The only one who dared standing close enough was Alex, who prowled along beside him like a wingman from hell.
One had flashing silver eyes, and the other’s were cold as ice.
“Liam,” Jess said, her lips practically puckered to kiss his ass.
“That’s Mr. Mattison to you,” he said, turning the weight of his gaze on her. She wilted instantly, and he flicked his stare to the other girl.
When his eyes turned to me, everything about them softened as he assessed me for damage. I wanted to roll my eyes, but secretly, I was kinda relieved.
His clenched jaw loosened and his lips turned up. “Bring my baby over here,” he said gently, crooking a finger in my direction.
I did roll my eyes then and walked toward him, cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
The second I was within reach, both his palms covered my belly, engulfing it, and a small part of me swooned. I died a little every time he did that. Every time he held our baby in his hands.
Despite literally vibrating with anger and silently daring anyone to speak or move, Liam dropped down on his haunches in front of me and pressed his lips to my belly. “Plug your ears, pumpkin,” he murmured. “Daddy has to take out the trash.”
“Liam.” I warned. He stood swiftly, raising to his full height and slipping back into that beast mode of his. He cupped the back of my head, kissed my hairline, and then gently but deftly pushed me behind him.
I glanced at Alex, widening my eyes. “Do something.”
“He’s got this handled,” Alex said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“That’s not what I meant,” I muttered.
“You’re fired.” The words were lashes from Liam’s mouth.
“But, Mr. Mattison!” Jess exclaimed. “It was a misunderstanding.”
“You’re right,” he intoned. “It was. You never should have been hired in the first place.”
“We were just joking.” The girl beside Jess jumped in. “Bellamy knows that. Tell them,” she implored.
Alex nudged me. “Girl, why didn’t you tell me this was still going on?”
Liam whipped around. “Still going on?”
“They’ve been giving her a hard time since she got here, bro. Even after all them dishes she washed and vegetables she cut.”
Liam’s eyes flared, pinning me. “What’s he talking about?”
I gave Alex the stink eye.
He shook his head. “Girl, I gave you time to handle it. Clearly, this needs a heavier hand.”
“Have you been doing other people’s work in here?” Liam asked me, quiet. Deadly.
I balked. “No. I just help where it’s needed.”
Alex leaned in toward Liam. “She was washing dishes the night I came to pick her up…”
Realization flashed across his face, and I knew he was thinking back to the night I was attacked here, realizing I’d stayed late to pick up kitchen duty.
Chef D’alessio chose that moment to walk into the room. “What’s going on in here?” he bellowed. “Why isn’t anyone working? Of all the impertinent—” His words died the second he stepped around a station and saw Liam and Alex. “Mr. Mattison. Is something wrong?”
Liam turned his head to pierce the chef with his cool stare. “Actually, yes. I’m wondering what the fuck kind of kitchen you’re running here.”
“I beg your pardon,” he replied, terse.
The rest of Liam rotated so he was fully facing the chef. “It’s come to my attention that you’ve been allowing your kitchen staff to blatantly harass another, and you’ve been allowing her to pick up the slack of your other employees.”
“I can assure you—”
“I would be very careful with whatever words you choose right now.” Liam advised very quietly.
“Jess? Monica?” Chef looked between the two pale women. “Are you involved?”
“They no longer work here.” Liam informed him.
“Y-you fired my staff?”
“They’re my staff.” Liam cut him down. “And yes, I did.” He turned back to Jess and Monica. “Get out.”
“Please.” Monica stepped forward, about to beg.
“Out!” Liam roared.
Someone off to the side jumped at his sudden yell and knocked a pan off a table. It clattered against the hard floor.
Both girls raced for the door.
“Oh, and, ladies?” Liam beckoned.
The both stopped, turning back, wary.
Liam took a step forward. “Telling a pregnant woman she is going to be kicked to the curb as soon as she has her baby is the epitome of disgusting. If I ever see either of you on BearPaw Resort property again, I will have you physically removed.”
One of the girls let out a cry as they both raced from the room.
When they were gone, a collective breath seemed to fill the room.
But Liam wasn’t done.
“And for the record.” He spoke loudly for everyone to hear. “I want this baby, and I’m in love with his mother. If I hear anyone whisper anything remotely resembling anything but that, you will join those two idiots in exile.”
“Liam.” I admonished.
“And…” He continued, ignoring me. “Bellamy did not get hired here because of me. She got hired because of her talent and culinary skills. To suggest otherwise is demeaning and insulting to both her and me.”
Liam stopped talking, but no one moved. Not even the chef.
After a moment, Alex cleared his throat. “Any questions?”
No one said a word.
Liam made a sound. “Back to work!”
Just like that, the kitchen started up again. Nervous energy buzzed through the place, and I let out a shaky breath.
Liam stepped up to Chef. “I would suggest taking a hard look at the way you’re running this kitchen, because what I walked in on today makes me wonder if you’re suitable to run a gas station eatery, let alone this five-star restaurant.”
“Liam!” I gasped for like the fifteenth time.
