Nashville Nights [Mountain Wolf Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  “Yeah, I do. But like I’ve told you before. Don’t worry about the money. I’ve got it covered.”

  He tried not to notice how flat her chest had become as she drew in a hard-won breath. The cancer was feeding off her body, transforming her once healthy frame into a skeletal one.

  “Fine. Then tell me about your love life.”

  He made a face. “Talk about the women in my life with my sister? Like hell I will.”

  “I don’t want to know about the girls you’ve have sex with. God, no. But I do want to hear about the cute little singer you’ve been nosing around.”

  He shook his head, reached out to pat her arm, then thought better of it.

  “I won’t break if you touch me, you know.”

  But he didn’t know. She was too frail, and it scared the hell out of him to think he’d ever cause her pain. “Who told you about Rae? Was it Stone?”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. I never reveal my sources. Now give. What’s she like? Stone likes her, too, right? Is she the one?”

  Sheila knew about the connection as well as any werewolf. “If you’ll slow down so I can get a word in edgewise, I’ll tell you.”

  “Oh, my word. She is the one, isn’t she? It was written all over your face when you said her name. She’s real pretty, I bet.”

  “She’s beautiful and smart and talented. And yeah, Stone more than likes her.”

  “Wow. My big brother is in love. I have to meet her.”

  He could hear the unspoken “before I die” and closed his eyes against the heartache. She put her hand on top of his, and he almost lost control of his emotions. Gone were the days when he’d wrestle her to the floor and pull her hair. He missed her touch all too much since she’d grown so ill.

  “I hope that’ll happen real soon.” He couldn’t tell her that Rae was angry with him. If he did, he’d have to tell her why.

  “You guys have found your intended mate. Oh, Wy, I’m so happy for you.”

  “Then you’d better hurry up and get better. We’ll have a big party to celebrate, okay?” Talking about a future that wasn’t going to happen hurt like hell, but he knew she enjoyed it.

  “Ooh, can we have the party on the bridge? I love looking at the lights in the city and on the boats floating down the river.”

  The Shelby Street Bridge that spanned the Cumberland River gave pedestrians a way across from the main drag of Nashville’s country music scene over to LP Stadium that was used for festivals, music events, and football games. Sheila would spend hours gazing at the lights from the surrounding town. Or at least, she used to.

  “Sure. Where else would we throw it?”

  She’d lifted her head in her excitement. When she lay back, he saw the dark circles under her eyes. “I hope I get to see it again.”

  He swallowed back a groan. “Sure you will. Don’t talk like that.”

  Her hand slid off his. “Wy, you have to be realistic. I’m not going to get better.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You have to fight, little sis. For you and for me.” He couldn’t let her think that way. Hell, he couldn’t let himself think that way. “You’re going to be up and kicking my ass before you know it.”

  “No I won’t. And don’t you hide from it.” She let out a shaky sigh, the rattling sound weak and terrifying. One of these days she’d sigh and wouldn’t draw in another breath. “It’s okay, you know. I’m ready to go.”

  Anger mixed with the pain tightening his chest. “Damn it, sis. I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that. You’ve got to fight this shit.”

  “I know. I know.”

  As they always did, they let the conversation drop. She wouldn’t push him to accept the inevitable and knew she didn’t have to. Although he’d never say it out loud, he was all too aware that the end was near.

  “I love you, you big jerk.”

  That brought a smile to his face. She’d called him a jerk for as long as he could remember. “Yeah, and I love you right back, you little twerp.”

  It was always the same way. He waited until she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Then he leaned over, pressed a light kiss to her cheek, and went back to his world, leaving his hope for his sister behind.

  * * * *

  Rae saw Wyatt and Stone coming into the restaurant and backed up until she was against the swinging door that led into the kitchen. She’d known they’d come and had looked toward the front door more times than she’d like to admit. They’d called her many times since she’d left their home, but she’d never answered. How could she when she wasn’t sure what she’d say?

