Gray Back Alpha Bear(35)

Creed helped her into the passenger’s seat, then pulled them out of the parking garage and turned onto the main road that would lead to her small hometown of Minden.

A muscle twitched in Creed’s jaw where he clenched it, but other than that, he looked perfectly calm. He made a striking profile. White, oxford shirt stark against his suntanned skin. His gray dress pants clung to his powerful legs, and his eyes were dark as night and focused on the road ahead. Or perhaps the task ahead of them. She appreciated him so much for what he was doing—trying to salvage her relationship with her family—but it wouldn’t work. Did she regret this trip, though? No. Never in a million years, because this trip had taught her how truly selfless Creed was. He’d dropped everything, the first week of logging season, to try and make things right for her. He’d left his half-crazed maniac crew of brawlers in charge of work when hitting timber numbers was his way of trying to earn Damon Daye’s respect. He hadn’t cared one bit that he was traveling with her away from everything that needed to get taken care of and right in the middle of the bomb Damon had dropped on him about his parentage. All Creed cared about—his only focus—was making sure she was taken care of and happy.

She rested her palm on his knuckles, and he responded instantly, drawing her hand to his lips and letting them linger there.

“Creed?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I’m glad you brought me here because I think my parents should meet you. You’re it for me, and they should see the man their daughter chose. But I’m really, really ready to go back home.”

He shot her a beaming white grin and huffed a laugh. “You missing the trailer park already?”

She nodded and nestled back into the seat cushion better. She watched the familiar streets and shops passing, and such a strange sensation washed over her. She knew where everything was. Every corner of this town held a memory for her. Milkshakes in high school with Brittney and Kara there, and she’d made out with Bryant Thompson in the dressing room of that store over there. She’d watched holiday parades here, had come to Willa’s band concerts when they played downtown, and cheered at the football games at the old stadium on Friday nights, but this place didn’t feel the same anymore. She’d changed over the past week.

Gia knew this town, but it didn’t really know her anymore.

She turned up the music to a country station and hummed along off-key. Creed shot her the occasional glance, but she understood. He was worried about her, as she was about him when he dealt with family stuff.

He pulled onto the long winding road that led to the country club on the outskirts of town. It was still nice enough weather to play golf, so the greens around the club were teaming with players. Creed parked and told her, “Wait right there.” Then he jogged around the back, opened her door, and helped her out. Sweet bear. Always taking care of her. He was a natural caregiver, which she hadn’t expected when she’d first seen him at Sammy’s Bar all those months ago. He’d been dark and broody. Quiet, with those bottomless dark eyes that she’d mistaken for cold. They hadn’t been. He’d just been observing everything around him as an alpha had to—assessing risk, managing his crew’s behavior in a public setting.

Her nerves kicked up on the walk inside, and she wrung her hands as she psyched herself up to see her parents again.

The last time she’d talked to them face-to-face, her father had looked her right in the eyes and said, “Because of the poor decisions you have made, we no longer want anything to do with your life moving forward.” He’d been so formal, so callous with those words, and it had been the most painful sentence she’d ever heard in her life. She’d lived and breathed to please them, and she hadn’t managed it. Not ever.

Gia felt like she was floating, and she had to anchor herself in the moment. She was really back here after hardly any time had passed at all, and she sure as hell hoped she was strong enough for this. Not just for her, but for Creed who deserved a mate who was as capable as him.

She smiled politely at the hostess. “We’re here to meet the Cromwells.”

“Sure, they’re already here, and the table is ready for you.” The petite blonde seemed to talk to Gia, but her eyes stayed on Creed. She hesitated, clutching the menus to her chest. “I know who you are. You’re the Gray Back shifter everyone in town is talking about, aren’t you?” The girl had lowered her voice.

Creed nodded once as he rubbed Gia’s lower back. “I am.”

“We don’t have any registered shifters around here, so I’m kind of nervous, but can I have your autograph?”