Yours Always, Morgan: Yours Always, #9

By Ryenne Renner

I woke up to Callie draped over me, her thigh wedged between my legs, her head on my chest, her hand on my bicep.
Carefully, I started to move her to the side. She was about to wake up to the product of a very inappropriate dream I'd been having about her.
"Hmmm. Don't move," she mumbled.
I did as she said.
She pressed her thigh down and I couldn't stop the groan.
I heard her breath hitch softly in her throat as she shifted against my hip.
Holy shit. Was she…
Her grip on my arm tightened.
She went still again for a moment before moving again, this time, a little harder.
I swore. Maybe she was still asleep?
I mean, I wasn't complaining. If she wanted to get off, I was more than happy to help. This was hot as hell.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind being more involved in the process if she'd let me.
"I was dreaming about you," she whispered.
 

Callie

Three years ago, my life imploded after I lost my sister. Unable to stay where everyone insisted on speculating and gossiping about what happened, I moved to Granger Springs to start over. It's been a good three years and I'm happy. Then I meet Morgan. Team leader for Daisy Security, the man is all growls and frowns. I have no idea how to take him. He looks so annoyed by everything I do, but every time I turn around, there he is. And I'm not going to lie, I really like it…

 

Morgan

"You're really grumpy, Uncle Morgan." I have to admit, my tiny niece is right. I've been one hell of a grump lately. It's been five years since my wife Daisy passed away and the thought of moving base to Granger Springs and leaving our house behind has me in a bad mood. When I find Callie stranded on the side of the road, I don't know what to make of her. She's… bubbly. Smiley. Happy. Nice to everyone. The woman skips, for crying out loud. She confuses the hell out of me. Just as I'm starting to figure out how I feel, someone from her past shows up thinking he's going to take her from me. What he doesn't realize is that I've only ever loved two women, and I'm not willing to give up the one that's still alive...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ryenne Renner
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223800156

Ryenne Renner

Ryenne Renner is a Canadian author who resides in the beautiful province of Saskatchewan. Wife, mother, author, woods sprite, food lover; she has many hats she loves to fill. A trucker’s wife and mom of three, she is grateful to be able to write full time and stay home with her son with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. When not writing, her days are spent hiking, fishing, camping, reading, and watching movies with her family.  Ryenne is a romance author who is a firm believer that love is love.  Follow her at the following links! Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ryennesromancelovers/  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryennerenner Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ryennerenner  Newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jfqivnv90e (free book) Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ryenne-renner  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryennerenner    Books by Ryenne Renner Contemporary Romance   Yours Always (Mason, Lukas, Logan, Nyssa, Ray, Jack, Kit, Dean, Morgan) Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Palbert City Underground (Fire’s Kiss, Tiger’s Choice, Reaper’s Promise) Books written as Mireille Chester Adult: Fantasy Romance   The Chosen One Trilogy (Crossover, Journey, Destiny)   Sageden Pack (Displaced, Shattered, Strayed)   Holidays in Quelondain (Eggnog Kisses, Candy Hearts)   Ghosts (a Quelondain Short) Apocalypse Romance   Angered Seasons Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Crimson Moon Hideaway (Winning Paradise, Feathers Afire, Ocean’s Blood, Sweet as Huney)  *these characters also make appearances in the Palbert City Underground series)    YA :   Tyler’s Story   Chael’s Luck

Book preview

The Teams

Pup Security:

Mason Trenton (Sneak)

Lukas Banks (Bear)

Logan Banks (Pointer)

Nyssa Kelly (Pen)

Ray Duncan (Rat)

––––––––

Daisy Security:

Liam Benton (Joker)

Jack Loomis (Chains)

Kit Bennet (Trapper)

Dean Maddox (Ghost)

Morgan Firman (Grimm)

CHAPTER ONE

Morgan

I changed the station on the radio, trying to find one I liked. After going through them twice, I gave up and turned it off, concentrating on driving. 

I knew my indecision had nothing to do with the music. Hell, I’d come across at least three of my favorite songs.

I was just... grumpy. That was the word Franny had used when I’d stopped at Lukas’ for coffee this morning.

You’re really grumpy today, Uncle Morgan.

