With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

Aubrey. “I’m only up to get a glass of water.”
    Well hell, Aubrey hadn’t anticipated hostility. Who was this guy? He smiled, trying to look
    disarming. “I figured, but he left so quickly and—”
    “If you really care for him, leave him alone. Go back to Georgia and forget about him. There’s no
    reason he can’t come home and go to school here.”
    Aubrey snapped his gaping mouth closed. “Excuse me?” He felt like a teen picking up his prom date,
    only he’d never run into this kind of opposition when he’d dated girls. Their parents were always too
    impressed by his pedigree. This guy wasn’t even Matt’s dad. Irritation prickled up Aubrey’s spine, but
    putting this man in his place wasn’t going to get him in to see Matt so he held his tongue.
    “I know who you are…who you are to Matthew. Why else would you be here like this? I knew as
    soon as he got here this afternoon it wasn’t just because Becky ran off. He was running from something.
    I’ve known Matthew his whole life, and he’s easy to read. He may not have told anyone about you, but that right there tells me what I need to know. So, again I’m telling you, if you care at all, leave him be.”
    A door at the top of the stairs opened and a man wearing only a pair of green pajama bottoms started
    down the stairs. “Bambi, let the boy in and quit being an ass. The fact that he’s here says all I need to know.”
    Aubrey blinked back his surprise and studied the first man again. This was the man who Matt, Keaton
    and Chay referred to as Bambi? With a name like Bambi, Aubrey expected small, docile and friendly. This man was none of those things, and he wasn’t going to give an inch. He was suspicious of Aubrey’s
    presence and it showed.
    Something else occurred to him. The man had said Becky left. Becky was Matt’s mom’s name. Oh
    damn. Aubrey’s heart sank even lower. This had to be killing Matt. If only he had handled things
    differently, he might have been there for Matt when he found out. His guilt returned full force. The past day was dragging his emotions through the wringer. First his brother, now this. It was another misstep he’d made with Matt.
    “Welcome, son.” The shirtless man stepped off the bottom step and motioned to Aubrey. Just from a
    glance Aubrey knew this was Matt’s dad. There was a resemblance, though the man looked more Apache
    than Matt. “Don’t mind Bambi. He’s always been way overprotective of Matthew.” He stepped around
    Bambi and extended his hand. “Eric Mahihkan. Please call me Gadget, everyone does.”
    Aubrey shook his hand. “Aubrey Reynolds. Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
    “Come sit down, Aubrey.” Gadget turned and walked away, then said over his shoulder to Bambi,
    “Shut the door.”
    As the door clicked shut behind him, Aubrey glanced around the house and followed Matt’s dad into
    the living room. It was spacious with high ceilings and plenty of room for nine kids. This was where Matt

    www.samhainpublishing.com
    175
    J.L. Langley
    grew up. No wonder he liked Reynolds Hall so much. This house had a similar lived-in feel to it. It smelled like wolf, children and food…like a home.
    “What brings you all the way here in the middle of the night?” Gadget sat and swept his arm toward
    the other end of the couch, inviting Aubrey to sit.
    Aubrey took a seat. “I came to check on Matt. He left without letting me, Keaton or Chay know.”
    Bambi sat in the recliner adjacent to the couch. “Perhaps he had good reason.” He cocked a brow,
    daring Aubrey to deny it.
    Grr… Aubrey wanted to smack the guy.
    “Knock it off,” Gadget gritted out.
    Bambi ignored him. “I know damned well you’re Matthew’s mate. I overheard him and Logan talking
    out on the back porch tonight. I also gathered from the conversation that you aren’t out to your friends and family. Matthew will never be happy in a relationship like that. Hiding his nature will make him miserable.
    He deserves better. He needs a mate who will love him for who he is and not be afraid people will find out.
    That is no way to live. So if you can’t be honest with everyone, you should cut him loose.”
    If it hadn’t been for the genuine concern and love in Bambi’s voice, Aubrey would’ve told the man to
    mind his own business, but the hurt and empathy in his expression made Aubrey ashamed. He never
    should’ve hidden his mating as long as he had. He’d planned on telling Matt first, but something