A Lion's Pride

by Susan Bliler

  “You deserve a break.”

  “On a farm or ranch, everyone deserves a break,” she grumbled.

  “Well, Carter and Deek were willing to take on more so we could make this trip. Be grateful.”

  Zander’s reproachful tone had Maia feeling guilty. Lowering her tense shoulders, she acquiesced to the inevitable.

  “You’re right,” she offered. “I’m sorry, I’ll try to be more appreciative. A break from all the work is nice.”

  “Atta girl,” Zander beamed, eyes on the road, hands tight on the steering wheel.

  Rall leaned forward and flipped on the radio, and the rest of the ride was made with Rall and Zander singing along to the latest country tunes blaring from the speakers.

  When they finally pulled into town, Zander parked in front of the lone grocery store on main street. Pulling a list out of his back pocket, he handed it to Rall with a wad of cash. “Just what’s on the list,” he ordered.

  Rall took the list and money with a nod before grinning mischievously and heading for the store.

  Maia asked, “Should I go with him?”

  “Uh-uh.” Zander grabbed her elbow and steered her down the street. “You and I are on a mission.”

  “A mission?”

  But Zander’s only response was to lead Maia silently past a coffee shop and a boot store, and into a quaint little boutique.

  Confused, Maia glanced around before turning to Deacon. “What’s this?”

  “You need a dress.”

  Brows winging up, Maia asked, “What in the hell do I need a dress for?”

  Leaning a shoulder into the wood of the doorframe, Zander crossed his booted feet at the ankle. “For the festival.”

  Maia felt all the blood drain from her face so fast that it left her lightheaded. It took her a moment to recover before she said, “I’m not going to the festival.”

  “Sure you are,” Zander drawled. “You’re coming with me and the boys.”

  “Zander,” Maia’s tone grew firmer, “I can’t go to the festival.”

  Still propped in his leisurely pose, he asked, “Why?”

  Taking a quick glance around, Maia leaned closer to Zander and hissed quietly, “Because I’m a human, remember? Rall said shifters only.”

  “It’ll be okay. You’ll be with us.”

  Shaking her head, Maia pressed her lips into a thin line before huffing, “Carter would never let that happen. He doesn’t want the rest of your kind seeing me parading around with his pride. Stop messing with me.” She stepped toward Zander thinking he’d move from the doorway. When he didn’t, she barked, “Move, Z.”

  “You coming with us was Carter’s idea.”

  Maia’s mouth fell open. “Bullshit!” she breathed.

  “It was.” Uncrossing his legs and shoving off the doorframe, Zander reached into his front shirt pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. “He gave me this, told me to make sure you got something nice to wear.”

  He held the money out to her, but Maia simply stared at the cash before her eyes sliced up to him. “You’re lying.”

  “A, I don’t lie, ever! And, B, I wouldn’t get your hopes up just to be a dick, little bee. Give me some credit.”

  Maia’s eyes dipped back to the cash. “Why would he want me to come? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I don’t ask questions, just do what the boss says.”

  “Bullshit!” Her eyes jerked back up to his. “Don’t give me that. I get it when Rall says it because he’s young and Carter’s intimidating as hell, but don’t expect me to believe that he intimidates you, Zander!”

  Zander shrugged. “He’s the Apex. I don’t follow him because I’m intimidated. I follow him outta respect.” Reaching down, he grabbed Maia’s hand and stuffed the cash into it. “Find something pretty, Maia.” He shot her a wink. “Carter likes red.” Turning, he opened the door, “I’ll wait outside, give you some privacy to pretend like you don’t give a shit what Carter likes.” Half of his mouth lifted in a cocky grin before he turned and strode out.

  Lowering her eyes to the cash, Maia was dazed. Carter and the guys wanted to take her to the festival? Holy shit! Carter and the guys wanted to take her to the festival!

  Chapter 12

  Carter paced on the porch. Breath coming out of his mouth in cloudy puffs, he ignored the sharp bite of cold and Deacon’s amused stare. His silent brother was sitting on the porch swing, one arm slung across the back, one leg kicked out while the other was half folded onto the seat as he watched his brother pacing.

