Ray of Sunshine

by Becca Van

  “No problem,” she said quietly, exhaling with relief when the dad released her hand. He dug into his pocket, pulling out a business card before handing it to her. “If you’re ever in trouble or just need a friend, please don’t hesitate to call us.”

  Jaimie reluctantly took the card, watching the quartet walk toward the entrance. The dad stopped at the counter and after talking with Pixie and pointing their way, he paid the check. With a wave in their direction, he followed his family out onto the street.

  She dropped onto the seat with a sigh and was about to scoot over so Beckett could sit again, but before she could move, he grasped her elbow, tugging her to her feet again. Jaimie frowned up at him, puzzled over his actions. She was about to ask him what was wrong but before she could, someone whistled loudly.

  Tatum was standing in front of the serving counter with his arms crossed over his chest, and he was staring right at her. Jaimie’s heart lurched painfully before pounding fast and hard against her ribs. Her breathing escalated, and her palms got sweaty. She had no idea what she’d done wrong but wished that it didn’t affect her mates in any way.

  “Jaimie, please let us all welcome you to Ambrose. Congratulations on your mating. You are just as brave as all the other women in this town. You saved that girl’s life. I’m proud to call you friend.”

  Jaimie blushed as everyone cheered, whistled, and clapped.

  The nervousness she felt with all the other men around dissipated, and while she tried to shrug off the praise, she couldn’t.

  Her mates had already gone a long way to making her feel sexy and feminine, and now their friends and the other women were making her feel worthy.

  It also had her thinking that just maybe, she wasn’t so ordinary after all.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gary was only hours away from Ambrose when he pulled over onto the side of the road. He’d been driving for hours, days, and he was exhausted. It was three in the morning, and his eyes were sore and gritty. The wayside stop was the perfect place for him to answer nature’s call, stretch his legs, and take a nap.

  Maybe, by the time the sun rose he’d be refreshed enough to continue his journey. He was going to have to be careful once he got to his destination. While he didn’t think Nurse Bitch would remember him, he wasn’t about to take the chance. He’d bought a Stetson along the way and was hoping the hat and his sunglasses would be enough to hide his face. Nevertheless, he was pretty sure the slut wouldn’t take two glances his way.

  Gary walked around his car a few times, getting the blood flowing as he warmed his stiff muscles. Once he’d worked his cramped legs out, he got back into his car, lowered the back of the seat and got comfortable as he closed his eyes.

  He had no idea how he was going to get his hands on that cunt without anyone noticing, but he’d work out the details as he drove the last few hours to Ambrose.

  Surely by lunchtime he’d have eyes on his quarry. He wasn’t about to rush in and make a muck of things. He’d need to be patient and when the perfect opportunity arose, he would take it.

  His son Billy would be fully avenged and then maybe Gary would be able to live the rest of his life in peace.

  * * * *

  Daire couldn’t take his eyes off of Jaimie. The smile on her face seemed to light her up from the inside out. Doc Broden Higgens had just taken an x-ray of his mate’s casted arm and declared that she was all healed. Now the doc was about to cut the plaster off.

  Jaimie was sitting in a chair with her plastered arm resting on a sheet of paper on the bed. When Daire noticed what was in Broden’s hand, he rushed forward to stand in front of the Kodiak bear shifter, growling. There was no way in hell he was letting Broden use that saw on his mate. He might end up cutting and hurting her. “No fucking way!”

  Broden held his hands up, backing away. Daire was aware of Jaimie moving behind him but he kept his gaze locked with the bear’s.

  “What’s wrong, Daire?” Jaimie asked as she came up to his side.

  Daire gripped her hip without looking at her and pushed her behind him.

  “What the hell are you doing, Daire?” Beckett snarled as he grasped his shoulder. “Do you honestly think Broden would hurt our mate? He’s a doctor for fuck’s sake.”

  “Look at me, Daire,” Jaimie said in a firm voice. Daire turned side-on so he could see Jaimie while keeping Broden in his peripheral vision. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “He’s got a fucking saw in his hand,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “So?” She frowned up at him.

