Lance, page 21
“I know Pet.”
This was why he couldn’t stay away from her. Why no matter how hard Lance tried to convince himself he was in Greenlea simply to find the truth, it could never be true. It was always for her.
Because Kari wasn’t simply meant to be his.
“When I come home we should talk about that.” Lance watched for any sign of the panic he’d seen before and assumed was because he was pushing her too hard.
Nothing.
“Okay.” Kari reached out to cup his face. “I love you.”
Lance turned his lips into her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Thank God because I was worried I would have resort to begging.”
“You didn’t?”
He pinched the skin of Kari’s hand between his teeth as she laughed. “You think you’re funny?” Lance rolled off her. “I’ll remember that.”
Kari laughed louder as he closed the bathroom door. She was still laughing when he came out. He jumped on the bed, pinning her to the mattress as he grabbed her hands and held them over her head, stretching her body under his. “Will you still think it’s as funny when you’re the one doing the begging?”
“I don’t know if funny is the right word.” Kari wiggled under him. “Then again I’ve never begged before.”
“Oh you will Pet.” Lance pulled her wrists higher over her head as his eyes skimmed down her body. “Maybe tonight.”
“Maybe?” Her voice was husky.
Oh yes. She would beg.
“Maybe.” Lance released her wrists and climbed off the bed. “Right now I need to go smooth over things with my mother.” He pulled on his jeans.
Kari winced. “There goes making a good impression.”
Lance laughed. “Oh no Pet. She’s not upset with you.” He tugged his shirt over his head. “She’s ready to kill me.”
“What?” Kari sat up straight. “You didn’t do anything.”
“That will probably be her argument too.” Lance sat on the edge of the bed. He’d never held anything back with Kari, even when he wanted to. All the things he never intended to share with another person just came running out of his mouth.
Moonshine or no moonshine.
Now was probably one of the times he should at least try not to tell her everything but the odds weren’t in his favor.
They never were when it came to her.
“Do you know why I’ve never introduced a woman to my mother Kari?”
Kari shook her head slowly. “Why?”
“Because no one ever mattered. I never pursued a woman. I let them do all the work while I sat back and let things run their course.” Lance reached for her hand. “I never introduced anyone to Chauncey. I never spent the night with a woman, let alone moved in with one.” He let his thumb rub across her naked third finger.
It wouldn’t be for long.
Now that Lance knew what was holding her back, Kari was likely to end up with whiplash. “No one met Vanessa. No one even saw her picture.” He scooted closer pulling her hand up to rest on his shoulder. “Only you.”
“That’s why they all left.”
It was one of many things he’d confessed to her one night at the bar. “Yes.”
“You’ve never left a woman?”
“No.” He knew where she was going with this. “I’ve never tried to make one stay either. I didn’t care if they left.”
Kari’s lips barely turned up before she flattened them into a thin line. “But you cared if I left.” The smile she smothered lifted the corners of her mouth. “I would have killed you if you kicked down my door.”
“I would have made Bob fix it.” Lance grabbed Kari’s shorts before remembering he popped the button off. He picked up her shirt and underwear, holding the ruined undergarment between them. “I don’t know that he can do much for your panties though.”
****
“Were you an ass?” His mother glared at him from her spot at the kitchen table eating a very not burnt dinner.
The whole room looked at him expectantly. “No I wasn’t an ass.”
His mother tipped her head to one side. “Are you sure?”
“I am positive.” Lance looked at Gail. “I need to talk to you.”
She smiled, her eyes wide with confusion.
Fake confusion. “About what?”
Oh hell.
Lance walked past her to the swinging door that led to the entry, pushing it open wide and nodding for her to come with him. Gail looked toward the table and wiggled her brows as she walked. “I’ll be right back.”
She was still grinning from ear to ear as she sat on the couch in the front room of the B&B, her hands on her knees, practically bouncing with excitement as he pulled up a chair.
Lance decided to knock her enthusiasm down a notch. “I’m like your sons.”
Her shoulders dropped and she slumped back against the couch. “Oh honey I knew that.”
What?
“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.” Lance scooted his chair a little closer to her, looking back over his shoulder to be sure they were alone. “I’m—”
Gail waved a hand. “A beast. I know.” She crossed her arms over her chest and he could almost swear she was pouting.
“How did you—”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t know how you think I wouldn’t. I raised two of my own.” She snorted. “And married one.”
“Well. Then.” Lance was expecting most of this conversation to be about what he was instead of what he wanted to be. He leaned to one side as he shoved one hand into the pocket of his jeans. Gail’s eyes slid his way, zeroing in on the velvet bag he pulled from his pocket. “I want to marry your daughter.”
“Of course you do.” Gail slid her reading glasses onto her face. She held out one hand. “Give it to me. Let me see it.”
Lance pulled a diamond solitaire set on a delicate gold band from the bag and held it out to her.
Gail’s lips turned down to an appraising frown as she held the ring out in front of her, turning it as she inspected it. “How long have you had this?”
Now would be an appropriate time to lie. Hell, he’d successfully lied to himself when he bought it. An investment. That’s all it was. Or maybe a gift to give to...
