Walker [Grizzly Ridge 6] (The Lynn Hagen ManLove Collection)

by Lynn Hagen

  He also wanted a big, fat, greasy burger and fries and a fattening shake. Bailey’s stomach rumbled at the thought.

  “Okay, let’s head out, then.” When Walker left the house, Bailey followed. As soon as they stepped outside, Bailey wanted to run back in. The temperature had dropped, and with his thin jacket, Bailey was sure he’d freeze his nuts off before they made it to Walker’s truck.

  Snow also covered the ground. His feet became cold after walking just a few short steps, and it didn’t help that Bailey walked slower than Walker. He kept looking around for feeders, his heat thumping wildly against his rib cage.

  Thankfully they made it to the clearing without being attacked. Bailey slipped into the passenger’s seat and shivered as he waited for the truck to warm.

  “Seat belt,” Walker said after he started the truck.

  Bailey strapped in, suddenly so excited that he no longer cared about how cold he was. He’d been so bored that he was pretty sure taking a walk around the lake would’ve pleased him, though the freezing wind would have killed that excitement quickly.

  As Walker pulled away, Bailey looked around and tried to imagine what this place would look like in the spring, but with the barren trees and snow on the ground, he wasn’t having much success.

  The ride down the winding roads had Bailey’s stomach in tight knots, especially when Walker drove along the side of the cliff. One wrong move and they would plummet to their deaths. No wonder people didn’t get anywhere close to the Rising houses. Anyone would be insane to try to make the drive.

  Bailey didn’t breathe easier until they were nearly at the bottom, about a mile from Grizzly Ridge. The roads were like spaghetti, twisting and turning in all different directions, but as soon as Walker cleared a curtain of trees, Bailey spotted the town.

  “We need to stop for gas first,” Walker said.

  Bailey didn’t realize they weren’t heading to the gas station by the video store until Walker pulled into the one on the east side of town.

  Bailey grimaced. Grizzly Ridge had two gas stations, and this was the one his father worked at. The last thing Bailey wanted to do was run into his old man. John Bradford would take one look at Walker and see dollar signs. He would corner Bailey and try to talk his son into getting a loan from his “rich” boyfriend.

  “You coming in?” Walker asked when he pulled up beside one of the pumps and cut the motor.

  “I think I’ll sit here,” Bailey said. Waverly Station had a lot more selections than the gas station by the video game store, and Bailey wouldn’t mind a hot chocolate, but that drink wasn’t worth running into his father.

  Walker got out, put the nozzle into his truck, then headed inside. Bailey was surprised Walker trusted him enough to leave him by himself, but in truth, where would Bailey go? Back to his pathetic rental? He’d missed several work shifts, and Bailey was pretty sure he was fired by now.

  As crazy as Walker’s world was, Bailey couldn’t imagine living anywhere without him. In less than two weeks Bailey had grown used to being around Walker. He loved his smile, the sound of his laughter, the manly way he smelled, and the sex was off the chain.

  He would be insane to want to leave all that to come back to this dismal life.

  Bailey jumped when someone knocked on his window. When he turned his head, he groaned. His dad’s blue eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as though he hadn’t bathed in a month. His beard had grown ridiculously long, and his unwashed auburn hair was almost to his shoulders now.

  He looked like a vagrant.

  He closed his eyes and turned away, praying his father went away, but John knocked on the window again. “Don’t act like you don’t see me.”

  “You’ve acted like you didn’t see me my entire life,” Bailey grumbled under his breath. He turned to his dad and grimaced. “What do you want?”

  “Roll your window down.”

  Reluctantly, Bailey complied. The cold wind whipped into the interior of the truck, making him shiver as he stared at a man who should have loved and nurtured him, instead of making him feel as if his birth had been the biggest mistake of his parents’ lives.

  “What do you want, John?” His father had raised Bailey to call him by his name instead of his title.

  “Just to talk.” His breath smelled like booze, making Bailey’s nose hairs curl.

  “Since when do you want to talk to me?” Bailey forced himself not to scream the words. He should have been indifferent to his father by now, but he wasn’t, and just like any other time he saw his dad, the years of pain and anger surfaced. “The last time I saw you, you said I was a bum and a waste of life.”

