by P. Jameson
He followed her through the yard, helpless to do anything else. On the front porch was a long rectangular box.
“Look! I got you a new one,” she blurted. “I hated the idea of your home being destroyed, so I wanted to make sure you had something to replace it.”
Blister stared at the box in shock, his heart twisting in his fucking chest. His throat burned with humiliation. His gaze went back and forth between her expectant face and the tent. It was obvious she was trying to help, but all it did was drive home how different he was. How he had to hide away from people when truly he wished he could just live.
But the fire had done more than damage his body. It damaged his soul.
He’d burned in his bed, while he slept. The idea of being in one again made him physically ill.
He’d gone back into his burning house over and over again, trying to save his family. No house had felt comfortable since.
The staring, the curiosity, the general sense of unease he got from others kept him separated from the masses whether he wanted to be or not.
He cleared the lump from his throat. “You really shouldn’t have.”
She rocked on her feet like a four-year-old at Christmas. “Well, you needed a place to sleep right? Or, actually, I thought this out. I wasn’t sure if it was the right kind or not, but I knew you wouldn’t want to stay in the big house. I remembered you said you liked to be alone.”
Goddamn it. She’d put so much thought into this. It broke his heart. He both hated and loved her gift. Hated it for what it represented. Loved it because she’d put such effort into it. Because it came from a place in her heart that genuinely cared about others.
A gift. When was the last time anyone had done something like that for him?
“So if the tent doesn’t work, I thought… I thought if you wanted, you could just stay here.”
Blister froze. The air around them grew tense with warning but Annie charged ahead with her plan.
“There are plenty of bedrooms for you to choose from. And I wouldn’t, you know, talk your ears off or anything. Or if you want something even quieter, you could um, stay in the storm shelter.” She hesitated. “It’s sorta like a tent but more… solid. It... well… I mean, it sounded like a better idea in my head.”
Stay here? With her. Whether it was the shelter or a bedroom, it was too close. Too dangerous. He couldn’t get close to her. He had to help from a distance. If he wasn’t careful, she’d feel the mating bond. And there was no way he was sentencing her to a lifetime with someone like him. Someone with his kind of baggage. Someone who couldn’t make her happy. She deserved more than what he could ever offer.
“I can’t be here with you. It isn’t right.” He lifted the box, hefting it up on his shoulder.
He caught the way her gaze fluttered to the ground, and it bothered him. Her expression had no name. Or at least none he wanted to claim. He stared at her. The corners of her mouth curved upward enough to be a small grin, but she didn’t look happy.
“Thank you for the tent,” he tried, hoping it would change whatever that look was on her face. “It’s… real nice.”
“Sure.” She nodded, taking a deep breath and giving him a fake smile. “No problem. Hope it helps.”
Blister frowned. But before he could say something stupid, he turned and stalked to his truck, throwing the tent in the bed. Without looking back, he started the engine and drove away from the awkward exchange. Just once he wished he could be around someone and not feel like every word or action was wrong. Just once. And maybe even with her.
It would make his fucking year.
Chapter Five
The hammering started at the break of dawn. Like, the actual break of dawn. There was exactly one streak of sunlight peeking through Annie’s curtain and judging by the bluish hue of her room, that ray was new as a baby foal in the spring.
Annie stumbled from her bed to peek out the window. But she was on the wrong side of the house. All she could see was several trucks full of lumber and other supplies. None of them were Blister’s.
She shook her head, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She wouldn’t dwell on him today. She had her house to think of. And that meant she needed to get dressed and meet the builders.
She threw on some comfy jeans and a t-shirt, and finger combed her mess of curls before padding downstairs. Taking a look at all the boarded up windows, she had a moment of despair. So much damage. And not even a call from Aaron. Did he even know an F-3 took a little touchdown in his home town? Probably not.
