Colters' Gift (19 page)

CHAPTER 26

W
HAT
did he say?” Lauren asked anxiously as they pulled away from the Colter house.

“He’s very eager to talk to you,” Noah said. “Apparently they’ve been looking for you for some time. They were worried that you’d met a similar fate as some of the other women of Knight’s association.”

“They thought I was dead?” Lauren gasped.

“They weren’t sure what to think. Only that you’d disappeared and they were very interested in talking to you. They’ve been investigating Knight for over a year, but he’s squeaky clean and no one inside his organization will talk. They’ve been looking for any way in they can find.”

“So he believed you? I mean about the information we have?”

“We didn’t go into that kind of detail,” Liam said grimly

She frowned. “I don’t understand. What did you tell him then?”

“Just that we had incriminating evidence, detailed evidence, that he would be interested in,” Noah said. “I didn’t want to tip our hand this soon. He jumped on the opportunity. I could practically hear him drooling through the phone.”

Lauren went quiet, Holly Colter’s words echoing through her head.

“This could take a long time,” she finally murmured, her gaze sliding sideways so she could take in Noah’s and Liam’s expressions. “I was talking to Holly about when she was in protective custody. It was months before she saw Adam, Ethan and Ryan again, and it could have been much longer except her ex-husband pled out at the last minute instead of going to trial.”

Liam’s hand slid over her shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “No matter how long it takes, we’re going to be right there with you.”

“What about your family, though?” she asked anxiously. “This seems like an awful lot to spring on them. Not only are you and Noah involved with the same woman . . . me . . . but now you may have to disappear for months or longer because of what I’m doing.”

“I’ll call them before we go meet Castanetti,” Liam said. “I’ll explain everything to them then.”

Lauren twisted her hands in agitation. “I don’t want them to hate me before they ever even meet me.”

Noah smiled. “I can’t imagine the Prescotts hating anyone, and certainly not someone as sweet and beautiful as you are. They’re going to love you, Lauren. I admit, I was worried at first, but I was doing them a huge disservice. They’re some of the most loving, giving people I’ve ever met. I was fortunate enough to be able to call them my family.”

“We’re very lucky,” Liam said in a low voice. “We have your family solidly behind us and they’re obviously hugely loyal, and we have my family who I expect nothing less from. With families like ours, we can’t possibly lose.”

“I’d like to meet them,” she said wistfully.

Noah pulled her hand up to kiss it. “As soon as we can arrange it, we’ll absolutely take you to meet Liam’s parents. But you come first.”

When they reached town, Noah parked in front of the clinic in one of the on-street parking slots. He left the SUV running and Liam got out and opened Lauren’s door for her.

She frowned. “What’s going on? Where are you going?”

“It’s where we’re going,” Liam said, taking her hand. “You and I are going to run up to your apartment so you can pack a bag. We’ll tell you all about it and the plan. I promise.”

The blood drained from her face. “Do you think we’re in danger here?”

“We just don’t want to take any chances, honey,” Noah said gently. “Now that we’ve made the call to the D.A., we have to prepare for any eventuality. Now go on. I’ll wait here. Liam will go up with you.”

She turned and numbly allowed Liam to lead her up the stairs to her apartment door. Once there, he took the key from her hand and inserted it into the lock.

“Stay glued to my back,” he ordered tersely.

She pressed herself to his back as he pushed open the door. He drew his pistol and did a quick sweep of the room.

“Shut the door but don’t lock it,” Liam ordered. “Not yet. You stay here by the door and don’t make a move, while I check the other rooms. If I yell at you to get out or if you hear anything that sounds off, you hightail it back to Noah. Understand?”

She nodded.

He disappeared into her bedroom and returned mere seconds later, his gun down by his side.

“Okay, go in and get your bag packed. I’ll have mine and Noah’s stuff ready in just a few seconds.”

It was hard deciding what to pack and what to leave. What if she never came back to this apartment again? It was a hysterical thought, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Her decision had the power to alter the course of her entire life. Not only hers but Noah’s and Liam’s too. Her family’s as well.

She closed her eyes. Oh God, please let her have made the right decision. The right choice. Just once.

“Lauren?”

Liam’s call from the living room galvanized her to action. She hurriedly went through her closet and pulled several outfits from the hangers. She only had one suitcase, but she had a duffel bag that could carry quite a bit, so she used that for shoes, underwear and socks, and all her toiletries.

In the suitcase, she piled jeans, slacks, two skirts and all the tops she’d chosen. Her stomach churned when she realized that she would most certainly be expected to make a court appearance.

She went back to her closet and took three dresses from the end, and then made sure she had the matching shoes. How ironic would it be for her to wear one of the dresses Joel had bought for her to testify in the trial to convict him?