“I brought it with me.”
Gail’s eyes peered at him over her glasses. She stared at him for a long few seconds. A slow smile crept onto her lips. “I knew you wanted her when you left.”
“You’re smarter than I am then.” Lance took the ring back from Gail and tucked it into the slim bag. He’d refused to admit what the ring was for when he bought it. Even as he packed it in his bags Lance pretended it was nothing.
But it was. Because he knew. Even when he shouldn’t have and wouldn’t admit he did, Lance always knew Kari was meant to be his.
“Nah.” Gail stood up. “You were as crappy at hiding that as you were the other.” She propped her glasses on the top of her head. “When are you going to ask her?”
Lance stood and tucked the ring back in his pocket. “When I get back. I want to give her a minute to breathe.”
“Do you?”
Lance chuckled. The more he got to know Gail, the more he saw where Kari got it from. “No. I don’t.” He shrugged. “But I will because I think she needs it.”
Gail patted his chest. “You’re a good boy.” She pointed to the kitchen. “Now, go tell your mother so she stops plotting your death.”
Lance grinned. “I knew she would love Kari.”
“Of course she loves Kari.” Gail pushed him ahead of her toward the hall. “And she loves you. All mothers want to see their children happy.”
“I am happy.” It felt strange to say because he’d always considered himself to be happy.
Maybe satisfied was a better way to put it. He was fine. His life was perfectly fine.
Vanessa made him happy.
But she also stirred something inside him. Roused the beast from a complacent sleep. Gave him a reason to step forward and push his boundaries until he found a weakness.
Kari was his weakness.
When they walked back into the kitchen his brother and Stewart were gone and Vanessa was in her high-chair mashing her dinner onto the table and into her hair. Gail looked at the empty seats. “Where did everyone go?”
Renee wiped at Vanessa’s cruddy face. “The boys wanted to go to the bar. Apparently everyone is there.”
“Not everyone.” Gail untied her apron. “You wanna go?”
His mother looked at him.
“Go.” He pulled Vanessa from her seat and picked a chunk of banana from her hair. “Have fun but don’t drink the moonshine.”
Renee jumped up from her seat. “Now I have to at least try it.”
“Wait.” Lance caught his mother just before she disappeared out the door. “I’m going to marry Kari and move to Greenlea.”
She smiled at him. “I know.” The door shut behind his mother and her new best friend, leaving him in the kitchen with a messy table and a filthy Vanessa. “I think we got screwed Little Cub.”
****
“What did they feed her?” Kari peeled Vanessa’s shirt off, pulling it over her head as the bath ran behind her.
“Everything I’m sure.” Lance stood in the doorway and watched as Kari carefully unwrapped the clear band holding Vanessa’s blonde hair out of her eyes, raking the hair with her fingers when it came loose.
“Was it good?” She smiled at Vanessa as she pulled off her shoes and socks. “Did you even eat any of it? It looks like you’re wearing most of it.” She pinched at his daughter’s chubby belly. “Did you have fun with Nana?”
“Nanas.” Lance shrugged when Kari turned to him. “Your mother has claimed Vanessa as her own.”
Kari’s nose wrinkled. “Sorry.” She tossed Vanessa’s clothes in the hamper. “Did it upset your mom?”
“She claimed her too.”
Kari tossed her head back and laughed. It was light and easy.
And it cut right into him in the most perfect way, making the small bag in his pocket burn.
Lance wanted the ring on her finger now. Before he left. He wanted it to be clear to anyone who dared to look that Kari was his.
But he couldn’t do that to her. After what happened tonight she had a lightness he’d never seen in her. A softness he never expected.
“Come on Little Cub. Let’s get you in the tub.” Kari swirled the water with one hand before easing Vanessa down into the bath.
Little Cub.
Warmth spread through him. Starting in his chest and easing out from there. This was what he came to Greenlea to find.
This was the truth he was searching for.
“Is this banana?” Kari carefully used her fingers to pinch out a slimy clump of goo from his daughter’s blonde hair.
Blonde hair just like her momma’s.
Even if she didn’t see it, Kari was special.
To Vanessa.
To him.
She was the only one ever meant to be theirs.
And when Lance got back she’d be lucky if he let her keep her name for a month.
She was his dammit.
“Is it okay if I leave you girls and run next door and make sure everything is locked up before it gets too late?” He was itching to push things. To demand what he wanted and bulldoze anything in his way like he did at work. But Kari wasn’t a deal to be closed or a property to acquire. He would have her, make no mistake about that, but not until he knew she was ready.
Ish.
That meant this thing needed to find a new home before he gave it one on Kari’s finger.
Kari looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. “I’m sure we’ll be just fine.” She turned back to his daughter. “If we’re not we’ll be in trouble soon anyway, huh?”
Lance rushed next door, partially because he didn’t want to be away from them any longer than he had to before he left in a couple of days, and partially because this ring was burning a hole in his pocket. Lance let himself in the front door of the house next door and did a quick walk-thru. The office was finished a few days ago and he’d moved in immediately, working from there so he’d been able to keep a close eye on the progress. Make sure it was moving along at a pace he was happy with. One that would have him and his family in before the month was out.