  The sad truth was, those words hadn’t been the harshest thing John had said to him over the years. His father had never attended any of Bailey’s school events or his senior graduation, had never bought him a birthday or Christmas gift, and hadn’t told Bailey even once that he loved him.

  The hate he always glared at Bailey with showed in his eyes for a brief moment before he looked away. “Just wanted to know if you had a few bucks for your old man.”

  That was when Bailey noticed that his dad wasn’t wearing his work uniform. He had on an oil-stained flannel shirt and a raggedy pair of jeans. He wasn’t even wearing a coat. “Didn’t you just get paid?”

  His dad shrugged. “Might’ve lost my job.”

  “Because you couldn’t stay sober long enough to keep it,” Bailey snapped. He’d been embarrassed pretty much his whole life because everyone in Grizzly Ridge called his dad Drunk John. Bailey couldn’t count how many times his father had shown up to his school reeking of booze and trying to hit on every woman who worked in the office.

  “You’re one to point fingers,” John snapped. “I heard you lost your job.”

  Bailey’s eyes widened. “Then why are you asking me for money?”

  “’Cause.” John waved a hand at Walker’s truck. “You seem to have a sugar daddy. He should pay me for fucking my son.”

  Bailey ground his teeth as his muscles quivered. He started to roll the window back up, but his father reached into the truck and grabbed him by the front of his jacket. “Don’t you dare act like you’re better than me!”

  “Get off me!” Bailey shoved at his father, but John’s grip was too tight. He twisted the fabric and yanked Bailey closer.

  “You should have been a cum stain on the sheets, boy.” He pulled harder, as if trying to haul Bailey through the open window. “You’re the reason my wife left me. I’ll hate you until the day you die!”

  Bailey shouted as he slapped at John’s hand, trying to uncurl his fingers. He heard a low, menacing growl. Bailey glanced past his father to see Walker standing there, the tips of his canines exposed.

  Walker grabbed John by the back of his flannel and tore him away from the truck. He’d pulled so hard that John flew backward and hit the ground.

  “I’m suing you!” John shouted as he stumbled to his feet.

  Bailey got out of the truck and slammed the door. “Then I’m suing you for putting your hands on me!”

  Walker started toward John, but Bailey grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He didn’t need Walker going to jail for killing his father. “Don’t.”

  Walker turned his glare on Bailey. When he spoke, it was in a harsh whisper. “He touched my pregnant mate. That’s a death sentence.”

  Bailey hurried in front of Walker and pressed both palms into his chest, stopping Walker from moving forward. A cop car pulled into the station, lights flashing.

  Crap, crap, and double crap. “Calm down. The cops are here. Put those teeth away before someone sees them.”

  For a moment, Bailey didn’t think Walker would listen to him. He curled his lip at John, his hands balled into fists. He pressed his chest into Bailey’s palms, as if he really wanted to murder the guy.

  “We got a problem here?” the cop asked.

  Walker eased back, the tips of his canines disappearing. “This guy assaulted my boyfriend.”
<
br />   Bailey noticed the name tag. Sheriff Connelly. Shit. He was still pretty new around these parts, having taken over after Sheriff Blake’s death, but Bailey had heard how Connelly didn’t stand for any bullshit. He was a decent and fair man, though. Unlike Sheriff Blake.

  “He’s my father,” Bailey quickly said. “I don’t want to press charges. I just want to leave.”

  Walker glanced at Bailey. “What?”

  Bailey lowered his voice so only Walker heard him. “If I press charges, I’ll have to come back to town. I don’t ever want to come back here again.”

  “I’m still gonna kill him,” Walker whispered.

  “The booze’ll do that for you. He’s a miserable drunk, Walker. He’ll get his comeuppance. Let’s just go.” Bailey shivered. “I’m freezing.”

  For the past week Bailey had been craving a drink while stuck at Walker’s, but as he stared at his father, he knew he had to break the cycle. He’d been heading down a dangerous road before Walker had come into his life. He saw his future standing in front of him if he didn’t let that habit go.