In the end, she couldn’t get her suitcase to zip. Frustrated, she leaned and pushed but couldn’t budge it. Knowing she needed help, she called for Liam.

“I can’t get it closed,” she said, flipping her hand impatiently at the open suitcase on her bed.

Liam’s eyebrow went up. “I can see why.”

“I wasn’t sure what to pack,” she said defensively. “I mean packing for an indeterminate amount of time is kind of daunting, you know?”

“Shhh, baby,” he soothed. “It’s fine. We’ll take what you’ve packed and if you need something later or if you figure out you’ve forgotten something, Noah and I will get it for you. Don’t let this stress you out.”

She took a deep breath. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I am kind of freaked out right now.”

He tugged her into his arms and kissed her brow. After a quick, fierce hug, he gently pulled himself away and went to close her suitcase.

His muscles bulging, he pushed down on it enough to get it zipped, and then he hefted it upward so he could get it off the bed and onto the floor so it could be rolled.

“All ready?” he asked.

She glanced around the room one last time and then nodded.

“Get your bag. I’ll take the suitcase. Once I get you into the car with Noah, I’ll come back up for mine and Noah’s bags.”

She grabbed the oversized duffel and hoisted the strap over her shoulder, and then followed Liam back through the living room and down the stairs to the street.

Noah got out to help put her bags in the back, and then he guided Lauren to the passenger seat while Liam sprinted back up the stairs for the other bags.

“Where are we going?” Lauren asked as they waited for Noah.

“We’re going to stay tonight in a hotel so we can talk about everything that’s going to go on and so you’re comfortable with the plan. Tomorrow we’ll drive back out to the Colters’, where we’ll stay until we fly out to Raleigh.”

Liam opened the door to the backseat and slid inside. “All set. Let’s roll.”

“You two don’t mind staying at the Colters’,” she asked as Noah pulled out of the parking spot.

Noah shook his head. “It’s isolated. It’s private. It comes with a hell of a lot of built-in protection. And they’re your family. That’s good enough for me.”

She smiled.

“But for tonight, we wanted you to ourselves,” Liam said from the backseat. “We have a lot to talk about, yes, but we also want a night with you where we aren’t concerned with what your family can or can’t hear or who’s right down the hall.”

Her cheeks grew warm, but she couldn’t control the shiver of delight at the veiled promise in his voice.

Noah reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers.

“We wanted one night—
this
night—to show you just what you mean to us before we have to deal with what’s coming down the road.”

CHAPTER 27

N
OAH
went inside the hotel to check them in while Liam waited in the car with Lauren.

“I hope you and Noah aren’t expecting much with this hotel,” Lauren hedged. “Clyde doesn’t have much in the way of fine hotels or lodging. Those are all over in the ski resort towns to the north.”

“We aren’t concerned with how nice the room is,” Liam said. “As long as you’re in it, we’re fine.”

“I love you,” she said quietly, testing the newness of the words on her lips.

He looked surprised, but then his eyes burned with heat, leaving her no doubt as to the satisfaction she’d brought him.

“I love you too, baby.”

“I’ve never told anyone that before,” she blurted. “I mean except Max and family.”

He reached up to touch her hair, stroking his fingers through the strands. “Then I’m glad that Noah and I get to be the first.”

“You’re the first in a lot of ways,” she admitted. “You’re the first men I’ve ever actually made love with. I haven’t been with that many, but love certainly wasn’t a factor in the sex.”

“You understand that we intend to be the last,” Liam said with a low growl. “This isn’t something we take lightly. As far as I’m concerned, this is
forever
.”

She smiled ruefully at the irony. “Joel used to say that he and I were forever, and God, I hated that word. He would tell me that I’d never get away from him. But when you say it, it sounds . . . wonderful.”

“Noah and I will always put you first, baby. Your wants, your needs, whatever it is that makes you happy.”

“I used to believe that the Colters and my brother were the only good men, and that they were some kind of aberration. I was so jealous of Holly and Lily that I ached with it. I never thought I would find someone to love me like their husbands love them.”

She turned her smile up to Liam, allowing her love to openly shine.

“I was wrong. You and Noah are my white knights.”

“I wouldn’t go that damn far,” Liam grumbled. “We’re pretty tarnished knights. We aren’t perfect, Lauren, and I don’t want you going into this thinking we are. We’ve made mistakes. We’re rough around the edges. And we’ll screw up. I guarantee we’ll screw things up. Just promise me—and us—that you’ll be patient and stick it out because I guarantee you, no one will ever love you more than me and Noah.”

Her heart melted, and she wanted to reach over the seat and grab him into a huge hug.

“Well, just in case you and Noah ever have any doubts, there is no one who will ever love you more than me,” she said fiercely. “Don’t even think about browsing anywhere else.”

