Croc's Return (9 page)

“Is she all right?” A fair question to ask since her friend was being carried instead of walking.

A moment later, she got her answer as a shrill shriek shot across the field. “How dare you!”

“I wonder what Wes did this time.”

“He’s a Mercer. Does it matter?” was Caleb’s reply as he watched a throng of people descend on Melanie and her rescuer. “You wanna go check on her?”

Before he’d even finished asking, she was striding towards Melanie, she just never made it anywhere close to her side as a cluster of hens, dressed in pastels, swarmed her best friend with a bevy of questions.

“Oh my God, you’re alright.”

“What happened?”

“Is it true you were abducted by a dinosaur?”

And a lowly murmured, “Attention slut.”

While Caleb towered high enough to see what happened, Renny had to rely on peeks in between the milling bodies, not that there was much to see. Melanie was still in Wes’s grip, the Bittech guard for some reason not setting her down or passing her off, probably because Andrew was too busy off to the side whispering in his phone.

Asshat. A true mate would be more worried about his wife.

Catching her best friend’s eye, Renny pantomimed a phone to her ear and mouthed, “Call me later.”

Melanie mouthed back, “Save me.”

Eyeing the chatterboxes having a marvelous time practicing their drama, Renny shook her head.

Caleb couldn’t help but smirk. “Aren’t you going to wade in there and rescue her?”

“No way am I diving between those hens and their moment.” Instead of rescuing Melanie, Renny waved and mouthed. “Bye.”

No mistaking the lip synching of “Bitch. I hate you.”

“I think you peeved her off,” Caleb stated.

Renny laughed. “Good. It’s payback for that last blind date Melanie sent me on. How she ever thought that visiting scientist who still lived with his mother would appeal, I will never figure out.” Turning around, Renny began to walk in the direction of the parking lot.

Caleb stuck to her side and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and talk to Melanie, and make sure she’s fine?”

Renny shook her head. “There’s too many
people
”—she inclined her head to the human contingent—“for us to really talk. She seems okay now, so I’m just going to take Luke home.”

“Let me walk you to your car.”

“You don’t have—”

Caleb held up hand. “Don’t even start. Melanie just went missing. We don’t know why. Her boys and Luke claim they saw something. Now is not the time to let your dislike of me prevent you from doing the right thing.”

“I can protect Mommy from the dinosaur.”

They both looked down at Luke, who, despite his brave words, looked pale.

A sigh escaped Renny. “Fine. You can walk with us, but I warn you, I’m parked at the back of the lot. Fashionably late means terrible parking.”

“I know. I’m by the dumpster.” Caleb shuddered. “I forgot to hold my breath when I got out of the truck.”

Luke giggled.

They both peeked down, and Caleb saw Luke staring at him. “You’re funny,” the little boy said. No mistaking the shine of hero worship.

It didn’t take a genius for Caleb to understand the scowl Renny sent his way. He shrugged. It wasn’t as if he’d done it on purpose to make his son like him.

And he damn sure wouldn’t take it back.

As Luke skipped only a few paces ahead, confident in the fact that he had someone watching his back, Caleb muttered in a low tone, “Why so pissed?”

“You’re on the scene like, what, twenty minutes, and he’s looking at you like you’re some kind of demi-god.”

“The boy isn’t doing this to hurt your feelings.”

“I know that, but it doesn’t mean it’s fair, or not hurtful. I do everything for him and have to fight for even a smile these days. He hands it to you for doing nothing but existing and telling a dumb joke.” Her lower lip jutted.

“So you’re mad because our son likes me?”

Judging by the scowl she turned his way, yes.

“Do you know I am not even allowed to kiss him on the cheek anymore when I drop him off at school?” She clamped her lips as Luke skipped back and tucked his hand into Caleb’s.

“There’s our car,” the boy announced.

Which meant there wasn’t much time left.

Caleb couldn’t just let her drive off. Could he? So many things crowded the air between them, and perhaps she sensed it because she handed Luke her car keys. “Bug, can you do Mommy a favor and open the windows so we don’t die of the heat?”

With a high-pitched, “Yes,” his son zipped off, keys jangling in his fist.

“He seems so small,” Caleb noted in the sudden silence.

