Chapter Six
DARCY
I will always come for you. You’re ours.
Words that sunk into my heart and took root in the middle of all the fear and uncertainty from the alarms last night. When I finally slipped beneath the covers in the darkness to try to find sleep, those were the only words in my mind. I didn’t realize until then how much I needed to hear them.
Ours.
Not just Gracie’s nanny or the short-term help.
Tears slipped from my eyes, and I buried my head in my pillow trying desperately to hold back the sobs as my jumbled emotions grew too big to contain.
So pathetic. And yet today, they still vibrate within me.
Circling around, tempting me with the hope that Linc meant them, and the fear that I’m in way over my head this time.
He couldn’t have… but God, I want it to be true.
The way he held me last night, telling me he needed me safe too?
It melted every defense I had. I wanted him to kiss me right there, even with Gracie in his arms. I wanted him to feel the same desire I’ve felt since I met him.
Aching. Needing that connection that goes beyond physical into something more emotional.
More permanent. When I look at him, the age gap between us doesn’t matter.
I should care that he’s my boss. I don’t.
All I know is I want those heated, possessive eyes on me all the time, and I want the safety of his arms, with little Gracie holding us both close.
“Gracie is ready. Darcy, are you okay, sweetheart?”
Mrs. Wolf’s voice brings me back to the present.
I’m standing in the kitchen, damp dishcloth in hand, staring at the counter I’m supposed to be wiping down after Gracie’s lunch.
I can’t do this. Can’t get lost in my own head.
I have a job to do. Besides, if I keep busy, maybe I won’t have time to think.
“Yes. Sorry, Mrs. Wolf. Just thinking about that alarm incident.”
“It’s Diane, remember?” she chides. “Lincoln did mention that a raccoon had set off the perimeter alarm. I bet that was a shock. Here by yourself except for Gracie, not knowing if there’s an intruder?” She rubs her arms in a mock shudder. “I’d have been terrified.”
Linc didn’t tell her about the man on the video?
He showed it to me after we put Gracie back to bed.
I couldn’t see him clearly. Linc suggested that it was probably someone looking to make a quick score.
I could tell by the look in his eyes he didn’t believe that.
Not entirely. He clearly doesn’t want his mom or Gracie to worry.
That he trusted me enough to show me the truth makes my belly flutter with warmth.
“It was frightening until Linc arrived. Does that happen often?”
“No. At least it’s nothing to worry about.”
I nod and finish cleaning the counter, rinsing the dishcloth out.
“Do you have your grocery list?” Now that I’ve had a chance to take stock of the pantry and refrigerator, I have a long list of staples Linc is woefully lacking on.
You can tell he’s a single father just by looking at his food supply.
It’s mostly chicken noodle soup and goldfish crackers.
“All set. Thank you for letting me come with you. I hate driving in the city anymore.” Her hand shakes as she picks up her purse off a barstool. I think her health is making driving difficult, and she is afraid to say it out loud. Saying it would make it true.
“Maybe we should plan to go together once a week?”
Diane’s smile brightens her whole face. “I’d love that. I told my son he’d find a good woman soon.”
My cheeks begin to burn, and I know they’re red. “It’s not like that.”
She makes a disbelieving snort. “I saw the way he looked at you this morning.”
She did? It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her how he looked at me, but it occurs to me this might be my chance to ask a more important question. “What happened to his wife?”
Diane blinks at me as if she doesn’t understand, then her eyes clear. “He was never married, dear.”
“Oh.” Does that mean he didn’t want to get married? “I shouldn’t pry.” It’s more of a reminder to myself than a reply.
She chuckles and heads out of the kitchen to collect Gracie. “In this case, I think you should. Ask my son about Brooke.”
It’s a nice name. I can’t help but wonder what she was like. Blonde like Gracie most likely. Blonde, thin, and gorgeous. Everything I’m not.
“His sister,” Diane adds as she disappears through the door.
My heart drops to my toes and bounces back so hard I almost can’t catch my breath. Does that mean…? I rush out after her. “His sister?”
“Gracie was his niece until he adopted her.”
I don’t remember the drive to the store at all. All my thoughts were on the bomb Diane dropped on my world. What happened to Brooke? Why did Linc become Gracie’s guardian instead of Diane? Was it her health? When did all this happen? I need to talk to Linc.
The grocery store is busy for the middle of the day. Gracie tucks her stuffed unicorn under her arm and takes my hand as Diane gets a cart.
“Can we get more goldfish?”
I grin down at her. “Sweetie, you have enough goldfish at home to last you ten years. I bet we can find something even better.”
She gives me a doubtful look.
“We’ll look. Maybe you can help me find something your dad will like too.”
“He likes cookies.”
Given that the ones we baked are almost gone, that doesn’t surprise me. I pick Gracie up and help her sit in the cart. After last night, I don’t want her getting away from us if we’re distracted. “Then maybe we should bake some more.”
“I love to make cookies,” Diane says.
We’re halfway through our lists when I notice a man in a suit lingering at the end of the aisle in front of the women’s deodorant.
He flashes me a tight smile, then goes back to studying the products.
My heart picks up speed, thumping loudly in my ears.
Wasn’t he in the last aisle also? Has he been watching us?
“Why do they always put the shampoo I want on the top shelf?” Diane asks.
I grab it for her with a trembling hand. When I turn back, he’s gone. I don’t know why, but something about him seemed weird. My senses must still be on high alert after last night, picking up on a poor guy just trying to find his wife’s brand.
Calm down, Darcy. It’s not like there’s a creep waiting to jump out from behind the cereal!