I smiled as I pictured the tiny five year old redheaded girl. She was always straight to the point and much too observant for a kid.

I took a deep breath.

She was right. I was grumpy.

Things were changing and I didn’t like change.

And yes, I knew it was ridiculous. I was part owner of a security company. We never worked in the same place and each job was different. There was nothing constant about it. Things were always changing.

But home... home had always been home. Maybe it was sad or pitiful, but I still rented the house I’d shared with Daisy.

The thought of my wife brought a mix of love, happiness, loneliness, and sadness to my heart.

She’d been my everything, my future, and when I’d lost her, life had simply just... stopped.

I’d always told myself I was still living in our old house because a house is a house and it simply served the purpose of shelter, but I was starting to realize it was more than that. As it became clear that the team was picking up and moving to Granger Springs, the thought of leaving that little house...

Other than a few boxes in the basement with pictures and some of her favorite things I hadn’t been able to get rid of, that house was what kept her real; kept her here.

I took a deep breath and rolled my shoulders.

I was forty-three years old, for fucks’ sakes. Daisy had been dead five years. It was just a fucking house. Moving to Granger Springs, if it came to that, was not the end of the fucking world.

I frowned as I noticed the car on the side of the road. By the look of the steam or smoke coming off of it, it was going to need a tow truck.

My phone rang and, after seeing it was Dean, I declined the call, sending a one touch ‘will call you back’ message.

Someone stood beside the car, waving at me as I got closer.

My heart gave a strange kick and I felt an unwarranted flare of anger. The woman was tiny. What the hell was she thinking?

I pulled up behind her and stepped out of my SUV.

She grinned, her light blue eyes bright. Hi! Thank you so much for stopping. My car has obviously given up on life and of course my cell is dead. I’m Callie.

Why was she giving out her name? Didn’t she know how dangerous that was?

Are you in the habit of flagging down strange men?

What the fuck, Grimm...

She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t answer.

What if I’m a serial killer?

I didn’t think it was possible, but that eyebrow raised even higher.

Are you a serial killer? she questioned.

I frowned. No.

She smirked. That sounds exactly like what a serial killer would say.

I’m not... Why would you think...

She shrugged. You brought it up.

I didn’t mean... I’m not a serial killer.

Right. You said that already. I don’t believe you.

I gawked at her. Why don’t you believe me?

Because you sound like a serial killer.

I can prove I’m not a serial killer.

She cocked her head to the side. I’m curious. How in the world can you prove you’re not a serial killer?

Those light blue eyes hadn’t left mine and I had to tear my gaze away.  I opened the hatch of my SUV. Look.

I showed her my gear: search and rescue packs, med kits...

She pointed to a case. What’s that?

My guns.

So, you have rope and zip ties and knives and guns and... oh, look, morphine... but you’re not a serial killer.

I blinked.

She tucked some loose dark brown strands behind her ears and tugged her tuque down, clearly waiting for me to say something.

I’m not a serial killer, I repeated like an idiot.

Her lips twitched up. Right.

I watched, more than a little stunned, as she grabbed a bag out of her car and got into the passenger seat of the SUV.

Chop, chop, Grimm. We don’t have all day.

I frowned. How the fuck do you know my name?

She shrugged. Maybe I’m the serial killer.

I stood, staring.

Do you need me to drive? She gave the steering wheel a pointed look.

What? No. I slid into my seat and did up my seatbelt.

I waited for her to do the same.

Nothing. She just looked out the windshield, humming.

Seatbelt.

Hmmm? She glanced at me.

Seatbelt.

There went that eyebrow again, though she did as I’d asked.

Alright. She was in the SUV, her seatbelt was done up... now what.

My brain drew a blank.

CHAPTER TWO

Callie

Asshole.

How old did he think I was? Five?

I was thirty-four fucking years old. I was well aware of the dangers I faced as a woman when asking strange men for help. I wasn’t a fucking moron. I also knew how to defend myself should the need arise.

My car was broken down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. What was I supposed to do? Teleport to safety?

‘What if I’m a serial killer?’ I tried to make his voice whiny and annoying as I remembered the question.

