Chapter 6 - Laila
Laila stopped when she stepped out of her childhood bedroom and gazed down the hall at her grandmother’s room. The melancholy that had been assaulting her since she got to the cabin hit her again. The place was filled with amazing memories, but her grandmother's absence dimmed the light on some of them.
Mornings with Grandma Rose had been perfect and comforting. With her life having been turned upside down in the last few days, she needed her grandmother more than ever. Releasing a sigh, she went into the living room. The house smelled the same as if it hadn’t been abandoned for years. She let her fingers trace the edges of the worn center table. There was a layer of dust on it—on all the furniture. She’d have to do some cleaning.
As she assessed the room, she smiled at the memory of her and her grandmother sitting and chatting about recipes. After she lost her father, her grandmother raised her, and she nurtured Laila’s passion for cooking and baking.
“Grams, I miss you so much,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I haven’t checked on the place in so long.”
The sound of Tolliver in the kitchen pulled her back from her memories. His presence was almost too much in the big house. Even when she lay in bed, she couldn’t sleep because thoughts of him in the next room nearly drove her mad. She hated being stuck here with him, only because it was a mocking reminder that they lived together once, and it had been great. She wished she didn’t have to play house with him now. It was emotionally draining.
Glancing toward the kitchen, she shook her head and listened to the clinking of what sounded like plates. What was Tolliver even doing in there? He was a terrible cook. The man was capable of burning water. She’d better get in there before he burned the place down. When she stepped into the kitchen, she stopped to take in the scene.
Tolliver had a dishcloth thrown over one shoulder and was taking something out of the oven. He looked up and smiled at her—his version of a smile, which was the slight quirking of his lips.
“Morning, sleeping… Laila.”
His near slip-up made her heart constrict. He used to call her sleeping beauty whenever she slept late. Tolliver’s small smile vanished when he realized what he’d almost said. The awkwardness that was never too far from the surface rose to consume them. Her gaze skated away from his. This—them living together—was chipping away at her defenses because why did she want to smile at the picture Tolliver made?
His floral apron was such a contrast to the big, serious man that it was ridiculous. Realizing she was staring at the apron, he shrugged and rubbed his nape. “I thought wearing the appropriate attire would somehow enhance my culinary skills,” he grumbled.
She wanted to laugh. This was the Tolliver she’d had three incredibly happy years with. He was the most intensely serious man, but when he was with her, he was softer and funny without even trying to be. “Tolliver, you don’t have any skills at all to enhance. You suck at cooking.”
His eyebrows dipped into a frown, but then amusement lit up his eyes. “I won’t deny it.”
Laila chuckled. “Then why are you in the kitchen?”
“I thought I’d do my part. You’ve been doing all the cooking for days. I wanted to give you a break.”
Her heart softened. He’d always been considerate. “I see.” She glanced at the baking tin he’d taken out of the oven. “What exactly is that?”
“Bread.”
They both observed the charred blob in silence. Finally, Tolliver said, “Well, it’s supposed to be bread.”
Laila lifted an eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”
“I can’t let you eat that,” he sighed. “It might be poisonous.”
Laila pursed her lips to hold back her laughter.
“I don’t understand. I followed the recipe.”
Tolliver looked so adorably confused that Laila’s heart softened some more. The organ almost melted in her chest. “It’s okay. I’ll make us something edible.”
He snorted. “I really wanted to surprise you this morning.”
“It’s the thought that counts.” She gave him a once over and laughed. “Take that apron off. You look ridiculous.”
He chuckled as he tugged it off. “Never tell anyone you saw me in it.”
“I don’t know… Big, bad Tolliver Sterling in a floral apron is pretty newsworthy,” she teased as she rounded to counter to remedy the disaster he created.
Tolliver leaned against the counter as he watched Laila move around with familiarity and ease. She was in her element, and he remembered how much he used to like watching her in the kitchen. “Would you really ruin my tough guy rep, Laila?”
She smirked at him over her shoulder. “I won’t… for a price.”
The way his eyes moved over her made her hot and bothered. His green orbs smoldered, practically lighting her on fire. “Hmmm… bribery… I never thought you had it in you.”
A mischievous grin lifted Laila’s lips. She was enjoying their banter way too much. “I’m not above a little extortion if it means getting my way.”
Tolliver chuckled. “Is that so? Name your price, Thomas.”
She nibbled on her lower lip as she turned to face him. Tolliver’s eyes narrowed on her. He might not have seen her for years, but he knew when she was anxious about something. “Laila…” he promoted. However, there was a hint of warning in his tone. “I’m curious. Let’s hear how outrageous your request is.”
She rolled her eyes. “It isn’t outrageous. I just want to get out of this house.”
“Absolutely not.”
She scoffed at the finality in his voice. “Tolliver, you can’t keep me locked up here forever.”
“I’m not planning to.”
“I want to go to Cedar Ridge to check on the bakery.”
“Cora says everything is fine.”
Laila huffed. “I want to see for myself. I also want to check on my apartment.”
“I’ll send someone to check it out.”
