"I'm not sure how I feel about you using a nickname Declan coined," I observe dryly, but a smile tugs at my lips. I carry her out of the water and up the shore, to settle her on the beach towels I bought.
I sit quickly to hide my wood. "I'm going to exact payment from that hot little body of yours later," I promise.
Her eyes dilate and she licks her lips. "I love it when you make me pay."
I open the bag of food I bought for our picnic to distract myself from my need to claim her twenty times in rapid succession.
In front of everyone on this beach.
Down, boy. This day is for Layne. I open a carton of strawberries and feed her one, watching the way the juice pools and trickles down her lips. I lick it off, then feed her another.
"I haven't been in the ocean since my mom," Layne says.
I go still. "No?"
She shakes her head. "My mom loved the ocean. She used to take me to Baker Beach. We'd stay all day and play in the waves."
I pick up her hand and squeeze it. "Is it hard? Being at a beach again?"
She shakes her head. "No. It's perfect. Everything about this day is perfect, Sam. Thank you." Leaning forward, she kisses the side of my mouth.
I unwrap a sandwich and hand it to her. "There's more."
"There is? What?"
"Remember our bet?"
~.~
Layne
I HAD no idea there a swimming pool could be shaped like a baby grand piano. But there it is. I'm in a hot air balloon looking down into the yards of the rich and famous. Turns out the piano shaped pool was put in by Liberace, but he sold the place years ago.
I hook my hand around Sam's elbow and stand on my tiptoes to peer over the edge of the basket. "Look at that one!" I exclaim for the forty-fifth time.
Sam's not looking at the view, he's watching me. And he's got this soft, happy look on his face I've never seen before.
I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him. "Thank you," I whisper. There are other people in the basket and I don't want them to hear our private moment. "I know what you're doing."
He pulls me up against his lean, powerful frame. "What am I doing?"
"Checking off bucket list items for me."
His grip tightens and he sucks in a sharp breath, but says nothing.
"If I had a bucket list-which I don't-meeting you would be a the top of it," I murmur.
I've never been one to spill my guts so easily, but it's like I can feel the clock ticking down-to my demise. To Sam's. Because I have a feeling he's not out of the fray yet. There's no time to play small. If I want to experience a relationship-experience love-before I die, now is the time.
I'm in a hot air balloon with the most incredible man I've ever known.
Sam doesn't answer, but his breath is labored, as if he's having a hard time with his emotions. I know my illness is a bitch to accept.
I lay my cheek against his chest and watch the scenery glide by as we float just below the clouds.
"Me too," he rasps at last.
I look up at him. His blue eyes are clear, but that world of pain I read in them the first time we met is even deeper.
"So our lives are fulfilled." I'm trying to lighten the mood, but it falls flat. We both stare at each other.
Something inside me is screaming, I'm not done yet! I have more of my life to live! But I don't get that choice.
I can't choose it for me, and as much as I want to, I can't make Sam choose it for himself, either.
Sam
I THOUGHT I'd suffered enough in this lifetime, but I'm literally dying inside. How could the perfect day with Layne be so beautiful and painful at the same time?
My wolf wants to fight, but there's no one to tear apart. No one to punish for the illness she's suffered. The one that will steal her from this life far too soon.
I keep her in my arms or as close to my side for the rest of the adventure-the champagne toast after our landing, and the ride back.
Even so, I'm retreating into myself. Without a fight, my wolf wants the next best thing-to run. The clank of machinery whirs in my ears, getting louder and louder by the minute.
Somehow, I get us back to Laurie's guest house, but I can hardly hear Layne when she talks, and I have no idea if I even answer.
My phone rings and I pick it up.
"Tell me I'm awesome." A baby coos behind Kylie's gloating voice.
I step outside to take the call away from Layne. "What did you find?"
"Another lab. I'm pretty sure it's headquarters."
"Where?"
"It's a private lab, but I've got a funding trail that shows money from Mexico and the U. S. Government."
"Tell me where." My heart races.
This.
Going after Smyth. This is exactly what my wolf needs. I wanted someone to punish, and now I have him. He's not responsible for Layne's illness, but he did send men who tried to kill her. Close enough. This is the one thing I can do to make a difference for Layne. For the world.
"Hang on a sec."
Jackson gets on the line. "You're not going in there alone." He uses his alpha tone with me, which checks my aggression slightly.
"No. I have backup." It's not entirely a lie. Nash agreed to go with me.
Jackson is silent for a moment. He probably knows I'm full of shit. "I don't like this. I want you to wait for Garrett and the pack. They'll want to be there, too."
"Where is the fucking lab?" I bite out.