Page 4 of Cold Foot Croc (Wreck’s Mountains #3)

Why was Raynah so nervous?

Her gaze darted up to the clock on the wall for the hundredth time. It was one of those old-school ones with the clock hands. It reminded her of one she used to stare at in her school when she was a little girl. From the layer of dust on top of it, the thing was probably just as old.

She smiled at a customer who had been shopping around in the store for the past hour. She’d helped her locate a few things, and found her aura calming to be around. The brunette just seemed to be wanting to spend some time with herself, and Raynah understood that.

Her confidence had grown throughout the day as she’d gotten good practice on the cash register and figured out a routine.

She swiped a trio of discounted hand soaps across the scanner, but startled as the woman gasped.

“That man is fine.” The woman was staring at the entrance to the store behind Raynah.

She twisted around and noticed Garret standing there, stomping snow off his boots on the mat. He looked up at her, and his smile lit up the entire dollar store. She gave a little awkward wave and couldn’t help the smile on her own face in response. He was wearing a T-shirt over jeans, and work boots. A belt held his jeans up, and part of his T-shirt had been tucked into the front, exposing the zipper of his dark jeans. His shirt was black, with a small, tasteful logo she didn’t recognize on the left pocket-space. He wore a baseball cap today, but even the low bill couldn’t hide the blazing teal color of his eyes. His bear must’ve been ramped up by something, but his smile was easy. He was holding a big brown paper bag with handles.

“Where is your jacket, wild man?” she called.

Garret looked down at himself, and his grin turned sheepish. “I’m not cold.”

Geesh. If he didn’t want to be called out as a shifter, he would have to pretend he was cold in two-degree weather.

“Is that one yours?” the woman asked.

“Oh, no.” Raynah frowned. “He’s my friend.” Right? Yeah. Just friends.

She barely fit into the space behind the register on account of her very round baby belly, and had to move carefully as she bagged up the woman’s purchased wares. Garret had disappeared, probably shopping around, and Raynah’s heart was racing out of her chest right now.

She said her goodbyes to the woman and then checked the front door. No one had come in after Garret, so other than her, and her boss, who was checking inventory sheets in the back office, he was the only one in here right now. Slow day!

She didn’t want to leave the register unattended, so she just waited, if a little impatiently.

“You have lots of good stuff in here,” he said as he appeared out of the last aisle.

“Yeah, and I get a discount for working here. I get a lot of my stuff here.”

He lifted the brown bag onto the counter, and God, his excited grin was so damn cute. She could feel his anticipation.

“Want me to open it now?”

“Yes.”

Her body was settling so fast around him. She peeked inside, and her face went slack with realization.

She glanced up at him in shock, just to see if this was some kind of joke. Was he serious?

She slowly pulled the little baby Carhartt jacket out, and then the matching woman’s jacket.

They were the same kind as the one she’d borrowed from him. It was the same baby jacket she’d been looking at in Murdoch’s, but hadn’t been able to afford. She knew exactly how much these cost.

“This is too much,” she whispered, hugging them to her chest.

“Nah. I just got my paycheck. I had already bought the little one the other day, but I rushed over and picked up the one for you before I came here. We match now. I got it in a bigger size so you can zip it over your stomach.”

“Yeah?” she asked, touched to her soul.

“Try it on.”

She looked down at the little baby one again, completely in love with it.

“The baby is going to be warm,” she said softly, trying not to tear up.

“Yeah, and you can get him those little onesies that are fleece-lined, and little baby boots, and a little beanie. I internet-searched it. They got all that stuff for babies.”

“You internet-searched clothes for him?”

“It’s weird, huh? Just ignore I said that. Try on the jacket,” he encouraged her again.

She slid it over her arms and snuggled into it, zipped it over her belly, and held her arms out. “I look like a bowling ball, don’t I?”

He laughed. “I promise you don’t. You look so fucking cute. Do you have a mirror here?”

“Yeah, but I can’t leave the register.”

“Oh, right. It would be bad to get robbed your first day as cashier. Here, stand back a little. I’ll take a picture and you can see it.” He held his phone up.

She backed up, struck a pose, and grinned big.

He checked the picture and his face went all soft, and the smile faded a little. “You look really pretty today.”

Oooh, what was this feeling? What was this hint of confidence she was feeling? “Thank you, Garret.”

His smile turned crooked, and so handsome. “I like when you say my name with your accent.”

“Accent?”

“I like that you’re from Louisiana, because your accent is sexy, but I don’t like that you get cold easily. You definitely need a good jacket. Do you like them?” he asked suddenly.

“I love them. I thought about this little jacket so much,” she admitted, fingering the little cuff on the miniature sleeve. “Best baby-shower gift ever.”