But at least Red Cap was okay. The sign out front had blown over, but it wasn’t anything that had to be dealt with immediately. She did close up for a couple days though, since several of her employees needed time off. People would be busy cleaning up. There wouldn’t be time for hanging out in a bar.
Music blared from somewhere, the sexy twang of Brantley Gilbert filtering through the open spots in her walls. Annie peered through the giant hole that used to be her laundry room. Whatever she’d expected to see, it wasn’t a bright-eyed, curvaceous, woman in a hardhat wielding a hammer.
She stopped mid swing, looking at Annie in shock. Her dark skin was already glistening with sweat. “Oh, hey there. You surprised me. R and R said you wouldn’t be home. Jackasses. Did we wake you?”
Annie waved her off. “No worries. Who’s R and R?”
A man who might as well have been Mr. Sexy Twang Gilbert’s twin, walked by carrying a stack of two by fours. He bent to drop them on the ground.
“Not there,” the woman called. “Set ‘em off to the side.”
He went a few more steps and dropped the load. Pulling up, his gaze fell on Annie and stayed there until she felt the urge to check her hair. Or brush her teeth. Dang, she hadn’t brushed her teeth.
“I’m Tana,” the woman said, sticking her hand out for a shake.
“Annie.”
Tana nodded, gesturing to the man as two more brought around a load of supplies. “This here’s Owyn. And these beautiful bastards are the ones responsible for the pre-rooster wakeup.”
The two men strolled forward all casual with friendly smiles.
The one with dark wavy hair and a native complexion spoke first. “I’m Renner, and this is Ryan, my brother.”
“In law,” Ryan interrupted.
Renner winced. “Yep, he’s still a little sore I ma…rried his sister, but what can I say.” He shrugged, with a grin. “Worth it.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Sorry we woke you, ma’am. We were under the impression you wouldn’t be staying here during the repairs.”
Annie frowned. “No, I’m definitely staying here. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Ryan glanced at Renner who looked increasingly uncomfortable.
“It’s just that… the work zone can be dangerous. We can’t take chances like that.”
“But I’ll stay out of the way. And…” She had to think of something to convince them, because she wasn’t leaving her home. “I can cook for you.”
She saw the way their mouths practically drooled at the mention of food. Tana nodded, a smirk on her lips.
“Yeah, I can cook. I bet y’all haven’t even had breakfast yet, am I right?”
“Damn dogs didn’t exactly invite us to eat. And everywhere in town is closed. If I’m flat honest, we had gas station breakfast burritos.”
Annie grinned wide. “See? You need me. Just think of me as part of the crew for the next few days. You all do the hard labor, and I’ll make sure you’re well fed. Deal?”
Renner glanced at Ryan, then Tana and Owyn.
“I’m not saying no to food,” Owyn rumbled. His voice matched his body. Thunderous. The guy looked like he could bench press a Hummer.
Renner sighed. “Yeah, okay. We’d appreciate it. But on one condition. You stay inside while we’re working. Agree?”
“Sure, but… there’s no door so outside, inside… it’s all sorta open to definition isn’t it?”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “You’re trouble aren’t you?”
“Nope. I’m just used to running the show.” She turned, calling over her shoulder, “Breakfast will be ready in an hour.”
In the kitchen, Annie let her troubles get whisked away as she scrambled eggs, fried bacon, and mixed and cut biscuits. She fresh squeezed orange juice and worked up a quick chocolate gravy, making sure the crew had some vitamin C to sustain them and some sugar to make the heat bearable.
She felt good. If her house was her home, the kitchen was her heart. It was where she felt most herself. Where she was most accepted. It was her safe place.
The construction team trickled inside just shy of the hour mark. They were sweaty and seemingly a little uncomfortable being inside a stranger’s house.
She’d just have to take care of that.
She tossed them a welcoming grin. “Go ahead, take a seat at the bar. Don’t worry about your boots. It’s hardwood floor. Easy to clean.”
Setting a plate in front of each of them, she continued chattering to set them at ease.
