“What’s up?”
Ezekiel’s eyes narrowed. “I could ask you the same question. You were with Yvonne.”
“Yeah.” Daniel shot him an odd look. “I just came from the bakery.”
His friend’s words weren’t welcome ones. Angry, Ezekiel advanced. “And did you fuck her while you were there?”
“No. You know we have an agreement.”
“Agreements have been broken before.”
“Not by me to you,” Daniel said in a calm and level manner.
“The smell of her pussy is all over you.” Ezekiel took a shuddering breath, trying to calm his beast. He wanted to howl his frustration and take his friend apart a piece at a time.
“True. But I’m a man of my word. I didn’t fuck her.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and met Ezekiel’s straightforward gaze with one of his own. “I swear I didn’t. Not even when she was begging me to.”
That little piece of knowledge was something Ezekiel could have done without. “Begged you? And you resisted?”
“Barely,” Daniel admitted sheepishly. “It wasn’t easy.”
“I can imagine.” Ezekiel believed his friend, but the thought of Daniel and Yvonne together still had him on edge. His wolf wrestled inside him, hungry for a fight. But Ezekiel kept a tight rein on his beast, refusing to give in to his baser needs. He would learn to share Yvonne if it was the last thing he did. It wasn’t going to be easy though, especially wanting her the way he did.
Jealousy was an ugly cross to bear, but it was a whole lot easier than never having her at all. Without a doubt, he knew for Yvonne it would have to be both of them or neither of them and that was not a choice he could live with.
Glancing away, Ezekiel stumbled over something to say. He wasn’t big on apologies. He knew the correct thing to do was to say sorry and then shake the other man’s hand or something equally congenial, but his beast wasn’t quite that magnanimous and he was a bit of jerk. So instead he gestured with his head toward the door. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
Without another word, the two men walked up the steps and into the house. Ezekiel didn’t bother to lock his door when he was out. He dared anyone to try and rob him. Dared.
After entering the kitchen, Ezekiel headed to the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of beers. He handed a cold bottle to Daniel before popping the top of his own and settling himself at the kitchen table. Ezekiel played with the label on his bottle as he tried to come up with something to say to ease the rift between him and his best friend. Before he had the chance to mutter some nonsensical comment Daniel spoke. “Feeling pretty stupid, huh?”
Startled, Ezekiel looked up and into the laughing eyes of his friend. A wry grin parted Ezekiel’s lips. “Maybe.”
“Good.” Daniel smiled. He opened his beer and took a long drink before speaking again. “For a moment there I thought I was the only one who wasn’t handling this sharing thing very well.”
“You too?” Ezekiel was begrudgingly pleased to hear his friend’s confession.
“Oh yeah. When you told me about your wake-up call I became jealous as hell.”
Ezekiel didn’t blame him. It was a feeling he knew well. “Think we’re going to be able to make this work?”
“I don’t think we have a choice.” Daniel shot him a sly look. “Unless you’re willing to back off.”
“Over your dead body.”
Daniel cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t think the saying goes exactly like that.”
“I know.”
“I was afraid of that.” Daniel let out a heavy sigh. “What are we going to do about this?”
“I think…” Ezekiel hesitated before continuing. He didn’t believe he was about to make the suggestion that he was. “We’re going to have to do something neither of us wants to do.”
“No…don’t say it.”
“I have to.” Ezekiel took a deep breath. “I think we’re going to have to talk about our…feelings.”
Daniel winced. “God, why did you say it?”
“Trust me, it goes against everything I believe. It breaks so many man rules, not to mention wolf ones, but we have to do what we have to do.”
“This is going to be painful.”
“It’ll be a whole lot less painful than losing her.”
“True,” Daniel hedged. Ezekiel could see this was just as awkward for his friend as it was for him. “Do you, uhh, want to go first?”
Hell, he didn’t even want to go last, but something had to be done. “Let’s start with a few simple questions. Tell me what happened at the bakery.”
