Sue laughed as Billy spit watermelon seeds into the air. The front of his shirt was covered in watermelon juice, but she didn’t care. She was happy to see him smiling and laughing.
“Look, Mom, look at how far they go.”
“I can see.” She tousled his fair hair as he sent another one soaring. “You’re pretty good at that. Don’t forget to actually eat some of the watermelon.”
“I won’t.” He took a big bite and chewed, gave her a sly look and sent anther seed flying.
Sue sat back on the plaid blanket and rested her weight on her hands. It was another hot afternoon and she was in no hurry to do much of anything. Her laundry was all folded and put away, her bed remade. With the grocery shopping done, there was nothing left for her to do but enjoy time with her son.
Sure, the bathroom needed cleaning, but that could wait until later. Being with Billy was the most important thing. She hated to break the mood, but she couldn’t ignore what had happened with his father. “Do you want to talk about what happened at the grocery store this morning?”
Billy put his head down and nibbled at his watermelon slice. He shrugged his slender shoulders. He was so young, so emotionally fragile after everything he’d been through. She silently cursed William even as she struggled to find the right words to console him.
“It’s not about you.” How could she make him understand that it wasn’t his fault his father was an asshole? She sat forward and rubbed her hand up and down his spine. “Your father, well, I’m not sure he’s capable of really liking anyone.”
“Not even you?” Blue eyes, so like her own it made her heart ache, filled with tears. Her son’s obvious pain made her want to hunt William down and smack him.
“Especially not me.”
“Why?” Billy frowned. “I like you. I love you,” he corrected.
“I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a reassuring hug. “Your father doesn’t understand what real love is. That’s his loss. But, Billy, there’s nothing you or I can do to change that.”
Her son nodded. “I don’t want to see him anymore.” He dropped what remained of his watermelon slice and rubbed his sticky hand under his runny nose. Sue dug out a napkin and cleaned his hands and then his face.
“Why not, sweetie?”
He shrugged again. “It’s no fun. I just sit and read or play my game until it’s time to come home. He’s on the phone a lot.”
God, what was wrong with William? She’d at least hoped he was connecting to Billy when he took him for short visits. “I’ll talk to my lawyer and see what I can come up with, okay?”
“Okay.” Billy knuckled aside the tears in his eyes and picked at the blanket beneath them.
“You want to play catch?” He usually liked to toss a ball around and it was time to change the subject.
He stood and went to get his ball. Sue gathered up the remains of their picnic and the blanket and set them aside to deal with later. She wanted to hear her son laugh again. Forcing a smile on her face, she walked to the center of the yard. “Don’t throw too hard.”
Billy’s smile was sad but he tossed the ball. She caught it easily and held it in front of her. “Ready.”
“Ready.” She threw it underhand, and he held his hands out in front of him. He fumbled it but caught it against his body. “Good catch, buddy.”
This time his smile was more natural. He raised the ball over his head and sent it flying back in her direction.
* * * * *
“That’s it, Mrs. LaForge.” Elias packed away the last of his tools. “Once the mud dries, I’ll come back to sand it down. I assume you have some leftover paint I can use to touch up the wall?”
“Please call me Elise. I do have paint, but you don’t have to worry about that. I can take care of it.” She twined and untwined her hands. It occurred to him that she was nervous around him. He really knew very little about the woman, other than she was mother to Jacque and Louis. She had no mate. Elias wondered what had happened to him. He had to be dead. He suspected the story wasn’t a pretty one.
“I imagine you can take care of it, but it’s my pleasure to do it for you.” He motioned to Sage. “Make up for that one eating your pie.”
Sage sat on a stool at the kitchen island. He lowered the fork in his hand and mumbled around a mouthful of pastry and apple, “It’s really great pie.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Elias grabbed the toolbox. “I’m going to head out.”
“Going to see your lady friend?” She went to the refrigerator, got out the milk carton and topped up Sage’s glass.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Sage lifted the glass and drank.
“You’re welcome. It’s nice to have young ones around.” She sighed and returned the milk carton to the refrigerator. “Mine never really had a chance to be young.”
The torment on her face disappeared in the next breath. “Anny talks about Sue quite a bit. I know she misses her friend.” Elise picked up the dishcloth and wiped a nonexistent stain from the counter. “A relationship with her won’t be easy. Not with her being full human.”
Sage slowly lowered his fork and pushed his plate aside without finishing his pie.
“You don’t want her here?” Elias kept his tone level even though he was fighting anger.
“No, it’s not that. I’m just being realistic. It will take a lot of patience on your part. She won’t know our ways and she has a son to protect.”
It occurred to him that Elise was worried about Sue and Billy. Concerned that he might hurt them in some way. He went to Elise but stopped before he got too close. The hunch of her shoulders and the way she sucked in a breath were indicators she was used to violence. He knew damn well Jacque and Louis would never hurt her. That meant her mate had.
