After Libby left, and Richie and Lucas had both gone off to their rooms, and the house was quiet, Riley sat on the couch in his living room. He’d turned all the lights off, but the tree was still lit, as were the lights on the outside of the house, the glow softly illuminating the windows from outside. He looked around the room, remembering the night. The people who gathered to celebrate with him and Cristie, who were quickly becoming family. He thought of Travis and Lucas. Lucas’ and his own words to Travis especially, and decided maybe he needed to heed his own advice. He picked up his phone and dialed.
“What?” came the almost instant answer.
“Merry Christmas,” Riley said.
“Yeah, same. What do you want?”
“You have a minute. I just want to talk.”
“Why to me?”
“Because, Maverik, you’re Maia’s father. And at one time you were my friend. I need to talk to you, please. Not a confrontation, I don’t want to fight with you. I just need…”
“A shoulder?” Maverik snarked.
“Yeah, a shoulder. And one that belongs to the closest person in the world to my Maia.”
“She ain’t yours no more.”
“And why is that? What the hell happened, Maverik. I still don’t know.”
“You ain’t very bright, are you?” Maverik asked, all trace of snark gone.
“Look, I know I pulled back. But it was to respect your wishes, and Maia. You know the pull of a Mate. I promised you I’d wait until she was ready. I promised. And it was getting so fucking hard, so I put a little distance to help me get some control over my Panther. But that’s it. I swear, that’s all I did.”
Maverik sucked his teeth as he tended to do when irritated. “I get that. But you left!”
“Yeah, after she renounced me and sent me away.”
“You was leaving anyway. She heard you planning with Kaid.”
“Maverik, I begged for a chance to speak to Maia, to tell her I was coming up here to start our business. To establish our Pride! Then the moment she was ready, and you said she was ready, I was coming back to get her. But I can’t very well have anything to offer her if I’m wandering around behind her like a damn lovesick pup, with all the damn Alphas there crowding me out. Then what would I do when she was ready to accept me? Tell her, oh, wait, I wasted the last year just waiting for you to be ready. Hold up, I’ll go get a job offering fries with that, it’s okay if we struggle, right? I had to build a life for her to come to.”
“Why didn’t you tell her that?”
“She wouldn’t speak to me. And with Valerie and Delilah running interference for her, I couldn’t get close enough. And you didn’t help the situation much either, keeping me away from her.”
Maverik listened to Riley’s words. He knew the poor male hadn’t had much of a chance against the wall they’d all thrown up to protect Maia against him when she was hurting. He sighed. “She’s my daughter, Riley. She was hurting. What did you expect me to do?”
“I know. I know she is. But damn, Maverik, you let her renounce me without ever even speaking to me,” Riley answered.
“Why’d you turn to another female, Riley. All this could have been worked out if you’d have just remained true.”
“What?!” Riley shouted, jumping to his feet.
“Oh, come on! Don’t play that shit with me. Maia heard her in the background the last time you called her. She heard you tell her to take your shirt, it smelled like you.”
Riley was speechless, his mind whirling, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Maverik. There has been no other female. Not one single fucking time!”
“Riley, I feel for you. I know what it’s like to hurt over a Mate, you know I do. But my daughter ain’t the same. She never smiles. Pain clings to her all the fucking time. She’s just a shadow of who she was. That ain’t happened because she imagined something. Whatever caused it’s real. So you do you some serious thinking — try to figure out what the hell it was you were doing when she heard you giving your shirt to another female.”
“Maverik…”
“I’m done, Riley. You think about it. Now you tell my pretty-girl Poppy loves her and Merry Christmas. And you figure out what the hell happened, ‘cause frankly, I’ve had enough. I ain’t watching my daughter waste her life away over a broken heart. Fix this, Riley. Fuckin’ fix it.”
The line went dead when Maverik ended the call. Riley stared at the phone in his hand. They thought he’d been with another woman. That was why Maia had renounced him. His heart hurt, his breath coming in heaves. His jaw sharpened and squared, his Panther wanting out to run off the pain and frustration.
