Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

“What do you think the girls are doing?” JJ asked.

Cal had lit the firepit in his backyard, and they were all sitting around enjoying the chilly air. They’d each had a beer or two earlier but had switched to water so they’d be sober enough to drive later.

Now, it wasn’t lost on him that JJ was probably asking because he was interested in one woman in particular.

“They probably fell asleep,” Chappy said with a chuckle. “Carlise has been exhausted recently, stressing about the ceremony, even though I’ve purposely tried to make it as low key as possible, so she wouldn’t worry. But . . .” His words trailed off.

Cal couldn’t help but compare tomorrow’s ceremony with some of his own family weddings in the past. Because of who they were, his family planned weddings that were expected to be traditional, huge, expensive shindigs. He’d always shied away from that kind of attention, even before he was a POW. And when he tried to picture June wearing an elaborate dress with a twenty-foot train and long veil in front of a thousand guests in an extremely old church in Liechtenstein . . . he just couldn’t do it. She’d hate it. Would be paralyzed with nerves. And he couldn’t blame her. His parents weren’t exactly the simple mom and dad next door.

But if he broke with tradition and didn’t have the paparazzi-filled ceremony that his countrymen and women seemed to love, maybe he could still find a compromise. Give June something that would make her feel like the princess she’d become but that wouldn’t completely freak her out.

He couldn’t deny that he’d love to show June off. Let the people of his country see how amazing she was. He also couldn’t help but think about his own situation. The need to show his countrymen and women that he’d risen above everything he’d endured. Prove that he’d come a long way from the tortured man seen in those awful video clips the terrorists had shared with the world.

It took a moment for the content of his daydreams to actually sink in. When it did, when he realized he was actually planning his and June’s fictitious wedding, he sighed deeply, suddenly overcome with sorrow.

“Cal? What do you think?”

He jerked and realized he’d completely zoned out of the conversation going on around him. “Sorry, I wasn’t listening. What do I think about what?”

His three friends laughed.

“Never mind. More importantly, what were you thinking about? Or should I say who?” Chappy asked with a smile.

Cal normally wasn’t one to discuss his feelings, but he didn’t mind talking to his mates a bit. He was actually relieved to unload some of his confusing thoughts about June. “She’s driving me crazy,” he admitted.

“You need us to come up with a reason why she can’t stay anymore?” JJ asked. “Because we will. Just say the word, and she’ll be out of here.”

“No!” Cal practically shouted. Then he took a deep breath. “No. I don’t want her gone. That’s the problem.”

“Ah,” JJ said with a nod.

“It’s just that . . . we only recently met. And those steps of hers, her mother and sister, they treated her like shite. She hasn’t had a chance to live. And now I’ve dragged her here. To Newton. Where nothing happens, and there isn’t even a proper shop for her to visit when she wants a new outfit.”

“How did shopping go today? Was she upset that there weren’t enough lady boutiques or whatever in Rumford?” Bob asked.

“Not at all. It went fine. I swear, she was excited by the tiniest things. Being around her is like being with someone who just got out of prison after decades inside, and everything is shiny and new,” Cal said.

“That probably is what it’s like for her,” Chappy said. “Given what you’ve told us about her circumstances.”

“Don’t get me wrong, she knows about the world, had to do all the shopping and stuff for her family. But she still seems so . . . innocent compared to me.” Cal knew he wasn’t explaining himself well.

“Does she seem happy here?” JJ asked.

“I think so.”

“Then stop worrying.”

“It’s not that easy,” Cal protested.

“Sure, it is. You like her, she seems to like you. Just go with it,” Bob said with a shrug.

“You guys have seen me,” Cal blurted. “You know what those arseholes did to me. How the hell can I expose her to that? Show her physical proof of the evil that exists in the world? Every inch of my body is a wreck.” He didn’t talk about this. Ever. But his need to spare June any kind of pain made him willing to broach the one subject that was off limits. His scars.

Chappy leaned forward and stared intently at Cal from across the fire. “You think she cares about your scars?”

“How could she not? They’re fecking hideous,” Cal said.

“They are not,” Chappy said heatedly. “You got those scars from protecting us. And if she so much as wrinkles her nose at them, I’ll personally escort her out of this house, away from Newton, and tell her never to return.”

Cal wanted to be grateful. Chappy had always been the protector of the group. It had gratified Cal to be able to take on that role for a short time when they’d been captives, to protect his friends for once, but the instincts ran deep within his mate, and Cal loved him all the more for it.

“June isn’t going to give the smallest shit about your scars,” Bob said before Cal could answer Chappy. “The woman’s head over heels in love with you.”

Cal stared at his friend in disbelief.