“I’d cut off my arm before I’d hurt either one of them,” he told her.
She nodded and slowly exhaled. “That’s good. That’s real good. My boys have built something special here. My mate, well, he would have killed you even at the suggestion you might bring a human here.”
Her mate sounded like a real nasty son of a bitch. Probably just as well he was dead. “Your sons are fine men.” That was no lie. The more time he spent around them, the more he liked them both.
The front door opened and Louis walked in with Shadow beside him. The big dog bounded over to Sage for a quick pet before heading straight for Elise.
“Hello there.” Elise greeted Shadow with a brisk rub behind his ears. “Have you come for a treat?” The dog’s tail swept back and forth, beating against the side of the counter.”
“You spoil him, ma mere.” Louis walked over to her side and dropped a kiss on her head. “What’s wrong?” He asked her as he glared at Elias.
She pulled a treat out of a container on the counter and handed it to Shadow, who took it carefully from her fingers. “Nothing is wrong. Just memories.”
Louis hugged his mother and kept his arm looped around her shoulders when he was done. “Jacque talked with the rest of us.”
“And?” Elias was tired of waiting. He wanted to know if they were going or staying. Either way, he was going after Sue.
“What are you waiting for?” Louis gestured to the door. “Go get your woman.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. He was halfway to the door when Elise called out to him. “Take Sage and Reece with you.”
“Ma’am?”
“Take the boys with you. They’ll be able to distract Billy so you can talk to her in private. It will also show her how well your families will blend together.” Elise was one smart lady.
“I’ll do that.”
“And,” she continued, “talk with Armand. See what he’s found out before you go.” She frowned and rubbed her hands over her arms. “Maybe contact her lawyer. She needs to get papers drawn up that will sever the ties between father and son. Any man who wants to use his son for financial gain doesn’t deserve his son.”
Elias had a feeling she was talking about more than just Sue and Billy. “Yes, ma’am. And thank you.” He motioned to Sage, who was just gobbling down the last of his pie.
“Thank you, Mrs. LaForge.” He picked up his plate and carried it to the dishwasher. “The pie was really great.”
A huge smile wreathed her face. She was astoundingly pretty when she smiled like that. “You’re very welcome. Maybe you and your brother will come over later. I might be making a cherry pie or two.”
“We’ll be here,” he promised. He nodded at Louis and headed out. Elias glanced over his shoulder as he shut the door behind him. She rested her head on her son’s chest while he held her close. Shadow sat at their feet, a silent sentinel.
This pack understood family. This was what he wanted for his nephews, for himself. And he wanted to share it with Sue.
“Let’s grab your brother and go. He’ll be happy he gets to shift into his doggy form.”
Sage snickered and hurried ahead while Elias detoured to a nearby shed to store the tools he’d borrowed to do the job. It was time to claim his woman.
* * * * *
Sue was exhausted and thirsty. They’d been playing catch for almost an hour, and Billy showed no signs of slowing down. Her little boy was a ball of energy from the time he opened his eyes in the morning until he closed them at night. She, on the other hand, was running on empty. If she could take her son’s energy and bottle it, she’d make a fortune.
She was just about to end their game when a male voice startled her. “Can anyone play?” She whirled around, heart racing, to find Sage and Elias coming down the path from the stream with Reece padding beside them.
It wasn’t Connor. Billy was safe. She was safe. She felt lightheaded and slightly woozy and sat down hard on the ground.
“Sue.” Elias was by her side and Billy was right beside him. Her son had his thumb in his mouth and a worried expression on his face. Not even Reece distracted him.
“I’m fine. I’ve just been out in the sun a little too long. Time to reapply sunscreen and get a drink,” she announced.
“Hey, buddy, why don’t we go get some water for your mom?” God bless Sage. The boy was so good with her son. “After that, you and I can play catch or check out your trucks.”
Billy looked to her for confirmation.
“You can go ahead. I’d appreciate a drink.”
“Where’s the sunscreen?” Sage asked.
“I know,” Billy announced. “I’ll show you.”
“Lead on.” Sage followed her son with Reece bringing up the rear.
“Is Reece really—” She broke off not quite sure how to ask.
Elias laughed. “Yeah, he really is Sage’s brother.”
“Amazing. It still feels like a dream.” Elias crouched beside her, and she reached out and touched her hand to his cheek. “You’re really here.”
He frowned. “I am. What happened? And don’t tell me nothing. You’re worried.”
