Page 36 of Claiming Ours (Anchor Bay #2)

MEMPHIS

M y feet slid around in the too-large muck boots I’d borrowed from Liam with every step through the deep puddles on the way to the barn.

The rain finally let up, though the dark clouds hinted that it could start up again any minute.

A small smirk pulled at my lips, recalling the earlier easy banter with the asshole despite feeling numb after the accident.

Digging into my front pocket, I pulled my phone free to see if there was an update on West’s condition.

Scrolling through the group text I was added to, I pursed my lips, disappointed that there was nothing new.

Flipping to the text string with my mom, my loud laugh rumbled through the air as I watched a dumb cat video she’d sent earlier. Shaking my head at her quirky antics, I hovered both thumbs over the screen to respond.

Me: Hilarious. Love seeing a kitten with a hat on.

Mom: Hope that made you smile! I miss you! How is your day?!

Me: Mom, what have we talked about with overusing exclamation marks?

Mom: Well, how else will you know I’m excited to hear from you?!

Mom: How is Alaska?! Have you seen Baylee yet?!

I groaned in good humor at her frivolous use of the excited punctuation but knew I had to let it go because it really was just Mom being Mom.

Me: Saw her yesterday.

Me: She’s just as great as she was back in high school.

Mom: Baylee was a doll! She should come over for family dinner one night!

Mom: I’m glad you went out there to see her! I know you’ve been missing Dean!

Me: If we weren’t a boat ride, three plane trips, and a long drive from the airport, we totally would, Mom. You know I miss your cooking on the daily.

Mom: Ha! You’re lying because I can barely cook soup, and now you’re this super chef!

Me: Not super. Not a chef.

Mom: To me you are!

Me: Thanks, Mom.

Mom: And I know it would be hard for you both to come home. I just want to see you two.

Look at that. It took her mentioning the tense relationship between me—and I suppose Baylee too—and Dean’s mom to not use an exclamation mark.

I stopped outside the barn, giving myself a second to respond before dipping inside to see Baylee.

Me: I know, Mom, and at some point I will come home. I’ll leave that decision for her to make for herself if she wants to come with me.

Me: Right now I’m just soaking up the time with her and her friends.

Mom: Friends?! You’re making friends?!

Me: Don’t sound so shocked, Mom.

Mom: Not shocked! Happy! If they’re friends of Baylee’s, then I’m sure they’re good people! Unlike those rascals who you hung out with before!

Me: Rascals. Really?

Me: They are good people. Everyone works at the same adventure and rescue company.

Me: It’s only been a few days here in Alaska and a day since I met everyone, and it feels good.

Mom: Good?!

Me: I feel happy. Settled. Secure.

Mom: I’m crying! Happy tears!

Mom: Your dad sees the tears and is worried! Need to go! Bye for now!

Pocketing the device, I stepped inside the wide-open barn doors and paused, searching the vast space for Baylee. My heart stopped upon finding her backed against the goat pen with some guy I didn’t know standing way too fucking close.

“Hey,” I bellowed, already storming in their direction. Their heads whipped my way. My fingers tightened into fists at the look of relief that flashed over Baylee’s face. “What the hell is going on here?”

The guy took me in before holding up both hands and stepping away from her.

I didn’t stop until my body was between them, Baylee safely at my back.

Her small hand dipped under my shirt and pressed to my bare skin, helping me calm down from a murderous rampage to being willing to hear this guy out… before going on the murderous rampage.

“I’m Dr. Richards.” Instead of sticking his hand out, he tucked both into the front pockets of his slacks. The motion drew my attention to the white gauze wrapped around his forearm from wrist to elbow.

“You okay?” I asked over my shoulder, not taking my eyes off Dr. Douche.

Baylee nodded. “Yes. Taylor here stopped by a few minutes ago. He heard what happened to West and came to see if he could help.”

I eyed the man suspiciously. “Did that need to be discussed so fucking close to you?”

The idiot rolled his eyes and huffed like I was the one being ridiculous.

“Oh good, another one.” His lips dipped into a frown as he scanned the tattoos on my neck and forearms where my sleeves were pushed up.