Her jaw tightened with frustration. “I need clothes. I’m tired of walking around in your t-shirts and boxers.” She threw her arms out and looked down at Tolliver’s clothes, which were too big for her.
His gaze swept over her and lingered on her chest, where her nipples were slightly visible through the white material. “You look fine to me,” he drawled before peeling his eyes off her chest and putting them back on her face. The tiniest smirk lifted the corners of his lips when he noticed her flushed cheeks.
“I am this close—” she held her thumb and index finger close together “—to murdering you with this spatula,” she hissed as she held up the weapon.
He only smirked harder. “I don’t remember you being this combative.”
“I don’t remember you being this much of an asshole. You need to let me out of this prison. I’m going crazy.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Laila. This is hardly a prison.”
“It is when I’m trapped here with you!”
Laila’s words resonated in the silence that hung between them. Tolliver’s expression tightened as her words settled in. The teasing glint in his eyes vanished, and the lighthearted tone from their banter evaporated. Something like hurt flickered in his eyes for a moment, but Laila wasn’t sure because it was gone in an instant.
When he spoke, his voice was quieter. “I know you hate me, and I get it. But I’m only trying to keep you safe.”
Laila felt terrible about her outburst. “Tolliver, I don’t…” She sighed. “I’m just… we’ve been cooped up here for days.”
“If it’s that unbearable being around me…” He hesitated and sighed. “I can get someone else to stay with you. Someone you’d rather be around. I’m not trying to make this harder than it already is.”
Laila’s heart squeezed in her chest, her anger suddenly cooling.
“No,” she said quickly, her voice softening. “I don’t want to stay with a stranger.” She fidgeted with the spatula she still held. “I just… I’m not used to this… not working. I didn’t mean…” She trailed off, her arms dropping to her sides as she took a breath. “I don’t hate you, Tolliver.”
He lifted a skeptical eyebrow.
“Can we at least try to compromise?” she asked.
“We can.”
“Can we do a supermarket run? Baking relaxes me.”
“I know,” he murmured.
Her eyes dropped to the floor. Each time she was reminded of their past relationship, she wanted to plunge into despair over the loss. “Well, if the kitchen is fully stocked, I can distract myself.”
“ We can’t do a supermarket run, but I can.”
She huffed and threw her hands up in defeat. So much for looking at anything other than the cabin's interior. “Whatever.” Frustrated, she forgot about making breakfast and stormed out of the kitchen.
Laila stayed in her room and stewed in irritation. She heard when Tolliver left and when the car started and took off down the hill. For a moment, she wondered if she could make a run for it. Getting up off the bed, her eyes shifted from side to side guiltily as if Tolliver could see her. Just as she decided that she would skedaddle before he came back, her cell rang. It was the one Tolliver had given to her because she’d left Cedar Ridge with nothing.
His name flashed across the screen, and she hesitantly answered. “Tolliver?”
“Laila,” she returned mockingly. “Your devious mind might be working up an escape plan right now…”
Her jaw dropped. That was exactly what her devious mind was up to.
“Don’t disappoint me,” he said. “If you pass this test and show me I can trust you, we might be able to work out a little more freedom in the near future… maybe . If not, you can kiss your freedom goodbye… until I know you’re safe.”
She let out a snort of contempt. “Goodbye, Tolliver, and don’t call me unless you have something important to say.” She hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed.
Her devious mind , according to Tolliver, nixed all thoughts of an escape. “Damn him,” she hissed.
Laila decided to spend the day cleaning up her grandmother’s house. Staying busy kept her mind off the crazy situation she had ended up in. By the time Tolliver got home, she had cleaned the place from top to bottom and was relaxing in the living room. He walked through the door, carrying several bags. He paused when he saw her, and they stared at each other.
“Hey,” he said.
“Tolliver,” she greeted coolly. She was still salty about earlier.
He kicked the door closed. “You didn’t run away. I’m glad.”
“And fail your test? Never.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and it almost made Tolliver smile.
“I got you some things,” he announced. “Groceries like you wanted and clothes.”
Laila perked up at the mention of clothes. He handed her three of the bags. “I’ll take everything else to the kitchen,” he said, and then he was gone.
Laila rummaged through the bags and saw jeans, tops, dresses, and underwear. The lingerie made her blush from the root of her hair to her toenails. Her ex buying her underwear was just too much, and they looked pricey. She fingered the tags with the name of the most expensive boutique in town. Tolliver was well off—he came from old money—but she didn’t want him spending it on her as if they were still together.
Shaking her head, she got up and went to change, relieved to put something on other than Tolliver’s T-shirts. When she went into the kitchen, the groceries were unpacked, and she got busy gathering ingredients to make dinner. Tolliver was nowhere in sight, but she heard him moving around outside. Maybe he was avoiding her after the things she said that morning. When she called him about dinner, she was surprised he came inside.
Dinner was an awkward and quiet affair, which Laila wanted to end. She was relieved when it did. She jumped up to clear the table. Tolliver did, too. They reached for the same bowl, and their fingers touched. Laila pulled her hand away as if she’d touched fire.
“It’s okay, I’ll clean up,” she said.
