by Zoe Chant
Lincoln blinked, drawing in a breath, before he shook his head. “No. It was no one you knew. She was… a family friend, from out of state. But I’m afraid she’s not with us anymore.”
Faye gasped, shock and guilt coursing through her, making her feel ashamed of herself for her intrusive questions. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” she said softly, unable to meet his eyes.
All her silly jealousy seemed so petty now! What had she been thinking?
“Please, don’t apologize,” Lincoln said. “You didn’t know. And it wasn’t recent – I’ve had time.”
Faye looked up at him, still feeling a little guilty. “All the same, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. I hate it when people pry into my life.”
Lincoln just shook his head. “It’s not prying,” he said, then paused, looking down at her. “And I hope you won’t think I’m prying now, but… I never thought I’d see you back here. I never thought I’d see you again at all.”
His voice was soft, and somehow, it seemed to speak to her very heart. Faye had promised herself this wouldn’t happen: it was half the reason she’d so dreaded seeing him again, even after all this time. It just didn’t seem fair that a man she hadn’t seen for so many years could still have this effect upon her.
“I didn’t think I was coming back either,” Faye said. Despite everything, something compelled her to be honest. “I suppose… I don’t know. When you’ve been everywhere, sometimes the only place left to go is back home.”
Lincoln tilted his head slightly, clearly thinking over what she’d said. “Sometimes that’s where you realize you belong, I guess.”
Faye wanted to tell him that he was wrong – she wanted to tell him that she belonged wherever she said she belonged. But at the same time, she couldn’t argue. After everything she’d done, she’d still come back, after all. She still hadn’t been able to leave Cedar Hill behind forever.
Or Lincoln Whittaker.
The same traitorous voice as before popped into her head before she could stop it.
Momentarily left speechless by her own brain’s betrayal, Faye said nothing, making no reply to Lincoln’s observation.
“I meant it when I asked if you needed some help, though,” Lincoln said after a moment or two of awkward silence. “If you need a hand, I’m willing.”
“Oh,” Faye said, hearing the slight quaver in her own voice. “I’m fine – really. I just need to pick up a few more things.”
Lincoln paused, before nodding. “If you’re sure. But really, it’s no trouble.”
Faye swallowed, looking up at his face and feeling warmth beginning to pool in her belly. She knew what she ought to say: Thanks for the offer, but it’s okay, I can handle it. It was good seeing you again, and leave it at that.
But looking into his eyes now, she couldn’t quite bring herself to say the words.
“I… That would be nice,” she finally said. “If it’s really no trouble.”
She felt silly as she said it – like she was a schoolgirl, talking to her crush. Maybe that’s what they had once been to each other, but those days were long gone.
But at least she could comfort herself with the sight of the lopsided, almost goofy smile that broke out on Lincoln’s face as she accepted his offer.
“Of course it’s no trouble. Just let me know what you need,” he said.
Chapter Three
Lincoln
She’s back. Our mate. It really is her. She’s here. She came back for us.
Lincoln frowned as his lion, as excited as a kitten, frolicked its way through his chest, its ears twitching, eyes aflame.
That’s not why she’s back, he tried to tell it, but it was like talking to a brick wall. The lion didn’t want to hear it: it only knew that, against all the odds, its mate had suddenly burst into its life. It didn’t want to listen to rhyme or reason. It was ecstatic.
That wasn’t quite right. Faye had always been his mate – he’d just been too young to recognize it back then. If they’d had more time, it would have become clear. But they’d known each other before he’d been ready to support her, and be what a shifter should be to his mate.
But even then, it had been hard enough to convince the lion of the necessity of letting her go in the first place: the first few months of it had been pure hell, while the lion paced, inconsolable, in desperate pain.
After a while, Lincoln had simply gotten used to it. There had been nothing else he could do. It was amazing what someone could get used to, Lincoln thought – after a while, the hole in his chest had simply become like any other old injury. It twinged occasionally, and was never quite as good as it had once been. But overall, he got along just fine, and learned to live with it. He’d learned to stop asking himself, What if?
He’d never even dared to let himself imagine that he might see her again, and find out what they might truly mean to each other.
And certainly not anywhere as mundane as the local hardware shop.
He’d known something strange was going on from the moment he’d set foot in it – his lion had lifted its head, agitated and growling, ears twitching, teeth slightly bared.
What is it? he’d asked it, immediately on his guard. After the problems Joe and Sasha had had with rogue shifters, he was more sensitive to dangers than ever before. But there’d been no danger – just the persistent sense that there was something here – something that he needed to find.
When Faye had turned to look at him and he’d realized who she was, it had been as if someone had punched him in the stomach. All the wind had gone out of him, and his lion had reared back, roaring, elation firing through his heart.
Mine! Our mate!
For a long moment, Lincoln hadn’t been able to do anything but stare at her.
So it was true. Faye really had been his mate all along.
And she was every bit as beautiful as she had been the last time he’d seen her, when they’d both been so young. Her dark auburn hair fell just past her shoulders, and her blue eyes still had the same twinkle as he remembered.