  Trying to think of a reason to chase Deacon off, Carter came up with nothing, so he simply had to endure his brother’s presence. Goddamn, he was nervous. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been this nervous. Palms sweating, he wiped one and then the other down the front of his black slacks.

  The door opened, and Carter’s heart seized, only to restart a moment later as annoyance bunched his brows. Rall came dancing out the front door. Dressed in a ridiculously tight-fitting, cornflower-blue suit, the youngest Concolor brother opened the front of his waistcoat to show off the matching vest that sat overtop his white button-up. “What do ya think?”

  Carter snorted while Deacon bounced his head from side-to-side, his lips quirking up.

  “C’mon, man! I look good!”

  The color matched Rall’s eyes, and while the skinny fit would have looked ridiculous on any of the other brothers, Carter had to admit that Rall looked alright.

  “You look good,” Zander admitted, stepping out onto the porch. “But I look out-fucking-standing.”

  While Deacon had opted for a new pair of jeans, new boots, and a simple silk vest over a white button-up, Zander had gone full-on tuxedo, bow tie and all.

  Brows winging up, Carter eyed his brother but said nothing. What could he say? Zander looked good. So did Deacon. Hell, even Rall’s weird-ass suit matched his personality.

  “Looking good, brother.” Zander stepped up to Carter and reached for his necktie, but Carter swatted his hands away.

  Landing somewhere in between the casually dressed Deacon and the formally fitted Zander, Carter had opted for dark slacks, a white button-up with a necktie and just a vest over top. No suit coat for the Apex, and just to show he wasn’t too formal, he had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to expose his muscular forearms.

  It was super cold tonight, the temperature hanging in the negative twenty range with the windchill. Carter was worried Maia would be cold, so he’d already started a truck and had the heat blaring on high.

  “Where’s Maia?” Rall asked, and peeked in through the screen door.

  “Don’t rush her,” Zander admonished as he fiddled with his bow tie. “Women like to take their time getting ready, and in my experience, it’s best to let ’em.”

  Just as he said the words, though, the sound of footsteps inside had all the guys tensing. Carter made for the door, but so did everyone else. Deacon shot up off the swing before he and Zander started shoving at each other to get to the door. Rall got bumped out of the way and pouted, “Hey!”

  “Goddamn it,” Carter snarled, then boomed, “move!”

  The weight of his Apex authority cracked over his brothers like a whip and had them parting to allow him through.

  Stepping into the house, he stopped just inside as his eyes flew up the stairs. He only got a glimpse of Maia before three bodies slammed into his back and sent him flying forward. With a snarl, he turned and glared at his brothers, who all froze. Well, almost froze. Rall’s eyes were glued on Maia, and when he breathed a reverent, “Woooow!” Carter composed himself and turned to face her.

  Holy shit!

  Mouth drying up, hands fisting, Carter felt his chest squeeze so damn tight it made it hard to breathe. From behind him, someone whistled low, but that was the only noise any of them made. They didn’t need words though. Maia changed the atmosphere of the room just by walking into it. and with their shifter senses they could feel the weighty press of her femin
ine magic. And that’s what it was: magic. A woman had the ability to bring a powerful man to his knees and a weak man to his feet. She could launch a thousand ships, or call the bravest soldier home. Women! Women were the essence of everything, and right now Carter felt it. He knew his brothers did too.

  Maia’s eyes met Carter’s, and a slight blush took her cheeks as she asked, “Is it too much? I didn’t know . . .”

  “It’s perfect,” Zander offered.

  “Yeah!” Rall crowed. “Perfect.”