Richie padded quietly down the stairs. He’d heard the last part of Riley’s side of the conversation after Riley shouted ‘What?’. He reached the bottom of the stairs and stood there, waiting for Riley to notice him.
When finally he did, he turned to Richie, his eyes flashing, almost partially shifted.
“I’ll stay with Cristie. You go. We’ll be fine,” Richie said.
In a barely human voice Riley said, “I just need a run. I’ll be back soon.”
Richie nodded and when Riley gave himself over to the huge golden Panther that lived inside him, Richie opened the door to allow him to exit the house.
The next morning brought a bleary-eyed Riley to the breakfast table. He’d spent most of the night running through the hills surrounding his place. He’d run until he practically dropped from exhaustion; then, he got up and made his way home with the dawn. He still had no damned idea what Maia thought she’d heard, but one thing was for sure, there had not been another woman in his life since he’d laid eyes on Maia.
He walked up on the porch, slid into the jeans that Richie had left on the rocking chair for him and let himself into the house. He padded barefoot into the kitchen and took a seat after leaning over to kiss Cristie on the head.
She was holding a fork in her hand, a sausage patty stuck to the end of it while she took bites of it. “Shaushage!” she said, grinning and holding it up for him to see.
“I see that, sweetheart. Looks good. Is there enough for me?” Riley asked.
Richie placed a platter on the table, piled with sausage patties and scrambled eggs, “There’s plenty. Lucas is gone.”
“What? When?” Riley asked, cocking his head to the side, irritation filling his voice.
“Sometime during the night. I went to let him know breakfast would be ready if he wanted it, but he didn’t answer my knock. I opened the door and peeked inside, but the bed wasn’t even slept in. His duffle is gone.”
“Well, fuck,” Riley said.
Cristie shrieked with laughter, “You sayed a bad woud!”
“Sorry, I did. I’m going to have to get a timeout. Bad Doddy!” Riley said. He locked eyes with Richie.
Richie took a seat at the table and loaded up his plate, “Maybe he wasn’t the right fit.”
“I know he was. I was so sure he would stay with us,” Riley said. “Damn. I wonder what happened.”
“Don’t know. Maybe he’s got too many ghosts chasing him, can’t stay in one spot for long,” Richie said.
“Maybe. Maybe he’ll come back,” Riley said.
After breakfast they straightened the house a little, then Riley said, “Hey, I was thinking, we need to get Wi-Fi and cable or something. There is never anything on TV, and we’re going to need a wireless connection when the store and diner are opened. Not to mention, we could use one here just to have access for our computers.”
“I don’t have a computer,” Richie said, laughing.
“Well, neither do I. But I will. So, what do you say, let’s head into town and take care of those things. See if we can get some information on supply houses for diners and convenience stores.”
“Sounds like a plan. You gonna bitch about being in stores all day again?” Richie teased.
“No. ‘Cause I’m not going to be in stores all day. A few stops and then home again.�
�
“What about Christmas shopping?”
“Already took care of it. Scotty should have ordered it for me.”
“Can it fit under the tree?”
“Well, no,” Riley answered.
“Then you’re not done. Come on, I’ll help.”
Chapter 14
Richie went on outside while Riley got Cristie into her coat and slid into his lightweight jacket. Then Riley walked outside to join Richie in the truck. Only, when he walked outside, Richie wasn’t in the truck. He was standing on the porch looking across the highway. The opposite side of the highway was a flat area where it butted up against the road, but then gave way some six hundred feet or so back to a rise which led to an outcropping of tan and copper colored rocks, forming what looked like a cliff face. It was created when the highway was cut through the area. And coming down that rise on the other side of the highway was a familiar figure. Tall, extremely muscular, obscenely so. Dark blonde hair, golden skin. Tatted up. Lucas.
Riley smiled to himself, and turned to unlock the front door so Lucas could get inside.