“No, you made dinner. I’ll clean up.” He sighed heavily when she didn’t move. “Are we going to stand here and stare at each other all night?”
That made her chuckle, and it broke the tension between them. “Let’s not. How about we share the task?”
“Sounds good.”
As they cleaned up, Laila gave Tolliver a side glance. “Thanks for the clothes and… other stuff.” She couldn’t help blushing about the other stuff. “I’m surprised everything fit as if you knew my size.”
When he looked at her, his eyes slid over her from head to toe, making Laila’s body temperature spike. “Of course I did,” he said. Seeming to catch up on himself, he cleared his throat and said, “I mean… lucky guess.”
Their eyes remained locked for a moment. She pulled in a sharp breath when his gaze dropped to her mouth. The underlying sexual tension between them was getting harder to ignore.
“I’ll pay you back for everything, even the groceries.”
“That’s not necessary.”
Laila picked up the dishcloth and started to wipe the counter. “Tolliver, I’m not comfortable with you buying me things, especially expensive things.” She waved a hand to encompass the jeans and silk blouse she had on. “I know these were pricey.”
He sighed and leaned against the counter to watch her. “I don’t mind. Really.”
“Well, I mind.” She could feel his eyes on her, and it set her on edge. “We’re not…”
He folded his arms. “We’re not what?”
Together anymore. The words refused to come out. She wiped the counter with more vigor. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.”
Tolliver’s hand came down on hers to stop her energetic movements, and Laila froze. His touch sent jolts of electricity through her. Her breath ceased as she stared at their point of contact.
“Obviously, it matters,” Tolliver said. “You vigorously clean like this when you’re on edge.”
She gritted her teeth, annoyed by how much he knew her. “We’re not together anymore,” she admitted. “You don’t have to buy me things. I’d feel more comfortable paying you back.”
“I know we’re not together, but why can’t I take care of you? We’re… friends.”
Her eyes flew up to meet his. Friends? She couldn’t be best buds with the man she loved so intensely that his leaving almost destroyed her. Her heart pounded as they continued to gaze at each other.
Instead of letting her go, he stepped closer. Their proximity sent her spiraling into the past. They had been so good together. She could tell Tolliver had delved into the past as she had because he leaned closer as if they were their younger selves, and he had every right to kiss her… his mate.
Against her better instincts, Laila didn’t back away as her brain told her to. She listened to her foolish heart, which fluttered with anticipation and closed the gap between them. Tolliver’s lips brushed hers hesitantly as if testing the waters. She let out a soft sigh, and he responded by moving closer and wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her against him. The pressure of his lips on hers increased, and his movements became desperate and hungry. Laila matched his feverous energy, her hands gripping his shirt to pull him closer—as if they couldn’t get close enough.
It felt good to kiss Tolliver again—she hadn’t forgotten how great of a kisser he was. However, reality slammed into her, and she escaped the haze that almost consumed her.
What was she doing?
She abruptly broke the kiss and stepped back. Her chest heaved, and her body still hummed with desire, but panic clawed its way up her chest. “We can’t do this,” she said, more to herself than to him. She kept taking retreating steps as if Tolliver had become a dangerous weapon. He was dangerous to her emotional well-being.
“Laila, wait—”
She turned on her heels and bolted the door.
“Laila!”
Tolliver’s voice followed her, but she didn’t stop—she couldn’t. It was like she was trying to run away from her feelings. How could she still be so attracted to Tolliver? How could she still want him? Her mind raced with disbelief and frustration. She couldn’t afford to get wrapped up in him again. She kept running as if to run away from another broken heart.
Laila finally stopped to catch her breath. It had been a while since she let her wolf out to run free, so she felt the burn of exhaustion in her lungs. The cold night air did little to cool the fire in her chest. As she looked around, she realized how far into the woods she had run. The cabin wasn’t visible anymore. Suddenly, she felt ridiculous for running.
A strange sense of unease crept over her, but she dismissed it. Her mind was probably playing tricks on her because Tolliver’s tale of depraved shifters had made her paranoid. However, her discomfort mounted, and her wolf, which mostly stayed dormant, stirred inside her. It wasn’t paranoia. Someone was in the woods with her. She felt the presence of another wolf, and it wasn’t Tolliver.
At least it didn’t feel like him. The back of her neck prickled, and the hairs on her arms stood on end. Her animal instincts told her to stay on guard. A low growl rumbled from the depths of her chest, her inner wolf stirring to life. It had been a while since she heard her wolf. She heard the rustling of leaves and pivoted slowly, scanning the dark woods. The sound came again, but it was closer this time. She spun around, canines bared, and muscles taunt and ready for an attack. Her gaze landed on a figure stepping into the moonlight, and her entire body relaxed with pure relief.
“Tolliver…”
“Laila, get back to the cabin now.” He spoke softly, but there was steel behind his words, and his eyes glowed a feral amber as he scanned the woods.
This time, she didn’t argue about his penchant for dishing out orders. She’d felt the danger herself—felt something malevolent watching her. Maybe it was time to stop doubting Tolliver and let him help her. She took off toward the cabin, relieved that Tolliver had shown up.