Six Months (37 page)

“Yeah,” he said with a dazed smile, gently cupping my face with his warm hands and centering his eyes on mine. “Brought you back to me, and I’d say that’s pretty damn lucky. I don’t think you’re aware of one important detail, and I’m going to clear the air so there’s no confusion. You’re my girl and I’m putting my claim on you. Maybe I still need to earn it, and that’s fine, but you’re not walking out of this room without knowing what you mean to me. You’ve got my heart. You’ve got my loyalty. You’ve got everything a man can give a woman, including my love. Yeah, that’s right, princess. Love. The first time I saw your eyes, my chest squeezed so damn tight I couldn’t breathe. But what sealed the deal was the first night we slept together. And I don’t mean the sex, but lying next to you in bed and talking. The same feeling I get when I’m on my bike and thundering ninety on an open stretch of road, I get when I’m with you. I feel alive when you’re in my arms, and that’s a helluva thing for a man like me to admit. Trevor was wrong when he called you submissive, and he knows it. When life keeps kicking a man down and he gets right back up, that’s strength. You’re just finding your way in this world and keeping your chin high, and that’s what attracts me. You’re a proud woman and I love you because you ain’t perfect. I’ve never felt like this, and I’m not about to screw it up by letting you go.”

“You don’t mean that.”

Please God, let him mean that!
my inner voice screamed with giddy excitement. I didn’t want to imagine that he was just messing with my head. It would kill me, because I still had strong feelings for him I couldn’t erase. Reno was a man I wanted to know everything about, who not only made me feel safe, but happy. Nothing I told him about my past shocked him, and it made me want to open up to someone for the first time. Even Trevor didn’t know all the details of the baggage I carried around.

“I say what I mean. How ’bout that?”

“You don’t think I’m broken?”

His forehead touched mine. “We’re all broken. Don’t you see that? We’re just pieces of ourselves, trying to fit with someone else to become whole. You and I fit.”

“I don’t want anyone talking down to me because I’m a human.”

“And I won’t let any man utter an unkind word to you without my fist breaking every bone in his face,” he said in chilling words. “You have my word on that.”

“Don’t you want to ask me about Maddox?”

“Not really. I’m not your judge and jury.” Then he looked up in my eyes, just a breath away. “I
do
want to know what happened between you and Sanchez.” His eyes became a smoldering inferno.

“He’s dead now and it doesn’t matter. Nothing happened.”

“Nothing between us, April. No secrets. I can’t be with a woman who has shadows in her life she won’t let me see.”

I licked my lips and lowered my eyes to his mouth. “I owed him, as you know. We were at the warehouse and part of the payment he wanted was for me to take off my shirt. Nothing happened. He just stared at me and…
you know
. I was scared to say no to him because we were alone and he had a knife.”

His eyes closed as if he were processing it and every muscle in his face hardened. “You’ll never be alone, princess. I’m going to protect you. No scumbag will ever treat you like that again,” he promised, softly kissing the corner of my mouth.

God, the way his lips moved across my jaw. Some of the alcohol buzz was dissipating and I felt intoxicated with bliss.

“Tell me something about you,” I asked of him. I had to know more than just the man I saw, but a glimmer of who he once was. “Something no one else knows. Tell me about
your
shadows, Reno.”

His eyes closed heavily before he spoke. “I lost my faith in humanity when I served in the war.”

I spoke cautiously. “What happened?”

“Second World War. We liberated the camps and I’ve never seen anything so goddamn horrific before or since. The bodies stacked on top of one another, the women crying… I can’t… I still can’t talk about it. I’ve buried brothers who were just kids themselves, but nothing compares to all the innocents who died. Those children… All these years later, and that’s the one thing that gives me nightmares.”

This strong man fought his emotions as his lips thinned into a mixed expression of anger and pain. His eyes opened and glittered with tears, and I was finally beginning to see his shadows. Maybe Shifter men didn’t allow themselves to feel sorrow or weakness, but it dwelled beneath the surface just as hot and alive as lava beneath a volcano.

I brushed my fingers through his hair. “It’s okay, sweetie. You don’t have talk about it. I understand. Sometimes just knowing something is more meaningful than the details. Maybe war veterans don’t feel like heroes, but you are. It wasn’t even your battle to fight as a Shifter, but you did what you thought was just. That’s admirable. That’s the kind of quality that makes you such a good man.”