  “Don’t worry, guys. I thought you cared for me, but now I know it was just your way of getting me into bed. Hey, if you took a video, be sure to send me the link on Face Place.”

  Yeah, like she’d ever say anything like that.

  They were lying to her about the contest. That much she knew. But as life had taught her, one lie often led to another. She couldn’t stand the thought of confronting them only to hear them lie again.

  She peered through the small rectangular window of the door as they approached Melinda. True to her word, Melinda told them that she wasn’t working. They didn’t believe her, and she ducked back as they turned her direction.

  Her heart pounded as she moved farther into the kitchen. “I need a break.”

  Joel, one of the older cooks and a good guy, took one look at her and nodded his head. “You don’t look so good, Rae. If you want to head on home, I’m sure the others will cover for you.”

  She hadn’t wanted to let her heartbreak interfere with her work. After crying on Carolina’s shoulder for the past few days, she’d thought she’d finally shed all the tears she had in her. But she realized how wrong she was as she met Joel’s eyes.

  “I think I might do that. Can you tell them for me?” She put her hand over her stomach as it did a sickening flip-flop. “I really need to get out of here.”

  “No problem. Get going before you lose it.” He often spoke in a gruff manner, but he was a teddy bear underneath it all. “I’ll handle everything.”

  “Thanks, Joel.”

  Not bothering to take off her apron, she grabbed her purse from her locker, then pushed through the rear door that led to the employee parking area. She did a quick check to make sure the men hadn’t already gone outside to wait by her car as they’d done before, then hurried over to the Jetta. She was behind the wheel and moving through the parking lot and onto the street as fast as she could go.

  Once on the road, she punched on the radio, then grimaced when a slow tearjerker of a country song came on. Instead of singing along as she usually did, she put her foot on the accelerator. She was going far too fast before she saw the flashing lights behind her and the sound of the siren.

  No. Please. Not now.

  She pulled over, then lowered her window as the officer strode toward her. “I’m sorry, officer.”

  “Do you know how fast you were going?” He was tall with wavy dark hair and a body that had seen the inside of a gym.

  Before meeting Wyatt and Stone, she would’ve given him a big smile and flirted, hoping to get off with a warning. He was her type of man. But now? Her heart was already taken.

  “No, sir.” She closed her eyes, determined not to cry. “It’s been a rough day. Hell, a rough week.” His scrutiny was hard to take, but she held on, praying he’d hurry up and write the ticket.

  Please. Get it over with so I can go home.

  “You were going forty-five in a thirty-mile-an-hour zone.”

  What could she say other than what she was supposed to say? “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I’ll be more careful in the future.” She fished her license from her purse and started to hand it over.

  He didn’t respond, not with words or by writing her the ticket. Instead, his scrutiny intensified. It was several moments before he leaned over and got a better look at her.

  “You’re Rae Barnes, aren’t you?”

  He hadn�
�t seen her license. So how did he know her name?

  “Yes.” She squinted up at him. “Have we met?”

  “You don’t know me, but I know you. I’ve heard you sing at The Dive.”

  “Oh.”

  “Ms. Barnes, put your license away. I’m going to let you off with a warning this time. As long as you promise to watch it from now on.”

  Finally. A break.

  “I will. And thanks. I really appreciate it.”

  He put his pen back in his pocket and put on a pleasant expression. “See that you do.” Turning, he took a few steps toward his patrol car, then pivoted around. “Hey, Ms. Barnes?”

  “Yes?” Please don’t let him change his mind.

  “I’m rooting for you.”

  “You are?”

  “Yeah. You know. To win the contest.” Giving her a half salute, he headed back to his cruiser.

  She was still trying to hold back the tears when he pulled alongside her, lifted his hand in a wave, then picked up speed. Her hands gripped the steering wheel hard, her knuckles turning white as the tears started streaming down her face.