“So you’re from southern Arkansas?” she asked.
Renner nodded. “Lake Haven. Near Weston. We work on a lodge there, and also do construction around town. Occasionally we venture off the mountain for a job like this one.”
Annie nodded, dishing up eggs and bacon. “And which one of you is friends with the dogs?”
Ryan frowned at her, cocking his head to one side, and then throwing a questioning glance in Renner’s direction.
“The club,” Annie clarified. “Dirt Track Dogs. You’re here because they called, right?”
“Oh. Yes. Well, we heard about the damage, and offered our help,” Renner confirmed. “DTD offered us a place to stay if we fixed your place up. It was a win for everybody.”
After she’d finished plating their meal, Owyn stood, scooting around her to get to the sink to wash up.
“Can I use your bathroom?” Tana asked.
“Yep. It’s through the living room. The door on the left.”
“I know I should clean up, but damn,” Ryan muttered. “This smells amazing.” He shoved several forkfuls in his mouth and his eyes rolled back in his head. “There’s a god,” he said. “I know because there’s a heaven somewhere that serves this gravy every morning.”
Annie beamed. Chocolate gravy wins everything. As usual.
When Owyn finished, Renner took his turn at the sink. Soon Tana had returned and the four of them chowed down on Annie’s meal. Seeing their needs met brought her the deepest satisfaction. It met her own need to care for others. It made the sting of her broken house fade to the background. It made her forget about Blister’s odd reaction to her gift.
It helped. It truly did. But she knew it wasn’t the answer to her loneliness. If it was, she would’ve been satisfied serving people at her bar. Or helping Punk and Ella with whatever kink they found themselves in. But no, her aching was deeper than just being a help to people. She was looking for someone who could help her too. Someone who wanted her. Who couldn’t bear the thought of life without her.
She wanted the princess package, Belle edition, with the proper beastly prince who just needed a little tender loving care. Who would fight for her, and never leave her. Someone she could share her quiet life with. Be happy with.
But she was old enough to realize fairy tales didn’t exist. She just needed to convince her heart of that.
***
It was half past noon, and Blister had managed to stay away from Annie’s house for the entire day so far. The guys were working at the track, and he should be there helping them. Instead he’d been driving around town, making his truck turn in whatever direction would take him farther from her place.
Then he’d start for the track, get distracted, and find himself a block away.
He gripped the wheel hard enough to make his fingers cramp, and once again turned away from her side of town.
He wondered how she was. How the work on her house was coming along. How the cats were treating her.
That last one was tough. There were unmated males in that crew. And a human who had no ring on his finger. Any one of them could see what a beautiful soul she was, and try to take her for their own. The idea crippled him. Sent a shot of pain to his gut.
But she wasn’t his. Could never be. He had to give her room to find someone else. It was a shame for her to be alone.
Even as all these thoughts ran through his mind, he somehow found himself parked in front of her house. He just needed to check on her. One quick peek, and then he’d go. Just to make sure things were going smoothly with the repairs. And to make sure she was safe. Yeah.
Blister got out of his truck and walked around back where the sounds of hammers and saws could be heard. Renner waved him over, pulling off his safety goggles and wiping his brow.
“You here to check on us?” he asked with a sideways grin.
Blister nodded. “How’s it coming?” He looked around, taking count of where everybody was. Annie must be inside. Tana and Owyn were attaching the back door. That meant… the human was missing.
“Good,” Renner said. “There wasn’t any severe structural damage. The fix is relatively easy. We should be finished in a week at most. We’re waiting on a shingle order.”
Blister barely heard what he said.
“Where’s the human?”
Renner frowned. “Ryan? He’s inside finishing lunch.”
“Lunch?”
Renner hooked his hands on his hips. “Yeah. Annie offered to make us food. We accepted.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Oh, I dunno. To say thank you? Because there’s nowhere open to eat around here? Lots of reasons I suppose, but I didn’t really give her the third degree about it.”