He’d always thought she’d been a looker, but now she was stunning. Her curves were generous and full. She was just like a woman should be: lush and gorgeous. He could barely take his eyes off her as they walked up and down the aisles together, finding the various bits and pieces she needed for her renovations.
Lincoln was burning to ask her what she’d been doing over the many, many intervening years since they’d seen each other last. Her skin was tanned and she had a spray of freckles over her nose, and her hands looked strong and capable.
Of course, she’d always been like that – there hadn’t been a thing any of the boys did that Faye hadn’t done too. She’d run, jumped, mucked out stables, ridden, and climbed just as well as any of them, and often better.
Perfect for a rancher, his lion piped up, and Lincoln scowled.
Not now. She only just got back. And I don’t know if I can stand to lose her again – so how about not getting our hopes up, okay? he said to it, as he reached for the pricey brass faucets Faye had selected from the top shelf.
Whatever Faye was planning to do with the Campion place, it was clear she was determined to do it right. Everything she’d picked out was beautiful – and expensive.
“The old place won’t know itself once you’re done with it,” Lincoln said, as he placed the parts in her cart.
Faye’s bright blue eyes flashed with excitement. “I don’t want to do this by halves. I’ve put so much time and thought into this… I couldn’t forgive myself if I started to cut corners or did anything less than my best. Besides, the last thing I want is to run some nasty old beat-up place. I want my guests to come away feeling like they’ve been pampered.”
Lincoln smiled at the enthusiasm in Faye’s voice. It’d always been like this – whatever Faye did, she leapt into it with both feet. There was no doing things by halves with her. It was all or nothing. And that was one of the things he’d always loved about her.
T
hen again, looking into her bright, excited face, Lincoln found he honestly couldn’t think of a single thing about her that he didn’t love.
And he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so… light. It was as if his whole chest had been filled with sunshine – something he’d thought he was far too old to ever experience again.
“So, our own five-star hotel, right here in the middle of Cedar Hill,” Lincoln said, grinning. “We won’t know what’s hit us.”
Faye smiled, but this time it was a little shy. “Well, you know – a lot of people come through here on their way down Route 66. Most of the places they can stay around here are dirty fleapits. Which is fine, if you want to stay in a fleapit – but I’m hoping people might like the chance to indulge a little. Plus the views of the mountains here are really something. Being able to wake up to that would be worth the price of admission, don’t you think?”
Lincoln nodded. Cedar Hill might not be Las Vegas, but it had its own small-town charm, that was for sure. And Faye was right – when the sun came up over the mountains and painted the whole sky with pink and molten gold, there was nowhere on earth he’d rather be.
He realized with a jolt that Faye was looking up at him, a slight blush showing under her tan, her lower lip drawn back between her teeth slightly.
She must have noticed his questioning look, because she smiled, looking shy and surprisingly girlish.
“You probably don’t remember,” she said. “That night after Billy Jones’s sixteenth birthday party. You walked me home at sunrise, after we all stayed up too late.”
Lincoln felt a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. Wild parties had never been his scene – even then, he’d had far too many duties on the ranch to even consider it – but he’d wanted to stay and make sure things didn’t get too out of hand.
“I remember,” he said, truthfully. He still recalled how the golden light had played through her hair, her lips and cheeks tinged with pink.
Faye glanced up at him. “Really?” She laughed lightly. “I’m surprised.”
Lincoln frowned. “Why’s that?”
Now she was definitely blushing, though her eyes were coy and a little amused. “Well, I just thought – to you – it was nothing special. Usually when a guy walks a girl home like that, he has some kind of ulterior motive. Not you, though – my chastity was never at risk!”
She smiled, and Lincoln felt his throat go tight.
Was she flirting with him? After all this time? Or was she just making small talk about times past?
It had been too long since Lincoln had done this. Well, to be more accurate, he’d never done this. His marriage had been arranged, and there’d been no one since then. He hadn’t had time, between raising his sons and running the ranch.
His lion raised its head, growling.
Are you really going to let her slip away from you again?
Lincoln shook his head.
He’d die before he let that happen. Now that he knew what she was to him, he couldn’t let her go.
With a jolt, he realized he’d been standing there, completely silent since she’d spoken. Faye was looking at him, her gaze now a little embarrassed – as if she felt like she’d misspoken.
Before he could open his mouth to reassure her that she hadn’t done anything of the sort, she shook her head, looking down at her cart.
“I… well, look, I think that was the last of the things I needed,” Faye said quickly, sounding a little flustered – something Lincoln had very rarely seen from her. “I should go pay. And I think I’ve held you up long enough. Don’t you need to get that watermelon back to your daughter-in-law?”
Regretfully, Lincoln nodded. “I suppose I should.”
The last thing he wanted to do was leave Faye. His lion was already twitching with agitation, shoulder muscles bunched, claws flexing.
You can’t leave now. Not when we just found her again. We should never let her out of our sight ever again!
They made their way to the registers, Lincoln pushing her cart, before he left her to pay for his new alternator. He really should get that in tonight, as well – he had plenty to be getting on with around the ranch, and he knew that letting things slip even for a moment was a recipe for an overloaded week of catching up.
