by Zoe Dawson
“Hey, no tickling.”
When I gave him a wry look, he pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed my palm.
“Stay with me,” I blurted out, and his features softened. “That wasn’t an order.”
He laughed. “Sounded like one. I don’t know…you may be too bossy for me….”
I went for his ribs again, and he wiggled away from me—and slipped off the edge of the bed. I squealed and made a grab for him, but he dragged me with him. His back hit the floor and I fell on top of him, expelling an oofh as I landed.
“Oh, God. Are you all right?”
“If you wanted to be on top,” he puffed, “all you had to do was ask.”
He captured my gaze and my breath oofhed out again. All by itself.
I looked up and caught the gleam of the frame on my nightstand. The one that held Brody’s picture. And my love for him came back at me like a backlash, paling in comparison to what I was feeling for Win. But I also felt that tug and the guilt. It was still hard to let go, even when I knew I should.
Emotion cramped my throat and unexpected tears glazed across my eyes. As much as I wanted to be with Win, it still hurt to think about Brody.
#
Win
I saw the tears blur her eyes and tilted my head back, following her gaze. She had noticed a photo of her absent husband. I saw her expression and the guilt there, but was unsurprised. I didn’t expect her to get over her long devotion to his memory quickly or easily. It was time to give her the space and the time to digest what was happening between us, because it was heavy, fast and overwhelming.
I simply couldn’t get enough of this woman.
I was also withholding information, but I decided again that could wait. I would track down River tomorrow and find out what was going on. I didn’t want to pile more worry on Evie when she was already dealing with so much emotional turmoil. It wasn’t lost on me that I was the catalyst.
“It’s going to take time,” I murmured, my lips brushing her temple. “It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to be vulnerable. I’ll be here to hold you, listen, catch you. I’ll catch you, sugar.”
She folded down on top of me, and I made good on my promise. I just held her as she trembled and fought her own demons. Finally she nodded, scrubbing at her eyes. Sniffing, she said, “I’ll be okay. It just gets me sometimes. It’s harder than I thought.”
“I know. Take your time.”
She lifted her head and trailed her fingers over my rough cheek, then she kissed my mouth, with a slow aching need.
I needed her, too.
Longing welled, and I reached up to touch her, to ease the ache, to fill the emptiness in me with her sweetness. I framed her face with my palms, combing back into her dark hair, as soft as silk, my lips trembling on hers.
“Stay with me,” she whispered, planting a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth. “Stay.” The word was punctuated with several kisses on my forehead. “Stay,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around my neck. I rose up off the floor, cradling her in my arms, and got us both back into bed.
Chapter Seven
Win
Outlaws was quite busy, but as soon as we walked in the door we were ushered to a table.
“That’s some service,” I said into her ear over the din.
She canted her head back and said, “Braxton reserves tables for family members.”
After we were seated, I looked around, but didn’t see River Pearl. But as I looked toward the kitchen, she emerged. She walked over to a young girl seated near the bar and talked to her.
Evie spied her and turned to look at me. “There is that bartender everyone is talking about,” Evie said. “He is a very attractive young man in a rough sort of way.”
I focused my attention on the man behind the bar. He was formidable, rumored to have just been discharged from the Marines. There was ink showing beneath his short-sleeved T-shirt that had a bulldog on it and peeking at his neckline.”
“I heard he’s here to set up shop. Tattoos.”
“You have one?”
She laughed softly. “I guess you’ll have to find that out later.”
My skin heated and I reached for her hand.
“Brax is in the kitchen, I’m sure.”
I beckoned River over. She approached the table, and I stood and held the chair for her. “River, I decided to take your advice to eat here, and Evie agreed to keep me company.”
River smiled at Evie with genuine affection. She looked different. She practically glowed, and I no longer needed to ask her how she felt about Braxton Outlaw. It already suffused her face.
“Oh, no! Brax is out of the Cajun egg rolls and crab cakes, but he promised to make me some. I’ll ask him to make them for you, too.”
“I enjoy anything Braxton makes,” Evie responded, smiling back at my niece.
“Well, you two enjoy your dinner. I’ll go talk to Brax.”