“It’s obvious,” he drawled, shifting in his chair. “Her eyes are always on you, all soft and pining and whatnot. I think she’d face down the devil himself if it meant keeping you from getting hurt.”

The longing that hit Cal surprised him. He wanted June to love him. Because as daft as it seemed, he was pretty sure he already loved her.

“It’s easy for us to sit here and say that your scars don’t matter,” JJ said matter of factly. “But the truth is, the only one who has to come to terms with the physical evidence of what happened is you, Cal. My instinct is to recommend saying ‘fuck you’ to anyone who can’t deal with the repercussions of you literally saving our lives. Because that’s what you did. You saved our damn lives, and there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful to you because of it.

“But I hate that it took such a toll on your psyche. We’re here for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, we’re here. If that means protecting you from being hurt by a woman, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll take our cues from you. Understand?”

Cal sucked in a deep breath. He wasn’t sure he’d actually saved his friends’ lives, but when he was being tortured, he refused to let a sound pass his lips, because if he broke, he knew his captors would turn on Chappy, JJ, and Bob.

They’d all suffered in their own ways, including physically, and as much as Cal wanted to put the entire experience behind him, he couldn’t. Because every time he looked in a mirror, he was transported right back there. To that hellhole. He’d heard the taunts of their captors. Telling him he’d never be “Prettymon,” as the press had dubbed him, ever again. That he was a weak, pathetic piece of shite.

“Cal? Do you understand?” JJ asked.

“Ten-four,” he told his friend.

“Good. If things progress, and you bare yourself to the woman . . . and June looks at you with anything other than the love and respect we see in her eyes when you’re fully clothed, she’s not the one for you. Period. Full stop. All it’ll take is one look, and you’ll know. It’ll suck if it happens, but at least you’ll have your answer. You can call one of us, and we’ll come get her, set her up in an apartment or a room somewhere else, and you can get on with your life.

“But if she isn’t fazed, if the love in her eyes doesn’t dim when you’re alone and butt-ass naked, give yourself permission to love her back—and hold on to her like your life depends on it.”

Cal nodded. He wanted that. So much. But he was terrified to find out one way or another.

“Right, can we stop talking about Cal being naked now?” Bob joked. “I mean, scars or not, it’s not something I think we should be discussing at a damn bachelor party. Naked women, sure, but Cal’s hairy ass? No, thank you.”

Everyone chuckled, and Cal suddenly felt exhausted. He was relieved they were done talking about him and his mental issues.

“You all set for tomorrow?” JJ asked Chappy.

“Yup. I’m more than ready to get my ring on Carlise’s finger.”

“Any plans for a honeymoon?” Bob asked.

“Not immediately. Carlise has a deadline she needs to meet, and we want her mom to spend a few days here. I was thinking about taking her somewhere warm. I mean, as much as I love snuggling with her in the cabin, I wouldn’t mind seeing her frolicking in the ocean in a swimsuit.”

Everyone grinned. Talk turned to the best tropical places that Chappy might take Carlise. But after a while, the conversation inevitably circled back to Cal and June.

“So . . . you heard anything from the stepmonster and her daughter?” JJ asked.

“No. But what I’ve heard from Tex, who’s still monitoring her online activity, is that Carla is apparently flashing her boobs at Karl, crying, and telling him how scared she is. She even showed him some note she supposedly received after I left, from her alleged stalker.”

“She was crying and showing her tits at the same time? How does that work? I mean, when most women are upset, the last thing they’re thinking about is not so accidentally letting their tits fall out of their bra,” Bob said with a roll of his eyes.

“Exactly. I haven’t talked to Karl yet, but it’s on my agenda. I spoke with my parents and explained the entire situation, and they mentioned doing what they could to rein him in and get him to cut ties,” Cal said.

“You think that’s smart?” JJ asked. “Maybe it’s best if your cousin keeps an eye on her. This Carla chick obviously craves attention, and if she has her heart set on you, and if you aren’t attainable anymore, would she do something drastic?”

“Like?” Chappy asked.

“I don’t know. Like make this fake stalker a reality?”

“As in, stalk herself?” Cal asked.

“I was thinking more along the lines of hiring someone to make it look like she’s being harassed. You said you overheard her and the mom talking about something like that, right?”

“To what end? I’m not going back,” Cal said. “She and her awful mother could hire someone to leave them notes all day long, and it’s not going to make a difference.”

“Hmm.”

“What does ‘hmm’ mean?” Cal demanded.

“You mentioned looking into the death of June’s father,” JJ answered after a moment. “So . . . just hear me out. If a woman is crazy enough to kill her husband, to steal the house and insurance money out from under his unsuspecting daughter, and she gets away with it, why wouldn’t she do something just as drastic to obtain an incredibly wealthy husband—one who has royal blood, no less—for her own daughter?”