“Ugh.” Yvonne groaned as she shifted in her seat once again. She tried to find a more comfortable position for what had to be the hundredth time but, just as before, the sit dance provided no comfort. She was antsy, irritated and horny as hell.
This was all their faults. If it weren’t for the demonic duo, Yvonne knew she wouldn’t be all out of sorts. It didn’t help that the scent of sex, well almost sex, still lingered in the room like a heavy perfume. The heady aroma made it impossible for her to concentrate on the accounts she was working on. The columns of numbers were all blending as her mind wandered to the two men who’d apparently made it their life’s purpose to slowly drive her insane.
Yvonne didn’t know which she wanted to do most, kill them or fuck them stupid. Before she could decide which one to choose, the phone rang. Grateful for the interruption, she picked up the receiver. “Thank you for calling Rousel’s Bakery, how may I help you?”
“Hey, baby.”
“Mom.” Yvonne smiled, as she normally did when she heard her mother Shirley’s voice on the other end. “How are you?”
“Not as good as you are, I hear.”
“Uggh.” Yvonne closed her eyes and groaned. “You heard about that.”
“Please.” Her mother’s voice was filled with amusement. “My cell blew up the second the announcement was made, but it wasn’t until I checked my Twitter feed today that I heard your little duo is really going to be a trio.”
“Shut. Up.” Yvonne opened her eyes and sat back in her chair. So much for keeping things on the down low.
“No can do.” Her mother chuckled. “Your love life, my dear, is causing gridlock on the information superhighway. And to think I missed it all.”
“First, no one calls it the information superhighway anymore. And second, be thankful you’re out of town.”
“Oh, honey, I’m home.”
“Mom, tell me you didn’t cut your vacation short.” Shirley had planned her girls-only vacation with her sister and Yvonne’s aunt over a year ago and she wasn’t due home for a few more days.
“Of course I did. You didn’t think I was going to miss my own daughter’s wedding.”
“Wedding! Mom, no one is talking wedding just yet.” Although it had been implied heavily.
“Honey, everyone is talking wedding.”
“I’m not,” she grumbled. Damn wagging tongues. “Right now, I’m not sure if I want to talk to either of them again, let alone go along with them and this crazy plan.”
“Uh-huh. Why don’t you come by and break bread with your mother and tell me all about it.”
“Mom, I’m at work.”
“I know,” Shirley replied dryly. “That’s where I called you. I’ve already begun to prepare a light late lunch. It’ll be ready by the time you get here.”
“It’s my turn to close. Robin’s been here since eleven.”
“I’m sure she could use a little overtime. See you in a bit. Love you.”
Before Yvonne could utter another word, her mother hung up. Irritated, Yvonne did likewise. “Is there anyone who doesn’t boss me around?” she muttered, as she crossed her arms over her breasts and leaned back in her chair.
She shouldn’t go. Maybe if she stayed at work, she could pretend everything in her world was under her control. And then maybe she would wake up. Sighing, Yvonne gathered her keys and purse. After speaking to Robin, sh
e headed out to her car. If going was a must, then she’d at the very least do it on her own terms. There was one must-do stop she had to make first though, and that was to go to her own home and shower.
An hour and a half later when Yvonne arrived at her parents’ house, she felt more capable of handling a civilized conversation with her mother. She had her talking points ready, the reasons why the three of them together could be good and also why it was most assuredly a bad idea, all cataloged in her mental Rolodex. Understanding her mother as she did, Yvonne knew Shirley wouldn’t be satisfied with just the list though. She would expect more, and Yvonne wasn’t sure if she had it in her to give.
Yvonne could hear the music blaring from the back patio the second she walked into the house. She shut the front door behind her and cautiously made her way toward the kitchen. “Mom,” she called out.
“Hey, baby.” Shirley stepped out of the kitchen. Even though it had only been a few days since Yvonne had last seen her mother, the older woman was a sight for sore eyes. Dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, Shirley looked at the very least half a decade younger than she really was. Her dark chocolate skin bore no telltale sign of the years gone by, nor did her shoulder-length ebony dreadlocks have a hint of gray. She was as youthful appearing as she was beautiful, and it was damn good to see her again.
