“What on earth happened to you two?” she asked. “You look likedrownedrats.”
“She ran out into the woods and that motorcycle gang found her,” Greg said. He flashed Daisy an exasperated look. “She’s lucky to be alive. What were youthinking?”
“I had to find you,”shesaid.
“You shouldn’t be out there alone,” hesnapped.
“I didn’t think there’d be other bears out there,”shesaid.
“Other bears out where?” Greg’s dad asked as he emerged fromthehall.
“In the forest,”Bettysaid.
“Goddamn it.” Joseph grabbed a shotgun from inside the closet. “I’ll take careofit.”
“Be careful,” Betty said as she planted a quick kiss on hischeek.
Daisy stood with her hands folded in front of her belly. She kept her gaze on the floor. This wasn’t going the way she’d imagined at all. She’d expected to come back and that Greg would be happy to see her. Instead, he loathed her and now she’d put their whole family indanger.
She sniffed backasob.
“You’re covered in mud,” Greg said. “Go get cleaned up andwe’lltalk.”
“Okay,” shewhispered.
“Do you have a change of clothes in the bus?” heasked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll get it and leave them outside thebathroomdoor.”
“Thank you,” shewhispered.
He grumbled a response as hestompedoff.
“Honey, you take a nice, hot bath and come out when you’re ready,”Bettysaid.
Daisy let her usher her into the bathroom. After she’d closed the door, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Sticks and pine needles stuck out of her hair in every direction. Mud caked her cheek and back. She fingered a small tear at the neckline of her shirt. She might be able to fix it with a needle and thread. But would she be able to fix her relationshipwithGreg?
Chapter14
Greg pacedthe length of his room. The shower had shut off more than ten minutes ago but Daisy had yet to emerge. He’d almost lost her. How could she have been so stupid to run off into the forestlikethat?
When he’d heard her scream, he’d run as fast as he could. Had he arrived a few seconds later, it would have been horrific. He had no doubt those bear shifters were ready to eat her alive. The stench of violence hung around them like ashroud.
He returned to the door to his bedroom and peered out. The pile of clothes he’d left for her on the floor were gone. Good. At least she was clean and presumably dressed now. But she was still hiding in the bathroom. Irritated, he stalked over to the door andknocked.
“Are you done yet?” heasked.
“Just a minute,”shesaid.
He scowled and returned to his room. A minute later, the bathroom door opened and she appeared in hisdoorway.
“Come in and close the door behind you,”hesaid.
She did, then stood with her hands clasped in front of her. She wouldn’t meethisgaze.
“Why are you here?” hesnapped.