His eyes opened and were glittering with pain. I gently touched his hand, realizing my soldier carried his battle scars inside. Maybe words couldn’t comfort a man who suffered from emotional trauma, so all I offered him was a kiss in the palm of his hand. “I can’t begin to imagine all you’ve seen in your life.”

His rich brown eyes settled on mine. “Darkness was all there was until I first saw you. I see a future when we’re together. I feel it in my gut that this is right.”

“I won’t live as long as you will,” I reminded him.

“We can argue about why it won’t work out, or we can make it work. You decide.”

With his lips pressed to my neck, I closed my eyes and let a little more hope back into my life. I wasn’t falling for Reno. I fell for him the day he fixed up my trailer. That’s when I saw the kind of man he was, and it had nothing to do with the things he purchased but rather the sentiment behind his actions. Reno had a generous heart and wanted to take care of a girl without any expectations, just to give her a little piece of happiness in this world. War may have robbed him of his faith in humanity, but he had restored mine.

“Grab your things. I’m taking you home,” he said in a voice that left no doubt.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Didn’t you hear me?”

I placed my mouth against his ear and said in a private voice, “
You’re
my thing, Reno. My very best thing.”

His arms were everywhere, embracing me and bringing me home. “Wolves mate for life, princess. You up for that?”

“I’m not a wolf.”

“No, you’re not. You’re an angel.” Reno lifted me off the cold tile, securing me in his strong arms as my legs hung down. “Tonight, you’re sleeping in my arms and we’re going to do some spooning. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to have a poster of Billy Joel staring at us.”

A flurry of laughter flew out of my mouth. I kissed the tip of his nose and looked down at him in awe. When he smiled, he looked charming and boyish, and now I knew why Trevor was reminded of the actors he’d seen in the movies. I finally realized that I’d found my storybook romance. Reno didn’t have a white steed or a princely title, but he had my heart.

I’d been so fixated on having a home that I’d never realized how a person could be the very thing I was searching for. Reno was home, and I was finally ready to go.

“Don’t be nervous, Trevor.”
I smiled at him from the passenger side of the car and he glared at me like grim death.

“Easy for you to say, babe.”

We’d been sitting in a parked car in front of Austin’s house for the last five minutes. Two days had elapsed since Reno had brought me home from the motel. While he set up my own room, I found my way into his bed on the first night and declared it our room.

Ours
is a better word than
mine
.

I’d done most of my mourning in the hotel and tried to leave the pain of my old life behind. I knew I’d always carry the guilt of losing my mother, but I’d lost her years ago. I just hadn’t come to terms with that fact. Reno didn’t talk when I cried in the middle of the night, and he filled an emptiness that had been a part of me for so long. I drew strength from him and looked forward to our days together because I knew they’d be filled with laughter.

“I don’t know why you’re so worried. They like you.”

Trevor snorted. “Yeah, I got that warm fuzzy feeling when your boyfriend pounded me in the face.”

What Trevor didn’t know was just how
much
the Cole brothers respected him. He’d taken a bullet for Reno, and saving their brother is not something they took lightly. I still hadn’t been able to say a thing to him about being a Shifter because of my promise, but Reno told me today that it was time to confront Trevor to see where he stood. I’d spent all afternoon with him at the movies, bookstore, and then wasting hours in a coffee shop eating pastry and talking about life. Just like old times.

“Are we going to live in your car?” I asked.

“Sounds good to me. Is this really that important to you?”

“They invited you for dinner, Trevor. And you’re one of the most important people in my life. I want you to be part of my new life, and I know it’s not easy to accept all the changes, but we’re friends for the long haul, right?”

He took my left hand and kissed the top of it. “April Showers, always showering me with love.” He sighed dramatically and popped open his door. “Let’s get this over with. Hold on to your panties—it’s going to be a bumpy night.”

We got out of the car and I stuffed my hands in my coat pockets as the chilly wind blew from behind me. I began to wonder if something was wrong because the lights were out inside the house. I hoped it meant a candlelight dinner and not that someone forgot to pay the bill. He held my hand tightly as we walked up the porch steps and took a slow stroll to the door.

When it clicked open, Reno filled the empty space and then closed the door behind him. Trevor backed up when Reno folded his arms, and I feared he might turn around and run to the car.

