Page 11 of Claiming Ours (Anchor Bay #2)

LIAM

B alancing the pan in one hand, I reached for the oven door only to freeze at a demanding knock at the front door of my cabin. Grumbling under my breath, I dropped the metal pan on the stovetop just as the door vibrated again from whoever pounded on the other side.

What the fuck? The heels of my boots slammed against the hardwood floor, my irritation rising with every step.

Whatever was going on better not mess with my night. Just thinking about Baylee’s text had the unease gnawing at my insides all over again. It had calmed down while I distracted myself by making dinner.

Hand wrapped around the metal handle, the smooth edges digging into my palm, I yanked the door open, lips parted to tell whoever was on the other side to fuck off, only for them to snap shut. Pretty sure yelling at your boss when he already looked irritated as hell wasn’t the best idea.

“Get your shit,” Brandon barked. Not waiting for my reply or giving further instructions, he turned on his heels and stormed down the porch steps.

“Fuck, give me a second,” I shouted, making him pause. He glanced over his shoulder with an arched brow. “I was in the middle of making dinner. I need to put it in the fridge so I don’t give us both fucking food poisoning later. What the hell is going on, and what shit do I need to bring?”

Turning to face me, he folded both thick arms over his chest and released an exasperated sigh to the cloudy sky.

“Miles called me. Said we needed to get down to Dave’s right away.

Apparently, our girls are there, hammered out of their minds from one too many duck fart shots.

Fuck knows that was mine’s idea,” he grumbled under his breath, even though humor laced his tone.

It took a second for his words to register.

“Wait, our girls? Baylee is there, too, drunk?”

Brandon dipped his chin in acknowledgment.

My heart raced, knowing she was out there vulnerable and unprotected. Sure, Miles was there, but I wasn’t, and that wouldn’t do.

“What the hell? What are we doing standing around here for?”

Fuck the dinner I’d planned. I’d figure food out later. Right now, getting to Baylee and ensuring she was safe was all that mattered.

Grabbing the keys from the hook by the door, I slammed it shut behind me, locked up, and rushed to catch up with Brandon, who was already halfway to the gravel lot where we all parked our personal vehicles.

The trucks, SUVs, ATVs, and various other motor vehicles owned by the company were in a shed, the toys all sorted out by the season they were used.

“Why is Miles there?” I asked, tightening my grip on the keys until the teeth bit into my palm.

“You know how paranoid that fucker’s been since the incident. Like he would let Aspen out of his or Aiden’s sight if she’s off our property.” He shot me an unreadable look as we approached my late model Ford truck. “You doing okay with all that, by the way?”

I shrugged, very much feeling nonchalant about the whole thing. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve witnessed someone dying.”

His eyes went wide. “You mean dead,” he corrected. “Not the first time you found someone dead.”

Fuck, did not mean to let that slip. My mind was too wrapped up in getting to Baylee to monitor my words. I leaned forward, pressing both forearms to the hood of the truck.

“Yep, dead. That’s what I meant.” Brandon huffed a laugh and shook his head, knowing full well I was lying out my ass.

“We’ve all been around it enough in our past that it didn’t bother me as much as it should, I guess.

” Especially not after what happened, and the reason why that person was injured and dying in the woods.

Nope, I did not feel bad about it, not even a sliver.

Karma and all that shit always comes around.

“Meet you there?” I asked, shoving off the cold metal.

He held up a finger for me to wait. “I called the others. They’re coming with us.

They should be here—” His words cut off when Langston and Dax jogged around the corner, the former griping about something.

“You two take Langston’s 4Runner. Liam is driving his truck, and I’ll ride with him, then drive Amy’s Explorer back here once we round them up. ”

The truck shook as our two large frames climbed into the cab.

Shoving the key into the ignition, I gave it a hard turn, firing the engine to life.

Arm draped over the back of the bench seat, I twisted to watch as I reversed out of the spot, barely missing Langston as he peeled out of the parking lot, dust and rocks flying in the tires’ wake.

“We just might witness World War III if Dax can’t calm him down,” I muttered as I shifted the truck into Drive.

“Yeah, well, you know Langston. He shows he cares by being an overbearing asshole. Though I don’t think Juno’s caught on to that just yet.”

I felt his stare burning into the side of my face.