  * * * *

  “You know she’s in there.” Stone maneuvered the truck around to the rear of Lacy Lou’s House of Barbecue.

  “Or at least she was.” Wyatt searched the lot, then slapped his hand on his leg. “Damn it. I bet she saw us and slipped out the back way. Melinda did a fine job of stalling us.”

  “Can you blame her?” Since Rae had left them, Stone had gotten angrier each day at the situation Wyatt had put them in. If they ended up losing Rae because of Wyatt’s mess, he wasn’t sure he could forgive his friend.

  “Naw. Of course I don’t.”

  Then again, Wyatt was as close to him as a brother and he’d stick by him come what may. “Look, we need to figure out a way to get Jac his money back. Even if we need to go to the pack and ask for their help. I’m willing to chip in.”

  Wyatt was as dejected as he’d ever seen him after going to see Sheila. He hated that he was going through financial troubles with Sheila getting sicker every day. All that he’d gone through had only delayed the awful outcome. The doctors had told Wyatt that she wouldn’t last much longer. As much as he loved Sheila like a sister, he couldn’t imagine the agony Wyatt was going through. He wasn’t sure if his friend could handle losing her.

  “Thanks, man, but I’ve made my decision.”

  Stone kept driving. “Decision about what?”

  “I’m dropping out of the competition.”

  Stone couldn’t help but guffaw. “You don’t even know if you made the finals yet.”

  “Of course I did. I’m slated to win the thing.”

  For a moment, Stone had forgotten about that. “Yeah. I know. But how’s dropping out going to help?”

  “It’ll help by letting the real winner claim their prize. The more I think about winning a rigged contest, the more my stomach gets churned up. I can’t do that to you or Rae or anyone else who deserves to win.”

  “I respect that, but Jac’s going to have your hide.”

  “Let him. He can have my sorry ass or give me more time to get the money another way. At least then no one else gets hurt.”

  “We need to tell the pack.”

  Wyatt growled, letting his wolf come out. “I said no. Let it go.”

  Stone’s wolf heard the sound of the other animal threatening to break free and howled, demanding that it be allowed out, too. Some days were harder than others to keep his wolf in check. He clenched his teeth and ordered it into submission. “They’ll find out eventually. They always do.”

  “Not if you keep your trap shut.”

  “But that’s what a pack is for. To keep each other safe.” He was, as they said, barking up the wrong tree. Wyatt was too proud to go to the pack leaders and explain how much he’d messed up. The pack would bail him out because he was one of them, but it would kill Wyatt’s pride.

  “I said no and that’s it. Enough said.”

  Stone stared at the road in front of him. “And what about Rae?”

  “She’s all yours.”

  He almost skidded off into a ditch. “Mine? What are you talking about?”

  “I’m out of it. She doesn’t deserve to be saddled with me and my problems.”

  Stone glanced to side as Wyatt shifted toward him. “She’s your mate as much as she’s mine.”

  “Yeah, but I’m no good for her. You are. So you take her and make her yours. Have the life we’ve talked about having. Have a slew of kids and the whole enchilada.”

  Stone steered the truck onto their street then brought the vehicle to a stop in their driveway. “That’s bullshit. It’s the three of us or nothing.”

  Wyatt slung open the door before glaring back at him. “You and Rae. That’s how it’s going to be.” He slid out of the truck and stalked down the path leading to the front porch.

  Stone rested his arms on the steering wheel and watched as his best friend entered the house. Some way, somehow, he’d get Wyatt the help he needed.

  Chapter Nine

  “Oh, my word, Rae, you’re in!”

  Rae blinked, bringing her back to the real world. She didn’t know how long she’d sat in the chair, staring out the window until Carolina’s excited shout brought her out of it. “What?”

  Carolina raced into the room carrying her laptop with her. “Are you kidding me? I figured you would’ve checked earlier today when they said they’d come online.”

  “When what would come online?” Since that night when she’d sat by the side of the road and cried, her mind had gone into a funk, filled with cobwebs that wouldn’t let her think straight.