  “So? What do you mean so?” He threw his hands up into the air. “Don’t you realize he could hurt you?”

  Jaimie walked closer until she was standing right in front of him, her hand resting on his chest. “He won’t hurt me, Daire. He knows what he’s doing, but if you’re that worried, I can do it myself. I’ve removed quite a few casts myself. Or better yet, why don’t you do it?”

  Daire thought that suggestion over. While he wouldn’t touch that fucking saw, he could probably use his claws to tear through the plaster and fiberglass cover. Nonetheless, if he slipped, his razor sharp claws could cause his mate a serious injury. He wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt if he ended up slicing her skin open.

  “Daire, could I have some help please?” Dusty called from the outer room.

  He glanced over at Broden, wondering if the doc had somehow asked his woman to distract him, but if the Kodiak shifter had used the communal link to speak telepathically with his mate, Daire would have heard him.

  Even though he knew Dusty was trying to distract him so Broden didn’t have to worry about Daire going for his throat again, he sighed, turned on his heels and left the room. It was better if he wasn’t hovering, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. He didn’t want Jaimie pissed at him for his overprotective tendencies. Deep down in his heart and soul, he knew the doc wouldn’t hurt Jaimie, would in fact, go out of his way to be just as protective of her as he and his brothers were. He’d almost lost his mind when he’d seen the small saw which had reminded him of an angle grinder.

  “What do you need?” Daire asked as he stopped a few feet from Dusty.

  “I have to get some supplies from the cupboard in the other room, but Rose is a bit finicky today. Every time I put her down in her crib she starts crying.”

  Daire had no experience with children or babies and had no clue what to do. He was about to ask her what supplies she needed so he could get them for her, but before he could open his mouth, Dusty almost shoved Rose Holly into his arms before hurrying away. Thankfully, he’d seen Broden, Airen, and Archer holding their daughter in the diner earlier. Being careful to support her little body and head, he lifted her to his shoulder, gently patting her on the back. She was so fucking small his hand covered her entire back from her shoulders to her padded, diapered bottom. He breathed in her sweet baby scent as he kissed her on her tiny head. She made a cute squeaky mewling sound and when he glanced down at her gorgeous, innocent face, he couldn’t help smiling tenderly when she yawned and gazed up at him, her lips twitching up into an answering grin before she closed her eyes with a sigh.

  She fell asleep from one breath to the next, and all he could think about was how it would feel to hold his own baby in his arms.

  When Dusty came back from her chore, taking her daughter from his arms, Daire was reluctant to let her go, but as soon as his arms were empty he stepped back and crossed them over his chest. “Thanks,” Dusty said before carrying Rose to her crib and getting her settled.

  Daire turned about to head back to the exam room, but when he turned, he found Jaimie standing in the doorway with tears welling in her eyes. He was about to shout at Broden for hurting his mate but swallowed his anger back when he remembered Rose was asleep. He took a step toward his woman and then another and another as he eyed her body over while sniffing the air. When he didn’t scent any pain or blood coming from Jaimie, he frowned. It was only when he saw mo
vement behind her that he noticed Beckett and Crispin were standing right behind their mate but his brothers’ gazes were locked on him.

  They looked shocked.

  Heat suffused his cheeks with embarrassment and just as he was about to glance away, Jaimie rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He enfolded her with his own arms, breathing in her delectable scent as he hugged her tight.

  After a few minutes, she loosened her hold, lifted her gaze to his and smiled up at him. There was so much emotion and love in her eyes, his breath caught in his throat. He had no idea if she realized what she was revealing to him, and while he wanted to tell her he loved her, he wasn’t about to declare his feelings for her with the others around. He was going to have to wait until they got back home and then all bets were off.

  When he heard her sniff, he realized he’d gone off track. He cupped her face and stared into her eyes as he asked, “Are you hurting, sweet thing?”

  “No,” she replied hoarsely.

