Oliver (19 page)

The room up top was vacant except for Sarah. “We have rooms set aside for you upstairs if you’d like to freshen up. Your friends are there now.” She led them away, giving them little choice but to follow.

That was when the shakes hit her. Merideth gripped her skirt to keep Oliver from noticing. It didn’t help. He said nothing, but the hand he slipped over her hip as they trudged up the stairs told her she had his support. By the time they reached the landing, she was under his arm, tucked against the cove of his body. Protected from the world. She never wanted to leave.

Champagne toasts greeted them when they walked into the upstairs suite. Lucas hurried forward with a flute for each of them. His broad smile faded when he realized she was upset.

“It’s okay, baby.” He braced her other side and kissed her cheek. “You were brilliant.” He pushed the flute into her hand. “Take a sip.”

“It was indeed the best mind fuck I’ve ever seen,” Raven told her.

Her sister Dommes—she’d never be able to think of them as anything else now—raised their glasses in toast.

“The absolute best.” Oliver squeezed a hug around her and raised his glass as well.

“Now if I could just stop shaking,” Merideth said with a laugh they echoed.

The bubbles had barely trickled down her throat when Clint Waltham walked in. “Sorry to interrupt. They’re on their way to the precinct. When you’re ready, several other victims would like to accompany you to the police station to make their own reports. They’re waiting for you in the ballroom.”

Merideth tensed. It was the last thing she wanted to do tonight. But these women had taken a chance because of her, trusted
her
. There was no point in delaying.

She passed her drink to Oliver. “I have to go.”

He kissed her, soft and sweet. “Take the limo. It can come back for us. Once I get the rest of our crew to the hotel, Lucas and I will come for you.”

Merideth kissed him again and then Lucas, lifted her skirts, and walked out. This was the beginning of the rest of her life. She didn’t fool herself into thinking it was going to be easy sailing. There was peace in knowing Oliver and Lucas would be with her every step of the way. But it was damn hard, walking away without one of them by her side right now.

She pulled in threads of courage. This was something she had to do on her own. Another act to shore up the strength she’d found. No one could do this but her. No one could lead those other women to salvation but her.

Merideth paused at the entrance to the ballroom. A deep breath steeled her nerves to take that final step. Two hot palms on her back stopped her.

“Not without us,” Lucas said.

“We’ll follow your lead. Stay in the background. Do whatever you ask,” Oliver said.

She pressed her hand against his cheek. “God, what it must cost you to give up control.”

Smiling, he kissed her palm. “I give nothing but my heart.”

“My soul.” Lucas wrapped a hug around her.

“Our love,” they said in unison.

Merideth closed her eyes and soaked in the words. “I do love you both so much.”

They still had issues to work out, still had to get used to combining households and living together. But they
were
together, and that was the key. Together they were magnificent. Together they could face anything. Nothing was ever going to pull them apart again. Not even themselves.

Older and wiser?

Thank God.

“Then let’s go,” she whispered and stepped across the threshold.

Heads turned their way.

“I’m leaving for the police station,” she addressed the crowd. “I understand there are some who want to go with me?”

One by one, women crept forward until two dozen stood before her. More came up from the rear. Emotion choked Merideth.

“I think we’re going to need a bigger limo,” she managed to say.

Oliver patted her butt. “On it.”

Buddy System

Have Mercy

Wake Me Up

Yellow Ribbons

* * * *

Oliver

(a
Maneater
-related story)

* * * *

The INTO THE HEART Series

Into the Lair

Into the Night

Into the Wild

* * * *

The MANEATER Series

Maneater

Soleil

Raven

No one is more surprised than erotic romance author Caitlyn Willows at the direction life has taken her. Blessed (or cursed) with a vivid imagination, Caitlyn weaves deep emotions and sizzling sensuality into her action-filled stories. Believing life is to be lived and felt, not merely watched, Caitlyn delivers real-to-life characters in unforgettable tales of love, adventure, and always steamy passion. She lives in the beautiful desert of Southern California with her husband (a genealogist) and the animals she loves.

See what’s new in Caitlyn’s life by visiting
http://www.caitlynwillows.com
.