“Ya’ll going to town?” Lucas called, once he got close enough.
“Yup. You need something?” Riley called back.
“Some socks, man. I hate freaking cold feet,” he answered.
“Done. I’ll bring ‘em,” Riley answered.
As Lucas got closer, Richie said, “Thought you left us.”
“Why’d you think that? I didn’t say goodbye.”
“Bed wasn’t slept in, your duffel’s gone,” Richie answered.
By this time Lucas was striding up to the front gate, his smile bright but strained, “Sometimes the walls get too close, you know? Gotta get out of the house. And the duffel’s on the back porch, clothes are getting washed.”
Riley said, “I know very well how close the walls can get.”
“Bet you do. Thought I heard the call of a Panther last night,” Lucas said before turning his attention to Richie, “Don’t be assuming, Number Two. You know what assuming does, right?”
“Yeah, I do,” Richie answered.
“Morning, Miss Cristie,” Lucas said as he went by and ruffled her hair. “Ya’ll want me to go, or it’s okay if I stay here?”
“You live here, man. Do what you want,” Riley answered, “and there’s left-over breakfast in the fridge if you want it.”
“Good deal, thanks. Oh, and whatever you going to see to, you should consider two things.”
“And what’re the two things?” Riley asked.
“For one, you need to do something to separate your parking lot for the store from your house. Make it obvious it’s private and not part of the public property.”
Riley turned and looked at the store across the huge white gravel parking lot, “That’s not a bad idea.”
“’Course it’s not. And the second thing, your Pride’s growing. I heard you telling Libby last night she was one of us. Where you gonna house everybody, Alpha? Not everybody is going to have a place in town they can stay in.”
Riley looked dumbfounded for a minute. “Hadn’t thought of it.”
“Didn’t figure you had ‘cause you thinking you got the house and all, but it can only hold so many.”
Riley looked off toward the rise across the highway where Lucas had come from. “That’s mine, too. Along with about six hundred acres behind it. Here, we go back about one hundred fifty acres behind the house, but over there it’s just shy of six hundred.”
Richie grinned.
Lucas’ eyebrows rose and he smiled. “Maybe we could build something over there.”
“Maybe, or we could bring in mobile homes, make it an upscale mobile home park. Back off the highway, fenced in and nice.”
“Then we need to talk to people about electricity and water. Get it set up,” Lucas said.
“You making notes, Rich?” Riley asked as he walked around the truck to strap Cristie in and get in himself.
“Don’t need notes, I got it right here,” he said, tapping his head.
“Let’s get gone, got a long list to take care of. Try not to burn the place down while we’re gone,” he said jokingly to Lucas.
“I’ll try my best,” Lucas responded, before winking at Riley, then turning the knob and walking inside.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Maia was sitting in Joanne’s Books and Goodies with Valerie. Valerie had talked her into coming with her to get some pastries. They’d decided to sit and enjoy being away from the house for a change. Things had been a bit crazy since Delilah and Kaid’s baby had been born. The baby was a sweet little thing that everyone adored. And truth be told, they all went out of their way to be a part of the baby’s daily routine. But it was a constant job keeping up with the demands. Maverik had christened the baby Monster Jr., and considering each belch caused Monster Jr.’s flame riddled breath to scorch the fur on the little clawed fingers grasping the bottle, meant a very unhappy Monster Jr. Which kept Delilah on edge. Which kept Kaid on edge. So they’d all been volunteering to help with feeding time and burping time.
That coupled with the fact that Valerie’s time was drawing near, and Everly was sick almost constantly with her pregnancy made for a very hectic time around the clan’s homestead. Bam’s wedding was less than a week previous, and Christmas was right around the corner. The decorations were going up, and the kids were excited about Christmas. But Maia could never manage to climb out of her own head long enough to join in with any of it. Which was why Valerie had pushed her to come get some goodies with her.