“Hi, Momma.”
Grinning, Shirley pulled Yvonne into her arms and crushed her in her exuberant embrace. “Oh my goodness. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” Yvonne tried to pull back but was unable. “Not necessarily in the same bone-crushing manner though.”
“Oh, you.” Shirley released Yvonne and smacked her daughter lightly on the arm. “Always with the sarcasm.”
“Wonder where I get that from.”
“Your father,” Shirley replied, before turning around and strolling back into the kitchen.
Somehow Yvonne didn’t quite believe that. Shaking her head, she followed her mother into the other room. “How was your trip?”
“Brief.”
“I know.” Yvonne groaned. Just what she needed, a heap of guilt. “Mom, you didn’t have to come back.”
“Please.” Shirley waved her hand as if to shoo Yvonne’s concerns away. “The drama going on around here is so much more fun than sitting on a beach watching your aunt trying to suck in her gut and reenact the first half of How Stella Got Her Groove Back.”
“I’m glad my love life amuses y—” In mid-rant, Yvonne caught sight of the island’s granite countertop. There was not one but two blenders filled with some sort of red icy beverage as well as a couple of plates overflowing with diced-up strawberries, pineapples, peaches and mangos, but no real food in sight.
What kind of lunch was this and how many people did her mom plan to feed? “Is Dad here?”
“Lord, heavens no.” Shirley opened an overhead cabinet and took out two martini glasses. “It’s just us girls.”
Yvonne froze. Her mother put a little bit too much swirl on girls. “Which girls, you and me?”
“And your aunt and her two daughters.” Then as if in afterthought she added, “Oh and Robin from the shop.”
“My shop!” she gasped.
“Yes.” Shirley set the glasses on the counter.
“If she’s here, then who’s there?”
“No one. It’s closed for the day.”
Her mother’s casual demeanor floored Yvonne. As did the calm way her mother went about sugaring the rims of the glasses as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Of all the nerve. “Mom!”
Shirley looked up and frowned. “What?”
“How are you…?” Yvonne paused and held up her hand as she took in a deep and cleansing breath. She waited until she had her temper in check before she spoke again. “How are you going to close my shop without asking me?”
“Your shop?” Shirley crossed her arms over her breasts and leveled Yvonne with a parental glare. “Not only did I give you the start-up capital, I also own twenty-five percent of the bakery, so technically it’s not just your shop.”
“Well, when you put it that way, it isn’t.”
“Which is why I put it that way. So go ahead and get mad then get over it.” Shirley dropped her arms and pulled the top off one of the blenders. “And then let’s have drinks.”
Just like that, her mom’s attitude was gone. The quick about-face showed the older woman’s true colors. She hadn’t been mad at all, and Yvonne had fallen for it. Hook, line and sinker. Damn it.
“Something…” Yvonne narrowed her eyes and waggled her index finger at her mother, “…is seriously wrong with you.”
“Don’t I know it.” Shirley laughed as she filled the glasses then offered one to her daughter. “Now come on. I have a present for you and the girls are waiting.”
Resigned and slightly amused, Yvonne took the drink from her mother. “Today is coming out of your take.”
“Fine. Fine.” Her mother placed her hand on Yvonne’s lower back and ushered her toward the patio doors. “Now tell me what’s going on with my future sons-in-law.”
Ezekiel hung up his phone with a frown and glanced over at Daniel who was doing the exact same thing. “She’s not answering her cell.”
“Nor her house.” Daniel slipped his cell in his shirt pocket. “The shop was a no-go too.”
“What exactly happened between the two of you?”
“I already told you what happened.” And in more detail than he was comfortable with, but if they were going to start out on equal footing, then Daniel knew this was the way it had to be.
“Apparently you left something out.”
“Such as?”
“The part where you scared her away.”
“Scared her.” Daniel snorted. “This is Yvonne we’re talking about. She doesn’t scare easily.”
