Since Macen had moved to California eight years ago, Liam only saw the man every November seventh, but they’d talked on the phone often. Hammer had acted as if he’d grieved and moved on, and from their conversations, Liam had never imagined otherwise. So when Hammer had invited him to visit after his divorce, Liam had jumped at the chance, eager to avoid the coming winter and painful memories.
An hour after arriving at Shadows, Liam knew Hammer had hoodwinked him. Why the fuck hadn’t he realized how truly damaged Macen was? About two minutes later, he’d discovered Hammer was in love with a girl he wouldn’t let himself have.
Liam more than saw Raine’s appeal. Besides being a striking beauty, she was smart, fiery, good with people. And terribly in love with Hammer. Liam had pulled her aside once or twice to ask about his friend. She’d been skittish but had guarded Macen and his privacy fiercely. They’d suit well.
Getting the thick-headed man to see that, however, was proving difficult.
Tiptoeing around Hammer’s issues for the past two months had accomplished nothing. Talking about them this morning hadn’t helped, either. Clearly, Macen wasn’t ready or willing to exorcise his ghosts.
Running a hand through his hair, Liam paced down the hall. He missed the laughing mate he’d once known, one with life and vigor pumping in his veins. If Hammer didn’t know how to move forward, Liam would give him a serious shove—starting with his size thirteen up Hammer’s ass.
And Raine would provide the force behind that kick.
About her, Hammer was intensely protective and possessive—in a way Liam had never seen his friend behave. Macen hoarded the lass and snarled at any other Dom who dared to touch her. Liam had every intention of forcing him to choose between hiding behind his walls or watching Raine blossom under another man’s dominance.
His own.
He’d been considering this for a few days now and was convinced he stood a good chance of healing not just one heart, but two. Though he hadn’t spoken to her about anything other than Hammer, Liam sensed that Raine was broken, like the china she’d carried in her hands. And she was starved for affection. Any idiot could see that she needed caring more than discipline, but she would thrive for the man who gave her the proper measure of both. Granted, Raine might turn him down, but he could be persistent for both their sakes.
Then once she’d gained a bit of confidence and Hammer had pulled his head out of his ass, Liam planned to be on his merry way and let them live happily ever after.
But he had no illusions; the moment he took Raine under his wing, Hammer would see it as a betrayal. Their friendship could get ugly before common sense prevailed, but he’d risk it rather than standing aside and watching the man self-destruct.
As Liam crept further down the hall, he heard Raine bustling in the kitchen. Slowing his step as he reached the door, he watched her bowed head and shaking shoulders. A shuddering sob later, the girl reached for a stainless steel bowl, grabbed a few cups of sugar, some eggs, and butter.
A fond little smile curved his lips. Raine was rarely predictable—except in this. The short-fused firecracker often flew off in ways he’d never seen in a submissive, and Liam was never sure when or how she’d explode. Obviously, she’d had no formal training, and no one took her to task. But when she started thundering like a summer storm, Raine always came to the kitchen as if being one with the dough soothed her.
Seeing her tears and defeated posture, Liam itched to rattle Hammer into next week for closing himself off from the very woman who could save him.
Raine cracked an egg over the bowl and sniffled to hold in her tears. He drew in a bracing breath. What to say to the distraught girl? If he barged in, she’d bristle and give him a cold shoulder. He had to tread carefully since he didn’t know exactly what ran through her wee head. And that meant he couldn’t let her in on his plan. Raine needed to feel valued, not like she was simply bait. Nor would she truly learn to submit if she believed what lay between them was only an act for Hammer’s benefit. It had to come from her soul or Macen would see straight through it. His friend’s jealousy must spur him to act. Most of all, he didn’t want Raine hurt. If he made her his conspirator and the ploy failed, the defeat would crush her delicate heart.
“Maybe I should just quit.” She grabbed a wooden spoon and attacked the dough, adding in brown sugar. “Leave. There’s nothing holding me here, that’s for damn sure.”
His gut clenched at the finality in her miserable words. He refused to let her go without doing everything in his power to persuade her to stay. He had to act now.