As River stood, she froze, and I looked toward the door, immediately concerned, but all I saw were two young men and their ladies. Then I looked more closely and realized these had to be Evie’s sons. They were the spitting image of their father. As soon as they saw their mother, a surge of excited talk went through the crowd. I had to wonder what that was all about. The two girls focused on River, but her sons frowned.
Evie didn’t look the least bit intimidated by her formidable sons. It was common courtesy for them to come over. All four of them changed direction and headed toward us.
“Ma,” one of the trips said, leaning down and giving her a kiss on the cheek, followed by the second one. The first one looked at me for a minute. “Are you on a date?”
There was complete silence. I couldn’t help it. I almost laughed, but held it to a cordial smile at the last moment.
“Boone,” Evie said, then she giggled. Both her sons gaped at her, something subtle coming over them both, as if they were just now noticing their mother was a young, desirable woman.
“What the hell is going on here?”
This had to be Braxton. His voice made everyone turn to look at him. When they made room for him and he saw who they were gathered around, he frowned. His mouth tightened and he gave River a stormy glance.
“Brax,” River said breaking the silence and slipping her arm through his. “This is my Uncle Winchester. These are Braxton, Boone, and Booker Outlaw. And my friends Aubree Walker, Booker’s fiancé, and Verity Outlaw, Boone’s wife.”
“I’ve already met Boone. Pleased to meet the rest of you.”
“Brax, my uncle is a food critic. He’d love to sample your egg rolls and crab cakes.”
“I’m out,” he said flatly.
“But, you said you’d make me some. Could you make another serving? I raved about them to him.”
He turned a steely gaze on her. “Please,” she said, and I watched his hard look turn to mush.
He gave her a long-suffering sigh and nodded. After greeting his brothers and River’s friends, he disappeared back into the kitchen.
After wishing me and Evie a good dinner, they retreated to another table. I urgently wanted to talk to River, but she settled at the other table with them. It would be awkward with her friends and Evie’s boys around.
True to his word, Braxton made us a special order of his Cajun egg rolls, dirty rice, and Jezebel sauce. I have to admit, I hadn’t been sure how they would taste. I’d eaten at some of the fanciest, up-scale restaurants in the world, savoring meals by chefs who had been classically trained for years. I’d sampled fusion food from different countries, some of the best in New York City.
Evie’s kid blew me away. The flavors were so well mixed—no, fused—that the flavor exploded on my tongue. The wrappers were perfectly fried, the shrimp fusing with the garlic and…was that bacon? The Jezebel sauce was sweet, with just the right amount of bite to it from the horseradish. The dirty rice was so New Orleans, I swear I could hear the blues with every bite.
“I can see by your face that you’re sur
prised.”
“I am. I’ll be honest with you. I thought it’d be good, but not chef-worthy. Now I can’t wait to taste his gumbo.”
She reached out and curled her hand around mine, the pleasure and affection on her face making my heart sing. I entwined my fingers with hers. “Evie, I don’t want to upset you, but my brother…knows about Braxton. I’m worried that he’s going to not only make a scene, but alienate his daughter. She’s so damned headstrong.”
She squeezed my hand, anxiety washing over her face. “I don’t think we can stop him, Win. And it’s going to be just as ugly when he finds out about us.”
When Brax came out of the kitchen, I saw River’s gaze collide with his, and my feeling was solidified.
He walked around the table and stopped in front of her. Bracing his hand on her chair back, he leaned in, saying something in a low voice. Straightening, he barked, “Huckleberries, jam.”
He walked a few paces backward toward the stage. River’s eyes were glued to him while Boone and Booker rose and followed their brother to the stage. Braxton picked up his fiddle. As soon as the guitarist picked up his instrument and one of them settled in at the piano, they launched into Ram Jam’s “Black Betty.” The trip playing the guitar had a clear voice that ripped out the fast-paced song, then moved into “Midnight Rider” by the Allmans. But then Braxton set down his fiddle and stepped up to the microphone to sing “I’m No Angel,” then Skynyrd’s “Comin’ Back for More,” his voice smoky and deep. Then he did Dave Matthew’s “Crash into Me.”
“This is what the excitement was all about?”