Valerie sat across from Maia, her eyes closed, her head relaxed and falling back on her shoulders as she enjoyed the mini blueberry pie in her hand. “Maia, I don’t care what Everly says, these are the best pastry in this place. Not those cherry turnovers. These — these are the best.”
“I don’t know, Mom. I’m thinking, these lemon tarts, they’re the best.”
“No, no way. Okay, wait, let me try one,” Valerie said, reaching for a lemon tart. She grinned as she chewed, “No, no, not the best, but definitely in the top five.”
Just then a group of three boys walked by the front window, and one of them glanced inside and saw Maia. His eyes got big, and he spoke to the other two before breaking off from them to come inside. He grinned at Maia the whole time he walked from the door to the counter. He ordered a coffee and a cinnamon roll before taking a seat at a table halfway across the room from Valerie and Maia.
“Isn’t that the boy from the Christmas Festival?” Valerie asked.
“Yeah, it is. He’s nice, but there’s no spark there. Besides, he’s two years younger than me,” Maia said.
“Well, maybe you should give him a chance, you never know.”
“No, I do know. Now his brother… I might consider him. But, no, I’m just not ready.”
Just then the door opened, and the two other boys came in. Maia looked the leader of the two up and down briefly before looking away. Valerie watched and deduced this must be the brother. They took a seat with the boy who was all goo goo eyed for Maia and slipped into that normal teenage slouch. The brother looked over at Maia and called to her, “Hey, Maia.”
“Hi, Jude. You doing okay?”
“Yeah, doing fine. I been working at the plants down in Norco. I only come home on the weekends now. Well, at least when I don’t have plans in New Orleans, that is.”
“Oh, okay. Must be why I don’t see you around as much.”
“Yep. That’s it. How about you? You still in school?”
“Yes, ‘til January anyway. I’ll finish the last of my credits on the 16th and graduate mid year.”
“Good on you. I thought one day I’d graduate, but I’m glad I decided to just go ahead and get started in the plants. In line for foreman already.”
“Congratulations. Hope you get it.”
“Hey, I’m gonna be home ‘til Tuesday. We got Monday off, you want to get a burger or something?”
“Well, I’m not…” Maia
started, but Valerie kicked her under the table. “Ouch!”
Maia glared at Valerie, “My mom is almost due, so I hate to leave her alone.”
“Nope, I’m good. Your dad will be with me. Go ahead,” Valerie said.
“Yes, but Delilah may need help,” Maia said.
“No, she’s good, too. There are plenty of us to help out if needed. Go ahead and have some fun,” Valerie said.
“You gonna make me think you don’t want to spend any time with me if you keep this up, Maia,” Jude said jokingly.
“No, it’s not that, I just. It’s been a while since I hung out with anyone. Just been through a pretty bad breakup.”
“No better way to get over one than to find another. Come on, I don’t bite. Just a burger, and maybe some dancing. If you want to.”
Valerie stared a hole through Maia until she met her eyes, “Go out with him!” she mouthed.
Maia rolled her eyes, “Yeah, okay. Sounds good. I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night. About 7:00 p.m.?”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Awright, then. See you tomorrow night.” He stood to go, his friend with him, and his now pouting brother, “Come on, brat. Lets go.”
“I cannot believe you did that!” Maia snapped at Valerie.
“Why? You know I think you need to be out and about.”
“But Riley…” Maia said.
“Is not here. He left. After you sent him away. You cannot live your life in the background of ours. You need to get out of the house. You need to make friends. You need to live your life. You don’t have to marry this guy, but there’s no reason you can’t go to dinner with him, go dancing, have a little fun, Maia.”
“I know. But…”
“But what, honey?” Valerie asked.
“He’s not Riley,” Maia finished.
“And he never will be. No one is Riley, but Riley. If you wanted him, why did you send him away?” Valerie asked.
“I told you! I can’t live my life like my mother did. He hurt me. He cheated. I had to let him go, but that doesn’t mean I stopped loving him. I will always love him.”
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