Renegade

by Alers, Rochelle

  It was about to begin.

  The jet touched down at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport on time. The evening temperature was a balmy eighty degrees. Summer felt her pulse quicken when she spied the fronds of towering palm trees swaying gently in a warm breeze. She rested her hand on Gabriel’s arm as they deplaned, walked through a tunnel, and made their way to a private parking lot.

  Gabriel saw his brother leaning against a late model Lexus sedan, feet crossed at the ankles, and arms over his chest. Pursing his lips, he whistled loudly.

  Jason Cole glanced up, surprise apparent on his face when he saw his older brother with a woman. Taking long strides, he closed the distance between them. Arms extended, he hugged Gabriel then kissed him on each cheek.

  “Welcome back, Bro.”

  Gabriel patted Jason’s broad back. His younger brother had bulked up since the last time he saw him. “Thanks. I want you meet my guest for the weekend. Jason, this is Summer Montgomery. Summer, my brother, Jason Cole.”

  Summer stared tongue-tied. Gabriel and Jason looked enough alike to be twins. The only differences were hair and earrings. Wherein Gabriel’s hair was long and salt and pepper, Jason’s was black and close-cropped. Gabriel wore two small gold hoops in each of his pierced lobes, while Jason had elected not to pierce his ears.

  She extended her right hand. “My pleasure, Jason.”

  Ignoring her hand, Jason leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

  Summer glanced at Gabriel, but he had bent down to pick up her weekender. Jason took the garment bag from his grasp. She pondered Jason’s greeting of “welcome to the family” when Gabriel had informed her no one knew she was accompanying him. How, she wondered, would David and Serena Cole view her: as an interloper or a potential daughter-in-law?

  “Who’s here?” Gabriel asked Jason as he wound an arm around Summer’s waist.

  “Everyone,” Jason said over his shoulder. “Michael, Jolene and their kids came in early this morning. The New Mexico clan arrived yesterday along with Tyler and Dana. Regina and Aaron were already in Florida visiting abuela.”

  “What about Clay and Eden?”

  “They came in last night.”

  “Where’s everyone staying?”

  “The women are in Palm Beach with Uncle Martin and Aunt Parris, and the guys are hanging out here.”

  “What’s with the male bonding?”

  “Michael wants to subject Merrick to a little Cole intimidation.”

  Gabriel shook his head, laughing. “I doubt very much if anyone can intimidate our future brother-in-law. And that includes Uncle Joshua.”

  Jason opened the rear door for Summer, offering her a warm smile as she settled herself on the leather seat. He stored her garment bag in the trunk, along with her weekender.

  She stared out the window as Jason maneuvered out of the parking lot, heading in a northerly direction, listening as he updated Gabriel on what was going on with family members.

  Summer knew she would never remember everyone’s name even if she would spend a week in Florida with the Coles. There were just too many of them.

  Twelve

  Summer stared out the side window as Jason maneuvered onto an ascending, curvilinear driveway, through a series of gardens, past a guest house and tennis court, parking alongside half a dozen luxury vehicles under a porte cochere.

  Gabriel got out and held the door open for Summer. Golden light flowed from every window in the three-story house configured in three sections. The light and the setting sun reflected off pale pink bricks on the courtyard laid out in a herringbone pattern.

  He tightened his hold on her hand. “Jason will bring your bags in,” he said, leading her toward a door that would take them directly into the kitchen where he knew he would find his mother.

  Serena Morris-Cole sat on a high stool, her forehead resting on her husband’s chest. David Cole patted her back as he whispered in her ear.

  “I don’t care how much he begs, don’t give him any, Mom.” Serena and David sprang apart guiltily, as if they had been caught doing something they weren’t supposed to do. Gabriel pointed at his parents, grinning. “Gotcha!”

  David helped Serena off the stool, and she went into the open arms of her firstborn, kissing him on the mouth. “You should be ashamed of yourself, spying on your folks like that.”

  Gabriel winked at his father over Serena’s head. But David did not see it because he was staring at Summer. Turning, Gabriel followed the direction of his father’s gaze.