Chef D’alessio stuttered, his face flushed.
I wanted to find a giant pot to crawl into.
Liam reached out behind him, found my hand, and wrapped his around it.
“C’mon, Bells. We’re going home.”
“I’m in the middle of my shift!” I hissed.
Liam lifted an eyebrow at Chef, who cleared his throat. “Take the rest of the day… er, as much time as you need. I’ll make sure your duties are covered.”
“That’s not really necessary,” I said, face flaming.
My God! I spent months trying to avoid not being seen as the spoiled girlfriend of Liam Mattison, and now look! Just look!
Liam started walking, towing me along with him. I tried to dig my heels in, but Alex closed in behind me.
I was outnumbered. Not to mention embarrassed, exhausted, and fuming mad!
When we made it outside, winter wind picked up my hair and whipped it around. I yanked my hand free of Liam’s and glared. “What the hell?” I cried.
Liam looked at me and frowned. “Where’s your coat?”
“Inside, with all my other belongings I couldn’t grab because you were beating on your chest and acting like a caveman!”
Liam glanced over at Alex, who sighed dramatically. “I’m on it.”
Alex disappeared back inside, and Liam peeled off his coat and tucked it around me.
“I cannot believe you,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Those bitches got off easy in there,” he intoned. “And I’m still not sure Chef will be keeping his job.”
“You can’t just fire everyone!”
“The hell I can’t.”
“Stop it,” I said, weary.
Gripping the collar of his jacket and holding it closed beneath my chin, Liam regarded me with serious gray eyes. “I won’t ever stop protecting you. I won’t ever tolerate anyone saying such degrading shit to you.” Gently, he grasped my jaw and lifted my face. “You know none of that shit
is true, right?”
I nodded. “I know.”
Liam cursed, hooked an arm around me, and directed my body into his. I fit against him perfectly, and the fresh snow scent he always carried rose around me and filled my senses. It didn’t seem to matter I was angry and upset, because my body relaxed into his almost instantly.
“That’s my girl,” he murmured, holding me a little tighter.
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” I said against his chest.
His low laugh floated overhead, and my eyelashes swept down.
Alex came back outside, carting my coat and bag, and Liam ushered me into Alex’s Hummer. When I crawled into the back, Liam grabbed my waist and gently tugged me into his lap.
“There are a ton of seats,” I pointed out.
“I know.”
“What are you even doing here anyway?” I asked after Alex started driving. “Both of you.”
“We need to talk,” Liam replied, pushing me down against his chest.
“About what?” I said, a fissure of worry moving through me.
“Just give me a minute, huh?” he whispered. “Just let me hold you.”
I relented because being held by Liam was something I loved.
Still, I couldn’t help but worry if that inkling of fear that happiness was fleeting wasn’t about to turn into full-blown reality.
Liam
I might have to start mandatory drug testing for the resort staff, because those bitches had to be high as kites.
Of all the crack-headed, moronic yapping I heard in my life, I think what I just heard those women say to Bellamy took the cake.
As far as I was concerned, firing and banning them from this resort for life had been kind, because what they really deserved was my size twelves up their asses.
I was feeling some kind of way right now. And not just murderous either.
Protective, possessive… guilt-ridden.
I raced down off my private strip of mountain, already incensed, to get to Bells and make sure she was safe. The sudden and unexpected release of Crone was not good. Not good at all. Walking into The Inn, a place she wanted to work, and overhearing those cows dumping their insecurities all over her and finding out she’d been silently enduring this treatment from day one?
Oh, fucks no.
How did I not know about this? Why did Alex? What else had I been overlooking and not shielding her from?
And fuck, them pointing out the fact my girl didn’t have a fat diamond on her finger wasn’t Bells’s fault. It was mine.
What kind of message was that sending to everyone in this town? Bellamy was good enough to screw and impregnate, but not good enough to marry?
Maybe I was high, ‘cause that shit was unacceptable.
Holding on to her tight, I leaned my head against the seat inside the Hummer. Last time things blew the fuck up, it drove a wedge between us. It had been hell, and I wasn’t making that trip again.
Alex pulled up in front of his A-frame, and I nodded in approval. Without turning around, he shut off the engine. “Figured talking here might be better.”
“What’s going on?” Bellamy asked, fear creeping into her voice. “You never cut training early.”
I frowned. “Maybe I should have.”
She lifted her head off my shoulder and wrinkled her nose.
God, she was beautiful. I reached up to the base of her neck and pulled out the pins holding all her sunny hair into a bun. It fell down her back as I pushed them all into the pocket of my coat she was wearing, then dragged my fingers through it, spreading it out.
Her blue eyes made me think of tropical waters, and the very light sprinkle of freckles over the bridge of her nose made me smile. Her face was smooth, skin baby soft. She didn’t have any makeup on, and it was the way I preferred her.
“I love you,” I whispered, still taking in all her features.
Alex was already out, moving around the side of his ride toward the back door.
“You’re scaring me.” Her lower lip trembled.