“So, you were making you and Baylee dinner?”

I tightened my grip on the wheel and responded with a clipped nod.

“How’s it going with her?”

A single broad shoulder rose in a nonchalant shrug even though I was tense as fuck about our current mission and his line of questioning.

“Fuck, Liam. We’re closer than that shit. You don’t have to do that with me. I know you care about her. More than you let on.”

My knuckles went white around the steering wheel.

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t really matter if I do or not.

It won’t ever be enough for someone like her.

I should just back off and let her find someone who deserves her, but I’m a selfish bastard and won’t.

” Fuck, it sucked saying those words out loud.

When Brandon started to respond, I cut him off, not wanting to hear it.

“I know the shitty man I am.” Hell, I’d just admitted to watching a person die and not being affected by it, and that was one of my better fucking qualities.

“She deserves way more than I can ever give her, what I can actually give.” Which was why the idea of someone else, the multiple-partner side of our community, intrigued me.

Maybe someone like me could actually have a healthy relationship if there was someone else to fill in the gaps where I lacked.

Because those gaps were fucking canyons.

“But unfortunately for her, I’m too much of a selfish bastard to not go after what, or who, I want, and that’s her.

Even if I know she deserves better than a man like me. ”

The rest of the short ride was quiet, Brandon’s digging into my love life thankfully done.

The small bay downtown wasn’t busy no matter the time of day, which made finding a place to park close to Dave’s simple, right next to Langston’s 4Runner.

The sound of four doors slamming shut at almost the same time echoed down the sidewalk.

Stepping up onto the walkway, I marched along the wooden planks at a fast clip, eager to get my eyes on Baylee and ease the worry tightening my chest.

Not waiting for the others to keep up, I moved around a local leaving Dave’s and stepped into the bar, the other three right behind me, nearly slamming into my back in their own impatience to locate the group.

Quickly scanning the open area, the tightness in my chest making it difficult to breathe eased at hearing Baylee’s distinct laughter over the music playing through the crappy speakers.

I pointed toward the back, catching sight of her white-blonde hair and Amy sitting beside her. Weaving through the high-top tables, I looked around the bar, suddenly feeling like something was off, but turned my focus back to my girl as I neared.

My girl.

Fuck, if only she thought that too.

Soon, hopefully. Though I would wait patiently as long as she needed. Grief was a fickle bitch, making you feel okay one day and almost too damn heavy to get out of bed the next. Everyone’s grieving process was unique, and I refused to rush Baylee.

Mid-cackling laugh, Amy’s gaze moved our way, making her do a double take, eyes wide when she saw the four of us approaching. Snapping her lips shut, she shoved the shoulders of the two women sitting beside her, almost pushing Juno and Baylee off their seats.

“Uh-oh,” she said, eyeing Brandon when he stopped behind her. “We’re in trouble now, girls.”

Aspen shook her head with a wide smile spread across her face. “Not all of us. My personal protection detail has been sitting at the bar for the last hour. After that fourth shot, I knew there was no way I was driving home, so I texted him and Aiden.”

As though he’d been summoned by her words, Miles stepped up behind her, wrapped his hand around her dark ponytail, and tugged until her face tipped up to his. “Good girl.”

“Holy fuck, that’s hot,” Finley whispered, not so quietly.

I shot a quick look at Dax to see what he thought of that comment. Lips pursed and nose scrunched, he looked like he’d eaten something sour. Seemed he didn’t appreciate his best friend’s remark.

“This was my fault, babe,” Amy said while attempting to stand, only to stumble right into Brandon’s arms. “It was an emergency book club to talk?—”

“First rule of book club, Amy, is don’t talk about book club shit,” Finley whisper-shouted, flicking her gaze around the table. “We are sworn to secrecy about all things discussed.”

“Yes, exactly,” Baylee said, nodding with a smile so wide it made my heart ache with happiness for her. Fuck, I loved seeing her radiating joy when it was so often dampened by her grief. “Which means no talking about me being a virgin.”

And… pretty sure the entire bar went silent at that declaration.

As if not realizing she said the words out loud, Baylee finished her beer and gently set the glass down on the table, adding to the collection of pint and shot glasses stacked there. Fuck, was that a highball glass too?

I scrubbed a hand down my face to keep my smirk hidden. My girl was too damn adorable for her own good.