Then a smile curved up Reno’s cheek and he winked at me. “Good to see you, Trevor.”

They nodded at each another the way men often do and Reno’s brows stitched together. “Well, let’s get this over with.”

On that note, I officially began to get nervous. Reno had promised me he’d be on his best behavior, but this was already kicking off to a cold start.

Which speaking of, a bluster of wind rattled the trees and spun some of my hair around. I moved my long bangs away from my face and tucked them behind my ear. Reno reached forward and touched a long strand. “I’m glad you grew it out. You look beautiful.”

I bit my lip because my smile was borderline comical, and Trevor looked down at me and huffed. “Well, I like platinum. Just so you know.”

I lifted my shoulder. “Always good to try something new.”

“Get inside. Dinner’s getting cold,” Reno ordered. He opened the door, allowing us to walk past him. I walked in ahead of Trevor and wondered why Reno was suppressing a grin.

“Why are the lights off?”

Trevor bumped into me as I stood in the center of the room. Not even the tree was lit.

“Surprise!” The light flipped on and my heart stammered in my chest.

Everyone in the pack surrounded us, but that wasn’t the surprising part.

It was the banners hanging everywhere with wolves on them.

Denver leaned over and flipped on the stereo, which was to our right in the living room. A Diana Ross song came on—“I’m Coming Out.”

“Oh. My. God,” I said, whispered, or exclaimed. I couldn’t be sure which because the sound of disco music filled my ears as I looked at all the banners.

Maizy was sitting beneath the Christmas tree to the right of the stairs, holding a stuffed wolf.

As the music thumped against the floorboards, Trevor backed up. The door closed behind us and Reno blocked it.

“Trevor, I think it’s about time we had a talk,” Austin began. “I think we all know what’s up. Some of the guys had an idea to throw a party and damn, I don’t know if they’re just crazy or stupid. But we’re here to support you and let you know that we… I want to extend an invitation to you to join our pack.”

Trevor’s hand began to sweat and he let go. I gripped his jacket in case he got the bright idea of knocking Reno down and bolting out the door.

Austin approached in his jeans and white T-shirt. Lexi and Ivy were sitting on the stairs, Lynn peered in from the dining room, and the rest of the guys were sprinkled all about. Denver danced chaotically to the music and Maizy was giggling at him.

“What the hell is this?” Trevor said sharply.

“It’s a coming-out party!” Maizy exclaimed.

Austin stepped forward and lowered his chin, giving off a strong vibe in the room of his authority. “It’s an invitation. We’re Shifter wolves and I’m the Packmaster of the Weston Pack. So far, it’s just my brothers and Lexi’s family, but we need some new blood. I’ve been keeping an eye out for candidates, and I can’t think of a better choice. You’ve protected April as long as you’ve known her, shown loyalty and other qualities that I look for. I don’t know why you’re skittish about letting people know what you are, but to each his own. As you can see, this is a bit of a nonconventional pack. We have humans, but I’ve never believed in following all the rules in life. Family is family, and it’s not about whether or not you fit the mold.”

Austin dropped his hand on Trevor’s shoulder and gave him a serious look, albeit difficult with Diana Ross shouting out. “You took a bullet for my brother. And maybe you don’t give a shit about him, but you did it for April. That’s loyalty. That’s love. That’s the kind of man I want in my pack. They’re not all total dickheads,” he said, his gaze skating around the room.

“Except maybe that one.” Jericho pointed his thumb at Denver, who was bent over and gyrating his butt in circles.

Thank God they didn’t put the wolves on rainbow banners
. I couldn’t read Trevor’s expression. He looked like a ghost dressed in black.

He folded his arms and engaged in a staring match with Austin, not something you really want to do with a Packmaster. “Just so you know, I’m gay. So you can turn the disco off.”

Denver whirled around and they all looked at one another.

Trevor laughed and wrapped his arm around me. “I also have no intention of shifting around you. So maybe you need a second to change your mind. Let’s have dinner and forget this ever happened.”

Austin stepped forward and jerked his head to the right, signaling to Reno. A hand gripped my arm and Reno pulled me to the side.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I protested.