  “The list of finalists for the contest, of course.” Carolina sank onto the cushion next to her. “Look. You’re on the list.”

  Rae’s gaze slipped to the screen. She was right. Her name was there, along with Wyatt’s and Stone’s. It should’ve been one of the best days of her life, and yet, she felt nothing but sadness.

  “Why aren’t you excited? You made it, Rae. You’re one step closer to having your dream come true.”

  Her dream? What dream?

  Carolina laid the computer on the coffee table. “Okay, that’s it. You’ve got to tell me what’s going on? Ever since you came home from seeing your guys, you haven’t been yourself. What happened? When you called me that night to say you weren’t coming home, you sounded happier than I’ve ever heard you. Then the next day you acted like you’d lost your best friend.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” She clamped her jaws together, refusing to share her misery.

  “Oh, I see. Something went very wrong after you called. What is it? Are they gay? Are they lousy in bed? Naw. From what I saw that one night, they’re definitely sexually satisfying.”

  Rae inclined her head and narrowed her eyes.

  “Okay. They’re hetero and good in bed. So what else could it be?” She leaned back. “Shit. They’re either hooked up with someone else, or worse, married. You just say the word and I’ll have them taken out behind The Dive and beaten so hard no one but their mother could love them. No one treats my friend that way.”

  “No. It’s nothing like that. And you couldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “Watch me.”

  Carolina had a kind heart and a compassionate nature, not to mention a fierce sense of loyalty.

  “It’s not that. It’s just that— Never mind.” She couldn’t tell her about the contest. After thinking about it for some time, she didn’t think she could tell anyone. Even if he was in the wrong, she couldn’t do that to Wyatt.

  “You’re taking this one to your grave, aren’t you?”

  “I am.”

  Carolina brought her into a hug. “That bad, huh? Are you sure you don’t want to tell me?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “But it’s about them, right?”

  Carolina was as persistent as they came. “I’m not going there.”

  “Okay, so that
tells me it is.”

  “Please, Carolina. Drop it.”

  “Fine. I’ll let it go on one condition.”

  She almost smiled. Carolina could’ve given a bulldog with a bone a run for his money. “What’s that?”

  “You promise you get on that stage next Saturday and whip their butts. Oh, yeah, and win the whole thing while you’re at it.”

  As if that was even possible. But she couldn’t let her friend know. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Good.” Carolina dipped her head and peered at her. “If they don’t know what they had, then they don’t deserve you. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah. If you say so.” She wiped away a tear. “Damn. I didn’t want to cry again.”

  “Aw, sweetie, what are friends for?” Carolina patted her shoulder. “See this? It’s always here whenever you need it. That along with a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream.”

  “Thanks.” She couldn’t resist. Her face crumpled as she put her head to her friend’s shoulder and let her sorrow spill out.

  * * * *

  Wyatt leaned against his truck then pushed away from it to pace back and forth, only to lean against it again. If Rae didn’t show up soon, he’d have to track her down another way.

  “Will you relax?”

  Stone was one to talk. He was just as jittery. He just hid it better. “Where the hell is she? Her shift ended thirty minutes ago.”

  “Give her time to count her tips and drive home.” Stone ran a hand though his hair. “Wait. There she is now.”

  Rae was parking her car next to the curb when she finally realized that they were waiting for her. For a moment, Wyatt was sure she wouldn’t get out of her car, and instead, would drive away. When at last she got out, she clutched her purse to her chest, put her head down, and strode toward the house at a fast clip.

  “Rae, come on. You’ve got to listen to us.”

  She whirled on Wyatt, her expression a furious mask that hid none of the torment inside her. “Why should I? So you can lie to me again?”

  “We didn’t lie to you.” Wyatt wanted Stone to come alongside him. At least then she’d have more than one target for her fury. It made him feel like a chicken shit, but there it was.