by Becca Van
“Okay, but don’t come too early,” Zayn said. “I want her to get as much shuteye as she can. Better yet, meet us at the building across from the store and next to the pub at lunchtime.”
“Why?”
Zayn smiled even though the retired agent couldn’t see him. “We’re planning a surprise for Tami. You might be able to lend a helping hand with some last-minute touches.”
“You’ve piqued my curiosity.”
“I don’t want to say anything over the phone in case Tami wakes up. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”
“Do you want me, Gabe, and Liam to do anything?” Preston asked.
“Actually, you could help with something. How are you at painting?”
“Pretty good. Why?”
“Can you be at the empty shop early in the morning? Around seven.”
“Yeah, we’ll be there.”
“Make sure you wear old clothes and bring some paintbrushes if you’ve got some. Doesn’t matter if you don’t. There’ll be plenty of supplies to go around.”
“Sure. See you at seven.
“Thanks, Preston.” Zayn disconnected the call and hurried toward the small office they had set up off the dining room.
Both Karter and Jace were busy talking on the phone. When Zayn saw the time, and he realized it was almost eight in the evening, he hoped his brothers had been able to order the supplies they needed and get them delivered later tonight. It was going to be a rush, but he was determined to have Tami’s surprise ready by lunch tomorrow. Thankfully, they had great friends who were all ready to jump in to lend a hand. He was hoping by giving this to his mate she would want to stick around forever.
He was hopeful but anxious at the same time. If this didn’t entice her to stay, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do.
Tamika Darnel was his life, even if she didn’t know it yet.
Chapter Five
Karter had been up since four a.m., and while he was tired, he was on pins. Excitement surged through his blood as he imagined the shocked pleasure lighting up Tami’s gorgeous face. He and his brothers had slept in shifts, taking it in turns to nap while the other two organized the deliveries they’d managed to get throughout the night. A few of the truck drivers had been disgruntled over the unusual delivery times, but they hadn’t complained overly much since they were all getting a five-hundred-dollar cash bonus for their trouble.
From the last report Zayn had given him, everything was on schedule. The plumber and electrician had completed their scheduled work just before eight this morning. The sinks and workstations had been positioned, all the product Emmy had ordered on their behalf had been delivered, and the painting was well underway. The shop windows had been cleaned, and the signwriting was nearly finished.
He’d spent the better part of two hours putting together shelves and setting them up where Emmy had directed him to put them, moving them from one spot to another before she was satisfied. Hairdryers, hair dyes, shampoo, and conditioner, as well as other hair products, now lined those shelves. A room out the back had been set up with a table and chairs and a coffee machine for whenever Tami wanted a break, and the waxing room was also complete with a bed. The cupboard was lined with newly washed towels and everything else needed.
Karter hadn’t realized how much stuff would have to be ordered until he’d called the pub and asked to speak with Emmy. When he’d explained what he and his brothers wanted, he’d been relieved when she told him to leave everything to her. Emmy, Pixie, Dusty, and Kenzie had gotten together at the pub and had scoured the internet looking to see what needed to be ordered.
From what Declan had told him, Emmy had been like a drill sergeant on the phone and hadn’t let anyone refuse her anything. Of course it helped that he and his brothers had said to spare no expense to get what they needed. If he, his brothers, and the other shifters in town hadn’t won the lottery, they might have ended up broke. All those bonuses they’d paid out would have kept a family in comfort for a whole year. Not that Karter cared. He just wanted to see Tami happy.
He was in the kitchen setting up the new laptop he’d bought for their mate with the appropriate bookkeeping software when he heard movement at the other end of the house. His lips curved up into a grin, and if he hadn’t been sitting down, he would have been pacing with excited anticipation. He just hoped that Tami was as excited as he and his brothers were. He had a feeling the other women were overjoyed at having a hairdresser in town, and while he was, too, it was for a completely different reason. The hairdresser was the woman of his and his brothers’ dreams.
Karter finished with the laptop just as he heard the shower turn off, and after shutting the computer down, he hurried into the kitchen and the freshly brewed coffee. He poured Tami a cup as well as one for himself and then set about making his mate breakfast. He wasn’t sure what she liked to eat first thing, but since it was almost lunchtime, he decided she needed something substantial to get her through the rest of the day. Scrambled eggs on toast was a good source of protein and carbs, and if he loaded the egg mix with bell peppers, spinach, and cheese, she would be getting some of the vegetable daily requirement. He just hoped he didn’t burn it. The only food he and his brothers were any good at making was breakfast.
He’d just finished plating their food when Tami entered the kitchen. “Hey, honey, how did you sleep?”
“Like a log.”
Karter grinned and winked when she blushed. His cock twitched, and his wolf howled at such a pretty sight. “I’ve made us some breakfast. Could you grab the coffee mugs, please?”
“Sure.”
Karter grabbed the plates and carried them over to the dining table before setting them down in the set places. He pulled a chair back for Tami and seated her and then sat next to her. She picked up her coffee, blew at the steaming brew, and took a sip. After glancing about, she met his gaze. “Where are Zayn and Jace?”