  Holding out a hand to Summer, he was not disappointed when she placed her hand in his. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet someone who is very special to me. This is Summer Montgomery. Summer, my parents, Serena and David Cole.”

  Angling his head, David Cole winked at Summer. “Hello and welcome.”

  She returned his dimpled smile. She knew what Gabriel would look like in another thirty-five years, and it would be breathtakingly handsome. Even their voices were similar—deep and drawling. David’s gleaming silver hair was close-cropped, matching the sparkle of the diamonds in his ears. She remembered Gabriel telling her about his grandmother’s reaction to seeing her son and grandson wearing earrings. David turned his head, and Summer noticed a faint scar running along his left cheek.

  Her attention to the scar was distracted when Alexandra swept into the kitchen, her golden eyes glittering with excitement. She went completely still when she saw Summer with her brother.

  “Hello, again.”

  The elder Coles stared at each other, wondering how many more shocks were they going encounter before the weekend concluded.

  Summer smiled at Alexandra. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Summer. I’m glad you’re here, because now I’ll have another female to talk to beside Kim and my sister. Right now I’m being bombarded with testosterone overload.” She turned to her mother. “The caterers just pulled up.”

  “Have them set everything up around the pool.” Waiting until Alexandra walked out of the kitchen, Serena walked over to Summer. She offered her hand and a smile. “Welcome to Florida and to the family.”

  Summer smiled at the petite woman with large golden eyes and graying reddish curls, taking the proffered hand. “I’m honored to be here.”

  Maybe, she thought, she was making too much of the Coles welcoming her to the family.

  “Nonsense,” Serena countered, “we are honored to have you. I’ll show you where you can wash up before we sit down to eat.” She looked at Gabriel, who hadn’t moved. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back.”

  David, making certain his wife wasn’t in earshot, motioned to Gabriel to come closer. When Gabriel closed the distance between them, David rested an arm over his shoulder.

  “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  Gabriel stared into his father’s near-black eyes. “No, Dad. Why?”

  “Your sister waltzes in last weekend with the news that we’re going to become grandparents, and that she’s getting married. Your mother and I still haven’t recovered. So, if you’re going the same route, then please let me know now.”

  “No, Dad. Summer and I are friends.”

  David removed his arm, giving his son an incredulous look. “Friends?”

  “Yeah. Friends. In fact, we’re colleagues.”

  Covering his face with his hands, David shook his head. “Damn!”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “If you don’t know, then I’m not going to tell you. I think Jason is more of a Cole than you are.”

  “What’s up about me being a Cole?” Jason had walked into the kitchen.

  David gave his younger son a direct stare. “Gabe and Summer are friends.”

  Jason peered closely at his older brother, frowning. “Friends like in platonic?”

  David nodded, biting back laughter. “Yes-s-s!”

  “What the hell is so funny?” Gabriel roared.

  Jason slapped his fa
ther’s back, and they laughed so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks.

  “Let me get out of here before I hurt somebody on the eve of my sister’s wedding,” Gabriel grumbled as he stalked out of the kitchen.

  He found his sisters and cousins sitting on chairs around the pool. In-the-ground lights lit up the area like daylight. Some of his annoyance eased when he spied Summer and his mother. She was casually dressed in a pair of taupe slacks and an ivory-hued silk shirt, yet she looked elegant, tailored. Her hair was pulled off her face in a loose knot at the back of her head. A hint of makeup accentuated her large eyes.

  Moving to her side, he caught her hand and led over to the small crowd gathered near the heated pool. All of the men rose at their approach.

  Gabriel stared at his male relatives. “We can pick our friends, but that’s not case when it comes to relatives. So, let me introduce you to the most unruly bunch of men to invade the great state of Florida.

  “This hooligan, who just happens to be the former governor of New Mexico and is currently a federal district judge is married to my first cousin Emily. Christopher Delgado. Chris, Summer Montgomery.”

  Summer smiled at Judge Delgado. Tall, slender and elegant, his graying hair was an attractive contrast to his khaki coloring. Her gaze found his dark gaze, and they shared a smile. She inclined her head.

