Maya Banks: Colters' Gift

Liam nodded, but his eyes were stormy at the reminder of what Joel Knight had done to Lauren.

They hadn’t made love to Lauren since returning home six weeks ago. They hadn’t even made an attempt. With her sleep wracked by nightmares, and the shadows in her eyes present during the waking hours, they hadn’t wanted to push. They’d wait forever if that’s what it took. They weren’t going anywhere. Lauren was it for them.

“He died too quickly,” Liam said savagely.

Noah nodded in agreement.

Both men looked up and went quiet when Lauren walked into the living room. She was wearing a pair of faded flannel pajama bottoms and one of Noah’s T-shirts. He softened as he took in the fatigue in her eyes. He liked seeing his shirt on her. Like he was wrapped around her every minute.

“Morning,” she said in a low voice.

She even managed a smile, but Noah knew she had to be exhausted. She’d woken him and Liam up just after midnight with soft whimpering. She had been greatly distressed, and when they’d finally managed to wake her, she’d been shaky and distraught.

In a voice that still made Noah’s gut tighten, she’d lashed out, asking why? Why was she still plagued by Joel Knight? Why couldn’t she just forget and move on? He was dead. Could never hurt her again. She resented the hold he had on her even from the grave.

Liam rose and strode toward where Lauren stood. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Then he leaned down to brush a kiss across her mouth.

“Good morning, baby. How are you today?”

At least he hadn’t asked her a really dumbass question like, How did you sleep?

“Better,” she whispered.

She must have seen the doubt in Noah’s face, because she smiled and then pulled away from Liam to cross over to where Noah sat. He reached for her, pulling her down into his lap, his arms wrapped securely around her.

“I really am,” she said.

He kissed her temple and squeezed. “Glad to hear it.”

“Aren’t Dillon and Seth coming this morning?” she asked.

Noah nodded. The two men had called the night before and asked to come out this morning.

“Is anything wrong?” she asked, her expression troubled.

Noah squeezed her again. “Not at all. They said they had something they wanted to discuss with me and Liam. Didn’t expound. But I’m sure it’s nothing.”

She didn’t look convinced. “It just seems odd that they’d both come all the way out here with Lily being so close to her delivery. With her on bed rest until she goes into labor, her husbands haven’t so much as left her side.”

Noah hadn’t considered that, and now that Lauren brought it up, he too wondered what the two men wanted. Lily had been placed on bed rest three weeks earlier when she’d begun having contractions. Her husbands had wanted to move her to Denver immediately so she’d be close to a large hospital, but she’d been adamant that she wanted to be here. Surrounded by her family. Her husbands hadn’t liked it, but they couldn’t refuse her anything. And Noah was sure they wanted their family with them when the first Colter grandchild was born as well.

A knock sounded at the door, and Lauren yanked her head up and then looked down at her pajamas and grimaced.

“I’m going to go jump in the shower while you talk to Seth and Dillon.”

Noah kissed her again as Liam headed for the door. “Don’t worry, okay? I’m sure nothing is wrong or they would have come out and said so rather than make a deal out of coming out to talk to us.”

She nodded and smiled, her eyes brightening. She leaned down after she rose from his lap, and kissed him long and sweet.

“I love you,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

She hurried toward the bedroom and closed the door just as Liam returned to the living room, Seth and Dillon right behind him.

Noah rose to shake the two men’s hands before motioning for them to sit on the couch in the small living room.

“Is something wrong?” Noah asked cautiously.

Seth looked startled but shook his head. “Not at all. Dillon and I had matters to discuss with you and Liam. About your future here. And Lauren.”

He said her name last, more pointedly, and despite the fact they said nothing was wrong, Liam tensed at the mention of her name.

Dillon and Seth exchanged looks and then focused their gazes on Noah and Liam.

“Look, we know this is difficult. For all of you,” Dillon said grimly. “We also know you’re doing the right thing for Lauren, and we appreciate that. Our entire family does. Especially Max. We’ve all been worried about Lauren, and the thing is, she’s worried too. About you two.”

Noah and Liam exchanged quick what the fuck? looks. Lauren was worried about them ? Oh hell no. She had enough on her plate without them adding to her worries.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Liam demanded.

“There’s no roundabout way to discuss this,” Seth said. “So I’m just going to put it out there. I need a deputy. Jim is retiring soon. He already would have if I’d had a ready replacement. A few years ago when I took over the sheriff’s position from Lacy England, she said that Jim wanted to work a few more years to secure his retirement. My other deputies are young. They’re good, but I need someone with more experience.”

He glanced at Liam. “I’d like you to consider that position. It doesn’t pay the moon, but it has good benefits and this is a good town. Not too dangerous. Most importantly, it keeps you here, close to Lauren, and keeps Lauren close to her family.”

Liam looked poleaxed. His brows drew together and his lips pressed into a firm line.

“The other thing,” Dillon said, breaking the silence. “I need someone who can manage my businesses, the pub in particular. I own several in Clyde, and I’m looking to expand to an Internet presence with the retail stores.”

He was looking expectantly at Noah as he spoke, and realization crept up Noah’s spine. Noah grimaced.

“Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but it’s not necessary. We don’t want to be a fucking charity case. We can support Lauren on our own until we figure out what we’re going to do.”

“Don’t piss me off,” Dillon growled. “I wouldn’t be extending this offer if I didn’t absolutely need someone. Neither would Seth pony up something as important as a deputy’s position. Too much rides on the man he chooses. In order to keep his job as sheriff, he has to make the town happy.”

“I don’t even know what to say,” Noah murmured.

“Here’s the deal,” Dillon said bluntly. “I’m out. With Lily having our child in a very short time, there is no way in hell I’m going to put in the hours I’ve been putting in at the pub and the other businesses. She needs someone with her twenty-four seven. Michael will be cutting back on his practice hours, at least for the first while after the baby gets here, and if Seth hires another deputy to fill Jim’s position, then he won’t have to put in the extra call hours.

“Now, I want someone I can trust and someone I know will do a good job. Callie could do it, but I don’t want to lay that on her. She and Max travel frequently and the thing is, she doesn’t need the job. Max has more money than his grandchildren will spend in a lifetime. Not to mention, I don’t want my sister to shoulder that kind of a load.”

“Why did you say Lauren was worried about us?” Liam asked softly. “And how would you know this?”

Seth’s mouth turned down into a grimace. “She confided in Mom that she’s scared that you both gave up too much for her. That you won’t be happy here. She’s worried that you’ll feel too much pressure to support her and her desire to stay here with family. She’s mentioned that she wonders if she shouldn’t be willing to go back to New York so that you two can resume your lives and careers, but at the same time, it terrifies her.”