Damn it. I couldn’t. Because his voice was deep and rumbly and... fine. It was fucking sexy, okay?

I looked out the windshield and hummed whatever song I’d last heard on the radio before my car had broken down.

Seatbelt.

Hmmm? I turned towards him.

Seatbelt.

Jesus. He did think I was five.

I raised an eyebrow at him. Yep. I was going to have to get out of this SUV soon because my face was going to get stuck like this.

Doing up my seatbelt, I noticed his phone was flashing.

You have a text.

He frowned. What?

You have a text.

It was official, we were never going to be able to hold a regular conversation. If we had to repeat everything, it would take hours to have one.

I watched out of the side of my eye as he checked his phone. He was the only one from the teams I hadn’t met yet. From what I’d picked up, he was head of the Daisy crew.

He was tall. That much had been obvious when I’d had to look up at him standing by my car. 6’2? No. He was a good inch taller than Taylor. 6’3. He had a head full of thick dark brown hair and a short beard, both of which were sprinkled with silver. Hair like that... it just begged to have your fingers running through it. And those dark grey eyes...

Those dark grey eyes were looking at me and I held in an embarrassed groan. Yep. He’d caught me staring.

So why was he the one who looked embarrassed?

That was Dean letting me know you were stuck on the side of the road and needed a lift to the cabin.

I nodded because, well, I didn’t know what to say.

He was still just staring at me.

Okay. Well, let’s go, Gacy. I have things to do.

He blinked. Gacy.

John Wayne Gacy. The serial killer.

He seemed about to say something, but changed his mind, putting the vehicle in drive instead.

I managed to hide my smile and turned back to looking out the window.

CHAPTER THREE

Morgan

Oh my god, this place is amazing. I think if I owned a cabin like this, I’d live here full time. Callie's eyes were wide as we pulled up to Taylor’s log cabin.

You’ve never been here?

She shook her head.

I put the SUV in park and watched as she hopped out.

Those light blue eyes met mine and that damn eyebrow rose. What? You want to give me shit about how I got out? Did I hop too far?

I took a deep breath and willed my jaw to unclench. Jesus. What the hell was it about her? I’d known her a total of ten minutes and that smart mouth was already driving me crazy. The image of shutting her up by filling her mouth with my tongue came to mind unbidden and I scrambled backwards out of my seat, slamming the door.

What the fuck.

Callie was already at the door and I joined her as Dean opened it.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her as she tugged her tuque off and pulled her long dark brown hair into a messy bun. Her light blue eyes were narrowed as she glanced up at me.

Dean gave me a ‘what the fuck’ look then cleared his throat. So. Callie. I had no idea you worked with Mary at the hospital.

She nodded and smiled. It’s just a part time gig in the lab, but it helps top up the paycheck from the diner.

Is that the end goal? Full time at the hospital?

She shrugged. I thought so, but after a couple of years there, I’m not so sure anymore. It breaks my heart. Especially the kids. I don’t think I’m cut out for it.

He nodded. I see you’ve finally met Grimm.

She grunted. If being berated like a five year old is your definition of met, then yes, I have.

I hadn’t...

She set her bag down and went to fawn over Dean and Hanna’s two month old son, Deano.

Dean raised an eyebrow at me.

I let out a breath. She waved me down to ask for help because her car broke down.

He nodded. Yeah. She let us know she was going to be late and that her phone was about to die. We told her you shouldn’t be too far behind her.

Well, how the fuck was I supposed to know she knew who I was?

You gave her shit for flagging you down?

My eyes darted to the living room where Callie laughed at something Hanna said. She’s tiny. Look at her. What if I’d been not me?

Well, I mean, what was she supposed to do even if she didn’t know it was you? Her phone was dead. Should she have just sat there for hours twiddling her thumbs? Should she have walked in the middle of nowhere?

I glared at him.

I’ve seen her throw drunks out of the diner faster than I could get up to help. She’s small, but she’s not helpless. Besides, we’re just north of Lennox. Chances are, if it hadn’t been you, it would have been a nice farmer’s kid who’d offer to give her a ride and take her out to dinner while they waited for the tow truck.

The thought of someone else picking her up... my jaw was