The lie rolled so smoothly off Hammer’s tongue. Anyone who didn’t know the man well might believe him. Liam wasn’t fooled. His old pal wasn’t merely being dishonest with him; he was lying to himself.
Liam had seen Hammer during some of the most intimate moments of his life. Granted, in the past. But Macen would never look at Raine with such longing if he wasn’t at least half in love with her. Clearly, he hadn’t yet acted on his feelings.
“So she’s not your sub?”
“Raine isn’t a sub at all.”
Was Hammer blind? Liam had barely met the girl two minutes ago, and he knew better.
“And she’s off-limits to everyone,” Hammer added.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Even you?”
“Especially me.” Macen peeked around the corner, into the hall. The coast must have been clear, but he still lowered his voice. “I took her in as a runaway. She’s had a rough life, and she’s got a fragile heart. I do my best to give her the roof, job, and encouragement she needs.”
Runaway? The woman was admittedly young, but she looked in her early twenties. Why would Hammer imply she was some sort of rebellious teenager who’d suddenly left home to run wild?
“You took her in off the streets? That’s kind of you.”
Hammer relaxed, as if this was a topic he could warm to. “She had nowhere else to go.”
“How did you two meet?”
His expression turned grim. “I found her injured and hiding behind the dumpster in the alley out back one night.”
He could hardly imagine the vibrant siren he’d seen inhabiting Hammer’s kitchen huddling behind the rubbish. His mate had obviously done well as her protector, but Liam had no doubt Hammer ached to be her lover. Yet his friend was denying himself. He knew why—and Hammer’s guilt would serve neither of them.
Liam also knew now why his pal had been reluctant to welcome him once he’d finally agreed to visit.
“Poor thing,” he muttered. “She must have had a time of it.”
“You have no idea.” Empathy and pain crossed Macen’s face, along with concern. Longing. Love.
Bloody Christ.
“How long has she been living here with you?”
Before Hammer could reply, Raine bustled around the corner, wearing a sunny summer dress with wide straps that hugged her unexpectedly lush breasts, accentuating them with a bow beneath. A pair of off-white strappy heels gave her a few inches of height. Red gloss slicked her lips, making her look somehow vampy and innocent at once. She’d piled her inky hair into an artless bun at her crown.
Interest stirred again, but Liam did his best to extinguish it. When he turned to Hammer, however, he found the man sucking in his breath and staring as if he’d rarely seen anything so beautiful.
Raine curled her arms around her middle self-consciously. “Do I look okay?”
“Absolutely lovely.” Liam smiled her way.
Macen merely cleared his throat. “Fine. I’ll drive.”
When he brushed his way past Raine and hightailed it out of the kitchen, Liam watched disappointment crush her. He wanted to rail at Hammer. How could the man hurt her so thoughtlessly?
“Shall we?” He gestured toward the door.
She pasted on a stilted smile. “Thanks.”
When she made for the door, he caught an eyeful of her nearly bare back. Other than a bow at her nape and a narrow strip of fabric across her shoulder blades, nothing impeded his greedy stare from touching all her glowing pale skin. Liam swallowed back lust.
Out of habit, he settled his palm at the small of her back. Instantly, he wished he hadn’t. Soft. Supple. So sweet. Even her musky lily scent teased the devil out of his nose.
Though the ride to the restaurant wasn’t long, it felt endless and uncomfortable. Hammer remained stubbornly mute and surly, turning up the volume on the radio a bit too loud to allow conversation. Liam stared at the traffic, noting the number of times the man reached down to adjust his fly. Unfortunately, Hammer wasn’t the only one. Raine’s scent wafted through the vehicle. Behind him, Liam swore the girl’s breath caressed his skin. He could feel her there, so close.
But so far out of reach...
Finally, they arrived at a steakhouse on the ocean. As they were shown to a table directly over the beach, Liam marveled at the view. Despite the fact everything so far had been unexpected and uncomfortable, he was glad he’d come to California. At least he finally knew why Hammer’s behavior had been so off lately.
“Wow.” Raine’s eyes widened and danced as she took in the sight of the sea rolling in a few dozen yards from their table. “Look at that. I’ve never been to a place this nice.”
Vague guilt twisted Hammer’s mouth. He hid it behind his menu until the cocktail waitress took their drink order.
Raine enjoyed a white wine while he and Hammer sipped beers. They ordered, appetizers came, and alcohol flowed. Finally, so did the conversation. Soon, they all started laughing about a female patron with her freshly groomed poodle in a Vuitton carrier. Her orange spray tan, collagen-overdosed lips, and designer clothes made her look like an Instagram-ready Oompa Loompa.