CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kingston
I peel myself away from the cabin long enough to check in with my brothers. My entire body is lighter and totally satisfied.
That girl sure knows how to make a man happy. Hell, even my animal is happy.
“Howdy, stranger.” Fournette saunters through the kitchen in a pair of boxers and scratches his stomach.
“Yeah, well, doesn’t look like I’ve been missed much around here. Did you just get up?”
“Hey, don’t judge me. I spent my night with a glass of whiskey to keep me warm. What’d you do last night?”
I try not to, but I can’t help it. My lips twist into a sly grin, betraying me and giving away the details of my night.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. So, keep your judgement to yourself.”
“Whatever, where’s Wyatt?”
“Out on the boat.”
My body snaps. “What the fuck? We said we weren’t going out today.”
“And I’m not, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He was already gone before I got up to take a piss at six thirty this morning.”
“Now, I have to worry about him all damn day.” I start a stout pot of coffee. “I told Ruby I’d be back in a bit. I don’t have time for this shit.”
Fournette shakes his messy hair. “I don’t know what to tell ya. Stubbornness runs in the family.” He follows it up with a chuckle as he moves the coffee pot and sticks a mug under the drip.
“Ok, so I’ve been giving something a little thought. I need to bend your ear.”
He holds his mug in the air and then takes a big gulp. “Lay it on me.”
“I think it’s time for a boil. A few friends, cold beer, and an ass ton of crawfish. But I don’t know if it’s a good time with the pack breathing down my neck.”
“What? When?”
I bite the bullet fill Fournette in on the attack and the aftermath of explaining to Ruby that I’m a shifter. That we’re all shifters. He doesn’t seem at all surprised at her acceptance of the crazy news.
“Man, that one’s a keeper. You need to hold on tight before she catches on that you ain’t worth a shit.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I mock and throw a pot holder at his head.
He snatches it in the air and doubles over in laughter. “I’m good with the boil. Old man Wyatt is another story.”
“Yeah, I’ll handle it.” Along with him going off half cocked, he knows better than to go out on the water without backup.
*
I sit in the driver’s seat with Ruby just inches away and it’s driving me insane. The truck windows are rolled down and I smell the sweet scent from Ruby’s strawberry shampoo wafting through the breeze.
She hasn’t stopped bubbling over with excitement. She’s bobbing in her seat and clapping her hands together while watching every turn.
I pull up to the packed yard and see the apprehension quickly steal her joy.
“Hey, it’s all good. I got you.”
With a dick stirring smirk, I know exactly what she’s thinking. “Later, you nymphomaniac.”
“There they are!” Fournette hollers as he rushes from the porch and meets us at the edge of the yard. He throws one arm around my shoulders and the other over Ruby’s. “It’s about damn time. The party’s in full swing.”
“Yeah, I see that. How much have you had, brother?”
He tosses his head back and howls. “Not enough, brother. Not enough.” He takes off tearing across the yard.
“I think we’d better get you a beer.” I slip my hand around hers and love the way she laces her fingers through mine. All my life I never thought I would be so lost in someone. Once shit went sideways with Kate, I was content with a quick lay here and there. I never wanted anything else. I never wanted more. Not until now.
I want her
Her smile does something dangerous to me. Like I would do anything in the world to protect that smile.
Wyatt is doing what he does best and plants himself at the boiling pot.
“Don’t overcook those tails.”
He pulls his cap off his head and dusts it against his jeans and to my surprise, he pulls Ruby in for a quick side hug. “You’re too good for this asshole.”
She pops her lips and winks at me.
Damn, he’s right.
“Ah, I’m feeling generous.” She’s quick on her wit.
Now it’s Wyatt’s turn to chuckle at my expense. “Yeah, I hear that.” His expression grows serious and he looks my way. “Got a minute?”
“You good for a second?” I ask Ruby, but Fournette has other plans.
He swoops in and grabs her by the hand. “Take your time. I’ll keep the little lady occupied.”
Her eyes are wide, but the grin assures me she’s up for it. I wait for them to disappear, following the tune of ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ by Billy Cyrus.
“Who the fuck put him on DJ duty?”
Wyatt cocks off a smirk. “Don’t mess with him. He spent all day setting up that playlist.”
“Fine, what do you want? I wouldn’t wanna miss the ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’.”
“Anyway, Fournette told me about the pack. You know that shit ain’t gonna blow over.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So?”
I raise my big shoulders. “What?”
“So, how committed are you to this girl? You can’t be that caught up enough yet that you wanna pull her into this shit.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yeah, I am. And so is she.”
“Seriously?” My baby brother bows his chest and gets all heated like he does.
“Yeah,” I start and then take a heavy pull off my beer. “Look, she’s one of us. Not so much like us, but a loner. She came from something really bad and there’s nowhere else for her to go.”
I watch him roll his eyes and decide to go in for the kill.
“It was really bad. If you saw her face when I told her what I was, and she realized I was the same bear from the night she broke down in the woods, it would break your god damn cold heart. She was happy. Relieved that someone, anyone, would make her a priority. She knows everything about me and is still here, wanting more. Wanting it all.”
“Everything? She knows everything?”
I know what he’s asking. “Yes, and before you say it, yes, it is her business. If I have any shot of keeping her safe, I had to tell her the truth.”
“Well, you ain’t gonna be able to keep her safe by yourself.”
I cock my head and wonder if I heard him right.
“Are you really gonna make me spell it out?” He waits and remains quiet just to fuck with him. “Fine, I’m in. She can stay.”
“She’s one of us, Wyatt. I ain’t gonna let nothing happen to her.”
After a pause, he nods. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“You boys good over here?” I smell the strawberries before she makes it all the way up the hill.
“All good, darling.” Wyatt takes Ruby by the hand and gives her a good spin. “I’m ready to punch my dance card. You in?”
She grabs the beer out of my hand and drains it before planting back. “Let’s get to it!”
“What the hell am I? Chopped liver?”
“Come on, big brother. You can be the bottom of the food chain, just for one night.”
They both run down the hill toward the music and leave me alone to watch the boil.
And I couldn’t be any happier if I’d just won the damn lottery.
Hell, in this neck of the woods, I suppose I did.