“She can’t force me to marry that silly cow,” Cal said angrily.

“Maybe not—but she could do everything possible to get rid of any competition.”

Cal stared at his friend, his gut twisting. He respected and trusted JJ. He’d been their team leader in the Army, and his track record was damn good. “She doesn’t know where June is.”

“But she could find you,” Chappy argued. “You aren’t exactly the media darling you once were, but it’s not a secret that we started a business here in Newton.”

“And if she finds you, it won’t take long to figure out you have a new roommate,” Bob added.

“Shite,” Cal swore. “That bitch isn’t going to touch one hair on June’s head ever again. I’ll fecking kill her with my bare hands if she even tries!”

“Easy, bro,” Bob said.

“I’m thinking we need to cut her off before she gets any grand ideas,” JJ suggested.

“How?”

“If she actually killed her husband, and we can prove it, she’d have bigger problems to deal with than trying to marry off her daughter or find her stepdaughter,” Cal said.

“I’ll call Tex for you,” Bob said. “No need to scare June if she overhears your call. Tex knows people. Lots of people. He can plant a seed with a detective down in DC. You think June would agree to an exhumation?”

Cal pressed his lips together. He didn’t even want to think about having to discuss such a thing with June. About digging up her beloved father for an autopsy, even if he’d already given thought to having the man’s death investigated. “If it means proving Elaine killed him, yes—but I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Let’s not rush things. I think the first step is getting the cops to listen to our theories. And making Elaine nervous enough that she forgets about you and June,” JJ said.

Cal was more than all right with that.

“I’ll call Tex tomorrow, before the wedding,” Bob said.

“I appreciate it,” Cal said.

Bob shook his head. “It’s what we do. You’d do it for me.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Talk turned to work after that. About the upcoming hiking season, weather, and if there were any more storms predicted.

Cal kept surreptitiously looking at his watch, checking the time. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy spending the evening with his mates, but he was anxious to see June. To check on her, make sure things weren’t awkward between her and Carlise and April. Not that he thought they would be, but he knew she’d been a little nervous about tonight.

When it got to be ten-thirty, and no one had heard from the women, he was more than relieved when Chappy picked up his phone and muttered, “Screw it.” He looked up with a smile a minute or so later and announced, “The girls are ready to go.”

JJ stood so fast, Cal could only blink in surprise. “You want me to drive June back here when I pick up April?” he asked.

“No, it’s out of your way. I’ll head in and get her. Thanks, though.” Cal knew he was being ridiculous; it wasn’t as if Newton was all that large. It would only take JJ an extra four minutes, max, to drive June to his house. But that was four additional minutes before Cal got to see her, to make sure all was well.

“You guys are pathetic,” Bob said with a shake of his head, as he helped pour water and sand on the firepit before they headed out.

“Just wait,” Chappy told him. “When you find your woman, you’ll be the same way.”

“Whatever,” he retorted. “I’ll leave the love to you guys.”

“Who said anything about love?” JJ protested.

Cal snorted as Chappy and Bob chuckled.

Within five minutes, the fire was out, the doors were locked, and all four men were headed down Cal’s driveway. Bob peeled away when they got to his street, and the other three continued to Chappy’s apartment complex.

Ten minutes later, Cal was helping a tipsy and fecking adorable June into his SUV.

“I had such a good time,” she gushed happily.

“I’m glad, princess.”

“Carlise and April are so nice. And Baxter . . . he’s a hero! Did you hear what he did? How he saved Carlise twice?”

“I did,” he told her, leaning inside to fasten her seat belt.

He couldn’t make himself step back when he was done. He stayed close, one hand resting on the seat next to her hip. Her head was resting on the seat back, her cheeks were flushed, and she was smiling at him lazily.

“What?” she asked. “I’m all belted in,” she informed him, as if he hadn’t been the one to strap her in himself. “Besides, I’m safe with you. Don’t even need this,” she declared, pulling on the belt across her chest. “If something happened, you’d reach your superstrong arm across the car and catch me before I could face plant into the windshield . . . screen . . . whatever you call it.”

He’d certainly try. But it wasn’t going to be an issue, because there was no way she was going anywhere without her seat belt. “How do you feel?” he asked.

One brow lifted. “Fine. Why?”

“Is the world spinning? Are you nauseous at all? Do you think you’ll throw up?”

“Scared I’m gonna get your grossly expensive car all nasty?” she giggled.

“Don’t care about that. I’m more worried about you, June.”

She stared at him for a long moment before she sighed. “I can’t remember a time when someone was more worried about me than their car.”