“They’re at the store, hon.” Karter didn’t feel bad about lying to his mate because it wasn’t really a lie. His brothers were at the store, just not theirs.
Tami frowned at him. “You look tired. Did you have trouble sleeping?”
“No. I slept, but I got up early to do some of the office work.”
She nodded as she picked up her knife and fork. “I know what that’s like. I used to help my boss enter all the data into the software.”
“Why didn’t you ever have your own salon, hon?” Karter shoved food into his mouth and chewed while waiting for Tami to reply.
“I wanted to achieve my goals on my own. My father had money, and while he offered to set me up with my own business, I refused. He’d worked his way up from nothing to get where he was, and I wanted to do the same.”
“That’s admirable, Tami.”
She shrugged as she chewed and then swallowed. “I guess so. I’ve been independent for a long time.”
“How long?” Karter asked.
“Since I was five and my mom died. My dad was so grief stricken he nearly worked himself to death. I spent most of my time with a babysitter, and she wasn’t a great choice since she was just a teenager herself. Colleen was nice enough, but she was more interested in boys and chatting with her friends to be bothered by me, so I learned to do for myself.”
Karter hated that Tami had been left to her own devices when she wasn’t much older than a baby. Even though she’d kept emotion from her tone while she’d been talking, he’d smelled her pain. He had no right to judge her father, or anyone else for that matter, since he wasn’t in their shoes, but his heart ached for that lonely little girl.
“We ended up stronger and closer for it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was cooking and cleaning by the time I was seven years old. My dad’s company shares were just hitting the market, and he was so busy with his business he barely had time to sleep. When Christmas came around that year, I think my dad finally realized how much time we’d spent apart. He hired on more people and took fo
ur weeks off. Even though it was just the two of us, we had the best Christmas since my mom had passed. From that moment on, Dad made sure he was home in time for dinner each evening unless he was needed to fix a major problem.”
“I’m glad he saw the light, hon.”
“Me, too.” Tami finished her last bite of food and pushed her plate aside. “Thanks for breakfast. That was delicious. I thought you couldn’t cook?”
“We can’t, but we need to eat, so we learned how to make at least one meal we didn’t end up throwing in the trash.” Karter winked. “You’re welcome, honey. I’m glad you liked it.”
Tami began gathering the dishes and, after rinsing them, put them in the dishwasher and wiped the counter down. Karter knew she was worrying about something when she kept looking at the clock. He took the dishcloth from her hand, and after rinsing it, he wiped down the table. “Do you think you could give me a lift into town? I promised the other women I’d cut their hair for them.”
“Sure, Tami. Why don’t you go and get your things and we’ll head out soon?”
“Okay. Thanks, Karter.”
Karter nodded instead of saying what was on the tip of his tongue. I’d do anything for you, mate.
* * * *
Tami sat quietly in the passenger seat as Karter drove the truck toward town. She took note of how far apart the houses were and the scenery as he drove. Last night she’d been too tired to concentrate on anything, so she was making up for that lack now. The area around Ambrose was pretty with lots of trees, and the houses she’d glimpsed through the trees and bushes looked nearly new with their modern facades and the surrounding landscaped gardens.
“How long has it been since you’ve cut someone’s hair, hon?” Karter asked.
She turned toward him with a smile. “Not that long. I was lucky enough to fill in at a few salons while I was traveling. I also worked at a diner, café, and as a kitchen hand in a hotel. I wasn’t that great as a waitress, but I held my own enough that the owners or my employers didn’t kick me out.”
“I’m sure you weren’t that bad,” Karter said.
“I was in the beginning. The first day I worked at the diner I think I mucked up my first three orders. I’d only traveled a few hours to Flagstaff, Arizona, and while I wanted to keep moving, the bus I chose next wasn’t leaving until the next day. Even though I still had plenty of money, when I saw a help wanted ad in a diner, I thought I may as well line my pockets so I didn’t run out of cash.”
“Smart move.” Karter nodded.
“I think the people placing their orders were regulars, and they rattled off what they wanted so fast I could barely keep up, but I also managed to write a couple of wrong things down. I was so nervous I couldn’t concentrate and wasn’t hearing properly. Thankfully, the customers weren’t angry at the mix-up.”
“What about the manager?” Karter glanced her way before shifting his gaze back to the road.
“Peggy was wonderful. When I told her I’d screwed up and changed the orders, she just smiled and patted me on the shoulder and said, ‘Don’t worry, love. Others have put in orders for that. Why don’t you take those plates out to table four?”
“She sounds like a good person.”
Tami nodded and giggled. The laughter froze in her throat when Karter looked into her eyes again. He was gazing at her as if she were a piece of raw meat set out for a starving lion. There was so much heat in his gaze she had to look away so she wouldn’t be burned.
“Why was she a good person?”
She shivered when his deep raspy tone sent tendrils of heat skating up her spine. After taking a steadying breath and licking her lips, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Fortunately—or unfortunately, she wasn’t sure which—his eyes were back on the road. “She reminded me of an actress from a sitcom my babysitter used to watch. Her character’s name was Peggy.”