  “Your Honor.” Everyone dissolved into spasms of laughter.

  “He’s been trying to get my sister to call him that ever since he took the bench,” Michael Kirkland drawled, pointing a finger at his brother-in-law. Christopher sat down, mouthing obscenities at Michael.

  “Now, this elegant old man is Dr. Tyler Cole. Tyler, Summer Montgomery.”

  Leaning down from his impressive height, Tyler kissed Summer’s cheek. “Gabe’s jealous because although I’m eight years older than he is, he still has more gray hair than I do.”

  Summer smiled at Tyler. There was no doubt he was a Cole. He was tall, dark, and incredibly handsome. He had inherited the Cole’s dark eyes, nose, and dimples.

  “Hi, Tyler.”

  Gabriel moved down the line. “This next thug is my much older cousin, Michael Kirkland.”

  Summer found herself mesmerized by Michael’s glittering green eyes as he took her free hand and kissed the back of it. His coal-black hair lay against his scalp, reminding her of a crow’s feathers.

  “Older by exactly two weeks.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Thanks for clearing that up.”

  “Let go of the hand, Michael,” Gabriel warned softly.

  Michael dropped Summer’s hand and retook his seat. “Yo, primo, there’s no need to get possessive. After all, we are family.”

  “That’s what frightens me,” Gabriel countered, smiling. He moved down the line. “This gentleman is Silah Kadir. He’s married to my cousin Arianna.”

  “Hey, Gabe. Why is it that Silah’s a gentleman, while I’m an old man and Michael’s a thug?” Tyler called out.

  Turning around, Gabriel stared at Tyler. “It’s because he speaks French.”

  “Oh, hell no!” Michael argued. “I speak French, too.”

  Gabriel waved at him. “What-ever, Michael. Silah, Summer.”

  Silah took Summer’s hand, kissed it and rattled off something in French. Although she did not understand a word, it left her cheeks burning.

  She stared at Michael. “What did he say?”

  “I’m not telling, because I won’t be responsible for Tyler giving his brother-in-law a serious beat-down.”

  “I said you’re a stunning woman, and that Gabriel is very lucky to claim you as his woman,” Silah translated in accented-English.

  Gabriel patted Silah’s shoulder. “See, that’s why I like you, my brother.”

  Summer noticed that only two of the men were still standing. The next one was no doubt a Cole.

  “This young pup is Clayborne Spencer. In a few years we all will be calling him Dr. Spencer. Clay is my cousin Regina’s son. Clay, Summer.”

  Clay reached for Summer’s free hand, kissed it and rattled off his greeting in Portuguese. By this time she was laughing as hard as the others.

  “Damn show-off,” Gabriel said, laughingly.

  Summer recovered enough to ask, “Who only speaks one language?” Not one hand went up. “Oh-kay,” she drawled.

  “Last, but certainly not least is the prospective groom. My soon-to-be brother-in-law, Merrick Grayslake.”

  Summer froze, unable to believe she knew the man standing in front of her. Tall, lean and deeply tanned with close-cropped dark brown hair—he hadn’t changed much in four years; she would know him anywhere—especially his eyes, and she hadn’t imagined a flicker of recognition in those silver-gray orbs.

  She had just completed her training at the FBI facilities in Quantico, and had applied to take an additional course in intelligence training. Merrick Grayslake, on loan from the CIA to the FBI and DEA had facilitated the four-week training. There was nothing in her expression indicating she knew him.

  Summer inclined her head. “Merrick. Best wishes on your upcoming nuptials.”

  Merrick smiled, if a parting of his lips could be called a smile. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Renegade.” He’d whispered her code name.

  Gabriel did not notice stiffness in Summer’s body as he turned to the two women sitting together at a table. He leaned down and kissed his sister. “Hey, baby sis.”

  Ana Cole flashed her dimpled smile. “Hey, yourself, big brother.”

  “Summer this is Ana, my sister and Jason’s twin. And this lovely lady belongs to Clay. Ana, Kim Cheung, Summer Montgomery.”