Her words made him sad, but Cal simply lifted his hand and touched her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “You didn’t answer the question,” he reminded her.

“I’m okay. I’m tipsy, but not drunk.”

“Good. I’ll have us home in a jiffy.” Then Cal stepped back and shut her door. By the time he was in the driver’s seat, June’s eyes were closed. He thought she was asleep already, until he started the car and began to back out of the parking spot.

“Cal?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Everything. For taking me with you when you left DC. For not assuming I’m like Carla. For letting me stay with you. For kissing me senseless. For being so wonderful. For letting me share your friends . . . all of it.”

Cal grinned. “You’re welcome.”

“I feel as if I’ve done nothing but take from you since we met.”

“That’s not true,” he told her honestly. “You’ve given me more than you’ll ever know.”

“Like what?”

“My faith back in humanity.”

She blinked her eyes open, startled.

He shook his head. “Close your eyes, princess. We’ll be home soon, and you can get some sleep.”

She sighed again and did as he suggested, closing her eyes but keeping her face turned toward him.

Cal divided his attention between June and the road until he pulled into his driveway. Thankfully, Newton wasn’t very busy as far as traffic went.

Her eyes opened, and she said, “Oh! That was fast.”

“Keep telling you that Newton’s not that big.”

“I know, but that took like two seconds to get here.”

“A little longer than that,” Cal said with a chuckle. He pulled into the detached garage and turned off the engine. “Stay put. I’ll come around,” he ordered.

June nodded, and he jumped out and jogged around to her side. She was still sitting with her seat belt on when he opened the door. He unsnapped it and held her elbow as she hopped out of the seat. She immediately stumbled and would’ve fallen if he hadn’t had a good grip on her.

“Easy.”

“Sorry. The ground is moving.”

Cal laughed. “Right. Just tipsy, huh?”

June held up a hand, her thumb and index finger almost touching. He chuckled again. Hell, he’d laughed more in the last five minutes than he had all night.

He walked her into the house and immediately headed for the stairs. He paused at the door to her room . . . then, making a split-second decision, continued walking her toward the master instead.

“Cal?” she asked.

“You’ve had quite a bit to drink. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you on your own. You could get sick in the middle of the night and choke. If it wouldn’t make you too uneasy, I’d prefer if you slept in my room.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” he asked, wanting to make sure she was really all right with the suggestion.

June nodded. They were already at the side of his bed, and she happily tumbled onto the mattress and turned onto her side, burrowing her nose in one of his pillows. She turned her face after a moment and smiled up at him. “It smells like you.”

Cal smiled back. She was so damn cute. “I’ll get you a shirt to sleep in,” he told her before forcing himself to turn away.

He brought her a T-shirt and a pair of his sweats. They’d be huge on her, but the alternative was leaving her legs bare, and he wasn’t sure he had enough self-control for that. He left her for a few minutes as he went downstairs to check the locks and grab a cup of water and some headache pills.

When he returned, the clothes June had been wearing were in a heap on the floor by his bed, and she was under his covers. He noticed the sweatpants still lying on the mattress. “June?” he asked.

She didn’t answer. She was already sound asleep.

He should really wake her up and make her put on the sweats. At least make sure she drank the water and took the pills. But seeing her bra on the pile of clothes—and her underwear—had him momentarily gobsmacked.

She was practically naked . . . in his bed . . . wearing nothing but his T-shirt.

Cal stood there for a long moment, his dick throbbing, his control slipping. But, of course, he wasn’t going to take advantage of the situation. No matter how much he wanted her.

He took his time in the loo, brushing his teeth and avoiding the small mirror as he put on the sweatpants he’d given to June and a T-shirt. The scars on his forearms were visible, and it took everything within Cal not to change into a long-sleeved shirt. But he didn’t want to hide his arms nearly as much as he wanted to feel June against him, skin on skin, even in the smallest way.

He went back into his bedroom and clicked off the bedside light before climbing under the covers.

June immediately mumbled something in her sleep and turned toward him. One of her legs hiked up over his thigh and her arm went across his belly. She shoved her nose into his neck and sighed as if she was finally content.

“June?” he whispered.

She didn’t answer verbally but tightened her hold on him, as if she thought he was going to shove her away.

As if.

Thatwasn’t going to happen.

“Good night,” he said, turning his head and kissing her forehead.

“’Night,” she whispered sleepily.

It took Cal over an hour to fall asleep, simply because he was enjoying holding the woman in his arms too much to do something so mundane. He didn’t want to miss a minute of the experience. But eventually, his body shut down.

The last thing he remembered was inhaling the flowery scent of whatever shampoo June had used and knowing he’d never be able to smell a flower again and not think about this moment.