Liam grinned and then leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “You sound mighty possessive, Miss Wilder. I like it. You can be possessive of me anytime. I guarantee I won’t mind a bit.”

Noah slid into the car and handed Lauren and Liam each a keycard. “All set,” he said. “I’ll drive around to the parking spot outside our room.”

Liam dug in the bag on the seat next to him and pulled out a zip-up hoodie. He thrust it over the seat to Lauren.

“Put this on, baby. Hood up. Cover up as much of you as possible. I’d rather not broadcast the fact that you’re staying here.”

As Noah pulled into one of the back parking spaces, Lauren thrust her arms into the sweatshirt and pulled the hood securely over her head, making sure her hair was hidden from view.

“Go on inside,” Noah instructed. “Liam and I will get the bags.”

Lauren got out of the car and hurried to the door. She inserted her keycard and then pushed inside.

She took in a deep breath, gratified that it didn’t smell smoky or musty. It smelled clean and the furnishings weren’t threadbare.

She blushed when she took in the fact that there was only one bed. It was plenty big for the three of them, but it was obvious they had no intention of her sleeping away from them.

A few moments later, Liam and Noah came through the doorway, their arms full of her luggage and their own bags. They dropped them inside the door and then shut it behind them.

“First order of business is what you’d like to eat for dinner,” Noah said as he pulled Lauren into his side.

He kissed her temple, brushing his lips over her skin.

“Dillon has offered to do delivery service for us from the pub. Anything he has on the menu, he’s said he’ll deliver personally.”

“I’d love a club sandwich,” Lauren said.

“I can handle that,” Noah said with a smile. “Why don’t you go get changed and relax. Put on some comfy pajamas and I’ll order our food. We can eat and talk when the food gets here.”

That sounded perfect to her. She was ready to wilt after the emotional twists and turns of the day.

She hurried in the bathroom, wanting to get back to her guys. There was nothing she wanted more than to curl up against them and just . . . be.

They had a lot to plan. Her entire life was going to change. But they’d sworn to stay with her every step of the way. If she’d had any doubt about their love, she couldn’t possibly doubt it or them now. They were making huge sacrifices and putting their own lives on hold. For her.

When she was dressed in pajamas and hastily ran a brush through her hair, she ventured out of the bathroom to see Liam sprawled in one of the chairs in the living section of the hotel suite. His cell phone was to his ear and he seemed relaxed. Noah was seated by the window, occasionally sticking his fingers behind the blinds to pull them out enough to see the parking lot.

When Liam saw her, he slipped his hand over the end of the phone and mouthed,
my parents
.

Lauren’s eyes widened and she went to sit in the armchair directly across from Liam so she could listen in on the conversation.

“She’s amazing,” Liam said softly, his gaze riveted to Lauren as he spoke. “You’ll both love her.”

Lauren blushed and squirmed under his tight scrutiny. It was odd to hear herself being talked about in such glowing terms.

“There’s something else you should know, Mom and Dad,” Liam said, his voice growing serious.

Even Noah turned from his perch by the window. When he saw Lauren, he got up and crossed the room. He extended his hand down to Lauren to pull her up, and then he sat and tugged her down into his lap.

“Now comes the fun part,” Noah murmured.

Lauren fought the smile. Yes, she was nervous about how Liam’s parents were going to take the explanation of their relationship, but she wasn’t so uptight that she couldn’t appreciate the humor in such an unexpected and somewhat awkward conversation with his parents.

Liam looked nervous. He wiped his free hand down his jeans repeatedly.

“Our relationship is not exactly . . . traditional,” Liam said, unease apparent in his voice.

Then he blanched, his eyes widening and he immediately began to sputter. “Mom, no, I’m not gay and Lauren isn’t a cover name for a man. Yes, I know you’d understand and that you aren’t judging me, but that’s not what it is.”

Lauren started giggling and Noah shook with laughter against her. Liam sighed and closed his eyes as he listened to what apparently was a long stream of conversation from his mother.

“Mom, I appreciate that you’re so understanding, but will you listen to me please? I’m not coming out of the closet here. I’m trying to tell you that Noah and I both are involved with Lauren.”

There was a long period of silence on Liam’s end, and there must have been on his parents’ end too because Liam said, “Mom? Dad? Are you still there?”

He gripped the phone a little tighter and then took a deep breath. “It’s really not that complicated when you look at it. We met her because her brother hired us to protect her, and we both fell in love with her. It’s really that simple. She makes us happy and we’re going to do our damn best to make her happy.”

He glanced toward Noah and Lauren. “Yes, Noah’s here. He and Lauren both are. Uh okay, hang on a minute.”

He held the phone toward Noah. “Mom wants to talk to you.”

“Ah hell,” Noah muttered.

