by Rivi Jacks
“Oh, hell, Sofie, we both know you like stringing me along.”
“Paybacks, cuz—wait—” I put my hand on my hip in mock righteous indignation. “That’s Sam,” I hiss. “He’s the one who always gets us going about something and then makes us wait as we suffer.” How could I forget that? Sam takes a lot of pleasure in prolonging his stories, knowing how Sawyer and I can’t stand not knowing. Of course, Sawyer and I are guilty of always trying to one up on the other. “He’s rubbing off on us!”
We enter the kitchen laughing, and I see Max hanging up the phone. My heart gives a sharp lurch. I haven’t spoken to Lucas in two days. He warned me the last time we spoke that it might take that long before he’d be able to call again.
“Was that Lucas?”
“It was. He said he’d call you back in a couple of hours.”
I know my face registers my disappointment. I miss him so much.
“He will call,” Max assures me. “It will give you time to shower and eat.” He looks over at Sawyer. “I’ve fixed plenty of food if you’d like to stay.”
“Thanks for the offer, Max, but I have plans.” I snort softly, and he gives me a grin. “Actually, I’d better head on out and get cleaned up.” He gives my arm a quick squeeze. “I’ll call and check on you in the morning. Sorry about hurting you.”
“I’ll mend, Sawyer.”
I feel Max watching me as I see Sawyer out the back door.
“Taylor told me what happened. Are you okay?” Max asks as he sets out a place for one on the kitchen counter.
How the hell did Taylor get to him so fast? It just happened, and I left right after. I know for a fact that Taylor was still there in the arena when Sawyer and I left.
“I really am. I’ll have a bruise, but I’m okay.”
He nods and I think he’s going to say something but the moment passes and he crosses to the glass cupboard taking down a couple of wine glasses. He has taken to sitting with me while I eat, drinking a glass of wine with me. I enjoy his company.
“I think I will take a quick shower before dinner.”
He gives me a smile.
I limp to the bedroom, my hip starting to stiffen up. Maybe I need to soak the soreness away, and I think of the hot tub, quickly dismissing that idea. It would only bring back too many memories of spending time with Lucas out there. I’d probably end up missing him even more if that were possible. I opt for the quick shower, and I’m soon headed back to the kitchen.
“I’m starving,” I say as I sit, picking up my glass of wine. “Mmmm, this is good,” I say appreciatively.
“It is very good wine,” Max agrees.
“Do you know Lucas’ mother very well?” I ask, digging into my salad.
Max hesitates for a moment, a secretive smile crossing his face. “Yes, I know Alaria.”
“Lucas says she wants to meet me.”
“Yes, she does.”
I take another sip of wine as I study him. Does he know that from Lucas or from Lucas’ mother? “What’s she like?”
He hesitates again before his face breaks into a full smile. “Alaria is an extremely intelligent, beautiful woman. She’s one of the strongest people I know. She’s had to be. After Lucas’ father died, there were those who tried to control and manipulate her.”
My eyes widen. He’s in love with her! Does Lucas know?
“In the short time since Alajandro’s been gone, she has accomplished amazing things for our world.”
“Alajandro? Was that Lucas’s father?”
Max nods. “He’s never told you his father’s name?”
“He never really wants to talk about him.”
“Alajandro’s death was especially hard on Lucas. He admired his father greatly. With good reason.”
I go back to my salad, pleased that Max trusts me enough to share information about Lucas’ parents. I decide I’d like to know a little more about Max. “Have you been with Lucas a long time?”
Max smiles. “Since he was six.”
My wine glass stalls halfway to my mouth. “Really? I had no idea.” Wow. He’s been with Lucas a very long time.
“I was Lucas’— I don’t think referring to me as his tutor/bodyguard would be a wrong description.”
I wonder why Lucas would need a bodyguard, but on second thought, as a small boy, I’m sure he had a ways to go before he could defend himself.
“He told me he was a bit of a wild one when he was young.”
Max practically chokes on his sip of wine, and then he’s laughing deeply. His laugh is contagious, and I can’t help but grin. “You could say that. The escapades became more frequent and quite dangerous at times, once he met up with Dominic. He and Dominic could find trouble anywhere. And when Peter Scott joined them—”
“They were close with Peter?” This surprises me.
“They still are very good friends,” he assures me.
“From what Lucas has told me, I bet he gave his mother a bit of worry.”
I see the secretive smile come over Max’ face again. “A bit.” And then his expression becomes thoughtful. “Lucas is very much like his father.”
“He is?”
Max nods. “You—remind me of Alaria.”
Oh, no! Isn’t that a bad thing? The guy hooking up with you because you’re like his mother… Should I be worried? Okay. Now that I’ve eaten I feel the tiredness creeping in, and that always leads to stupid ideas and emotions.
I stand and take my plate and silverware to load in the dishwasher. “Max, I’m suddenly exhausted. I think I’ll go lie down and wait for Lucas to call.”
“Have a good night, Miss Sofie.”
“Night, Max. Thank you for a delicious supper and good conversation.”
I turn off all the lights letting the fire that’s burning in the fireplace provide the only light in the room. Snuggling down on the bed, I bring the phone over beside me. Almost instantly it rings.