  Walker told the sheriff what had happened, and Connelly agreed to take John to the station to let him sober up. Walker shook the sheriff’s hand before he hung up the nozzle and held the door open for Bailey to get in.

  “I’m sorry, Shorty,” Walker said. “I’m sorry he did that to you.”

  “Oddly enough, I’m not hurt over this. I’m relieved that I’ll never have to see him again.” Bailey put his seat belt on before Walker pulled away from the gas station.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Bailey slid his hand across the seat and curled it around Walker’s. “I guess you were right.”

  “About what?” Walker pulled onto the street and headed toward the freeway.

  “That if I gave us a chance, I’d be happy.” He would make damn sure he was a better parent than his father had ever been. Since John’s parenting skills were already at rock bottom, it wouldn’t be hard. But Bailey refused to focus on what his father had said and done. Instead, he thought about a life with Walker, and the image made him smile.

  “Then we’re heading to the city, Shorty. There’s a mall there where we can get you some clothes.” Walker squeezed his hand.

  Bailey practically bounced in his seat. “You’re gonna spoil me?”

  “Every chance I can.” Walker smiled and Bailey’s heart melted. Crazy could rain all over him in those mountains, but there wasn’t a chance in hell he would ever try to leave Walker’s side.

  Chapter Ten

  Walker had to admit the past two and half months since Bailey had come to the mountains had been the best of his life. Maybe not at first. Bailey hadn’t been the only one filled with doubt, but things had changed, and for the better.

  Or so Walker had thought until Corky came into the house through the living room, tracking snow everywhere. He bounced between houses, trying his best to stay off Jesse’s radar.

  And Jesse wasn’t happy about that, but Walker didn’t care. He just wanted Corky to learn how to wipe his damn feet.

  “Walker’s gonna kill you,” Bailey said from the couch, although Walker was seated not five feet from him. “You’re a pig, Corky.”

  Corky rolled his eyes and took a seat on the sofa. “You knew all my bad habits before we came here. Don’t start complaining now.”

  “I need a better alarm system,” Walker grumbled. “One that keeps pests out.”

  He got up and headed into the kitchen. Bailey came waddling in, his hands pressed into his lower back. “Why’d you leave?”

  Walker didn’t care how many times he saw his mate’s swollen belly. It still amazed him that his cub was growing inside Bailey. He moved toward his mate and placed his hand over Bailey’s stomach. Not only had he grown closer with Bailey, Walker couldn’t imagine his life without him.

  “I think it’s time to take that next step.”

  Bailey looked confused. “What next step?”

  Walker blew out a breath and grinned. “I’ve been wanting to say this to you for a while, but wasn’t sure I’d scare you away.” He placed a quick kiss on Bailey’s lips. “I love you.”

  Bailey’s auburn brows shot up. “I really hope you do. We’re gonna have a baby together.”

  “Tell him you love him already,” Corky shouted from the living room. “You’re such a damn dork.”

  Walker growled. Bailey chuckled. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t funny, but you see, I’ve already told Corky how I feel about you. I guess I need to tell you next.”

  Although they’d gotten along for two and a half months, had shared intimate moments together, and they were connected on levels Walker never dreamed of, he was still a bit nervous as he waited for Bailey to continue.

  “You see, Walker.” Bailey ran his hands up and down Walker’s arms. “Since the night I snuck out the window, I’ve known how deeply my feelings were for you. I was just too afraid to admit them to you.” He leaned up and pressed a kiss to Walker’s beard. “If I didn’t love you, trust me, I wouldn’t have stuck around after all that craziness happened.”

  “God, you suck at expressing yourself,” Corky shouted.

  “Shut up!” Bailey shouted back. “Stay in the damn living room and stop butting in, moron.”

  Walker cupped Bailey’s cheek. “Say the three words, Shorty.”

  Bailey’s smile wobbled. “I love you.”

  Walker felt as if his heart would burst as he slid his arms around Bailey and hugged him close. “You’ve just made me the happiest man on the planet.”

  Fire ignited in Bailey’s baby blues. Walker knew that look. Craved that look. “Get out, Corky.”