  “Then why the tears?” he asked. While he was aware of his brothers coming to stand behind their woman, he kept his attention on her.

  “Y-you looked so sweet holding little Rose,” she said softly.

  Daire shook his head, not sure what to say. While he’d liked holding the baby girl, he would have been a whole lot happier if it had been his own daughter in his arms, but he wasn’t sure Jaimie was ready to start a family so soon. They’d only just partially mated, and she was seven years younger than his thirty-two. They still had plenty of time to enjoy each other before trying for a baby.

  Plus, someone had threatened his mate’s life. Until the danger was dealt with, it wouldn’t be prudent to get their woman pregnant.

  He didn’t want to have to be looking over his shoulder all the time. He wanted to enjoy the future years loving and laughing with his woman, not worrying about when the bastard would strike.

  If there’d been a way for him and his brothers to find this fucker and take him out, he would, but no one knew who was targeting his mate. Not even the police in Natchez, Louisiana.

  * * * *

  Gary had just pulled into a parking space a little up from the doctor’s clinic when the door opened. He gasped when he saw the huge muscular man step out onto the pavement, but when he set eyes on Nurse Bitch, he hunched over toward the passenger seat as if he was searching for something. While he kept his head turned away from the cunt, he watched her from the corner of his eye. Another two big men exited the clinic, and he was shocked when she held hands with the first guy and one of the other men when he fell into step on her other side.

  He should have known there was something not quite right about her. From what he’d seen when he’d been following her in Natchez, she’d been quiet and didn’t socialize much. Even though he was furious that she was allowed to continue treating patients when she’d had a hand in killing his son, he hadn’t put in a formal complaint to the hospital. He knew how the medical professionals all seemed to cover for one another. It would have been a waste of time and money to try to bring a lawsuit against the slut. And from what he was seeing, slut was an apt description. What woman in their right mind held two men’s hands at the same time? Was she doing both of them?

  He shifted in his seat, trying to relieve the tightness in the crotch of his jeans. Maybe when he got his hands on her, he’d help himself to a sample of her goods. If she put out for two men she shouldn’t have any qualms about putting out for a third. He sucked in a breath when he saw the third guy lift her into the back seat of a truck before kissing her on the lips.

  She was fucking three men at the same time.

  His plans had just changed. When he got his hands on her he was going to show her how a real man fucked, and then he was going to torture and kill her. He wouldn’t put her out of her misery until she screamed for mercy.

  * * * *

  “I can’t believe you didn’t notice Jaimie’s cast was gone until we were leaving the clinic,” Crispin teased. It wasn’t often he got the chance to torment his older brothers, but if the opportunity arose, there was no way in hell he was going to pass it up. He was so damn happy it was almost sickening. He’d felt love flowing into his heart from Jaimie as she hugged Daire in the doc’s office.

  As soon as they got back home, he wanted to strip her down and fuck her until she was screaming his name.

  “Stop teasing your brother, Crispin.” Jaimie rolled her eyes at him, but he could see the twinkle of humor in her blue orbs.

  “What fun would that be?” Crispin winked.

  “You’re so bad.” Jaimie whacked him on the arm.

  He caught her wrist in his grasp, threaded his fingers with hers, lifted her hand toward his mouth, and kissed the back of it. “You like it when I’m bad, mate.”

  Just as Crispin was about to undo Jaimie’s seat belt and tug her closer, Beckett’s cell phone rang. He answered the call through the truck’s Bluetooth and stereo system.

  “Hello?”

  “Beckett can you and the others get over to the Louis B&B?” Daxon asked.

  “Sure, what’s up?” Beckett asked as he drove past the driveway to their home.

  “Some asshole has vandalized the gazebo. We’re going to need a hand to get it fixed by the end of today,” Dax explained.

  “We’re almost there.” Beckett disconnected the call.