“Funny, because to me he seems so big now. He’s healthy and just the right size for his age.”

“You’ve done a good job, Renny. He seems like a great kid.”

A heavy sigh left her. “I know. He’s the best, but he is missing one thing in his life. Something I can’t give him.”

“What? Tell me and I’ll get it.”

“Can you?” She stopped walking and turned to give him a serious expression. “Because what Luke really needs most of all is a father.”

“I thought you wanted me to stay away.” Not that he thought he could. Now that Caleb had met his son, he was more determined than ever to stick around.

“Apparently, my brilliant plan to hold off on telling Luke about his father was doomed to failure. Even though I haven’t said a thing, anyone can see he’s drawn to you.”

Like knew like.

“So what does that mean?” He didn’t dare make any assumptions.

“It means I wish I was a big bad B-word. Because only a big B would keep a son from his father.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “Is this your cute way of saying bitch?”

She cringed. “You didn’t have to say it aloud.”

“Sorry, baby.”

“And stop with the baby thing, Caleb. We’re not a couple anymore. Just because I think you should spend time with Luke—”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do. But that decision doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you or that things are okay between us.”

Yet.

But I’m going to change that, baby.

This was one mission he wouldn’t fail.

Arriving at her car, Caleb frowned. While the body was in decent shape, anyone could tell the car was worn. The tires didn’t match, and the tread left on them wasn’t deep enough to provide real traction. “Please don’t tell me you actually drive this thing?”

“I’ll have you know this thing gets me where I need to go. Most of the time,” she added under her breath.

“It’s got roll down windows.” Incredulity colored his tone.

“And no air conditioning. Something about no more freezer thingy stuff in the lines. But it’s not a big deal.”

“You’ve got duct tape on the seats.”

“With pretty little duckies on it. Are you done insulting my car now?”

“No.” A smile split Caleb’s lips. “But I can save some for later.”

“Speaking of later, maybe you’d like to come over later.” She slapped a hand over her mouth as soon as she said it.

Before she could retract, he accepted right away. “Sounds like a plan.”

Watching, he stood as few yards away as she started the car and reversed it out of the spot. He was close enough to hear her mutter, “What the hell did I just do?”

But even more heartening were his son’s words. “I’m going to show him my DS when he comes.”

And Caleb would show them he was a man they could rely on. A man who wouldn’t run. Never again.

Only once Renny was on her way did Caleb feel some of his tension ease. The woman he never stopped loving and his son were away from the danger.

Yet his beast didn’t settle down. On the contrary, it pushed at the bindings that held it. Pushed. And pushed.

Caleb snarled.
Stop fighting. I am not letting you out.

For distraction, he glanced to see what happened with the picnic. Caleb noted Melanie striding to the Bittech building, her twins clinging to her hands. Her husband walked a few paces ahead of her, busy on his phone. However, Daryl’s sister was of less interest than Wes, who stood at the edge of the paved drive and stared into the woods.

What was he looking for? And more importantly, did it threaten Renny and Luke?

“So which of your cousins played a prank on the boss’s wife?” he asked, coming up behind Wes.

The other man didn’t turn. “It wasn’t one of us. My family knows better than to lay a hand on her.”

An odd statement to make. Melanie was in no way related to the Mercers, so why would Wes infer Melanie was protected?

Picking on one of the Mercers, especially one of Wes’s siblings, meant bringing a shitload of trouble down on your head. Wes took his job as oldest in his family very seriously. He’d started stealing from a young age to help feed all the mouths, especially once his dad got injured and couldn’t smuggle drugs through the bayou no more.

But don’t feel sorry for the bastard. Wes might have a strong sense of family, but he was a dick. Belonging to the reptile family didn’t mean they got along. On the contrary, their rivalry was legend, especially when it came to hunting in the bayou.

Speaking of hunting, nothing he’d ever tracked smelled as odd as the faintly lingering scent emanating from the direction of the woods. “What is that stench? Or is that your cologne?”

“Do you mean your mom’s perfume?” Wes smirked. “On the other hand, if you’re talking about that funky smell coming from the woods, then I don’t know, but whatever it is, Melanie reeked of it.”

“Where did you find her anyhow?”