“Married with Children?”
“How did you know that?”
“There aren’t that many shows with a female character named Peggy.”
“I guess not.”
“Did you like the show?” Karter asked as he slowed the truck and came to a stop at an intersection. After making sure there was no traffic, he turned and the sign to Ambrose was only about two hundred yards away. There were trucks and cars lined up and down the street, and people strolled along peering into windows. For a small town, it was certainly busy for a weekday.
“It was okay. I was very young when I saw it. Looking back there was a lot of humor, but I didn’t understand it then. Do you like it?”
“It’s not really my thing.” Karter shrugged as he once more slowed the truck, indicated, and then parked in a space right outside the surplus store.
“Where are all these people from?” she asked as she gazed at the people walking along the street and the vehicles parked by the sidewalk.
“They’re here for the musicians playing at the pub,” Karter explained.
“Oh. Yeah someone said something about that last night.”
Tami frowned when she noticed the closed sign in the door to their shop. When she peered in the window, she realized that all the lights were off, too. “Where are Jace and Zayn? Why have the closed the shop? I thought you said they came in early to open up?”
“They did. Maybe they went to the diner to get some food.”
Tami’s frown deepened when Karter glanced away. She had a feeling he was lying to her. She was about to ask him why, but he got out of the truck before she could. He hurried around to her, opened the door, and after she unlatched her seat belt, he grasped her waist and lifted her down. She clutched at his bulging biceps and gasped with awe when she felt them flexing under her hands. Karter and his brothers were so muscular and fit it was a wonder she wasn’t drooling all the time.
“I need you to do something for me, Tami.”
“I will if I can.”
“Will you please close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them?”
She could feel the tension in his arm muscles as he waited for her reply. While she thought it was a peculiar request, she wanted to please him. He, Zayn, and Jace had taken her into their home without knowing who she was when she’d had nowhere else to go. They’d been so kind to her, and she wanted to repay them in some way. So if Karter wanted her to close her eyes, she would.
“Okay.”
“Thank you, honey. You won’t regret trusting me, I promise.” Karter leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Heat surged through her heart, and her blood and other body parts lit up with need. As Karter straightened again, she found herself staring at his sexy mouth. She wanted to have those lips on hers. When she realized her thoughts were heading into carnal territory, she pushed them aside and met his gaze again. She quickly closed her eyes when she saw answering heat in his amazing gray orbs.
Karter moved to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll tell you when you need to step up or down so you won’t fall. If you don’t feel comfortable with me guiding you, I could carry you.”
“I’m good. I trust you, Karter.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Tami realized they were true. She trusted him, Jace, and Zayn more than any other person she’d ever known except for her father. When the story about the embezzling had come out, she’d been devastated, and while she wasn’t unequivocally certain her dad hadn’t been stealing money from his shareholders, she didn’t think he had. For all intents and purposes, there was no reason for her dad to swindle money away from his business or other hardworking people. The very large house they’d been living in had been paid for with cash. Her dad held the majority of the shares in his company, and if he’d been strapped for cash, he could have sold more to improve his cash flow. He wasn’t a spend thrift and only wined and dined when necessary for the sake of the business, and that was all tax deductible.
When Karter started guiding her, she pushed her disturbing thoughts aside and concentrated o
n each step. While she currently couldn’t see where she was going, she didn’t want to make a fool out of herself by stumbling because she was inattentive.
“Stop, hon,” Karter said. “We’re about to step down from the curb.”
“Okay.”
“Ready?” Karter laced his fingers with one of her hands while keeping his arm around her shoulders.
“Yeah.”
“Step down.”
Tami let him lead her wherever they were going and wondered what all the secrecy was about. She heard a beep and presumed that a door had just been opened and knew she was right when the sun’s warmth was no longer shining down on her head. She heard a couple of murmurs and some scraping noises and was about to open her eyes to see what was going on, but Karter placed a hand over them before she could.
“Not yet, Tami. You can open your eyes in a minute. Okay?”
“Okay.” She heard rustling and scurrying, and she frowned as she wondered what was going on. The smell of fresh paint assailed her nostrils. It was tempting to push Karter’s hands from her eyes so she could see what was happening and where she was, but she’d told Karter she’d be patient. A breeze drifted over her, and it took her a few seconds to realize someone had opened the door behind her or moved off to the side.
A moment later Karter removed his hand from over her eyes. “You can open your eyes now, honey.”
Tami opened her eyes and blinked. She glanced about with shock. She was standing in a newly fitted-out hairdressing salon. There were two sinks over at the far wall, and when she gazed at the seats below them, she was sure she was looking at a couple of heated massage chairs. There were three work-stations with electrical outlets set into the small counters, above which were mirrors. The lighting was bright and white, making it easy to see without having to strains one’s eyes, and there was a door on the right side of the room, which was wide open, and she was sure she was seeing the corner of a waxing bed. Shelves lined the walls with hair products, and there was a small desk with a phone system and a laptop.