by Nancy Gideon
Black eyes narrowed as he muttered, “MacCreedy.” He smiled at Charlotte. “Ma’am.” Finally, he sized up the Shifter who was every bit as big as him in height and reputation. “Mr. Savoie, can I buy you a drink?”
“It’s an open bar,” Max drawled.
“That works, too.”
The Babineaus arrived, the pretty, perfect TV commercial middle class family. The uneasy detective had his wife’s hand tightly in his and his other arm looped loosely about his son’s shoulders. He released her to shake hands with his brother-in-law. Then Tina was in Cale’s arms, already crying, making it difficult for him to retain his game face.
“Hey, now, mama. It’s not like we won’t see each other again. I plan to steal that boy away for his spring break. You’re welcome to come along.” He glanced at Alain. “You, too.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
Cale wiggled out of her grip with sudden humility. “Now I can’t claim all the credit. My brothers and this guy here,” he thumped Babineau’s chest, “did all the hard work. And Savoie supplied me with all the neat tricks. I only had to show up.”
She met his gaze with a melting sincerity. “Thanks for showing up, for being part of my family.”
“Oh, hell,” Cale muttered, reaching out to grab Alain’s arm. “I think we need a drink.”
As the two of them approached the bar, Cale turned to his brother-in-law with a faint smile. “Come with us. We can keep you safe.” A laugh. “You can help keep us safe.”
Alain cooled considerably. “You got your own heir now. You don’t need my son, ‘less you’re lining up a spare just in case.”
Cale’s smile faltered but his tone remained warm. “He’s one of us. Like his mama. That won’t change whether you live here or in Tahoe. We’re family. They belong to you by their choice. I just want to see they have what they deserve.”
“And I can’t give them that?”
“Sure. If she was just a cop’s wife and him, a school kid. But they’re not. They’re heirs to the Terriot throne and like it or not, that comes with dangers you need to be ready to face.”
“I will.”
“You’ll try, brother. And I admire you for that. I do. I’m gonna do something you’re not gonna like, but if you’re any kind of a man, you’ll hear me out.”
Alain looked down at the piece of paper Cale pressed into his hand. Hot color flooded his face. “A check? You think you can buy me off, you—”
“No! No, no, no. It’s for my peace of mind, my selfish need to make sure they’re safe. Take it. Leave the crabgrass and crappy neighbor behind. Move them into a gated community where they’ll have security 24/7, and we’ll both rest easier for it. Please. Don’t tell them it’s from me. Say it’s a windfall, insurance from her step-folks that she didn’t know about. Set aside that pride that’s choking you, the way it would me if I was you, and do what’s right for them. Because if they’re threatened or harmed, I will come and take them whether you like it or not.”
Alain studied his brother-in-law for a long minute then tucked the check into his pocket. “I’m not a fool. Thanks.”
The air whooshed from Cale’s lungs. “Let’s get that drink.”
*
While Kip and Colin entertained a wide-eyed Oscar with stories of their actions the day before, Kendra drew Tina aside.
“Things seem better between you two.”
A sigh of relief. “We talked more last night than we have in the last year, sharing things we should have long ago. It wasn’t easy, but we got through it.”
“And after you talked?”
Tina smiled. “Things were spontaneous. And fabulous.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
They embraced as sisters until Tina pulled back, her gaze settling on her son and his uncles. Triggering Kendra’s worry.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something I saw yesterday. I’m not sure what it means.”
At Kendra’s prompting, Tina described what she’d observed from her hiding place just before Silas and Cale arrived. She’d seen Colin meet with a man in an expensive suit, a man with auburn hair and gaudy Terriot diamonds in his ears. They’d talked quickly, urgently, and then James Terriot walked away, on his way to abduct Kendra. Colin made no move to stop him.
Colin? Kendra turned toward her solid-souled brother-in-law. She couldn’t believe it of him. Not Cale’s chosen to handle matters regarding their clan’s business. They trusted him.