“Under the willow tree, on the other side where no one could see her. Sleeping like a fucking princess.”

“That makes no sense. How did she get there?”

“She doesn’t know, and all I found was that smell…” Wes trailed off. “But you didn’t stick behind to ask me about some kind of bayou creature. What do you want?”

“Just so we’re clear, I’m back to stay.”

Wes tossed him a hard look. “Is that supposed to be a warning?”

“Luke is my son.”

“About time you claimed him.”

“You knew?”

Wes shrugged. “Not at first, but when I saw the two of you side by side… No mistaking that giant square head. My condolences to Renny’s snatch.”

A growl vibrated through him. “Watch your mouth. I’m warning you right now, I don’t want you near my son, and stay away from Renny.”

“Isn’t that up to her?”

“No!” The word burst from him and Wes arched a brow.

“I wonder what she’ll say when she finds out. And just so you know, I have no interest in your girl. I just like to jab at your thick hide.”

“Well, jab at someone else. I gotta enough working against me in winning over Renny. I don’t need you mucking around fucking shit up.”

“You can have Renny.”

“How magnanimous of you.” Caleb’s sarcasm dripped.

“Not really, more like selfish interest. She’s got a kid, and that means she needs someone stable. I ain’t ready to settle down.”

“Now if only more Mercers would think the same way and keep it in their pants.”

“Says the guy with a bastard.”

The bruised knuckles as Caleb replied to that statement?

Totally worth it.

Was the price of her sanity worth letting Caleb into her life? By the time Renny had reached home, she still wasn’t sure. Doing the right thing for her son wasn’t necessarily the right thing for her. Being near Caleb tested every ounce of her willpower. Did she have the strength to resist?

She feared the answer.

Confused and anxious, she put a call in to Melanie, only to have it go right to voicemail. It made her wonder if perhaps she should have stayed.

Then we could have spent more time with Caleb.

A Caleb who might be coming over later. Eek. What was she thinking?

She waited fifteen minutes before trying Melanie again.

The call was answered with, “Some best friend you are, leaving me to the tender mercy of those harpies.”

“I would have stayed, but—”

“Instead preferred traipsing off with a long-lost soldier. That’s fine, ditch your best friend for a hot guy. I get it. Did you finally give him a proper welcome home?”

Heat invaded Renny’s cheeks and made her sputter. “I did not sleep with him.”

“Yet.”

“Never.” Okay, that was a lie. It was more like yet, but only if he managed to wear down her resistance. Renny didn’t want to get involved. Now if she could just convince the rest of her body to listen. “And why would you think I slept with him?”

“I saw you heading off with him and Luke.”

“As protection. With the boys claiming they saw a dinosaur and you disappearing, he was just being cautious. He didn’t want to see his son getting hurt.”

“Sure he was.”

“Fine. Don’t believe me. But who cares about me? What in blue blazes happened to you?”

“Renny, such language.” Melanie snickered into the phone. “As to what the fuck happened, your guess is as good as mine. One minute I’m walking to the car to get some pants, the next, bam, nothing.”

Renny paced her small kitchen, keeping her voice low so that Luke wouldn’t hear her. However, keeping it quiet proved hard, given Melanie’s story. “What do you mean you don’t remember anything after walking away from me? Surely you saw someone or something?”

“Nothing, just a great big blank until Wes planted one on me.”

Shock stopped her nervous movement. “He kissed you while you were passed out?”

“That’s what I call it, but he claims it was mouth to mouth.”

“Do you believe him?” Renny asked.

“Of course not. He’s a Mercer.”

“Snob.” Renny snickered. “Gosh, who would have expected you to ever become one.”

“Shut up. I am not a snob. Merely discerning,” Melanie declared in her snootiest voice.

Arching a brow, Renny snorted. “Is that what you’re going with?”

“Fine. I’m a bitch. But let’s look at facts. Apart from Wes, name one other Mercer with a real job?”

“Bruno.”

“He’s only a third cousin. He doesn’t count.”

“So did you?”

“Did I what?” Melanie asked.

“Kiss him back, of course,” Renny asked.

“Renny! How could you ask that?”

“Because once upon a time you had the hots for each other in high school.”