She thought about keeping it from him, but he already knew all her business. “William came into the grocery store when I was there with Billy this morning.”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Not in the way you think.” She started to get up now that she wasn’t quite as lightheaded. Before she could stand, Elias swooped her off her feet and carried her to the porch. The shade was a welcome relief from the blazing sun. She expected him to set her in the chair, but he sat instead, keeping her in his lap.
“Tell me?” There was no way she could ignore his obvious concern. He twined her fingers with his. “Sue?”
“I wanted to call you, but I didn’t have your phone number.” Not what she’d meant to say.
Elias swore. “You’ll have it, and Sage’s and Reece’s too. That’s my fault, and I’m sorry.”
Some of her worry dropped away. He wasn’t trying to keep a distance between them. He’d simply forgotten.
“I’ll need your number too.” That startled her. “That’s right. You never gave me your number either.”
The door pushed open and Reece led the way with Billy and Sage behind him. Sage had a tray filled with tall glasses of water and one smaller plastic cup for Billy. He set it on the small table next to the chair and handed one of the glasses to her and the smaller one to her son. “Drink up.”
“Thank you, Sage.” She took it and guzzled half of it in one go. She was thirstier than she thought. Billy’s skin was shiny and she could smell the sunscreen. True to his word, Sage had made sure her son was protected.
She tried to climb off Elias’s lap, feeling more than a little self-conscious to be sitting there in front of her son and his nephews, but Elias banded his arm around her waist. “We’re not done talking.”
Sage snagged Billy’s attention. “Hey, buddy, how about we go and play for a while.”
Billy lowered his glass and nodded. “Reece too.”
Sage smirked at the wolf. “Yeah, Reece too.”
“Stay close.” She was more than a little nervous after last night.
“We won’t let anything happen to him,” Sage promised.
“I’m worried about you and Reece too.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I saw someone else this morning too.”
Elias’s gaze sharpened and Reece growled. Billy frowned and patted Reece on the head. “What’s the matter with Reece?” he asked.
“He just wants to play,” Sage told him. “Come on.” He took Billy’s hand and the three of them went down in the yard. She relaxed slightly when they stayed within sight.
“First, how are you feeling?” He touched her face where it was bruised. She’d removed the makeup when she’d come home. There was a slight discoloration, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. She’d gotten lucky.
“I’m okay. It’s a little tender, but it will fade in a few days.” Elias growled and the low sound raised the fine hairs on her arms.
“What happened with William?”
She sighed and watched her son running around the yard with Sage. “He came in to push his custody claim. Figured I’d want a man and wouldn’t be able to find one as long as I had Billy.” She snorted. “As if I’d send my son away for some man.”
Elias wanted to hunt William Walsh down and beat him to within an inch of his life. “Any man would be lucky to have Billy as a son.” That the man didn’t appreciate what he had was beyond Elias.
“He totally ignored Billy.”
Elias stiffened. There was much more to the story than she’d told him. He could hear it in her voice. If he’d threatened Sue, Elias might not be responsible for what happened to William. “And?”
“When he left, without speaking to his son, Billy asked why his father didn’t love him.”
Elias swore and hugged Sue close. “The man is an idiot.”
She gave a watery laugh and blinked her moist eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I told Billy. Not quite in that same way. But how do you convince a child it’s not his fault his father ignores him? He’s decided he doesn’t like William and doesn’t want to spend time with him anymore.”
Elias’s heart leapt. Here was a way to finally get her ex out of their lives for good. “How do you feel about that?”
She sighed and leaned against his shoulder. That told him just how exhausted she truly was. Sue was a woman who stood on her own two feet. She was independent, almost to a fault. “I thought he should know his father. Now I’m thinking having William flit in and out of Billy’s life is doing him more harm than good.”
“Call your lawyer. Have him draw up papers that state William is giving up all custodial rights to Billy.”
“William will never agree to that. Not as long as he thinks he might be able to use his son as leverage for gain. It’s money he’s after this time. Next time it might be a family image for business. Billy is useful to him.” She rubbed her forehead. “God, what a way to talk about his father, but it’s true.”
“He’ll agree and he’ll sign them.”
She lowered her hand and studied him. “What are you planning to do?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“I don’t like the sound of that, Elias.”
“Trust me.” He needed her trust or they had nothing.
“Promise me you won’t do anything to get yourself in trouble. Sage and Reece need you.”
How had he been lucky enough to find this amazing woman? Both his nephews could hear their conversation with their acute hearing. Reece turned his head and stared at Sue. Sage paused and then went back to playing with Billy.
“I promise. Let me handle this for you.” He kissed her forehead. “Damn it, Sue, you’ve had to deal with so much on your own. Let me help you.”
“I’m too tired to say no.” She gave a rueful laugh. “You caught me at a weak moment.”
“What else happened? You saw Connor McLennan?” Elias had expected him to lay low for a while. Obviously, the man had a death wish.