“Good.” His phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out and checked the screen quickly. “It’s my brother. I’ve got to go.”

“Okay. Thank you for bringing this by. I was…”

“You were what?”

Just say it. “I was checking the clock, counting down until five. I was kind of nervous you wouldn’t show up, but excited that maybe you would. You made the day fun. The anticipation was…well it was different from my usual day.”

His smile turned megawatt again, and he ducked his gaze. Were his cheeks redder? “Of course I was going to show up. I said I would. I am a follow-through man. I’m not meaning to run, but my brother is already waiting.”

“Tell Dylan hi from me. If you want to, I mean. Only if you want.”

He nodded jerkily, staring at her like he wanted to say more. “We’re from New Mexico.”

The turn in conversation surprised her, and she didn’t really know how to respond.

“That’s what you asked me yesterday. Where we’re from. We’re from New Mexico. That’s where all the snowboarding pictures on my page came from. It’s what we did there. It’s what all my friends did with us there.”

“You know, you could always enjoy the stuff you did in your old life too. There’s snowboarding here. Snowbowl isn’t that far away.” She grinned and used his words. “I internet-searched it.”

He nodded, looking impressed as he backed toward the door. “You’re fun, Lenace.”

“So are you.”

“I got steaks at the store,” he said, pausing at the exit. “Just so you know. I listened. I got extra ones if you ever feel like eating. With me. Eating steaks. Together.”

Oh gah, his awkwardness was so damn hot. “I like steak,” she said.

He looked hopeful. “I have to go. I don’t want to go, but I have to. Dylan found someplace for me to Change, and we’re camping out for it.”

“Wait, you’re getting to Change tonight?”

“Yep. I hate it,” he admitted, shaking his head. He shrugged his shoulders up to his ears. “Dylan tries to make it fun, but mostly I’m just stressed out about killing him or something.”

“There’s bear spray on aisle five,” she said helpfully.

“Wait, really?” he asked. “I didn’t even think about him taking bear spray. He just shoots at me sometimes.” He frowned. “Sometimes he just shoots me.”

“You boys are so dysfunctional. Go grab the bear spray and let me buy it for you. Discount and all.”

“Oh, I can’t let you buy it for me,” he murmured, walking toward aisle five. He returned a few moments later with the spray, tugging his wallet out of his back pocket.

“I insist. It’s the least I can do after you got jackets for me and the baby.”

Slowly, he slid the wallet back into his pocket. “Well, thank you. I’ll tell Dylan you’re giving him the gift of life.” He watched her pulling cash from her wallet to put into the register. “Do you have a name for him yet?”

“For the baby?”

“Yeah.” He looked so serious.

She should, but she didn’t. Raynah shook her head. “I don’t know where to start with that.”

“They got baby-naming books,” he said helpfully. “In book stores, and probably on the internet.”

“Maybe I’ll get one.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” she said softly, not wanting him to go. She could tell he was stalling and didn’t want to leave either.

“Text me if you want,” he told her. “I’ll be out in the woods, but maybe I’ll get some service out there. You never know.”

“Put your damn jacket on,” she said through a cheeky grin.

“Maybe I will. Maybe we’ll match tonight,” he said, grabbing the bear spray. He held it up in the air. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, too. And for telling me I’m pretty. That felt really good. I’ve been in my head about that stuff lately.”

“Well, you are pretty. You’re a stunner, Raynah.” He turned to leave, but circled back. “By the way, I don’t think you’re like Farrah. I didn’t want you to think I was comparing you two last night. That’s not fair.”

Gah, he was so cute. “You’re right to be cautious. Be careful up in the woods tonight, all right? The weather is supposed to turn again.”

“The bear likes chaos best. Bad weather will keep him distracted, maybe. I hope.”

“Try to have fun.”

He cocked his head and looked like he wanted to say more, but then changed his mind and left, giving her a two-fingered wave. “Bye, Lenace.”

She giggled and leaned over to watch out the window as he headed for his truck in the snowy parking lot. He turned around like he would come back inside, but changed his mind, made his way to his pickup, and got in.

She greeted a customer who entered the store, and looked back out the window just in time to see him pulling away in his truck. Raynah snuggled deeper into the jacket he’d bought her and smiled.

She liked that he was going to wear the matching jacket with her tonight, even if he was miles away. It was like this secret little connection they had together.

The last two-hours of her shift dragged by. It was a slow day at the store, and the snow was starting to come down again. This winter felt like it had been eternal. The wildest part of that was, at the beginning of the cold months, she’d just been escaping Cold Foot Prison. That felt like so long ago now. So much had happened since then.