Blister knew his expression was severe, but he couldn’t place what exactly bothered him so much. Of course she’d feed them. She was the most giving person he knew.
“The human eat slower than the rest of you?” Blister snapped.
Renner grinned wickedly, as if he could see right through Blister. As if he knew something Blister didn’t. “Yeah, that must be it.”
Blister stalked to the back door, slipping between the two cats trying to install it. But Annie’s voice froze him to the floor in the utility room.
“Oh my god,” she moaned in ecstasy. The sound made him feel like he’d been doused in ice water. Or gasoline. And then set on fucking fire.
“Hm, it’s so damn good.” The deep male voice made Blister absolutely murderous. “It… it actually feels good in my mouth. So soft and smooth.”
Mother. Fuck.
Blister clenched his fists tight, struggling with the rancid rage lighting his body up.
“I can’t believe you’ve never—” She gasped, cutting off the rest with a long moan of satisfaction.
“Trust me, I’ve wanted to before. But none of them ever appealed to me. I never wanted a taste. Not until I saw yours. Yours…” He groaned. “Yours is irresistible.”
Shit, shit, shit. He should turn around and walk out. He should pretend he hadn’t walked in here. He should go home, and never come back again. Just find a way to stop thinking about her. Let her go.
“I want more. Please, Annie. Can I have it all?” The breathless request turned Blister’s stomach. Tears of fury poked the back of his eyes.
Another helpless moan from her, gripped his chest in a vice. Those sounds, they should be for him. He should be kissing them from her lips. They should be whispered in his ear. His. They were his.
“I guess so. I… I can’t say no to you. Take it. Take it all. But do it fast before I change my mind.”
No. No, no, no.
Blister gripped his hair, pulling hard enough to be painful. He… he couldn’t. He couldn’t let her do this. Not yet. Not with someone she’d just met. Not with someone he’d practically delivered to her doorstep. He wanted her to wait. Just a little bit longer. Not forever. He wouldn’t
stand in her way forever. Just for now. Until she wasn’t fresh from a traumatic event. Just until he could handle the idea of his mate being with another without going batshit fucking crazy.
Just until then.
Blister burst through the door to the kitchen, fully intent on killing the asshole human, and hoping like hell he could get the image of the bastard between his angel’s legs out of his head when this was all over.
But the scene wasn’t what his fucked up mind had imagined it to be.
Annie’s lidded gaze jumped to him, becoming wide with surprise. The human didn’t pay him any attention at all. He just continued… stuffing his face full of food.
She smiled carefully. “Hi, Blister.”
He took a deep breath, shaking from emotions he couldn’t hope to contain. He wasn’t too late. It wasn’t what he’d thought. Shit. Fucking, shit. He’d almost strangled someone and it would’ve been a ghastly misunderstanding.
He needed to mark her. Claim her, so this could never happen again. He needed to touch her. Breathe her in, so he knew she was real and okay and safe and… his.
On shaky legs he walked to the bar where she leaned across, sharing a… cheesecake? with the human. They each had a fork and they were eating straight out of the pan.
“Everything okay?” she asked, her smile still in place.
Finally the human acknowledged his presence, looking up and noticing the glare Blister couldn’t stop from happening. The bastard raised his eyebrows as if to say, “What?” and Blister jammed his hands in his pocket to keep from throttling the guy for absolutely no reason except that he’d thought he’d had his hands on his mate.
Wisely, the human set his fork on the counter and stood. “I’d better get back to work. I’ll never live it down if I spend all my time eating while everyone else sweats.”
“Alright, but dinner will be at sunset, okay? Don’t forget.”
The human grinned, his expression charming. “I could never.”
He nodded at Blister and left.
Breathing through his mouth, Blister tried desperately to come down from his rage.
“Want some?” Annie asked, gesturing to the cheesecake with her fork.