“He was waiting in the parking lot of the grocery store. I don’t know if he followed us there or if it was a coincidence. He didn’t approach us, but he watched.” She shivered and he felt her fear. His wolf howled inside him, demanding he protect his woman and her son.
His breathing quickened and his fingernails morphed into claws before he pulled himself back from the brink.
“Elias?” Concern filled her voice. She didn’t fear him, not even now she knew what he was.
He pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Call your lawyer.” She took it and punched in the number. Elias listened as she told Randolph Owens what she wanted him to do. Her lawyer cautioned her against pushing William at this juncture. She glanced at Elias, squared her shoulders and told her lawyer she wanted the papers.
Elias caught her hand and squeezed it to get her attention. “Just one moment, Randolph.” She covered the phone with her hand. “What is it?”
“Tell him I’m coming by to get the papers within the hour.”
Sue hesitated and then nodded. She relayed the information to her lawyer. He protested he couldn’t get papers drawn up that fast. She countered by insisting that it really wasn’t all that complicated. He had the visitation papers they’d originally signed. He could use those as a template if he had to and just change the wording in a few places.
“It’s a simple document. William is relinquishing all claims on his son.”
“Sue, if it’s not signed in front of witnesses and his lawyer, it won’t hold up in court. Not if he’s coerced.”
“Just do it and let me worry about getting it signed.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. I really advise you to reconsider this.” With his preternatural hearing, Elias was able to get both sides of the conversation. He could also hear the worry in her lawyer’s voice.
“And I’m grateful for the advice, but do it anyway.” She ended the call and took a deep breath.
“Scared?” Elias asked.
“To death. Billy is my life.”
He leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. “I know that, and that’s why this needs to be handled before we can take the next step.”
She handed him his phone and he tucked it back in his jeans pocket. “What is the next step? Where is our relationship headed, Elias?”
His body swelled beneath her and he cupped her face in his hands. “That depends on you.”
Sue was shaking over what she’d just done. There was no way William was going to let go of his claim on Billy. But Elias had asked her to trust him, and she did. If anyone could pull off this miracle, it would be him.
It was actually nice to not have to deal with everything on her own, to have someone in her corner fighting for her. Even if it backfired, it was worth the chance. Maybe if William had acted differently this morning, she wouldn’t have agreed to such a bold scheme, but he was hurting Billy, and she couldn’t allow that to continue. It was all too easy to look into the future and see years of neglect and disappointment ahead.
Elias’s body was hard beneath her. There was no mistaking the press of rigid flesh against her hip. Elias wanted her. Her breathing increased and her breasts began to ache. How could she be sexually aroused at a time like this?
Then he kissed her. Their lips touched and breath mingled. She moaned and opened to him. He teased her at first, stroking his tongue over hers before plunging deep. Strong fingers gently stroked her face.
Elias represented safety and caring. As tempting as it was to just let herself go, the boys were just beyond them in the yard, and nothing had been settled between her and Elias.
She was breathless when they parted. She licked her lips, enjoying the way his eyes darkened as he followed the path of her tongue. “What do you mean it depends on me?”
He looked as though he was struggling to recall his train of thought. Then his gaze turned even hotter. “I want you in my life. Forever. But there are things you have to know before you make that final decision.”
Was he asking her to marry him? She started to speak, but he placed his fingers over her lips. “First things first. Come back with me for the night. You and Billy will be safe from Connor and we’ll have some privacy to talk.” He gave a subtle jerk of his head.
When she looked at the yard, Sage and Reece were both watching them as Billy ran in circles around them. She’d forgotten Elias had told her about his superior senses. That meant his nephews had them too. They’d probably heard every word she and Elias had said.
Her cheeks heated, but it was too late to be embarrassed. Since they were involved in her life too, they deserved to know the truth.
She wouldn’t mind getting away for a day or two. She hadn’t had any vacation time this summer. She’d taken all her time off when her father had died. “All right. I have to clear away from lunch and pack a bag for us. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“It takes as long as it takes.” He set her on her feet and stood behind her with his arms loosely linked around her waist. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Could she trust him to keep his promise? It had hurt her when William had left her, but it would devastate her if Elias walked away. Her feelings for him were much deeper. A woman’s love as opposed to the infatuation of a girl. Plus, her son’s heart was on the line as well. He’d already been dealt too many blows.
“Just for tonight. I have to work in the morning.” As much as she wished she didn’t have to, she couldn’t afford to lose a day’s pay.
“We’ll start there.” She sensed his determination, and that actually gave her hope. God, was she really considering tying her life to that of a man who wasn’t really a man?
Billy laughed as Sage picked him up and swung him in a circle. Elias smiled and brushed a kiss on her temple.
As crazy as it seemed, that’s exactly what she was going to do.