The Wildwood: Smolder Part 10

He snapped his jaw shut. Was she for real? Why did you think we were better suited?

I dont know. She shrugged. She seems to understand you when no one else can. Leave you be when you want to be left alone and get up in your face when you need someone to help you snap out of a funk. A girl whos so intuitive to your every mood? You dont let her go.

I never had a claim on her in the first place, he muttered, stunned by what shed said. Was that true? Was Delilah intuitive to his needs?

Well then, dont you think you should stake your claim? Youre getting too old for this Id-rather-go-it-alone business, Lane. You need to find a nice woman who will make your life brighter just by smiling at you. Look at your brother. Hes gone and found the perfect woman for him. West and Harper.

Lane had never believed he would find the woman of his dreams. Hed never even had dreams of a lifetime with one woman. He definitely didnt want to get married"the best example he had was a sorry mess of a marriage that somehow still endured.

So why did the thought of Delilah being the one for him make his heart ache? And not in a bad way?

Mrs. Gallagher. A female doctor appeared, a pleasant smile on her face and a file in her hand. So nice to see you again.

Again? Lane glanced at his mother. She merely smiled serenely and nodded. I hate to bother you, Dr. Knoll, but you know how it is when you have overprotective children who think youre on your deathbed.

Dr. Knoll turned her attention to Lane, thrusting her hand out toward him. Gina Knoll. Nice to meet you.

Lane Gallagher. He shook the womans hand. She had a pleasant, soothing aura about her. Dark-blond hair, kind blue eyes. She was tall and thin, her body encompa.s.sed by the white coat she wore. And what do you mean by again?

Ah, your mother was brought in here, hmm . . . Dr. Knoll opened up the file, her gaze narrowing as she read it. Two months ago. Racing heart, dizziness. Thought she was having a heart attack.

Mom. He turned to her, his tone accusatory, but he couldnt help it. In typical fashion his mother waved off his concern with fluttering fingers. Why didnt you tell me?

It was no big deal. We blamed the summer heat.

The doctor ignored their conversation and asked Lane to step back so she could take his moms vitals. He moved out of the way, watching carefully as his mother chattered on and Dr. Knoll examined her, taking notes in the file, her expression neutral, her demeanor pleasant.

All the neutral pleasantries were making Lane antsy. Wren and West were blowing up his phone, but he ignored them. Hed told them both hed text them as soon as he knew something and so far, he didnt know squat. And he was still pretty p.i.s.sed that his mother had been in the emergency room before yet never told anyone. Not that they all talked on a regular basis.

And didnt that just make him feel like absolute s.h.i.t?

Im going to request a series of tests, the doctor said to his mom, her gaze downcast as she scribbled something else in the file. I want you to go in over the next few days and have them completed.

Do I have to?

Absolutely.

My husbands out of town, and I have no one to take me. His mother hesitated. I dont like to go to those sorts of things alone.

You have four grown children. Im sure one of them could manage to take you. The look the doctor sent him was pointed. Mr. Gallagher, could I speak to you for a moment?

Without a word he followed the doctor, worry making his heart knock against his ribs. It was only when they were far away that Dr. Knoll turned to face him, her face etched with concern.

Im glad youre here. Im concerned about your mother.

That makes you and me both, he agreed. What brought her in here last time?

Same sort of symptoms. Dizziness. Feeling faint. Though last time she mentioned her heart and how it felt like it was trying to beat out of her chest. Dr. Knolls smile was faint. Grim. Your father brought her in. He was . . . rather noncommunicative.

A complete understatement. Hes hard to talk to, yeah. But what about my mom? What do you think is wrong with her?

Im not sure. Shes anemic. I gave her a prescription for iron pills the last time.

Huh. Guess hed been right about that one. What else could it be?

I ordered the tests so we can figure that out. At first I thought she suffered from anxiety. She has all the cla.s.sic symptoms. But I want her to be tested to rule out anything else first. If its something serious, we need to know. Her gaze was intent as it met Lanes. She needs to have these tests completed right away.

He nodded. Ill make sure she goes in tomorrow.

Will you be taking her?

I have to work, but Im sure my sister will do it. She was the one whod noticed something was wrong with mom in the first place.

Good. Im sure well be able to figure out whats wrong. She smiled. Thank you for bringing her in. Youre a good son.

Yeah, he was going to have to disagree with that. He didnt feel like a good son.

He didnt feel much good at anything.

Chapter Eleven.

DELILAH TOOK WREN home per Lanes request while he drove his mother back to her house along with a to-go bag from the Bigfoot Diner. She wanted to be there for her friend but really shed done it for Lane. Hed even added a please, and of course shed agreed, telling him anytime he needed her, shed be there.

See? his mother had said, nudging him in the ribs. Shed turned toward Delilah, her mouth open as if she were about to say something else, but Lane cut her off, taking hold of her arm and steering her outside to where hed parked.

Leaving Delilah a confused, mixed-up mess.

Im taking her to the lab in the morning so she can get those tests taken care of. Wren shook her head. I hope shes okay.

Im sure she is. If she wasnt, they probably wouldve kept her overnight.

True. But what if they find something? What if shes got . . . I dont know, cancer or something. I cant even wrap my head around the possibilities, you know? Its scary. Shes my mom. Shes always been there for me. Always the strong one, the person who tries her best to make sure everythings okay. Wren sounded tearful, and she sniffed as a broken laugh escaped. Im an emotional mess. This is ridiculous.

When was the last time you saw your mom? Delilah knew all of the Gallagher children had grown distant from their parents with the exception of Holden and sometimes Wren. Though none of them really wanted to spend time with their father, they did always try to see their mom.