Then she recalled Cale’s somber words.
Right up until the moment they betray me.
*
The evening grew bittersweet for Cale when Philo Tibideaux set foot in Cheveux du Chien for the first time since Max Savoie came between him and his friendship with its owner. Surrounded by a group of his Patrol who’d worked the docks with Cale, he held back in a tight wary pack until LaRoche waved them in with a tentative welcome.
They swarmed around Cale, teasing him for his fancy clothes, ruffling his red-blond hair, relaxing him the way few things did. T-Ray eased into the group as if he’d always been there, joining the rowdy laughter.
Pulling Cale slightly aside, Philo nodded to Roux. “He told me who he was and why he was here. Can’t say I was happy to be played for a fool, but working with him is better than him working against us until I find out who your brother has on the inside. I hate not being able to trust my friends.”
Cale nodded toward LaRoche. “Makes you value those you can all the more.”
Philo scowled but didn’t deny it. He tugged at Cale’s expensive sleeve. “This doan quite look honest on you.”
“It’s part of who I am, not who I chose to be.”
“You ever need that honest job, come talk to me.”
Cale put out his hand. “It’s been an honor breaking blisters for you.”
As they shook on it, Silas and Cee Cee approached with police business in their expressions, giving Cale the chance to ease away when he saw LaRoche’s mate Susanna and their daughter Pearl arrive. Kendra slid up beside him, fingers tucking between his. He gave them a squeeze and her, a smile.
“How you doing, mama?”
“Trying not to cry.”
He kissed the back of her hand then smiled as LaRoche brought over his family.
“You’re looking well,” Susanna diagnosed.
Cale smiled but his reply was to the stone-faced little girl. “I am well, thanks to you.”
“And to thank you,” Kendra added to Susanna, “I left something for you in the office.” She met Cale’s surprised look with a glowing glance. “Something to help you with your work. It’s something my father would have approved of.”
As they chatted, Cale found himself on the receiving end of Pearl’s intense stare.
“What?”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be a good father.”
Cale quirked a cynical smile but his tension melted away inside. “You know that, do you?” When she gave a sage nod, he dared ask, “What else do you know?”
“More than you should. You don’t wear a crown. You are the crown. Be careful who you trust and of why they want to be your friend.”
“Girl, you can suck the air out of a room.” He tapped his knuckles beneath her chin. “You scare the bejesus outta me, little mama, but I owe you my life.” He sent a pointed look toward his nephew. “Remember what I told you.”
She blushed, looking shy and for once, very much like the child she was.
*
Alcohol flowed. Music and voices got louder. Cale, Kendra, Silas, Brigit, and Giles commandeered a table next to the empty dance floor. Brigit told embarrassing stories from their childhood, none of which, of course, reflected badly upon her, and they all were laughing. As Cale’s shoulders began rocking to the irresistible cowbell and drum beat lead in to the Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women”, his brothers grabbed him by the elbows, dragging him out of his chair and onto the floor with them.
“For you, my queen,” Rico crooned
, executing an explicit roll and thrust of his pelvis that had her hands clasped over her mouth and her eyes crinkling.
Expensive jackets were peeled off and negligently tossed. Ties whipped loose and used to shimmy across broad shoulders, buff extremely fine rears, and even for some naughty crotch flossing. Cale used his to lasso Charlotte Caissie, murmuring, “Glad you could make it back in time.” He coaxed her up against him for sassy hip action reminiscent of their night at Crave until Max interrupted, as he had that time before, hooking an arm about her waist to spin her up tight where they continued the suggestive moves.
Colin popped his shirt buttons open and straddled Brigit for a frisky lap dance as she pretended to drum out the back beat on his abs, Giles making sure none of the undulating Terriot prince came in contact with his bride. Rico caught a blushing Tina Babineau up in his arms to dance her about, her shoes swinging a good foot off the ground. Even Kip found himself claimed by the mysterious girl of his dreams. He’d invited her, never expecting to have his hopes fulfilled as sweetly as she filled his arms, enticing him with some inviting moves of her own.