“Then where is she?”
“How the hell should I know? I’ve been here with you Golden Girling our feelings, remember?”
“I remember.” Ezekiel grimaced. “I also recall us saying we’d never talk about it again.”
“True.” Daniel shivered at the mere thought of sharing his feelings again. “Let’s change the subject back to the matter at hand, like where is our missing woman.”
“Think we should call the mayor?”
“And tell him what? His daughter might be running scared because I went down on her in her place of work and you had phone sex with her this morning?”
“Yes,” Ezekiel said dryly. “And in those very words.”
“I’m okay with that.” Daniel smiled. “As long as you’re the one making the phone call.”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of our soon-to-be father-in-law.”
He wasn’t afraid. Daniel just wasn’t stupid. “Not at all. I’d only prefer if one of us was going to take a bullet, it be you.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“Hey, you’re the one who can heal and shit.”
“So can you.”
“With medical assistance. All you have to do is turn furry and bam, bullet pops out and you’re a new man.”
“You’ve been watching way too many cheesy late-night movies.”
“Hey don’t go knocking horror movies. Besides if you get shot, I, as a vet, have a better chance of helping you than you as a manager of a mill have of helping me. It’s elemen—” The doorbell rang, cutting off the rest of Daniel’s spiel. “Is it…?”
Ezekiel inhaled deeply then smiled. “Yes. She’s here.” Ezekiel stood and made his way over to the front door, with Daniel right behind. He wasn’t very pleased with the way Yvonne up and disappeared on them, and he had half a mind to put her over his lap to show her.
The second Ezekiel opened the door, the other half of Daniel’s mind kicked in and the punishment quickly disappeared. He was just happy to see her. Unfortunately he was the only one thinking happy-to-see-her thoughts.
“Where the hell have you been?” Ezekiel growled.
&
nbsp; Yvonne peered up at Ezekiel, brow raised. “Good evening to you too.” Yvonne tightened her hold on her red shawl. She’d changed clothes since he saw her last, into a pair of faded blue jeans and a black T-shirt, but she looked as scrumptious as ever. “May I come in? It’s a bit chilly out here and this is getting heavy.” She dangled the picnic basket.
Since Ezekiel didn’t seem capable of thought, Daniel decided to act. “Of course. Move.” Daniel shoved his friend out of the way and took the basket from her hand. Smiling, he pressed a kiss to her cheek then stepped back to allow her room to come inside. “Where do you want me to put this?”
“In the kitchen is fine,” she said. “It’s for my grandmother. She’s still not feeling well. I’m going to stop by in the morning and see her.”
Morning. Daniel shot Ezekiel a look over her head. That sounded promising. “I’ll be right back.” Daniel made quick work of putting the basket on the counter, then hurried back into the living room and joined Yvonne on the couch.
“Where have you been?” Ezekiel repeated, as he sat on the coffee table in front of her.
“At my parents’ house. My mom is home and she was in the mood for a little…” Yvonne paused as if searching for the right word, “…girl talk,” she finished with a small smile.
“Girl talk?” Ezekiel cocked a brow.
“Euphemism, apparently, for getting drunk and prying.”
“You were drinking with your mom.” Daniel always did think Shirley was pretty damn cool, now he knew he was right.
“To be truthful she and my aunt did most of the drinking.” Yvonne smiled wryly. “I was too busy fending off nosey questions.”
“And in the midst of fending you couldn’t find time to pick up a phone.”
“I could have, I suppose, but I thought it would please the two of you more if I showed up, ready and willing.” Yvonne rose to her feet. “But I see I was wrong. Maybe I should go.”
The hell she should.
Daniel opened his mouth to say just that, but was beat to the punch by Ezekiel, who sounded far from pleased by the prospect of Yvonne leaving. “If you take a single step toward the door, I’m going to toss you over my lap and give you the spanking you so rightly deserve for making me worry.”
The Better to Eat You With: Urban Fairytales, Book 2 Page 9