  “You two need to stop fucking like rabbits,” Corky said from the living room. “That’s how you got into this pickle in the first place.”

  “Why don’t you go see what Jesse’s doing?” Walker shouted back.

  Silence.

  Walker waited until he heard the door slam before he pulled Bailey down the hallway, his mate laughing behind him.

  “You know that was mean.”

  “It got him out of here,” Walker said. “Besides, I feel for Jesse. He’s been more than patient waiting for Corky to come to his senses. I’m not sure how much longer he’ll wait.”

  “Why are we talking about them?” Bailey slid his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Walker stood there mesmerized by the sight before him. Bailey was nothing short of stunning. His gaze slid from Bailey’s face, down his swanlike neck, then to his swollen stomach, and—Walker’s eyes widened.

  Right before his eyes, the dark conception line turned red.

  Bailey was smiling at him with heat in his eyes one second, the next his hands went to his stomach, his eyes rounding. He started to drop to his knees as he howled in pain, but Walker caught him and helped Bailey onto the bed.

  “Okay, don’t panic.”

  “Don’t panic?” Bailey shouted. “It feels like I’m being hit in the gut with a sledgehammer!”

  Walker helped him out of his clothes before sliding the blanket over his lower half. He snatched his phone from his pocket and dialed Clint. As soon as he answered, Walker shouted, “Baby is having the Bailey!”

  Clint burst out laughing. “I gotta see this.”

  Walker realized what he’d said and snarled, “You know what I mean. Get your ass over here. Call the others while you’re at it.”

  He tossed the phone aside and took a seat on the side of the bed. Walker felt helpless as Bailey grimaced, his teeth clenched as he gripped his stomach. “Make it stop!”

  “We just gotta breathe through this, Shorty.”

  “We?” Bailey looked at Walker as if he’d lost his mind. “I’m the one about to pop a baby out. There is no we.”

  Walker jumped up and raced to the bathroom, nearly colliding with the closed door. He stopped, took a deep breath, then turned the knob before entering. He scrubbed his hands and arms down, then grabbed a washcloth from
the linen closet and wet it before hurrying back to Bailey.

  Sweat had already gathered on Bailey’s forehead. Walker wiped his mate’s face down. “How’re you feeling?”

  “In pain,” Bailey whined. “Fuck, this hurts so bad.”

  Walker readjusted the pillows. He didn’t know what else to do. His mate was in agony and Walker couldn’t do a damn thing about it. His gaze kept bouncing between Bailey’s face and his stomach. The birthing line was slowly opening.

  Walker had been excited for this moment for months. Now that the time was here, he felt dizzy. What if something went wrong? What if he couldn’t pull his cub out? What if he truly sucked at being a father? So many doubts raced through his mind that a headache began to thump in the back of his skull.

  Bailey gripped his hand, squeezing it. “I can see it in your eyes. Don’t you dare flip out on me. I need you to be the levelheaded one here.”

  Walker nodded, swallowing around a dry throat. “Got it.”

  Deloris was the first to enter the bedroom. She took one look at Bailey’s stomach and smiled. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

  Walker had never been so grateful that they had a nurse living among them. Hopefully he didn’t screw this up, but if he did, at least a professional was standing by.

  One by one his brothers, their mates, and their children gathered in Walker’s bedroom. Knowing he had his family there, the brothers who had always been there for him, helped ease Walker’s anxiety.

  Bobby Ray and Wade might have been their father’s favorite sons to abuse, but Walker was the youngest, and although he’d done his best to avoid Clarence’s abusive hand, he hadn’t escaped it. But every single one of his brothers had protected him, and now they were there to witness the birth of his child.

  He felt such overwhelming love and pride in the room as he turned back to Bailey. “Let’s have this cub, Shorty.”

  Bailey nodded. Walker scented his mate’s fear as he continued to squeeze Walker’s hand.

  “Oh, my God!” Corky came into the room, his hazel eyes wide.

  “Chill,” Clint growled.

  “I’m too sober for this.” Corky looked green as he stared at Bailey’s stomach.