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“Kyle is a baby. Whether you’re his father or not, he needs someone to champion him.”
“I’m not going because I want to,” Liam swore.
“I know.” She nodded solemnly, and he believed she did.
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. The emergency room is never quick.”
Hammer wrapped an arm around Raine’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”
That set his mind at ease…mostly. He worried about Raine crawling down another mental black hole. Thankfully, she wouldn’t be alone, but then he worried about Hammer’s tendencies as well. “I’ll do my best to be back shortly.”
“But…” She bit her lip. “You haven’t slept or eaten enough. I’m worried about you.”
Liam’s heart softened at her words. Raine’s submission showed so well here. She wanted to take care of the people she loved—feed and nurture and ensure their wellbeing. She’d make an amazing mother someday, and he couldn’t fail to notice the contrast to Gwyneth. He’d been praying Kyle wasn’t his son mostly so that he didn’t have to parent with his ex-wife. But taking in Raine’s soft concern while standing in the house they’d soon share, he hoped someday that he and Hammer would fill her belly and these bedrooms with their children.
He wondered how Macen would feel about that after losing a pregnant Juliet…
“They have a cafeteria, love.” When she would have objected, Liam laid a finger over her lips. “Granted, it’s not your cooking, but I’ll be all right for a night. I can doze in a chair if I need. Don’t worry about me. Just keep working on all the things we’ve discussed here. Will you do that for me?”
She sent him a slow nod. “Or I could come with you, help out—”
“No,” he and Hammer both answered at once.
Raine reared back, looking a bit hurt. Liam took her hands. “There’s nothing you can do there but worry, and I’d rather do that for all of us.”
“Besides…” Hammer cut in. “You met Gwyneth. She’s a vicious, scheming cunt. I don’t want to give her the chance to hurt you again.”
“Precisely.” Liam nodded.
“She took me by surprise. That’s all. I can handle—”
“But you shouldn’t have to,” Liam shot back.
“Precious.” Hammer turned her to face him and stroked her cheek. “That woman is probably already thinking of other ways to run you off. Don’t make it easier for her. It’s tempting to say that you simply wouldn’t believe her, but she’s a master of manipulation.”
“And your heart is far too delicate to have to deal with the likes of her.” Liam handed Raine her clothes. “Let me drop you and Hammer off back at the club. Cook him some dinner. He’s looking a little peaked,” he tried to tease. “I’ll be back in two shakes.”
She clearly didn’t like it but nodded and pulled on her clothes. Hammer followed suit. Within a few minutes, they were all walking out the door and locking it behind them.
Hammer buckled her into the front seat again, and this time Raine reached out for Liam’s hand—a far cry from their drive over. He and Hammer were opening her soul. Maybe not as quickly as they’d like, but he had to believe that someday she’d feel deep in her heart what he knew: the three of them belonged together.
“I’ll make you a hot meal when you get home,” she promised. “And I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, love.”
Hammer clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about a thing here. Just make sure Kyle is all right and deal with the bitch.”
Down the hall, Evanescence pounded as Raine glanced at the clock in the kitchen. Though working the dungeon, she’d escaped for a few calming moments in the kitchen. She stirred the batter for Hammer’s favorite apple spice muffins. Just after midnight. She pressed the phone lying beside her on the counter to make sure she hadn’t somehow missed hearing from Liam. Nothing. She’d left two voice mails and half a dozen texts. She’d received no reply.
Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t like him not to respond at all.
As she prepared the muffin tin and dished the batter inside, Raine wondered what could be taking him so long. Yes, the emergency room could be slow and crowded, but he’d been gone over three hours. Did that mean the little boy was seriously ill? Or… Frowning, she slid the pan into the oven, then tapped her palm nervously against her thigh. What if Gwyneth had somehow manipulated or lied her way back into Liam’s good graces? Raine couldn’t imagine him falling for that. But she was clever.
What if the woman had done something more sinister than merely deceive Liam? Gwyneth seemed awfully determined to have her ex-husband back, and Raine had no idea why. How far would she be willing to go?