But still…
The reminder of early morning he’d spent walking Faye home tugged at his heart. Could he really bear to leave her?
Lincoln had been denying himself the things he wanted his whole life. He had done it gladly – being alpha of the pride was an honor, and something that couldn’t be taken lightly. He wouldn’t have been fit for the role if he hadn’t been prepared to commit to it one hundred per cent.
But things had changed, now. Being an alpha wasn’t the hardman’s job it had once been. It was now more about ensuring the pride’s safety than enforcing its rules and taking land from others.
It’d taken him some time to unlearn the things he’d once thought he needed to be in order to be a good alpha. Realizing that his nephew Mason was right when he’d run for sheriff, and that he needed to welcome his mate Charity into the pride, had only been the beginning.
Things were different now. Could he, too, let himself be different?
Faye had finished paying for her items, and Lincoln quickly stepped in behind her loaded-down cart to push it out to the parking lot.
“Thanks for your help,” Faye said as they came out of the big double doors of the shop. “I thought I’d have to make two trips – this has really made life so much easier.”
“It’s no problem,” Lincoln said as they came up alongside her car. He frowned a little as she unlocked the trunk. “You sure you’re going to be able to unload all this stuff by yourself?”
Faye glanced at him. “Sure I will. Don’t go getting all overbearing on me, Lincoln Whittaker. You know I never could stand that.”
Lincoln raised his eyebrows. Overbearing?
Despite his strong shifter drive to protect his mate at all costs, he had always respected Faye’s strength.
Nonetheless, the word rankled him.
“I wasn’t being overbearing,” he said, realizing he sounded more annoyed than he felt. “I just thought it might be good to have some help.”
Faye paused, looking at him, her eyebrows drawn together. “All right, fine,” she said. “Maybe you’re right. But didn’t you say you needed to get home?”
Lincoln hesitated. She was right – he really did need to get back to his pride.
We can’t leave her. Not now. Not ever.
His lion growled, flexing its claws. Its wild alpha nature wouldn’t be told no. Now that it had finally found its mate, after so many years of being alone with only a memory for company, it had no intention of backing away. Not again.
Lincoln was trapped, caught between two conflicting desires and obligations.
He opened his mouth, about to tell Faye that he’d drop the watermelon back at the ranch before coming back into town, when he was interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.
“Hey, Lincoln!”
He started slightly as he was jerked out of his thoughts, turning to see Isaiah Johnson, his neighbor, walking toward him with a grin.
He quickly settled his features into an amicable mask, smiling slightly at his friend and fellow rancher.
“Isaiah. How’s things?”
Isaiah shrugged a little, grinning widely. “The usual. Just here to pick up a few bits and pieces for the wife.” He rolled his eyes, juggling the lamps and handful of light bulbs in his arms.
“I’m just picking up some stuff for the place myself,” he said quickly, drawing Isaiah’s attention away from the lamps and back to him. “In fact, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d be grateful if you could do me a favor.”
Isaiah nodded. “What do you need?”
“Seems like I’d forgotten I have a few more things I need to get done in town, but I promised Joe I’d get his lady a few things. If you’re heading back, could yo
u swing by our place and see she gets this?” He gestured down at the watermelon under his arm, drawing a chuckle from Isaiah.
“No problem,” he said. “I know what it can be like. I’ll drop that off for you.”
“Thanks.” Lincoln smiled as he passed over his precious cargo. Isaiah wasn’t a shifter, but he was just one of the humans Lincoln had gotten to know better since Charity had first come into their pride a little over three years ago. He was a good man and a good neighbor – things Lincoln was beginning to appreciate humans could be more and more these days.
“Like I said, not a problem,” Isaiah said. “All right, I’ll be getting on my way, then.” He paused, cocking his head as he noticed Faye standing on the other side of the car for the first time.
His lion raised its head suddenly, letting out a low, jagged growl. Anger immediately flooded through him, and he could feel his muscles twitch, his hands preparing to bunch into fists.
Why is he looking at our mate? His lion snarled, eyes glinting. How dare anyone but us –
That’s enough, Lincoln told it, forcefully. He shook off the adrenaline that had suddenly taken hold of him, forcing his head to clear. The primal urges of the lion weren’t appropriate here. Faye was her own woman, and Isaiah likely didn’t mean any harm.
“Thanks again, Isaiah,” Lincoln said, and Isaiah glanced back to him, offering him a smile and a nod before he went on his way.
“You’re not going to introduce me to your friend?” Faye asked, as soon as Isaiah was out of earshot.
Lincoln turned back to her, a little taken aback – but at himself.
His lion had reacted with snarling possessiveness when Isaiah had so much as glanced at Faye – and it simply hadn’t occurred to him to introduce them to each other.
He opened his mouth – but how could he explain it? The moment of wild irrationality that had overtaken him in the moment? It wasn’t something that a human could understand.
“I – I’m sorry,” he managed to get out, swallowing. “That was rude of me.”
Faye cocked her head slightly, before shrugging. “It doesn’t matter – but I guess you palming off your delivery run onto him means you’ve made up your mind about coming to help me.”