Chapter 13

Sam

Watching Sean drive carefully along the dark, winding roads that lead away from the lodge, I can’t help but admire him. Male ego would stop a lot of men from ever speaking to me again after what I did, let alone give me another chance. I’m going to make it up to him, and he’s going to know that I have no intention of leaving him again. As I ponder exactly how to convince a man that doesn’t seem to want anything except to keep me safe and happy, that I’m head over heels in love with him, we turn onto Grey Ridge Main Street. As we approach Sean’s bar, Taaffe’s, which sits at the end of the street, I spot a car outside that I recognize. Mainly because it sticks out like an obnoxious sore thumb in the car park full of beat-up old trucks and motorcycles.

“Jeremy?” I roll down my window and shout at the man standing beside the black sports car, waving his phone in the air, dressed in preppy chinos and navy jumper combo that would confirm to any passer-by that this guy is lost.

“Sam!” he cries, turning around, a look of relief on his face when he sees me clambering out of the truck and heading his way. “Where the hell am I? This is where you’re hiding out?”

“I am not hiding out. And yes, it’s beautiful here, don’t you think?” I slip my arm around Sean’s waist as he comes up to my side. He says nothing to Jeremy, and I glance at him curiously.

“Quaint, maybe,” he says, attempting to hide the sneer in his tone as he takes in the rustic bar we’re gathered outside.

“Jeremy,” Sean says in greeting. That’s it. And somehow, he makes just saying his name sound like a threat. He extends a hand toward Jeremy, and I hold my breath. Even I know that’s a trap.

“Sean. Good to speak to you again.” Jeremy doesn’t shake Sean’s hand, instead turning to look at the front of Taaffe’s and shaking his head. “I’m starving. Do they have anything decent to eat in this shithole? I need a drink.”

Oh god. Swallowing hard, I look at Sean, and his jaw twitches. Taking my hand in his, he leads the way through the entrance and over to a booth in the corner. Practically picking me up, he slides in on one side and sits beside me. His hand rests on my knee lightly, but tension pours from him. He’s pissed off. So am I. I had planned to pull Sean straight into his house out the back, not be sitting here with Jeremy.

“Hi Marcus,” I say meekly as he passes our booth and nods in greeting, taking a second to observe the two men sitting with me, no doubt picking up on the frosty atmosphere. Marcus is the local sheriff, and he almost lost his life saving me in the fire. He was in the hospital for two weeks after. It’s a miracle he’s recovered so well and is back to work.

That’s another person I need to make amends with. I never thanked him properly for what he did for me. I will, but just not right now. He doesn’t stop anyway, heading straight to the bar and perching on his usual stool at the end of the bar.

“To what do we owe the pleasure? Weren’t convinced when I told you Sam was fine?” Sean asks pointedly, running a hand back over his closely shaved head. His tattoos peek out from the sleeve of his shirt and I get distracted picturing the rest of the design that winds its way up and around his massive biceps. Touching the end of one with my finger, I pause.

“When were you talking to Jeremy?” I ask, confused, and twist in my seat to face Sean, who doesn’t meet my eye, just continues to stare at my colleague like he’s trying to kill him with sheer willpower.

“You wouldn’t put her on the phone.” Jeremy is defiant and I have to hand it to him. He’s not acting as intimated by Sean as he probably should.

“Because she wasn’t here.” Petulant is how I’d describe Sean’s tone. Like a big child. Jeremy narrows his eyes before turning to me with a sympathetic smile.

“Sam, you don’t have to stay here. Clearly, you’re not sick.” He gives Sean a side-eye before focusing his attention back on me and trying something he knows will get me to listen immediately. “Come back with me before you get fired for just running out of work and going on holidays. I’ll take care of you. You know I’d do anything for you. You’re my friend.”

Sean scoffs, not convinced Jeremy doesn’t have an ulterior motive in coming to my ‘rescue’.

“Did they send you?” I drum my fingers on the tabletop and close my eyes, dreading the thought that they sent him here to spy on me.

“No, but they’re not happy. Some man arrives and practically carries you out the door, and then you don’t turn in to work or answer your phone? You’re only just back from more than a month off.”

I chew on my lip nervously. My job has been my entire world for so long. I really don’t want to be fired or have them mad at me. Even though I was off sick for a long time, and my behaviour has been erratic since I got back, they’ve stuck by me.