“Hello,” I say softly, my heart beating a little faster.
“Sofe, what’s Cookie Jones’ phone number?”
“Sawyer?”
“Yeah, I need Cookie’s number.”
“What?” I frown and sit up, knowing Lucas will be calling at any moment. “I don’t know her number off the top of my head, Sawyer. I’m expecting a call from Lucas, and then I’ll look up her number and call you back.”
“I really need—”
“I’ll call you back, Sawyer.” I hang up and slide off the bed in search of my cell phone to look up Cookie’s number when the house phone rings again.
“Hi.” This time my voice sounds breathless, just thinking of hearing Lucas’ voice.
“Sofe, I gotta have that number. Mary Alice is pissed! She misinterpreted something I said and—”
“Sawyer, damn it! I’m expecting a call.”
“Lucas has call waiting, Sofe. This is important.”
“I’ll call you back,” I say firmly before hanging up again. One of these days—
My thought of doing bodily harm to Sawyer is cut short when the phone rings again.
“Sawyer Wayne Walker, if you call me one more time I promise I will come over there and kick your ass!” The sound of Lucas’ chuckle brings me up short. “Lucas!”
“Trouble with the cousin, my sweet?”
I give a strangled laugh, all my anger dissipating with the sound of his voice. “Is there a word for cousin killing?”
“Kinslaying,” he says without missing a beat.
I laugh. “I like that.”
I hear the expel of his breath. “How do you do that?” he asks.
I frown. “What?”
“I’ve had a hell of a day but hearing your laugh makes all the bad insignificant.”<
br />
I smile, biting my lip. “When are you coming home?”
“Soon. What have you been up to the last couple of days?”
“Work.” I sit back on the bed, leaning against the headboard. “And I’ve been going out to the Zelts every afternoon.”
“My sweet, is there something you need to tell me?”
What? Holy shit. He knows what I’ve been doing in practice. Werewolves and vampires have big mouths, and I plan on telling them just that. Do they have to tell him everything?
“Nothing that won’t keep until you get home.” In a bid to change the subject I add, “Maryanne’s been staying out at the Zelts. She hasn’t heard from Walter in a couple of days, is he with you?” I slide down on the bed, pulling his pillow over to wrap an arm and leg around it. I hope my question will distract him from his.
“No, but I’ve had contact with him, tell her he’s okay. Have you missed me?”
“Like crazy. Have you missed me?” I ask teasingly.
His laugh is dark and masculine. “I think you know the answer to that.” I smile and squeeze his pillow tighter.
“I’m ready for you to come home.”
“I promise to return to you as soon as possible, my sweet.” His voice holds a note of amusement. “Now I need you to make me a promise.”
I snort softly. “I promise to be careful,” I say in a monotone voice.
His sexy laugh fills me with yearning. “You already did, and I’m holding you to that promise.”
I frown. “Okay.”
“I need your promise you won’t kill Sawyer.”
I laugh.
His answering laugh is warm and deep. “Thank you for giving me a bright spot in my day, Sofie. I need to go though, I’ve left my men waiting while I called you. Just know that I will suffer thinking about you alone in my bed tonight.”
I roll to my side and pull his pillow back close. “Have a safe trip and hurry back.” I miss him more than I ever thought possible.
“Soon, my sweet.”
“Good night, Lucas. I love you,” I whisper.
Chapter Fourteen
Murphy’s is abuzz with talk about the goings-on of the night before when I arrive at work the next morning. I soon discover, while I was dreaming of Lucas using his sexual expertise to drive me to the brink, that the Kihn hit five different farms in the area, making off with an indeterminate number of cows. Each person who comes in to contribute what they know of the incident has a different total, ranging anywhere from five to fifty.
I hurry to turn my oven on in the back kitchen and pull out the chickens that I prepped the day before. I’m making my beer-marinated Bar-b-que chicken for lunch today. I get everything together and pop it all in the oven. The good thing about today’s lunch special is it all cooks together at the same time. After that, I head around the corner of the kitchen to pour me a cup of coffee.
“Mornin’, Sofie.”
I look up to see Reenie Adams—I guess it’s Reenie Stewart now. She seems hesitant in her greeting.
“Reenie.” I pull her into a hug, my eyes closing as I say another prayer for this incredibly sweet girl who has spent her life bullied by men. First by her father, who belittles and dominates her. And now— Well, don’t get me started on the creep she’s married.
“I was afraid you’d be mad at me,” she says softly.
“Never!” I release her. “Don’t ever think that.”
She smiles. “I hoped you weren’t.”
“Are you working today?”
“No, I knew you were and just wanted to say hello. Calvin is getting gas.”
I nod as I glance toward the front of the store where I can see out through the front windows, Calvin Stewart at the pumps. He’s talking to another customer, his chest puffed out in his ever-present swagger. It’s all I can do not to make a derogatory sound or comment. I’ve had a lot of practice though around Reenie.
I look back at her. “You know, we need to get together in the next couple of days and plan a shower for you.”
“That’s right,” Emma Rae says as she walks up to join us.
Reenie’s face breaks into a wide grin. “Really?”