  Carter stayed silent, still in shock at the sight of Maia. She had her long hair pulled up, showing off her elegant neck. Were necks elegant? Carter didn’t know, but it was the first word that came to mind when he saw Maia’s. That and the word mark. With her hair up, it was on open display that she was unclaimed, and while it turned Carter on, it also pissed him off because he knew other fuckers would be ogling her all night. How could they not? Maia wore a form-fitting red gown that brushed the floor, the satiny material clinging to her curves like a second skin. There was a slit up the front that exposed the creamy skin of one sexy leg all the way to her thigh, and the neck was cut low, her cleavage pushed up and on display looking like it would spill out at any second. Her pouty lips were painted a deep crimson that matched the polish on her nails and the small clutch in her hands. There were even ruby jewels hanging from her ears that glistened in the low lamplight. But it was her eyes that captivated Carter. She’d put on some of that dark makeup shit and then liner that made her green eyes look almost hazel. Christ, just staring at her had his dick going hard.

  Someone elbowed Carter from behind, so he blinked out of his intense perusal, stepped forward, and cleared his throat. “You look . . .”

  “Beautiful!” Rall breathed.

  “Naw, she’s more than just beautiful,” Zander corrected. “You’re gorgeous, Maia.”

  Carter felt his hackles rising. His brothers had just stolen both compliments he’d been about to give Maia. Turning, he shot them a dark look over his shoulder.

  Deacon grunted, but his lips were lifted in a smile. Dropping his hands on Zander’s and Rall’s shoulders, he shot Carter a wink then nodded up at Maia before steering his two brothers back outside.

  Alone with Maia, Carter turned to face her. When she lifted the skirt of her dress to come the rest of the way down the stairs, he rushed up the stairs, offered her a hand and helped her down to the landing.

  She peeked up at him and blushed before looking away with a murmured, “Thank you for the dress.”

  Thank him? Thank him! He wanted to thank her for wearing it because for the rest of his days, he’d never forget how the sight of her in it had stolen his breath.

  Hand still surrounding hers, he didn’t let go when she tried to pull hers back.

  “You look stunning, Maia.”

  Standing in front of him, she was just a little taller because of the satiny red heels she wore. They even had a satin ribbon that tied around her ankle.

  Sexy as fuck!

  Even wearing those sexy high heels, Maia still only came to his collar bone. She was tiny, delicate. It had his protective instincts surging to the fore.

  “Sh-should we go?”

  Her question had him realizing he was grinning down at her like a big doof. Blanking his face, he released her hand. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”

  He strode to the closet and pulled out his charcoal-colored wool duster. It was the only still nice coat he owned, and because of it, he typically reserved it for funerals or fancy occasions. Knowing it’d go with his suit, he stilled as a thought struck him. Turning, he saw Maia just standing there.

  “Where’s your coat?”

  She gestured toward the coat rack. “I just have my dirty Carhartt and I don’t wanna ruin the dress, so . . .”

  Frowning, he turned back to the closet. There wasn’t shit in here that’d be suitable to cover Maia’s elegant dress, except for . . . Glancing at the duster in his hands, he turned and opened it up, holding it out to Maia when he reached her. “Here, wear this. It’s clean, I promise.”

  “I’m not taking your coat, Carter.”

  Bending low, he purred at her ear, “I’m a shifter, remember. I don’t get cold.”

  She eyed him a second, as if trying to decide if she should.

  “Come on,” he shook the coat. “It’s cold as shit out and I’m not gonna let you freeze.”

  Turning, she slid one arm in, but glanced at him over her shoulder. “You sure?”

  Inside, his lion preened at how good of a job they were doing taking care of her. “Yeah,” he smiled. “I’ll be fine.” But when Maia had the coat on and he started doing up the buttons, he realized it was way too big on her. On him, the hem hit him just below the knees, but on Maia, it dragged on the floor.

  Glancing down, she kicked a leg forward, but the tip of her shoe didn’t even peek out. “I don’t know. It’s pretty long. I might trip in these heels.”

  “I got you.”

  Without asking, he bent and scooped her up into his arms, making sure to be gentle and mindful of her dress. Standing upright, he angled his face toward her. “This alright?”

  Instead of saying anything through her parted red lips, Maia blinked up at him and nodded.

  Carter carried Maia out the front door that Deacon rushed to hold open. On the porch Rall beamed at them while Zander, who had one shoulder pressed into one of the porch posts, cocked his head and said, “Thought you’re supposed to carry ’em over the threshold going in not coming out.”