His family.
Lance paused at the door to the large bedroom at the front of the house. The room was almost finished. The new hardwood was covered with brown paper and wires peeked out from a hole in the ceiling that was waiting for a light fixture. It would be finished while he was gone. The furniture would be delivered after he got home, then maybe...
Lance pulled the ring from his pocket and turned, going downstairs before he could talk himself out of waiting. The door to his office was locked since there were workers and subs in and out all day. He unlocked the heavy wood door and went straight to his large desk, opening the top drawer and dropping the bag inside. He slammed the drawer shut.
He wasn’t used to waiting for the things he wanted.
But he would wait. For her.
The hesitance he’d seen in Kari since he came here was gone for the first time tonight and he’d be damned if he put it back. Kari was just beginning to believe this was real between them and Lance wanted to give that time to grow. He wanted no doubt in her mind when she became his wife.
Lance flipped off the light as his beast growled with an impatience they shared.
He shoved the beast down, locking the door. They only had to wait a little longer.
Just a handful of days and they would both have what they wanted.
Her.
19
“Do you know how much longer he’s going to be gone?” Rhea’s voice was tentative.
Probably worried Kari would lose her shit.
Kari sat Vanessa down on the blanket spread across the floor in the corner of the gallery. “He’s hoping to fly back tomorrow.”
Lance’s week long trip was stretching out. He’d been gone ten days. Ten stupidly long days.
She’d lived her whole life without him. Why was it these last ten days seemed to take longer than the last twenty-eight freaking years?
“That’s good.” Rhea seemed relieved.
Maybe they were all worried she’d burn the whole world down if he didn’t come back.
She probably would.
But she wouldn’t have to.
“He better come back soon. I don’t have room for anymore flowers.” Kari sat down on the blanket between Vanessa and Annabelle.
She’d had flowers delivered to her house every day since he’d been gone. Considering how far Greenlea was from a florist he’d probably spent a fortune. “Plus he’ll go bankrupt paying the delivery fees.”
“I want to thank you for that by the way.” Rhea swept the duster in her hand across the surface of a long sofa table. “Hagen brought me flowers yesterday and took the ones you brought to the B&B.”
Kari laughed. She could imagine the look on her brother’s face when he walked in and found the crystal vase with two dozen pink roses standing proudly on their kitchen table. Kari even left the card in it just for fun. “Good. He needs to up his game.”
“He almost had a heart attack when he read that card.” Rhea turned to give her a mock glare. “That I’m sure you left accidentally on purpose.”
Kari shrugged and opened her eyes wide in feigned innocence. “There were just so many I forgot.”
“Uh-huh.” Rhea gave her a sly grin. “Did you give some to Spirit?”
“Of course.” Spirit was the first to get the overflow of flowers taking over Kari’s small house. “I’ve been giving her the lilies. They’re her favorite.”
“Interesting.” Rhea went back to dusting.
“Why is that interesting?” Kari pulled out Vanessa’s snacks from the diaper bag and handed the little girl a few.
“You probably managed to give both your brothers a heart attack this week then.”
Wait. What?
“Has Jerrik been bothering her? How does he even know?” Kari was so careful to make sure her brother was never suspicious of her friend’s activities. It’s not like what Spirit did was even a big deal. It didn’t hurt anyone. He had more important things to focus on as the local law enforcement.
Like the dicks doing fucked up things in the woods.
Rhea gave her a long look over one shoulder. “You think that’s the only reason Jerrik would be interested in Spirit?”
Kari stared back at her friend. “I don’t—” Wait. She started to laugh.
Then she laughed some more falling back onto the blanket. “You’re kidding.”
Rhea giggled a little. “Haven’t you noticed how miserable he is?”
“Yes but I thought it was about what’s going on in the woods.” Kari sat up and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“Well, it kind of is.”
“Oh.” Kari sobered.
She hadn’t thought about Spirit living so close to what was happening. “She can’t leave her place up there.”
“I know that and you know that but Jerrik doesn’t know that.” Rhea blew out a long breath. “And Spirit sure as hell isn’t going to tell him why she can’t leave.”
“Oh shit.” Kari pursed her lips as she stared across the gallery. “Do you really think he likes her?”
Rhea dropped her head toward one shoulder.
“Right. Sorry.” Kari pulled her knees up to her chest. “Spirit keeps that place locked up tight. I can’t imagine anyone could get to her.” She looked to her friend for reassurance. “Right?”
“I hope not.” Rhea didn’t look confident.
Kari chewed on her bottom lip. Spirit was her best friend. They’d been friends their whole life and the thought of something happening to her made Kari feel sick. “I’ll talk to her. Make sure she’s being careful.”
The bell on the gallery’s door rang as Cora came through carrying a load of boxes. “Morning.”
Cora was quiet and calm. And real fucking serious.
The kind of woman you felt bad saying fuck around.
She was very different from Kari. But different wasn’t always bad. Kari stood up and rushed to catch the box teetering at the top of the stack piled in Rhea’s sister’s arms. “When did you get back in town?”