  Summer greeted the women with a warm smile, noting the prisms of light reflecting from the diamond on Kim’s left hand. There was no doubt the Coles would gather again for another wedding in the near future.

  Ana stood up and hugged Summer. “You’re beautiful. My brother is very lucky.”

  The uneasiness she felt when Merrick Grayslake recognized her lessened. “Thank you. Ana. I’m very lucky to have met your brother.”

  “Does this mean we’re going to have another wedding, big brother?”

  Gabriel ruffled her curly hair. “Zip it, kid.”

  Summer sat at the table with Ana and Kim. Now she knew what Alexandra was talking about when she’d mentioned testosterone overload. It was so potent it literally shimmered in the air.

  She made small talk with Kim, Clay’s fiancée. Tiny and delicate, she reminded Summer of a fragile orchid. A curtain of straight raven hair flowed to her waist.

  “When are you and Gabriel getting married?”

  Summer offered Kim a half-smile. “We’re not. When are you and Clay marrying?” she asked, deftly changing the focus from her and Gabriel.

  “We haven’t set a date. I’d like to wait until we graduate medical school.”

  “How many more years do you have?”

  “Two. But, we probably won’t wait that long. I have a lot of elderly relatives in China who want to see me married. So, Clay and I plan to travel to China and marry in a traditional Chinese ceremony first, then have an American wedding once we return.”

  “That is so cool,” Ana drawled.

  Summer smiled at Ana. She looked so much younger than twenty-five, and Summer could not imagine her running a major record company with her twin. Jason and Ana were definitely the free spirits in the family. She thought of Alexandra as pragmatic, and Gabriel reflective.

  She had come to look for and value the comfortable silence between them whenever they shared a meal. It was as if they could concentrate on each other without invading the other’s privacy.

  The catering staff had unloaded their van, setting candles out on each table. Within twenty minutes dozens of candles flickered like stars while a long table groaned under the platters of food set up buffet-style.

  Alexandra sat down at the table, sighing audibly. “If Merrick doesn’t hurry and bring me some food I’m going to pass out
.”

  Summer half-rose to her feet. “I’ll get you something.”

  “Sit down!” chorused Alexandra, Ana, and Kim in unison.

  Alexandra placed a hand on Summer’s arm. “If you’re going to become a part of this family, you’ll learn that the women rule and the men serve.”

  As if on cue, Merrick set a plate down on the table in front of Alexandra. Resting both hands on her shoulders, he massaged the muscles in her neck and upper back.

  “What do you want to drink?”

  Smiling up at him over her shoulder, Alexandra crooned, “A fruit juice, darling.”

  Ana covered her mouth with her fingers. “Michael’s right,” she whispered as Merrick walked away to do Alexandra’s bidding, “He’s whipped!”

  “Who’s whipped?”

  Gabriel had come up silently. He looked at each woman, knowing within seconds that he wasn’t going to get an answer. He placed a plate in front of Summer. “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I took a little of everything.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” The endearment had slipped out, and there was no way she could retract it as three pairs of eyes pinned her to her chair.

  Hunkering down, Gabriel cradled her chin and pressed a kiss to her parted lips. “You’re welcome, love.”

  “Ah-hhh,” Ana groaned. “This is too much for me. You guys are going to have to put a lid on this love thang until I find a boyfriend.”

  “You had a boyfriend,” Kim said.

  Gabriel stared at Ana. “Who?”

  “No one you would know,” she retorted.

  He stood up. “It better not be that Randy Mann, or whatever the hell his name is.”

  Ana stuck her tongue out at Gabriel. “You don’t have to worry about him, because Jason ran him away.”

  Gabriel nodded. “Good.”

  “What’s not good is having two brothers who are determined to keep me on lockdown in the love department,” she said, scowling. Whenever she was annoyed Ana reminded Gabriel of their mother.

  “That wouldn’t be a problem if you honed your skills in the judgment department. What I can’t understand is that you can negotiate a contract with the best entertainment attorney in the business, yet you lose it whenever you’re attracted to the flavor of the month.”