As Nica delivered drinks, she found Cale’s knees tucked in behind hers, his hands guided her slim hips through a grinding rock and roll. When she glared over her shoulder, he grinned wide in spite of the likelihood that she carried something in that slinky dress that could fillet him out like a trout. She surprised him by leaning back to tease him with a sexy shimmy. Scowling, Silas yanking her down to sit on his knee within the tight curl of his arms.
And then nothing existed for the Terriot king except the female he’d made his queen. He pulled her off her chair, into his arms. Palming her hips, moving her to mirror the pump and sway of his, he let her draw him down to the part of her lips, where they indulged in some lashing tongue action until Oscar slapped the back of his head, warning, “Children present.”
The sultry Mia joined them on the floor to slip and slide against both Colin and Rico, working them up into a dangerous lather of lust and rivalry until the rowdy music wound down to a heart-tugging pop tune. Somehow, she ended up cheek pressed to Colin’s chest as he moved them cautiously about the floor.
Kip pulled his attractively flushed young lady over to his brother’s table where Kendra was now wearing Cale’s suit jacket and sitting on his lap.
“Phe, my brother Cale and his . . . better half, Kendra. This is Ophelia Brady. We met on the Square the other night.”
Cale apologized for not getting up, his smile failing to reach his eyes as he took her hand. “A familiar name. Brady, as in the football player?”
“Not quite so famous,” she confessed with a laugh. “As in the police commissioner.”
“Nice to meet you, Ophelia. Why don’t you join us?”
“We were just heading for the bar to get something cold,” Kip cut in a bit possessively.
She fanned her hand in front of her face, giving the youngest prince a once over. “To cool me down.” She winked.
Watching them walk away, arm in arm, Brigit remarked, “Not the Victoria Secret model one associates with a Terriot prince.”
“Bree,” Kendra scolded. “I think she’s adorable.”
Silas and Cale exchanged looks, thinking the same thing. Warren Brady’s daughter. A way inside his tight security.
*
Rico retreated sullenly to the bar, away from the sight of the sexy and unsatisfiable Mia toying with his brother. True, he was the one who’d stolen her out from under a smitten Colin, a fact he wasn’t proud of, but hell, all was fair in love and hot, hot chicks. She’d driven him half mad with desire, only to flick him aside. All because Colin was now handling his family’s business in New Orleans.
Why hadn’t Cale picked him? Why hadn’t the luscious Mia remained in his bed? He’d had one too many to find an answer to either question and that added to his ill-humor.
The busty bartender smiled at him. She had nice eyes, he decided once he’d dragged his gaze away from the way the white shirt struggled to restrain her breasts as she leaned across the bar top to pour him another Scotch.
“She’s a fool for walking away from a dish like you.” She laid out that complement with the same crisp efficiency she did the drink napkin.
“Who says I didn’t dump her?”
“Experience.” She chuckled. “I could run the Church of Broken Hearts across this counter, and you could testify. Do I hear an Amen?”
He surrendered a wry smile. “Amen.”
“Amber.” She wiped her hand on her bar towel and extended it. He took it, admiring her firm grip.
“Rico.”
She cocked her head, studying him with a vivacious purse of her lips. “That’s not your name. What is it?”
“Frederick.”
“Well, Frederick, I get out of work in an hour. If you’re still here, standing upright, and feel the need for a little laying on of the hands, I’ll let you escort me home.”
Rico blinked. Then a slow grin woke the dimples in his cheeks. “An hour, you say?”
She flipped the towel over her shoulder and moved with a provocative stride down the bar to the register, making him lean forward to watch the way it rock and rolled her tight black skirt. Sitting back, he reached for his drink, paused then took a sip instead of a swallow. Pacing himself for a long night.
Amber smiled to herself as she rang up the sale. Did she have time to request her neighbor’s assistance for just a bit longer just in case the Oh, please, please, please let it happen happened? She was reaching for her phone when a customer laid a twenty on the bar.