Trevor and Austin were nose to nose. “Look, I don’t need to rethink a decision I’ve already made. Gay? Fine. You want to hide your wolf? Not so fine. You know the rule. Your wolf has to be introduced to everyone in the pack before coming in. If something happens down the line and we shift to defend our pack, I don’t need you turning on anyone in this room because your wolf doesn’t know them. After that, if you want to stay in hiding, that’s your choice. But we’re not ashamed of what we are in this family, and we don’t hide. It doesn’t mean our wolves run with each other, and some of them are…”

“
Loco
is the word you’re searching for,” Jericho blurted out, staring at Denver.

“Shut it,” Denver said with a snap of his fingers.

Austin cupped the side of Trevor’s neck. “I don’t have to know you for ten years to trust you. I’ve seen what I need to see. This is a chance for you to be part of a family—a brotherhood. You’ll have April to keep an eye on, and I’m always looking for input on new members. We need a strong pack, and I’m laying the offer down in front of you. So make a decision. We’re not having dinner for you to go back home, think it over, and pussy out.” He dropped his hand and quirked a smile. “You in?”

Trevor clenched his jaw and glanced sideways at me. Reno had his arms wrapped around me from behind and I looked at Trevor pleadingly. The idea of having him in the house to be a part of my family elated me. I mouthed
please
.

“On one condition,” Trevor began. “I don’t listen to disco. I don’t deal with jokes about my lifestyle. I don’t think I need to explain why I’ve left Shifter life behind. I never had a problem with being a Shifter until my pack abused me on a daily basis.”

“What the hell for?” Denver said in low, threatening words.

“Maizy, come help Mommy set the table,” Lynn said.

Maizy set her stuffed wolf down and skipped into the kitchen.

Trevor looked between everyone in the room. “Before I went through the change as a Shifter, I knew who I was. Somehow, so did everyone else. I wasn’t open with it, but let’s just say they made my life a living hell. You know how Shifters feel about being all hetero and continuing the Breed by having more kids. I don’t take shit for it no more. You can stand there and tell me you’re cool with it, but if one person in this house roughs me up…”

“Then we’ll fucking put him out,” Reno said from behind. Everyone glanced in our direction and Reno stepped around me. “We’re brothers. You come into this pack, and you’re our brother. Anyone here got a problem with this?”

All eyes looked between one another in a silent agreement that they didn’t care. Wheeler sat in a leather chair with his legs crossed, watching the scene with mild interest. Ben leaned against the far wall, yawning and rubbing his face. Those two were like night and day.

“There’s your answer,” Reno said.

Austin continued. “How about it? It’s a good offer and we’re a tight pack. You’ll have protection and we need another good man we can trust.”

Trevor blinked a few times and stared at his oxfords. I knew that look. He was on the verge of tears, and Trevor hated crying in front of people. He had never told me about his life or hinted to any history of physical torment. My heart broke at the idea that he’d suffered abuse at the hands of his own family.

“Trial period?” he asked.

Austin stuffed his hands in his pockets, jingling some change around. “All or nothing. I give you my word no one in this pack is going to put his hands on you. I can’t promise they won’t be jackasses and rile you up—that’s daily life around here.”

“They’re men,” Lexi blurted out from the stairs. “It can hardly be helped.”

A laugh bubbled out of me and Trevor looked up, eyes brimming with uncertainty. The white lights on the tree twinkled, the room smelled of cinnamon potpourri, and all eyes were on Trevor. Denver shut off the music and Jericho bit on an unlit cigarette, flicking it up and down. Since smoking was only permitted in his bedroom and the game room, he had developed an oral fixation.

Trevor pinched his lip. “I’m cool with that. But if anyone crosses the line in this house, I’m gone.”

Everyone exhaled at once.

“Well, hell. Let’s get this party started!” Denver cranked up the stereo and changed it over to a radio station.

“Go back, I like that song!” Lexi blurted out, leaping to her feet.

“I’m
not
listening to Fleetwood,” Denver announced, stopping at a Van Halen song.

As everyone resumed talking, Austin patted Trevor on the shoulder. They shared a private look and without words made a solid agreement.

Trevor now belonged in the Weston Pack.

***

Lynn had baked a succulent honey-glazed ham with pineapple rings and cherries on top. Ivy took credit for the steamed vegetables and jalapeño cornbread, while Lexi had baked the most savory chocolate chip cookies I’d ever tasted. She spent an hour talking about recipe ideas that had me drooling. It was also decided that after my long hiatus, I was going back to Sweet Treats to resume my position as manager.