Beast: Learning to Breathe (Devil's Blaze MC #5)

“Not at all my dear. I’m afraid I’ve been delaying my stay in North Carolina for too long. I have a business and other matters to attend back home.”

“Oh…” Hayden whispers, and I know she’s worried about Blade. She hasn’t said much, but I know that she feels more comfortable with Victor and his men close by.

It should bother me that she doesn’t think I can handle that asshole on my own, but it doesn’t. Hayden hasn’t had many men in her life that she can have faith in. I understand it. I only hope I don’t end up letting her down like I have other people in my life who depended on me. For a split second, Annabelle’s face flashes through my memories before fading. My hand trembles, the memories of my daughter are getting less and less…clear.

Hayden reaches over and grabs my hand. I have no idea if she saw it shake and is comforting me, or if it is to comfort her because of her nerves. Either way works, because her touch centers me, focuses me and keeps me from getting lost in the pain.

“As you know, when Charlotte left me, she wanted to come back here, because it’s where she was born. She wanted me to go with her.” He looks out the window before saying more. “She didn’t understand my business, but now I find myself wishing I had tried things her way then ,” he says quietly, then he seems to mentally shake himself and continue. “Her sister worked at this diner, and Charlotte asked me for one thing and only one thing when she left. She wanted me to purchase the diner so that her sister would have job security. Sometimes, I think that’s the only reason she kept running this place. It didn’t make a lot of money, but she enjoyed it and the people that worked for her, became her family. Charlotte and I never had children. In my line of work, children are a weakness you can’t afford.”

Hayden’s hand tightens in mine, and I notice she uses her free hand to rub her stomach. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“It is what it is, my dear. I’m an old man and for the most part, I’ve lived a good life. But, let us get back to the matters at hand. Charlotte left a will and you were named her sole beneficiary.”

“Beneficiary? Me?”

“Exactly that. I’m afraid she didn’t have a lot. She wouldn’t take any of my gifts. But the diner and her home are both yours now.”

“But…Why? What about her sister?”

“Her sister already has a home, and Charlotte only asked that you make sure her sister always had a job at the diner for as long as she wanted it, or it was in business. Truthfully, I have her sister set up on a trust fund. She doesn’t need the money, but like her sister, she prefers to work instead of doing nothing.”

I don’t think Hayden is truly listening to Victor at this point she’s holding the manila envelope that Victor handed her and tears are falling down her cheeks. “I can’t believe she did this,” she whispers. “Michael, we have the diner now. I won’t need to worry about finding a job!” she cries the last part out louder, as if it just hit her. I want to yell at her, I told her before she didn’t have anything to worry about. I would be annoyed except she says we have the diner. She’s definitely mine now—she’s claimed me, even if she doesn’t realize it.

“A job? Doesn’t she realize the size of your holdings?” Victor questions, and I shrug. It doesn’t surprise me that Victor had me investigated. I have my own folder on him.

“I guess not. Apparently, those things don’t matter to some women.”

“That’s a gift, don’t waste it,” he says, and I think he gets lost in his memories of Charlie again. I could almost feel sorry for him.

Once all the conversation is done and Victor makes arrangements for Hayden to talk with his attorney, I walk her outside to the truck, and help her in.

“I can’t believe that just happened. Just when I think life can’t get any better it does,” she says, as I click her seatbelt into place. I kiss her lips gently and way too briefly, resting my forehead against hers, taking in her scent, and enjoying it for a moment.

“I told you, Beauty. From here on out, you get nothing but good. So much good that there’s no room for the bad.”

Her hand comes up and she lets her fingers brush against the side of my jaw where the scars are more evident. The sense of touch there isn’t as strong as it once was. There’s a deadness now, but I can feel her touch still—soft, whispery, gentle and…loving. “You and Maggie are the best of everything, Michael. You’re all the good I will ever need,” she whispers.

I close my eyes and drink in her words, then I kiss her again. I lose myself in her taste and in the surety that even though she deserves better, I’m never letting her go.





98





Hayden





“Do we really have to go back tomorrow?” I sigh. We’re lying on the dock out from our rental, letting the sun heat the chill off our bodies, after swimming. We’ve been here four days, and it’s four days that have been the closest to Heaven that I’ve ever experienced.

Michael captures my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. As is my habit, I find myself tracing the scar on his hand and enjoying the fact that I can touch him. Michael doesn’t talk about his past, but I instinctively know that he doesn’t let people close to him. The fact that he lets me this close means something—means everything.

“You’re the one who says we have to go back. I say we move here. Live off the land, become hermits,” Michael says.

I move so I can lean over his body and look down at him. “Live off the land? Michael, I am not eating Bambi,” I warn him, doing my best to keep my voice and face serious.

“Okay. You can eat Thumper instead,” he says, and I see a ghost of smile appear, though he keeps his eyes closed.

“No. Just no. Absolutely not.” I shove at him, playfully.

“You’ll get awful tired of fish. You’ll give in. Besides, rabbit tastes just like chicken,” he jokes.

“I’ll believe you when I see a chain of Kentucky Fried Rabbit popping up everywhere. I do like fish though. The fish you fixed tonight smelled good,” I tell him, still slightly pouting.

“I fixed you a hamburger,” he defends, opening his beautiful eyes to look at me. A woman could get lost in those eyes.

“I wanted fish.”

“You’re pregnant,” he says, shaking his head, mostly because he knows I’m only yanking his chain.

“It was mean to eat it in front of me though, Michael,” I whine.

“You didn’t deserve to eat it anyways,” he says, and this time, he is full-on smiling.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh Michael. I can’t do that to the poor worm. Oh my God! It’s wiggling!” he says making his voice ridiculously high, or at least as high as he can get it with his injuries. He doesn’t talk about it—at all, but I know it limits his voice range and use.

“Well, it was! You’re the man. It was your job to bait the hook.” I laugh. “My job was to catch the biggest fish, which I might remind you, I did.”