“Anchor Bay will need a tattoo place soon to keep up with all the… people”—his tone said he wanted to use any other word than that—“that Brandon is bringing into town.”

Baylee pushed me aside and shifted to stand in front of me. I was too shocked by the sudden move to stop her.

“Actually, he was brought here by me,” she said, tipping her chin up to glare at the doctor. “He’s my friend.”

My chest swelled with appreciation for the tiny yet mighty woman defending me. I rested a hand on her shoulder as I fought the need to pull her to my chest.

The doctor’s expression morphed from shock to disgust. “ Friend , huh?” He shook his head and glared down the bridge of his nose at my Baylee. “I’m disappointed in you. I thought someone with your higher education would have better sense than this.”

“Than what?” she snapped, stomping her foot. I almost told her it was adorable, but she was literally vibrating with anger, and I didn’t want to get kicked in the shins or something. “Working for a place that allows me freedom, housing, and a family?”

“This isn’t a family,” the soon-to-be-dead man—not by me but my big-ass fucker of a friend—bit back. “This is a cult, and you’re too blind to see it.”

Baylee looked over her shoulder with both blonde brows raised. “We’re a cult , he says.”

“I’m not the only one,” he continued, voice rising. Okay, maybe I didn’t need Liam to handle this. I could take care of him easily, based on the anger pumping through my veins. How dare he talk to her like that? “There are others in town who are disgusted with the type of characters that?—”

My lips parted to tell the asshole to die in a fire, but Baylee spoke up first.

“Stop it, right now. Don’t you dare say another word, you judgmental, high-and-mighty prick.

You and your little band of ultraconservatives can talk all you want, but this company brings in tourists, which brings in money for everyone in Anchor Bay.

So you might not like our lifestyle, but you sure as hell take the money this business brings to town.

I will not stand here and let you talk down about this family, here on our own fucking property.

” Her tiny fists clenched at her sides. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you today, Taylor. You need to leave. Now.”

“Or what?” he scoffed and gestured toward me. “Your delinquent boyfriend here will beat me up?”

“No,” she said, taking a challenging step toward him. “I will.”

Oh shit. I was so entertained, ready to clap at the verbal lashing she gave the prick, that I didn’t realize it was about to escalate to violence.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I snaked an arm around her waist to tug her against me.

“Calm down there, Kitten,” I said against her ear for only her to hear.

Standing to full height, I inclined my head toward the open barn doors, sending a death glare to the asshole.

“I suggest you leave. Last time I saw West, he was passed out but stable. I’ll let them know you stopped by to check on him. ”

Look at me being diplomatic.

Until I put arsenic in his drink one day soon.

My tone brooked no argument, and thankfully the guy understood it for the thinly veiled threat that I meant it as. With an annoyed huff and a last glance at Baylee, he stormed off, mumbling under his breath about criminals and tattoos.

I didn’t release my hold on Baylee until he was out of the barn and gone from sight. With an adorable foot stomp and a frustrated groan, she molded against me.

“I totally could’ve taken him,” she huffed, tipping her head all the way back to look at me upside down.

“Oh, I have zero doubts, Bay. You would’ve kicked the shit out of his shins.” Knowing that would set her off, I was prepared when she whirled around, fingers poised to tickle my ribs. I gently batted her hands away and dodged her advances. “You’re not playing fair, Kitten.”

“I’m not a kitten,” she hissed, then stuck out her tongue while scrunching her nose in fake disgust.

My head tipped back as I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. “Fuck, I missed you.”

When I finally got control of my laughter, I looked down, finding tears flooding her lower lids. Oh shit.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, slightly panicked. I’d hurt her feelings somehow.

“Nothing is wrong, Memphis. It’s just that I missed you too,” she rasped. Wrapping both arms around my neck, she jumped up, legs squeezing around my waist. “I really missed you. Missed the laughs, missed the happy times and the simple conversations. And I really, really miss him.”

Her first sob felt like a stab to my heart.

So did the second and third. Tears dampened my shirt as she wept in my tight, comforting hold.

There was nothing I could say or do to ease the pain of her loss, which made me feel utterly useless.

Swallowing down my own tears, I squeezed her even tighter, wishing like hell I could physically absorb her pain.