“Of course,” Emma Rae says.
“Yeah, girlfriends always give each other a party when they get married,” I tell her. “So be thinking on an invite list.”
“Be sure and ask me,” Polly Walker chimes in. She’s stocking groceries and has overheard our conversation. “I wouldn’t want to miss your celebration, Reenie. And besides, remember how exciting the last party at Sofie’s was?” She laughs along with Reenie and Emma Rae.
“I hope we don’t have a repeat of anything like that,” I say, a little horrified at the thought.
The front door opens, and Calvin sticks his head in. “Let’s go,” he hollers in our direction and promptly turns, heading back to his truck, always the gentleman.
Reenie gives each of us a quick hug. “Thank you so much. I’ll call in a couple of days.”
“If you don’t, I’ll be calling you. Don’t forget that list, hon,” I tell her.
“Poor kid,” Emma Rae murmurs as we watch her leave.
I take my coffee and make my way to the dining area, plopping down in one of the booths to sit across from Sam.
“What’s up?” I ask.
He lays his phone on the table. “I can’t reach Sawyer, and I’m getting a little worried.” I look up from stirring my coffee. “When did you last talk to him?” he asks.
“Last night. He called to get Cookie’s phone number. He was supposed to have a date with Mary Alice.”
“What time was that?”
I frown. “Around ten.” I smile at a customer who greets us as he walks by. “Maybe you should call Mary Alice,” I begin, but he’s already picking up his phone. “When was the last time you spoke to him?” I ask. Sam’s worry, which isn’t normal for him, is starting to worry me.
“Right after training… Mary Alice? This is Sam, is Sawyer there?”
I watch as he raises his brow, pulling the phone away from his ear. I can hear Mary Alice on the other end of the line from across the table. I’d say she’s more than a little pissed.
“Well, I’m a little worried about him so if you see or hear from Sawyer, have him call me, please… No, I think he’s okay. Sofie did tell me that he called her to get Cookies number… Yeah… Just have him call Sofie or me,” —he quickly adds— “if you hear from him. Okay, I will. Bye.”
Sam shakes his head as he lays his phone back down. “You probably heard that she is none too happy with Sawyer. He never called Cookie.”
I sit up straighter. “He didn’t!”
“Now don’t worry—” Sam looks toward the other side of the dining room. “Here he is now,” he says with a laugh.
Sawyer crosses to our table, sitting down beside me and picks up my cup to help himself to my coffee.
“Sawyer, where have you been?” I ask.
“Bro, not cool you not calling or leaving a message. I had to come up with all kinds of excuses for you with Mom this morning.”
“Sorry, my phone died.” He says, reaching across the table helping himself to a piece of Sam’s toast.
“You lost your charger?” I ask snidely.
“I didn’t have my charger out in the middle of the woods, Sofie,” he replies right back at me.
“Have you heard? The Kihn—”
“Made off with cattle last night.” He finishes my sentence and leans in as he glances about as if to see who might overhear him. “Trust me that there would have been more taken if it hadn’t been for what Bud and I discovered.”
“Bud Jones?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah. Right after you called with Cookie’s number, I no more than
hung up when Bud called.” He looks over at Sam. “He said he tried to call you first, with no luck. I told him you were out with Rose.”
Sam nods. “I saw his number, but there was no message. Figured I’d call him later.”
“So what happened,” I press. I need to get back to the kitchen.
Sawyer looks around the dining room again. “We need to go somewhere a little more private.”
“I can’t go, I’m working.”
He gives me his best ornery grin. “Oh, so sorry, Sofe. You’ll have to wait to hear what happened.”
My eyes narrow on him. I know he’s paying me back for making him wait to hear about Jackson Hole. “Fine,” I say as I give him a jab in his ribs. “Let me out.”
I walk along to the front door and step outside with them.
“I’ll catch up with you later and fill you in, Sofie,” Sawyer says with a grin.
I nod. “Just know, Sawyer, that my story is better than yours.”
Sam laughs.
“Don’t bet on it, cuz.” Sawyer leans close and whispers, “We ran through the woods and played head games with the Kihn last night.”
My eyebrows lift. “Really?” I say smoothly. “Well, I physically fought off a Kihn in Wyoming,” I say smugly. “Before Lucas killed him,” I add in a hushed tone.
“What?” Both cousins ask at the same time.
I pull the door to Murphy’s back open. “I’m off at two. Pick me up then, boys, and we’ll swap stories out at the shotgun shack.” I’m grinning the whole way back to the kitchen.
I don’t have much time to dwell on what Sawyer has to tell. We’re so busy that the time flies. Friday afternoons are like that at Murphy’s.
On my way out to the shotgun shack, I give Maryanne a call at the Zelts. I’d gone out there all week, but Lucian decided yesterday afternoon that we’d take a break for the weekend. I think the break is for my benefit.
Working with the witches is mentally exhausting. They are making me dwell on things that for years I’ve done my best to forget or at least, not dwell on. Brit used what she called a type of hypnosis to help me recall even the most minute detail. Hershel explained that the info I gave them is revealing things they’ve never had the chance to investigate or that they’d never even known about the Kihn.