Untamed: An Alpha's Kiss (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) (10 page)

CHAPTER
TWENTY NINE

Charmaine spent a lot of time thinking during her long stretches at the hospital. C
ésar's multiple surgeries and recovery time gave her plenty of time to evaluate everything that had happened in the past month. She felt a million years away from the girl whose biggest thrill was selling more combines and threshers than her brother. Sometimes she felt incredibly old, especially when she comforted her mother as one would a child, rocking her through her grief and caring for her as if she were the mother and not the daughter.

Scottie had visited the day before, and while she wasn't yet ready to rehash everything that had happened, she appreciated his concern for her family and his willingness to be an adult. He told her he hadn't had anything to drink since the night of the party, and she believed him. His eyes were clear and he had a healthy glow. Most of his wounds were healed and he was walking normally again.

When he hugged her goodbye, there was a certain coldness and finality to it that it hit her how much she missed him and their friendship.

Scottie had been a big part of her life for so many years and she realized she should have been more careful with his heart. She shouldn't have taken for granted that he'd always be there, focusing only on her. It was selfish and made her feel ashamed. She wanted Scottie to have what she had with Parker, something real and reciprocal and nurturing.

Only she hadn't been very reciprocal and nurturing with Parker.

She hadn't so much as sent him a text message since she told him in the hospital garden that she wanted him to leave. He'd been so good that morning, so calm, taking charge of the situation, protecting her as he always did. He was a rock, and she hadn't let him be that for her.

Instead, she'd unceremoniously pushed him away.

She'd given him her time, and her body, and her love, but when he tried to give her his love in return, she pushed him away like a wounded child. Love wasn't all just cuddling and lovemaking and ice cream in bed. It was more, she realized.

It was showing up. And it was standing still.

Her hands shook as she raced to the garden, dialing his number. She stood trembling in the courtyard as the phone rang and rang, and finally she just hung up. Maybe he didn't want to talk to her right now. Maybe the damage was already done.

***

Parker knew she didn't see him sitting on the bench. He jammed his hands deeper in his pockets and watched her silently, just grateful for the chance to look at her. She was beautiful, even though she was in sweats and had giant dark smudges under her eyes from not sleeping. He clenched his fists so he wouldn't leap off the bench and scoop her into his arms. He needed to touch her, to comfort her. But he could wait.

She'd come to him in his dreams last night, in wolf form, and together they'd run in the desert again. They'd raced for miles and miles together in the moonlight before she'd suddenly run off from him alone. He tried to follow her but eventually sat and howled until she came back. And finally she did come back.

When she noticed him there her blue eyes widened. He stood slowly, but she hurled herself into his arms before he'd taken two steps from the bench. She wasn't wearing a coat and her cheeks were cold when he kissed her. He tucked her icy fingers inside his jacket and held her to him so tightly that she squeaked.

"I'm an idiot," she murmured into his collar. "I don't deserve you."

"Shh..." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair. "Babe, it's fine. I'm just glad you're here."

"I've missed you." Her mouth was wobbly as she choked it out.

"I've missed you too. But I'm not going anywhere."

She wept against him and relief overwhelmed him when he realized that those were happy tears.

"Come on," he said firmly. "It's freezing out here and you don't have a coat on. What were you doing out here, anyway?"

She sniffled. "I was calling you."

"Really?"

She nodded. "I missed you and I needed to hear your voice."

Thank you, God.

He took her inside for hot cocoa and wrapped her in his jacket. Eventually she let him take her back upstairs, where he nodded politely to her family in the waiting room before tucking her in to one of the double seats with a blanket he'd begged from the nurses' station. He cradled her head in his lap and stroked her hair and she fell asleep within minutes, her delicate fingers inside his strong hand, her curls spilling onto her shoulder.

She slept for over an hour while he held her hand and twined his fingers through her silky, dark tresses. Once or twice he caught her mother watching them with what looked like sympathy. He knew she'd seen him there every day, checking on them but never intruding, hoping for a glimpse of Charmaine but never making herself known. He waited for her to be ready.

When Charmaine's eyes fluttered open, she looked up and smiled at him so tenderly that he caught his breath. "You're here." The corner of her lips twitched.

He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat, and squeezed her hand. "I'm here."

"My dad's going to be okay?"

"That's what the doctor's say, yeah."

"I'm sorry, Parker."

"You have nothing to apologize for. I love you," he murmured.

She nodded, a little smile playing on her lips. "I'm yours."

"Yes," he said, cupping her cheek. "You're mine."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Evelyn Glass is a native of northern California who currently lives in New England with her wonderful husband and their two rambunctious Corgis. 

Her favorite past times include hiking and reading near the fireplace.

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