuck!”
Her brows snapped down into a frown. “Sorry my presence here is so bothersome.” She turned and began walking back they way she came.
Behind her she heard booted foot crunching as Ba
ymac hurried to follow her. “Grace! Wait!”
She didn’t stop though because like an idiot she’d been dying to see him and apparently it had been one-sided, which sucked. They’d shared something very special—well, special to her—and for him to be so dismissive was painful. She let her anger burn to keep back the tears that were stinging the back of her eyes. She walked faster.
“I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”
“Listen!” She turned on him with angry eyes. “You aren’t the first person to be annoyed by my presence.”
“I’m not annoyed by your presence.” But now his face was contorting into a frown too. “Otto!” He clipped out. “You’re talking about him, aren’t you?”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Him and many others!”
She turned to walk away, but he caught her arm. “Grace.” His tone softened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound displeased at seeing you. I just,” his eyes tracked down her frame then back up. “You aren’t dressed for this weather and you shouldn’t be out here.” Pulling his gaze from her he scanned the area over her head. “Plus, someone should have told me you were still here.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Hell no! If I’d have known…”
When he didn’t finish she prodded impatiently, “You’d have what?”
He shook his head hard and grabbed her elbow. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to the manor.”
She didn’t argue, just let him guide her back.
***
Stalking along behind Grace, Baymac clenched his jaw at the need to roar out in frustration. He’d thought she was gone! He’d been beating himself up and shifting to fly to Glacier each night in hopes of seeing her. No wonder he’d never caught sight of her at the Blackbird compound, she’d been here the whole time!
As the wind whipped, he picked up the scent of her anger and hurt and fuck! Two seconds! They’d been back together two seconds and he was already fucking things up. This! This was why he’d been willing to let her go in the first place. He didn’t know what in the hell he was doing when it came to women.
He heard Grace’s stomach growl, and it pissed him off. He tightened his hand on her arms and pulled her to a stop. When she turned to look up at him, she was still pissed.
“What?”
“Have they been feeding you?”
She rolled her eyes and turned to start walking again as she answered. “Yes. Three times a day food is delivered to my suite.”
She’s staying in a suite. Good to know, it’d make it easier for him later when he was stalking her.
“I left before they brought up my lunch though because I’m sick of staring at the same walls.”
Now he was pissed again. “You haven’t left your suite?”
“Not until today.” Under her breath she muttered, “Stupid choice.”
At the manor, she stomped up the stairs and Baymac had to grin. Something about her fiery little attitude sent a thrill through him.
Grace made a bee-line for the stairs, but he steered her to the left instead. She glanced back at him questioningly.
“Gonna get you fed, woman.”
He took her to the manor’s cafeteria and ignored the looks from several Sentries who eyed him and Grace curiously.
They were standing in line with trays in hand. Baymac glanced down at Grace and felt proud at the excited glint in her eye as she glanced about the room. A slight grin tweaked her lips and it pleased him that something as simple as lunch in the cafeteria made her happy. His pleasure was short lived though when a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
“Sentry Southon!”
He turned and frowned hard at Chief of Security, King Mulholland. “What?”
“Nice!” King chuffed, sliding his eyes from Baymac to Grace. “We’ve been looking for you.”
Before King could get any closer, Baymac stepped in front of Grace. “She’s with me! What’s the problem?”
“She left her quarters without notification. We can’t have outsiders traipsing around the Estate unsupervised.”
“She’s. With. Me!” Baymac repeated and wondered at the feral possession tearing through him. He’d known King for years, the two were friends, but if he didn’t back down right this second, Baymac knew he was going to tear into him.
“Knock it off!” King ordered, planting his hands on his hips. “No one’s taking her from you. I just needed to know where she’d gone. You need to let me know the next time you decide to take her on a date.”
“This isn’t a date!”
King flashed a crooked smile and shot Baymac a mocking look. “Hope not. The cafeteria is shit compared to the Crow’s Nest.” King turned and stalked away, tossing over his shoulder. “Speaking of, Crow wants to see you.”