“Shit. What did they say?” Without even waiting for Jeremy to finish what he’s saying, I turn to Sean. “Maybe I should go back and sort it out.”

Sean blinks at me and nods, standing slowly.

“I’ll get some food and drinks,” he says quietly, disappearing towards the bar without a backward glance. When I look back at Jeremy, he looks smug. I used to think he was handsome, but he looks childish sitting here gloating about convincing me to go back to the city. It’s not for the reasons he thinks it is.

“Jeremy, I’m happy here. Happy with Sean. I’m going to give them my notice and finish up the right way.” The words are out of my mouth before I even think it through, but it feels right. I’m calmer here in the quiet of the mountains. And with Sean. I don’t want that stress in my life anymore. I’m not sure what I’ll do for work, but I’m clever and resourceful. I’ll find my place.

“You can’t be serious. You’re going to give up everything to live here, with him?” Jeremy’s expression softens, and I think for a second that he’s got it. But no, he opens his mouth and makes things worse. “Is it because of the fire? Because you have scars? I don’t care about that. I mean, they’re not on your face or anything, and I’ve always liked you…”

“Do not say one more word, Jeremy, I swear to God,” I warn him, and my stony expression is enough to shut him up. John arrives at the table and dumps down some fries and beer, the amber liquid sloshing over the sides. His eyes burn into mine, and now it’s his turn to look murderous.

“What?!” I ask, genuinely not understanding what his problem is. I like John. I thought he liked me. Leaning to the side, I look past him at the bar, but Sean isn’t there. The loud bang of a slammed door tells me where he’s gone.

“They’re on the house,” John spits out through gritted teeth before stalking away and returning to his spot behind the bar, arms folded, and continues to glower down at us. Pushing up from the seat, I take a deep breath. This is it. Time to see if he really can take me back, if he really wants me to be here.

“I’ll finish this and wait in the car. Take your time.” Jeremy has the wrong impression here and I’ll set him straight, but Sean is my primary concern.

“Sean,” I call out, pushing down on the handle of his office door gently and rapping lightly. The hinges creak slightly as the door opens wide. I slip into the dark room, my hand sliding down the wall as I search for the light switch.

As the light comes on, a tall body pushes me further inside and clamps a hand over my mouth just in time to muffle my deafening scream. I should be terrified by the person behind me, but all I can focus on is the gigantic lion standing on Sean’s table, and the tattered clothing on the ground.

“Shh,” a voice whispers in my ear. It’s John. How can he be so calm? I scramble to turn and run past him, but he doesn’t budge.

“Sean,” I whimper, trying not to sob as I look at his ruined shirt. Where is he? Is he lying dead or injured behind the table? We need to get a gun.

“No sudden movements. He won’t hurt you, but he’s a cat. They like to chase things,” John whispers in my ear. The lion bares it’s teeth as if to disagree with that statement and I shut my eyes tight, waiting for the attack that never comes. “Sean, it’s all good. Sam is here. She’s not going anywhere.”

His voice is soothing. It takes me a second to realise he called this beast Sean. What the hell?

“He’s only freaking out because you said you were leaving again. He’ll calm down soon,” John explains as if it makes perfect sense that the giant male lion sitting in Sean’s office is in fact him.

“You can’t be serious? Are you saying that’s Sean?” I swivel in John’s arm and my body brushes against his. John curses and in an instant, it’s chaos. John shoves me out of the way and is suddenly an enormous wolf, changing just before Sean’s massive body lands on top of him, claws extended and digging into his back. I press myself into the corner, eyes wide open with shock, and scream as they tumble out into the hallway, snarling and growling, the lion quickly getting the upper hand. Thinking I’m just about to witness John being killed by a lion, I turn to run for help when the end of the hallway is blocked by the hulking frame of Marcus.

“Marcus, do you have a gun? Stop them!” I shriek, running to him and clutching at his arm. He doesn’t stop walking toward the vicious fight, just sighs.

“I’m sorry about this, Sam.” He tips his head to me, stroking one hand over his thick dark beard, before a bear erupts from his body and he charges into the melee, bowling the lion off John and batting him hard across the snout, sending him flying down the corridor. Marcus raises up onto his hind legs and bellows. The noise is so loud I have to cover my ears and I swear the ground vibrates beneath us. The three animals stop, panting and picking themselves up off the floor, before turning slowly to face me.

Stunned, I take my hands down from my tear-streaked face and glare at them.

“Somebody tell me what the fucking fuck is going on?!!”