Letting out a deep breath, I force myself to relax and move to the next aisle. I wish Linc was here. I feel so safe with him. He can’t go everywhere with us though, and I’ve never been the clingy type. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was twelve. I’ve got this.
“Oh drat. I forgot to ask Lincoln if he still wants me to make dinner tomorrow,” Diane says. “I didn’t add the potatoes to my list if we are.”
“I’ll call him.” Maybe I latched onto the excuse to call him a little too quickly. Dialing his cell phone, I ignore anything that might imply.
“Darcy? Everything okay?”
His deep voice rumbles through me and I let out an embarrassingly breathy sigh. His sexy voice lights up every erogenous zone in my body. The man’s lethal. “Yes. We’re fine. Um—” What did I call to ask?
“Potatoes,” Diane mouths.
Right. “Your mom wanted to know if she should make dinner tomorrow. If so, she needs to pick up additional groceries.”
He’s silent for a long moment. When he speaks again, it’s a growl as deep as the wolf he’s named after. “Where are you?”
“The grocery store?”
“What part of ‘I need you safe’ did you not understand?” he snaps.
It’s so unexpected that my mouth drops open.
The way he said it makes my blood instantly boil.
I’m not an idiot. We’re in public, and it’s not like we have a five-year supply of food in a bunker.
That I know of anyway. “Apparently the part where the womenfolk can’t leave the compound and have to grow vegetables in the backyard. ”
Mrs. Wolf’s eyes grow wide, and her eyebrows disappear under her bangs.
“Goddammit, Darcy. I’m not trying to keep you fucking prisoner, but there are dangerous people?—”
“I’m dangerous when I’m hungry, and there isn’t a raccoon in sight.” Maybe Gracie wasn’t the only one who should have had a snack before we left. I clear my throat and try for a reasonable tone. “I’m with your mom and Gracie. We’re fine. We needed groceries and… routine.”
He swears under his breath. “Tell me where you’re at.”
Damn bossy, overprotective…
Gracie starts humming a song, doing a little dance as she sits in the cart with her unicorn. My anger fades. He’s being protective of his mother and this sweet little girl. How could he not? They’re his whole world. Gusting out a sigh, I tell him which store we’re at.
“Stay inside with a group of people. I’m on my way.”
“Well?” Diane asks when I hang up.
I have no idea. Honestly, I don’t know what’s more confusing. This man or my reaction to him. “Let’s get the potatoes while we’re here.” I tuck my phone in my pocket, and we finish our shopping.
Twice I felt like someone was staring at us, but when I looked around, I didn’t see anyone paying attention. My neck prickles, and my mouth goes dry. Am I just being paranoid?
Ten minutes later, we’re at the register to check out, and my heart is threatening to beat out of my chest. Diane puts our bags in the cart, while I dig my bank card out of my wallet with shaking fingers.
Something bumps my elbow, and I look up to see the guy in the suit.
He mumbles an apology but doesn’t meet my eye.
Where’s Linc? Shouldn’t he be here by now? What if he was delayed at work?
What if this is all in your head, Darcy?
I quickly pay for our groceries, and we find a place near the front of the store to wait.
A minute or two later, suit guy strolls our direction. This time he’s not avoiding my gaze. He stares, a tight smile on his face. If he means to look friendly, he’s failing.
“Cute kid,” he says. His voice is scratchy and now that he’s close, I see a thin white scar running along his temple at the edge of his dark hair. He’s tan, but several tattoos peek up from beneath the collar of his dress shirt. “You come here a lot?”
I shift to block Gracie and Diane as much as I can. Forcing a smile, I reply. “We’re visiting.” I’m not telling this man anything about us.
His eyes narrow on me, and he edges closer. “That so?”
Ice slides through my veins. We’re in public. He wouldn’t threaten us here, right?
“This man bothering you, sweetheart?” A rough voice growls right as Gracie crows, “Daddy!”
I half turn, unwilling to turn my back on this man, and see Linc stalking forward like the alpha of the pack. A fierce scowl is etched on his face as he prowls closer. His hands are clenched, an air of danger surrounding him.
I’m so relieved to see him… it scares me more than the stranger did.
Suit guy backs up a step, then turns and walks away without another word.
Linc’s glittering emerald gaze shifts to me.
My brain yells at me to run. but my feet are rooted to the spot. The world narrows and fades until it’s only Linc and I.
He steps closer, invading my space. “You done here?”
I nod.
He grips my upper arm in his warm palm, his touch firm but not painful. “Let’s go.”
“But…”
“Not. Here. Keys?”
I pull them out of my pocket and hand them over. Linc ushers us outside into the bright October sun.
“Ma, you take Gracie. Darcy and I will follow.”
Diane grins and takes Gracie to the car. Linc’s truck is parked two spaces over. He marches me to it.
“Linc—”
A low growl rumbles out of him. He spins me around to face him and backs me up against the truck door, placing his hands on either side of my head. “You’re done taking chances for now, Darcy.”
I grip the fabric of his shirt. Instead of pushing him away like I intended, I draw him closer. I don’t know what to do with this possessiveness he’s exhibiting. No one’s ever acted like this around me before. He’s making me crazy, but I want him.
He presses against me, heat radiating off his body.
I can feel something hard against my stomach, and my belly swoops.
“You don’t go anywhere without me or someone else from Citadel with you.
You don’t go to places that aren’t full of people, you don’t risk yourself, and you sure as fuck don’t talk to strangers. ”
As if I was chatting creepy suit guy up? I shove at his shoulders, but he doesn’t budge an inch. “You can’t tell me?—”
“I can and I will. You’re ours, Darcy. You’re mine.” Linc’s lips crash down on mine, obliterating any argument I might have had. He slides one hand into my hair, gripping the back of my head, and kisses me hard.