We met for breakfast early last week. Thats why I reached out to Lane. She didnt look good, though it was Holden who originally said she wasnt really acting right. Once I saw her, I knew something was up. Wren shrugged, keeping her gaze on the pa.s.senger side window. Im a s.h.i.tty daughter.

No, youre a great daughter whos watching out for her mother. Dont beat yourself up, Wren. Youre just trying to ensure shes healthy. Your mom will be thankful for it in the long run.

I hope so. She acted irritated with me before we left.

Angela had. Shed told Wren it was no big deal over and over again and chastised both her and Lane for calling an ambulance. Shed even complained about the cost and her worry that her insurance wouldnt cover it. Lane had rea.s.sured her he would take care of the cost if that was the case but that shut her up for only so long.

Delilah could only imagine the nagging Lanes mom was giving him at that very moment while he drove her home.

She dropped Wren off with a promise of getting together for lunch tomorrow. As she was driving home, she got a text from Lane.

What are you doing right now?

Her heart raced at seeing those six not-so-simple words. Was he asking her to come over? Or did he just want to talk? He was probably stressed out over what had happened with his mom, but why didnt he just unload on his brother or sister? Because maybe he might like her and possibly even . . . need her?

Rolling her eyes at herself, she kept driving, afraid shed get in an accident if she texted him. Plus, he was a man of the law. He would probably write her a freaking ticket if he knew she was texting and driving.

Her phone dinged again within minutes with a new message.

Delilah laughed and texted a quick response while at a stop sign.

Im driving.

Where?

She pulled over to the side of the road.

I just dropped off Wren. Im headed home.

No reply. She waited a minute. Checked her e-mail. Another minute. Checked Instagram. Another two minutes. Still no text.

Ugh. Men. They made her insane. Lane was running hot and cold and making her crazy like usual. Why had she thought one naked night between them would change everything? Apparently old habits died really hard.

It was when she pulled back onto the road that he decided to reply.

You should come over.

Seriously right now? Okay, she was trying to act annoyed but inside, her vital organs were jumping around and dancing a jig. She would love to come over. But she should probably play it cool. Play a little hard to get. Shed chased after him for months. For years. And now she finally had him where she wanted him.

Delilah frowned. Forget that. She wasnt a game player. So no way should she play hard to get. Pulling over again, she typed a quick response.

Ill be there in five.

It took her less than five to get to Lanes house. Hed told her via text that hed left the front door unlocked so she should just come on in, and she did, peering around the door as she opened it.

Lane? she called as she stepped into the empty living room and shut the door behind her.

Im in the kitchen, he answered.

Entering the kitchen, she found Lane leaning against the counter, slinging back a beer. He raised his mostly empty bottle in a silent toast when he spotted her, then nodded toward the fridge. Want one?

She grabbed one for herself and handed him another, which he took gratefully, removing the cap with an almost vicious twist. Howd you know I needed another?

Delilah shrugged. I figured I may as well grab you one while I was getting my own.

The look he gave her was skeptical, but he didnt argue. Maybe he wasnt in the mood. She knew she wasnt. She was exhausted. Tired from last night, the busy day, the worry over Angela, and taking care of a despondent Wren. The Gallaghers were a tiring bunch.

But she wouldnt trade them for the world.

My mom said something about you.

What did she say? She handed her beer to Lane and he twisted off the bottle cap before giving it back to her.

That she believed we made a good match.

Lane said it so nonchalantly she nearly choked. He would say something like that when she was trying to take a drink. Wh-what do you mean? she practically sputtered.

My mom said she always believed we were better suited for each other than you and West. And thats pretty much an exact quote. Youre the type of girl who always seems to know exactly what I need. Like another beer. He clinked his bottle against hers then drank.

Huh. She hadnt really meant anything by giving him another beer. More like she was trying to help him out. Trying to take care of him. After all these years and the onslaught of emotions that swirled within her whenever she was near him, it seemed to come naturally.

Well, Ive known you a long time, she said.

Right. He drew the word out, looking at her as if shed lost a couple of marbles. Weve known each other for years.

Practically our entire lives.

I dont really remember life without you in it.

His statement made her heart swell. Did he find her too familiar? Nothing special? Or was it comforting"a realization that shed always been there for him no matter what?

Did he even really see her?

When she said nothing and could only stare at him, he took her beer and set both of their bottles on the counter before he turned toward her. Where you going with this, Dee?

He frowned, a little crease forming between his eyebrows, and she was filled with the urge to trace it with her finger. Ease his worry, his exhaustion, his pain, whatever troubles he was dealing with. She wanted to shoulder them with him.

Together.

Im trying to tell you that when I help you out . . . when I seem to know what you want before you even want it, thats because I know you. She stared into his eyes, baring her soul with every word she spoke. I really know you, Lane. I probably know you better than anyone else.

At least, shed like to think that. Believe it.

They remained quiet for a long moment, their beers forgotten on the kitchen counter, the only sound in the room their soft inhalations. He finally took a deep breath and blew it out so that it puffed his cheeks, his gaze siding away from hers. He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight and his eyes full of pain.

And wonder.

And confusion.

And . . . something else she didnt necessarily want to define.

Delilah. He said her full name, which was a rarity, and she stood up straighter, her neck cracking and making her wince. She was tense. So was he. She needed to relax. And so did he.

She knew the best way they could do that. But was he up for it? Or would he push her away yet again? Come up with an excuse? Conveniently take a call in the middle of whatever they were doing and bail on her? She was feeling vulnerable and she didnt like it. She was strong. A determined woman who went after what she wanted.