When seven o’clock hit, she closed up the register the way her boss, Annie, had taught her, and said her goodbyes. Annie said the same thing she did every time Raynah finished a shift. “Maybe tomorrow is the day you won’t come into work, huh?”

She meant maybe Raynah would go into labor, and every time, Raynah was filled with this little well of hope. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe not!” she said as always, and then left, all zipped up into her new jacket, her old one and the baby’s jacket clasped in her arms.

Outside, the snowfall was a white sheet that hid her view of the mountains, but she looked in that direction nonetheless, which was silly because she really didn’t know where Dylan was taking Garret.

The drive home was peaceful. Three times, she looked over at the little baby jacket. She felt a little more hopeful today for some reason. Like everything was going to be okay. She felt a little more settled in this unfamiliar life.

Garret had come in with bright eyes today, but that made sense. He knew he was about to get a Change, and his bear was probably anticipating taking his skin.

Perhaps she would ask Sasha and Timber more questions about their Changes, and try to give more advice to Garret. What had happened to him? He wasn’t attacked by a bear? Who was his Maker? How did he just wake up Turned? She’d never heard anything like this.

Perhaps she would ask Wreck if he had ever heard of anything like that. Wreck was a monster, but he was levelheaded and knew a hell of a lot about a hell of a lot.

At a stoplight in town, her phone vibrated, and she looked down at where it was sitting in the cupholder. Check my page. It was a text from Garret.

With a frown, she checked that the light was still red, and then opened his social media page as fast as she could. There was the picture of her in her oversized jacket, all zipped up, her eyes focused just above the camera, a grin on her face. She looked…happy.

Honk!

She jumped and glanced up at the light, which had turned green. Crap. “Sorry!” she murmured, with a little wave of apology to the guy in the Jeep behind her.

Garret had posted that picture of her on his social media page with a simple caption— Cute little lady . In the picture, the little baby jacket was laid out on the counter, and it was obvious that she was pregnant, even all covered up by the jacket.

He hadn’t posted in so long, but this was his first post since he’d been Turned? A picture of her? She was utterly flattered, but partially confused. What could that mean? Probably the people from his old life would see that and wonder who she was.

And hell, she didn’t even know who she was right now.

When she parked her truck in front of the cabin that had been assigned to her, she pulled the phone up again and looked at the picture. Raynah had to figure out how to like and comment on it. She wrote what she felt. I think you’re pretty great.

She watched her comment post, and just stared at the picture he’d posted. He liked her, right? As more than friends? That’s what this meant?

He was announcing to the world that someone new existed in his life. Cute little lady.

She gave a little smile as her cheeks heated up. She thought he was cute too.

Raynah got out and took the jackets inside, then grabbed the envelope she’d set on the counter this morning. It contained her rent for the house. The rent took damn-near all of her paycheck, but that was okay. She didn’t need much.

Rent envelope in hand, she strode out the door and made her way through the snow to Wreck and Timber’s cabin at the end. Wreck opened the door before she even got there and tossed her a greeting wave. “Rent?” he asked.

“Yep.” She tromped up the porch stairs and slapped the envelope into his hand.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this,” he said.

“Because I pay my bills on time.”

“No, I mean I don’t know why you don’t just buy the cabin. Reed just signed the paperwork on his. He never has to worry about rent or making the monthly payment again.”

Raynah rolled her eyes and headed down the stairs. “Good for Reed, but he’s rich.”

“You got paid out more than him—”

“Stop!” Raynah gasped, turned slowly, and dropped her gaze. She wasn’t allowed to talk to her Alpha like that. “Sorry.”

“I’m not just your Alpha, Raynah. I am your friend too.”

She shook her head. “You don’t even know me. If you did, you wouldn’t mention that damn money. I don’t want it. I never asked for it.”

“If you ever want to talk about anything, we’re all here, you know. Sasha and Timber have been talking about wanting to go out with you more, but you’ve been putting them off lately. Even Katrina asked if you were okay the other day. I thought you guys were close in Cold Foot, but she’s feeling distant from you. Cash thinks you’re starting a relationship with a guy in town—”

“I’m grown. Tell Cash to fu—” What she wanted to say was “fuck off”, but she was really trying to work on her sailor-mouthed language, so she tried again. “Tell Cash to fly away. I’m fine.” Raynah clenched her fists at her sides, and then crossed her arms like a shield over her chest as she walked through the heavy snowfall back toward her house.

She didn’t need the Crew talking about her behind her back. Or pitying her. Or trying to force friendships. She just wanted to be left alone lately, while she figured out if she was going to stick around in a Crew she hadn’t even been meant for. She didn’t need them discussing the stupid hush-money Damon Daye had secured for her.

She didn’t need anything from anyone.

Never had, and never would.