“Could I get some change?”
“Sure,” she replied automatically. “Ten, five and ones?”
“Yeah.”
She plucked the bills and looked up. Into a pair of unforgettably blue blue eyes. Her heart stopped then plunged as his brow puckered.
“Do I know you?”
“I don’t think so. We don’t get many Uprights in here.” She counted back the bills, careful not to brush against his hand. “I have one of those faces after you have a drink or two.”
He gave a dazzling smile and pocketed the cash. “That must be it. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
She waited until he walked away to release a shaky breath. Turning her back to the room, she made the call. “Hey, kiddo. Is Marcy there?”
“Hi, Mama. I’ll get her.”
While she waited, Amber stared at the contact profile on her phone, at the precious face captured in the small picture. The tousled blonde hair and wide, sweet smile.
And those unforgettably blue blue eyes.
Just like her daddy’s.
*
“Rico?”
A quiet voice brought startled eyes about. “Yes, my queen?”
“I need a favor, one you can’t share with anyone else.”
“Not even Cale?”
“Especially not Cale.”
Intrigued, he leaned elbows back on the bar. “Name it.”
“I need you to stay here in New Orleans.”
“Why? Your mate’s already given the city to Colin.” His tone chafed with injury. Kendra wasn’t unsympathetic. She touched his big hand gently.
“I need you to watch Colin for me.”
“What?” His jaw dropped. “What are you afraid he’ll do? Double park? Cale doesn’t seem to think screwing that Guedry bitch will tarnish his sainthood.” He turned away from her compassionate gaze, embarrassed by the outburst.
“I want to make sure more than his sainthood isn’t tarnished in dealings with James.”
That brought him back around, eyes wide. “You think Colin would betray us by working with Jamie?”
“No. But I’ve heard some disturbing things. I can’t afford to ignore them. Will you do this for me? For your king?”
His features sobered. “Yes. Of course.”
“Speak of it only to me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my queen.”
He understood everythi
ng. Colin’s star was about to fall and his, to rise.
*
“Let’s go, baby.”
Kendra turned from where she stood on the edge of the festivities watching her friends and family to find Cale at her side. She blinked back ready tears. “Now?”
“It’ll only get worse if we stay. We have to go home, Katy. No sense dragging it out.”
She sighed. He was right. “I’ll get Giles and Bree.”
“No. We’re not going back with them. We leave from here.”
She nodded and took his hand. “I packed a bag just in case you wanted to spend a nostalgic night at The Saint.”
He grinned, thinking about it, then shook his head. “Tempting, but I’d just as soon get on the road.”
She blinked in surprise. “We’re driving? Silas was going to charter us a plane in the morning.”
“That would get us from here to there without any time in between. That’s what I want, what I need. That time in between. To spend with you. Just the two of us, not as king and queen of anything. Just us.” He cuddled her in close, nuzzling her ear, turning the diamond with his tongue until she was practically limp with longing. Her hand fit to his cheek, tracing it gently as he continued. “Kip rode my bike in. We can double back. Unless you think in your condition it would be too hard on you.”
Distracted when he used the words “hard on” in the same conversation as time alone together, she quickly stammered, “Yes. I mean, no. I mean, that sounds wonderful.”
“I need to get out of the city, away from what these last weeks have put us through. We’ll find someplace along the way, put up for the night, get on the road whenever the hell we feel like it. All the way back. No pressure. No rush.”
“That sounds even better.”
“Thought we’d stop in to see my momma so we can tell her our news in person. Take her out on the town.”
“I’d like that.”
“I love you, Kendra.” His hand settled on her belly. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you and this new little person. And all those who follow.”
She kissed him softly. “Hold that thought.”
Cale watched her cross the room to lean in over Brigit’s shoulder. Bree spoke briefly to Giles who handed her the keys to the SUV. Cale started to frown when Silas followed Kendra back to where he waited.
