Page 17 of Claiming Ours
“I thought I was your best friend,” Dax said, arm wrapped around Finley’s waist, attempting to keep her from falling over the railing into the bay. “Damn, woman, I’ve never seen youthisdrunk.”
“I’m fine,” she said, shoving him off, or at least attempting to. “I’ve never felt this good in my life. No worries in the world—” She slapped a palm over her mouth, and a sickly green tint overtook her face. I grimaced as Finley spun out of Dax’s hold to pitch over the railing, vomiting everything she drank and ate into the water.
Concern tightened Dax’s features as he fisted her black hair and held it away from her face while Finley emptied her stomach.
“Uh, Liam?” The hesitation in Baylee’s voice had me looking down at her, brows pulled in tight. Skin more pale than fair, she chewed on her lower lip. “Now would be a good time to let you know I’m a sympathetic puker.”
I blinked, not understanding a word she just said. “A what?”
“It means if she hears or sees someone else throwing up, so will she,” Dax shouted over his shoulder. “Go on, get her out of here. We don’t need two pukers on our hands.” Finley swatted a hand blindly behind her, smacking Dax in the chest. “Woman, stop it. I’m just kidding. Take her home, Liam. I’ve got this. Iwon’t let anything happen to Finley unless she keeps hitting me, and then I’ll dunk her in the freezing water to sober her up a little.”
Not waiting to get puked on or wanting Baylee to get sick, I headed for the truck, pausing at the hood where Miles and Langston stood, heads bent together. Movement in the 4Runner drew my attention, and I huffed a humorless laugh at Juno pouting in the back seat, arms folded over her chest, lips moving as if talking to herself.
“Yeah, I noticed him too,” Langston said. “He got here yesterday or the day before that—fuck, I can’t remember, but I can check the bookings. I think he’s staying at The Nest and brought his dog with him.”
Miles looked over his shoulder at Dave’s. “He didn’t strike me as someone here to make trouble or who would be harmful to us or the town.” He ran a hand over his mouth. “If we see him around town again, I’ll have a little chat to see what he’s doing here. He doesn’t look like the outdoor enthusiast we normally get visiting here.”
Langston grunted in agreement. “He pushed back when I pushed him, but it felt more self-protective than anything. I got the feeling he’s been through shit and is coming out the other side.”
“Like we all were when we got here,” I stated, joining the conversation. “Who are you two talking about? Do we need to go back?—”
“Guys, I need to get Finley home now. She’s done puking for the moment, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last.” Dax didn’t even stop as he guided Finley to the 4Runner’s back seat and opened the door.
I turned to Dave’s, the urge to go back and confront the man my friends were discussing almost too strong to ignore. That wasuntil a soft kiss pressed to my neck, followed by a gentle hum, refocused me on what was important.
“Come on, Little Bit,” I muttered into her hair, inhaling the sweet coconut scent. “Let’s get you home.”
“Home,” she repeated. “He used to be that for me, you know.” I knew exactly who she was talking about, no explanation needed because I had that at one time too long ago. “Now I don’t know where home is.”
I sucked in a breath, her words and sad tone a punch to the balls. “Home is always with the people you love, who support and protect you. Your home is with me, Baylee, with all of us. We might not be a family by blood and are super fucked up, but wearefamily just the same. Let us in and you’ll see.”
Her crystal blue eyes searched mine. “What will I see?”
“That you’re safe, every part of you. It’s okay to be vulnerable, to open up and let us see the good, sad, and ugly. We’ll be here for you, but you have to take that first step to letting us in for us to be your safety net.”
“I’m trying,” she whispered, tears filling her lower lids.
“I know you are, and I’m so damn in awe of your strength. So fucking proud of what you’ve survived and that you’re still able to smile and give so much to others. But you don’t have to do it alone, not anymore. Not with me, not with the others.”
A small smile curved the corners of her lips upward despite the tears leaking out of her eyes. “See, you’re proving me right. Adorable. You’re just a big softy, you know that?”
Shaking my head in disagreement, I stepped up to the passenger door. Before pulling it open, I inspected the area around us, noting how quiet it was now that the others had left.
“Anyone who has ever met me would disagree with you on both counts.” Especially the bastards I nearly killed during my MMA days, the insurgents I handled while serving my country,and the bulls I fucking owned during that rodeo stint in high school. “If they were conscious after, at least.”
It was terrible of me, but I couldn’t help the cocky smirk that formed. I loved the fight, the thrill of your life on the line, sure, but mostly I loved fucking winning. That glorious high that came from knowing you were the biggest and baddest shit in the arena was epic. Never again would I be the scrawny kid who got his ass beat over and over when he tried to stand up to the bullies fucking with those smaller than them.
Even back then, I was a protector. I just couldn’t do shit about it.
Not now, though. Now I could handle my own, either hand to hand or with most weapons.
“Nope.” Her sweet voice pulled me out of those dark memories. “You’re my sticky-sweet cinnamon roll.” Her head popped off my shoulder as I gripped the chrome door handle. “Do you have cinnamon rolls at home that we could make? Oh, or cookies?”
Pressing a smiling kiss on her forehead, I pulled the door open and gently sat her on the bench seat. Grabbing the seat belt, I stretched it out wide and buckled it around her lap, double-checking she was secure. A small, warm palm cupped my cheek, freezing me on the spot. Ever so slowly, I angled my face toward the smiling Baylee.
“I changed my mind. You’re a Tootsie Pop.”Oh fuck.She leaned in close until our lips brushed. “You’re something I want to lick and suck on to get to the yummy center.”
Closing the minuscule distance between us, I sealed my lips to hers, unable to hold back after that strangely erotic metaphor. Fingers wrapped around the back of her neck, I held her in place as I deepened the kiss, tasting every inch of her mouth before reluctantly pulling back.