Lauren got up so Noah could lean forward and get the phone from Liam, and Liam pulled Lauren back toward him so she could switch spots from Noah to him.

“Hi, Mom,” Noah said.

Even though Lauren knew he was nervous, he seemed to relax the moment he spoke to Liam’s mother.

“Your family really is Noah’s family, aren’t they?” Lauren murmured to Liam.

“Yeah,” Liam said quietly. “Noah didn’t have an easy childhood. He was a burden to his parents. He was an oops baby to extremely selfish, self-absorbed people who didn’t have time for a child nor the desire for one. He spent more time at my house than he did at home. I can remember times when they’d literally drop him off at my parents with a note saying they were going to be gone for two weeks. Sometimes longer. They’d send one change of clothes in a plastic grocery sack. It pissed my parents off to no end, but they knew if they interfered they’d likely never see Noah again, and by then they considered him their son as much as I was.”

“That can’t have been easy for Noah,” Lauren said sadly. “No one wants to feel like they’re unwanted.”

“I think it was hard for him when he was younger, but by the time he hit his teen years he just seemed to accept it. He loved my parents and they loved him. One day he came to our house with everything he owned in a duffel bag. My dad went outside to talk to him and when they came back in, my dad simply announced that Noah would be moving in with us and would become a permanent member of our family. I never saw or heard from his parents after that day, and I don’t know that he has either.”

“Wow, just wow,” Lauren said in shock. “I can’t fathom that kind of emotional disconnect between parents and their child. That couldn’t have been easy for your parents to take in another child.”

Liam shook his head. “It wasn’t. My dad did shiftwork at the local paper mill, and my mom worked in the school cafeteria. They didn’t make a lot of money and it was a struggle to make ends meet with just the three of us. We lived in a two-bedroom wood-frame house, and Noah and I had to share a bedroom. But they always seemed to manage. They had a lot of pride too. I’ll never forget when Noah and I were seniors in high school, we came home one day. It was a Friday, Dad’s off day from work, and he and Mom were pissed. Not upset. Just extremely angry.”

Lauren’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

“Apparently Noah’s parents had a brief moment of guilt, but not a big enough one that they actually tried to see Noah or come to visit him. They sent my mom and dad a check to cover his expenses. My dad hit the roof. And you’d have to understand. Not much makes my dad angry. He’s a very laid-back, mild-mannered man. But that day, he was livid.”

“I can imagine,” Lauren murmured.

“He gave the check to Noah and told him it was rightfully his to do what he wanted, but that he and my mom wouldn’t accept a dime for doing what was right. My dad told Noah that he loved him like a son and he didn’t take him in to get some check in the mail.”

“Did Noah take it?” Lauren asked.

Liam shook his head. “He told my dad to tear it up and return it to sender. Then he told my mom and dad that they were his parents, and that they’d given him something way more valuable than a check with a lot of zeroes. They’d given him love and acceptance.”

“That’s a beautiful story,” Lauren said with a sniff.

“My parents are pretty special folks,” Liam said seriously.

“And what did they say when you told them about us?”

Liam smiled. “They were surprised, of course. And they wanted to talk to Noah. I’m their son, but to them so is Noah, and they want to make sure he’s happy with the arrangement and isn’t settling.”

Lauren glanced back toward Noah, who was smiling as he spoke into the phone.

“We’ll bring her to meet you as soon as it’s possible. It may be a while before you hear from us again, and I don’t want that to worry you. We have some things to take care of and it’s very likely Lauren is going to have to testify in a criminal trial. Once we’re sure that the threat to her has been eliminated, then we can lead a normal life together. You’ll like her family. They remind me a lot of you and Dad.”

He paused a moment and found Lauren’s gaze, his eyes warming as he stroked over her features.

“Yes, they’re fine with it. It’s not exactly an unusual arrangement in her family. But we’ll explain it all to you when we bring her to meet you. Promise.”

Noah smiled again. “Love you both. I’ll give you back to Liam now.”

He handed the phone back to Liam, and Liam put it to his ear.

“We’ll talk soon,” Liam promised. “Love you both.”

Liam hugged Lauren to him a little tighter as he said his good-byes. Then he punched the Off button and set the phone down on the little end table set up between the two armchairs.

“So it went well?” Lauren asked tentatively.

“Yes,” both Noah and Liam said at the same time.

“They’re very eager to meet you,” Noah said. “They’re pretty mystified over the kind of woman it would take to get mine and Liam’s attention so fiercely. They’ve despaired of us ever settling down and providing them grandchildren.”

Lauren flushed but she was taken with the image of her round with child, like Lily, and the two men fussing endlessly over her. And of having a tiny baby and the expressions on Noah’s and Liam’s faces the first time they saw their child.