Baymac’s teeth were back to clenching all over again. Why in the hell was he so protective of Grace? Why hadn’t he taken her to the Crow’s Nest instead of the cafeteria? And why in the holy fuck did Monroe want to see him?
Chapter 16
Seated on a bench at a long table in the cafeteria, Baymac eyed grace’s tray and grinned. She’d gotten a bowl of chicken noodle soup, salad, and dinner roll with orange juice, but when they’d gotten to the end of the buffet line and she saw the dessert section, she’d lost her mind. Now, beside her decent lunch, she had a second tray filled with butterscotch pudding, a fudge brownie, and thick slice of banana bread slathered with butter.
He motioned with his fork to her trays. “You gonna eat all that?”
“Yes! I’m a card carrying member of the clean plate club.”
He believed her. Since they’d been together, the only time he’d seen her not finish her food was that morning at Kris and Mary’s when they’d been talking about her abusive ex. Her words came back to him, “He saved me in more ways than he’ll ever know.” He’d wondered at that comment often because he wanted to know what she’d meant. Shoving a piece of steak around his plate, he eyed Grace before finally asking, “You said your mom passed. You got any other family.”
“I have a sister,” she beamed.
That was news. “Why not go stay with her instead of with the Blackbirds?”
“She’s a year younger, fool hearty, and impulsive,” but she spoke the words like compliments, the smile on her lips slowly fading. “She’s also a little on the selfish side and a bit melodramatic, but I don’t know a single person who doesn’t love her the moment they meet her. She’s a people person. They just flock to her like bees to honey.” She shook her head.
“Sounds like that deflates you.”
“No. Not deflate. More…confuses. I’m quieter for sure, more introspective, but I’d still do anything to help anyone. I’m more reliable.”
“And it bothers you that people like her more than they like you?”
“No!” she snapped frowning up at him. “I get why people like her. She’s fun! I mean really, really fun. She hates work and as soon as five o’clock hits, look out. Cinderella’s carriage may have turned into a pumpkin at midnight, but the second she’s off work my sister turns into a sparkly party girl that no one can turn off. It’s like her whole goal in life is to trudge through the monotony of her day to get to the good parts. Ya know, like a kid that chokes down broccoli to get to dessert?”
“We’ve all done that.”
“Yeah, but most of us have grown out of it. As we grew into adult hood most of us grew to realize broccoli is good for us. We learned to eat our vegetables and forgo dessert altogether.”
“And she hasn’t.”
“Hell no! She kind of reminds me of Peter Pan and his lost boys. She refuses to grow up.”
“And you hate that.”
“No.” She shook her head sadly, staring off in the distance. “I envy it. I’ve also dissected it a million ways to get down to what it means and whether she’s doing it right and we’re all doing it wrong.”
“And?”
Grace shrugged. “It’s beautiful in theory, but,” delicate bro
ws speared down. “She hurts a lot. More than anyone I know.” Turning to face him, her frown deepened. “It’s like the rest of us have armor around our emotions and we pick and choose what to let in, but she doesn’t. Sometimes I think that her soul is like a window that she’s left wide open in hopes of not missing one single ray of sunlight. She leaves that window open through the winter, just in case, and through the night, just in case. The rest of us have the good sense to shutter things up when circumstances aren’t ideal, but it’s like she’s afraid she’ll miss one second of light so she withstands all the drudgery just for the prospect.”
“Sounds foolish.”
Grace snorted. “Or brave. Maybe we’re all just cowards. Maybe I’m the weak one. Maybe I’m living wrong. I’ve been living my whole life trying to give and help and ease the burdens for others in hopes that it’ll make me a good person, but maybe I’m not.”
Baymac grabbed her shoulders turning her to face him. “The fact that you even question it, Grace, is proof that you are. You think assholes stand around wondering if their doing enough, helping enough? Bad people don’t question whether they’re good enough. And your sister does what works for her. Let her. You do you. Sure people may not instantly fall in love with the person you are when they meet you, but people are lazy by nature. No one wants to have to work for anything anymore. They’d rather pick bruised low hanging fruit than have to climb to get to the good stuff. You’re worth the effort, Grace. I know that. I see that.”