I sat forward and brushed a kiss over the wobbly lip. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t want you to take care of me,” she announced, stubborn.
The door beside us opened, and Alex peered inside. “Y’all done making out?”
“We aren’t making out.” Bellamy grumped.
I held her out, and Alex lifted her down to the ground. The three of us went inside. Bellamy barely had the coat off before she said, “I take it you didn’t pull me out of work because of that little incident.”
“It wasn’t a little incident,” I snapped. Then I blew out a breath. “But no. We came for another reason.”
“Just tell me what it is.”
Alex and I glanced at each other, then back at Bellamy. “Perry Crone is being released from prison.”
She blinked as a stunned look crossed her features. Instantly, her hand went to her belly and rested on the round bump. God, I fucking loved that belly.
Seeing her walking around pregnant was the biggest stroke to my ego. I was damn proud of her pregnant state, damn proud that was my kid she was carrying around.
“He-he’s getting out of jail?” she echoed. “But I thought he was in there for life.”
“He was,” I spat.
“Money talks, Bells,” Alex quipped. “He probably paid off quite a few people.”
“I don’t understand.” She worried. “Could he really pay off that many people? What about the FBI? What about the fact that he killed my father…?” She looked at me. The shock was wearing off and now panic was setting in. “And yours…”
I went to her, put a hand on her back, and guided her to the couch. “Sit down,” I instructed.
“I don’t want to sit down!” she exclaimed. “I want to know how this happened!”
“I don’t know yet,” I replied. “I haven’t made any calls.”
“How do you know?” she demanded. I saw the hope in her eyes that maybe I was wrong.
“It was on the news this morning,” Alex said.
“Oh my God.” She fretted, eyes seeking out mine. “He’s going to come for me.” She gasped. “My baby. He can’t hurt my baby.”
She stood up from the couch as if she planned on running. Like escape was her only option. It was her default setting it seemed. It was how she’d stayed alive this long.
I wrapped my arms around her from behind, holding her against me, hoping she felt the strength in my body and heard the promise in my words. “No one is going to hurt you or our baby.”
Her hand clutched my arm. “Alex?” Bellamy whimpered.
“Same, girl who got away. Not only will that man have to get through Liam, but he’ll have to go through me, too.”
That didn’t seem to make her feel better. “I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
“The only way I’ll be hurt is if you or my son are.”
She was shaking. Keeping my arms around her, I backed us toward the couch, lowering until I was sitting with her in my lap. One hand moved to her stomach, splaying out over the baby in a defending gesture.
“He’s out now?” Bellamy asked.
“No, he’s still locked up. He’s not out yet.”
Alex went to the TV and switched it on, putting it on the news station, hoping the story would play again and we might get some details we missed before.
“That’s good,” she said, relaxing. Then she sat forward, as if an idea just came to her. “Maybe he won’t care.” She hypothesized, glancing at me with a new light in her eyes. “He already said the debt was paid. It’s been months and nothing’s happened. Maybe he was serious. He’d been angry I’d gotten him sentenced to life, but now he’s getting out. There’s no reason to hold a grudge anymore.”
My eyes met Alex’s over her shoulder. Neither of us wanted to disagree with her or take away any kind of peace she might find.
But damn. I didn’t believe that, and neither di
d my best friend.
Bellamy’s eyes searched for mine, pulling me from the silent convo I shared with Alex. “What are we going to do?”
I pursed my lips. “You’re going to go make some hot cocoa while I try and get some answers.”
“Hot cocoa!” she exclaimed as though I were being preposterous. “This is no time for that.”
“I could use some.” Alex put in. “I was so busy at work today. I haven’t had time to eat.”
Bellamy’s mothering instincts kicked in. “You haven’t eaten?” She made a sound. “I’ll make you a sandwich.”
I rubbed her belly. “Make me one, too, sweetheart?”
She kissed my cheek.
On her way into the kitchen, she informed us, “By the way, I know you’re totally distracting me while you call the FBI.”
“You’re my favorite girl,” I called after her.
Pretty sure she muttered something about charming cavemen.
“Someone called me before you did and told me to turn on the news,” I told Alex, keeping my words quiet.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Who?”
“Unknown caller.”
He made a rude sound. “Let me see the number.”
I called it up and handed my phone to him. He took a screenshot and texted himself the photo. “Give me a few.”
I nodded and dialed up my good buddy Agent Frost. When he answered, I said, “You didn’t think a heads-up was warranted?”
“Mr. Mattison,” he surmised immediately.
“What the fuck, Frost?”
“I take it you’ve seen the news.”
“Is your FBI badge real?” I questioned.
“We were blindsided by this just as much as you were.”
“Oh, did that dickwad kill your father, too? Try and kill your girlfriend? Send you letters from the slammer?”
“Letters?” he asked, emphasizing the plural.
I made a sound. “It was just the one.”
“Look. I know this is very upsetting. Crone managed to bankroll some people in some very high places. We’ve been scrambling all morning since this shit broke.”
Frostbite (BearPaw Resort Book 3) Page 18