  Carter didn’t look up from where his eyes were locked on Maia’s, and when she blushed at Zander’s statement, he shot his brother a dark look that slowly morphed into a grin.

  Chapter 13

  Maia was glad it was cold out because she was hoping Carter would think her shivering was from the weather and not a reaction to his nearness. The man was like a furnace, and the amount of heat pouring off his body had her wanting to nestle tighter against his chest. She didn’t. Instead, she kept her mouth shut as he carried her effortlessly down the porch steps to his waiting truck. Smoke was chugging out of the tailpipe because he had the truck started to warm. She was glad for it because the temperature was downright arctic.

  Rall went bounding by and pulled the passenger side door open.

  “I can sit in back,” she offered.

  Carter settled her in the seat with a, “Nope,” that he popped on the p. He closed her door, and Maia’s heart gave a little start. She could get used to being treated like this.

  She watched from her seat as Carter circled the front of his truck then stopped. He was saying something to Rall and then to Zander, but she couldn’t hear over the sound of the running motor and the blasting heater. Carter didn’t look pleased, but with a shake of his head, he crossed to the driver’s-side door and opened it up.

  “Everything okay?”

  Brows furrowed, he explained, “The boys are taking a second truck.”

  “Oh.” She understood Carter’s confusion, because it didn’t make sense. There was room in Carter’s crew cab for her and all four brothers if she scooted to a middle seat. It’d save on gas, and it’d be safer traveling together. She didn’t understand why the guys wanted to take their own rig.

  Outside, the guys hurried to Zander’s waiting truck, and as each of them passed by the front of Carter’s truck, they shot their brother a thumbs-up.

  Ahhh! Shooting Carter side-eye, she watched him smirk and shake his head as he put the truck into gear.

  The drive to town was slow, but ahead of them, Zander stayed close enough that Carter’s headlights rarely left his bumper. Maia was grateful for it because breaking down out here in the clothes she was wearing could mean death. Winters in Montana were no joke, and the realization had her glancing at the temperature on the dash. Carter caught her and said, “Don’t worry. Nothing’s gonna happen, and if it does, which it won’t, I have blankets, flares, Duraflame logs, a flint, an ax, and lots of other gear in
the toolbox in the back.”

  That made Maia feel better, so she relaxed back into her seat.

  “I won’t let anything happen to you, Maia.”

  “It scares me being out in this cold dressed like an idiot.”

  “You’re not dressed like an idiot. You look beautiful.”

  He shot her one of his hot-boy grins that had Maia’s stomach fluttering.

  “By the way, thanks for making dinner last night. You didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did. It was delicious.”

  Last night after she, Zander, and Rall had gotten back from their trip to town, she’d been excited about her new dress and the prospect of going to the festival. Taking her things up to her room and putting them away, she finished quickly then hurried out to the barn to find Carter and Deacon cleaning up. They’d done all the day’s chores and taken care of the dogs for her, so out of gratitude, she demanded to take over the kitchen. Wanting to impress the guys, she made her mama’s famous rosemary buttermilk fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, homemade dinner rolls topped with lots of butter and sea salt, and blueberry pie. The guys ate every ounce of food, and then they’d all stayed late at the table talking. The guys had too many beers while Maia polished off an entire bottle of white wine all by herself. The house had been warm, the conversation had been good, and it felt just like it did back at The Den. For the first time since arriving, Maia felt like she was actually welcome, and it was an awesome feeling. She didn’t want to tell Carter that, though, because she knew it’d remind him that he wasn’t supposed to like her, and she wanted tonight to be as special as it already felt.

  “I love to cook,” was her simple response. “Besides, I feel like I owed you something for the dress.” Smoothing her hands down Carter’s coat, she shook her head. “You really didn’t have to buy my anything.”

  “Nonsense,” he smirked. “Couldn’t let you come to ball without a proper gown.”

  They fell silent again, and it turned awkward after neither of them said anything for several miles. Carter must have felt it too because he asked, “Music?” But he was already flipping it on. A country station played quietly, and Maia hummed along to a Zac Brown Band song.