  Crispin sighed with frustration. He didn’t begrudge helping out his cousins or the Louises and their mate, but he was disappointed that his plans had just been ruined. Yet he was happy that Jaimie wouldn’t be left all on her own while they worked. She would have Elsa and Sage to keep her company. The thought of leaving his mate alone had the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. He turned to peer over his shoulder and sighed with relief when he didn’t see any other vehicles on the road. Nevertheless, the closer they got to the B&B, the bigger the knot in his gut got.

  He had no idea why his internal alarm was blaring, and even though he tried to shake the feeling of impending doom, he couldn’t seem to manage it. Even his tiger was pacing as if he could feel danger creeping up on them. Maybe it was because some bastard had wrecked the pergola. Whatever it was, he pushed it to the back of his mind. He didn’t want Jaimie picking up on his agitation. He wasn’t as bad as his older siblings, but he had a penchant for snapping and snarling just like Beckett and Daire did when he was antsy. His boiling threshold was higher than his brothers, but he wasn’t a saint by any stretch of the imagination. He didn’t want to be the reason Jaimie got upset and angry. At least not yet.

  While he knew the four of them would argue eventually since no one was infallible, he didn’t want to rock the boat when their relationship was so new. Maybe in six months down the road he wouldn’t be so cautious. It wasn’t that he was walking on tiptoes or anything, or that he was worried he’d send their mate running, he just didn’t want to upset her so early in the piece. Everything was so new, and she’d been through too much already. He didn’t want to add to her burdens needlessly.

  Crispin loved Jaimie more than his own life, and while he knew she loved him his brothers too, he wanted, needed to hear the words.

  He pushed his thoughts aside when he noticed that Beckett had parked the truck off to the side of the huge covered carport next to the large house and had already turned the engine off.

  Jaimie was fumbling with the seat belt.

  “Let me, honey.” Crispin brushed her hand aside before releasing her seat belt. “Your arm is probably going to feel weak and awkward for a couple of days, mate, but it won’t take long for you to regain your strength and adeptness back.”

  “I know.” Jaimie smiled then turned toward the door when Daire opened it.

  “Let me help you out, sweet thing.” Daire grasped Jaimie’s hips then lifted her from the truck.

  “Thanks.”

  “Anything for you, mate.”

  Crispin got out, shoving the door closed behind him and hurried to catch up with Jaimie and
his brothers. When he spotted Preston Louis standing on the top step looking angry and frustrated, he began to wonder if the damage to the gazebo was more than just random vandalism.

  “Hi, Jaimie.” Preston gave a tight smile. “Elsa and Sage have coffee brewing in the kitchen.

  “Hi, Louis,” Jaimie said.

  “Stay inside with the other women, baby.” Beckett hugged Jaimie before kissing her on the top of the head.

  Crispin watched Jaimie until she was no longer in sight, wishing he could follow her into the house so he could keep an eye on her and the other women, but he trusted that Gabe and Liam would keep his mate safe if there was danger abound.

  * * * *

  Jaimie hurried inside, continuing on when she saw the reception desk wasn’t manned. She sighed with relief when she heard voices just before the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted to her nose. She hesitated in the doorway, feeling suddenly shy as she noticed how free and easy Elsa and Sage were as they chatted. The women might be employer, employee, but they were also very good friends. While she liked both women a lot, Jaimie sort of felt like an interloper, as if she was interrupting their free time or something, and she had no idea why she felt that way.

  “Jaimie!” Elsa smiled as she slipped from the stool she was sitting on her and hurried over. “Come on in, girl.” Elsa grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the stools.

  “Do you want some coffee?” Sage asked. She grimaced as she sipped from her own steaming mug. “Or a cup of green tea?”

  “Coffee, thanks.”

  “You know it’s strange,” Sage said, rubbing her lower belly absently. “I love coffee. The smell, the taste, and I’m usually a grump and uncommunicative until I have at least two cups, but right now the taste of coffee makes me want to heave my cookies.”

  “You aren’t supposed to drink coffee while you’re pregnant.” Elsa smirked as she picked up her own cup before taking a sip.