“Yes, as you can see, my boys sing, and everyone knew they were in for a treat. Whenever the boys are together in one place, they always put on a show.”
I just looked at Evie for a moment, stunned by her talented sons. “Damn, Evie.”
She nodded and said, “That’s Booker on the piano, Boone on the guitar, and of course Brax on the fiddle.”
“I think I’ll go over and speak to River now. Tell her it might be a good idea for her to come home for a bit and talk to her parents.”
As the notes died, and before I could even rise, River walked to the stage and said something. Booker played the opening chords, and she started singing.
I was stunned all over again, this time by River’s clear, sweet voice singing about finding the one. Then her friends joined in as Aubree sat next to Booker, and Verity slipped her arms around Boone from behind.
A hush fell over the crowd until Booker joined in the singing, then Boone, and finally Brax.
“Did you know she could sing like that?”
“I knew she could carry a tune, but I had no idea she was that good.”
The last notes died, and Brax set down his bow and fiddle. The applause was deafening, and River laughed and did a cute little curtsy. He clasped River’s hand and pulled her off the stage to the kitchen.
Minutes later my brother James shoved his way through the crowd. Evie’s face went ashen, and we both stood at the same time. We entered the kitchen just shy of her two sons as my brother roared, “Where is she?”
The rosy-cheeked lady at the stove glanced toward a closed door.
James didn’t hesitate. He threw the door open, a warning of violence in his eyes as he glared at Evie’s son.
My brother was a big man, well-practiced at the art of coercion. River didn’t move, but Brax did.
“What do you think you’re doing, young lady?”
She squared her shoulders, and I could see she was not the least bit intimidated. Brax groaned when he saw all of us.
“I’m an adult, Daddy, and I’m hanging out with Brax. Is there a problem?”
“Your momma hasn’t heard from you, and she’s sick with worry.”
“I have a cell phone.”
“She’s called it several times.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she drawled, with a kind of snotty edge. “I forgot it at home. I guess I must have been distracted.”
“Let’s go,” he said, and River glanced at Evie’s son.
“Brax?”
“Go,” he said.
Her face crumpled a little, and my heart hurt at the sight of her pleading with him to take a stand. But he didn’t. He stepped over to her and cupped her face while I watched James’s mouth tighten. “Don’t do this to yourself. It’s okay.” He leaned in and whispered. “Just go.”
James reached out his hand, and her eyes narrowed as she stormed past him, the back door slamming after her.
James honed in on at Brax with menacing blue eyes. “You’d be wise to remember your place, Outlaw. My daughter has opportunities and a high-powered career in front of her. She’s not going to throw it all away on a good-for-nothing bar owner.”
“Mr. Sutton, it’s not like I kidnapped her. River made her own choices.”
“She made the wrong one.”
He turned to go and Evie stepped in his path.
“James,” she said, her voice frosty and firm. “Don’t you ever speak to my son that way again.”
“Honestly, James,” I said. “You’re totally out of line. River’s not a child anymore.”
“Win, don’t.” He eyed Evie and brushed past her. “I’m not too keen on your choices either, brother.”
The door slammed again with finality.
Looking crushed, her son walked past his brothers, Evie, and me. “You set now, Jackie?” he asked the older woman. “See that Mr. Sutton and my ma are taken care of, and my brothers.”
“Yes,” she said, the anger and sympathy in her eyes adding to the sick feeling churning in my gut.
His two brothers stood in his way, Evie searching Braxton’s face from beside her other sons, and what she saw there made her close her eyes in pain. I cringed at the stark, lost look in the young man’s face, and slipped my arm around her, my heart aching for my niece and the man she cared for so deeply. Braxton simply walked out of the kitchen. As soon as I heard his truck come to life outside, both his brothers disappeared out the kitchen door.
Evie looked at me and her face crumpled. Then she rushed out of the kitchen. I went after her and caught her in the gravel parking lot. “Please don’t run from me.”
“Take me home.”
I opened the car door for her, but no matter what I said, she wouldn’t answer me. The drive seethed with her anger. I understood. I felt protective of my niece and needed to get home. When I pulled up to her door, she turned to me.
“I should have known and I warned you. Nothing ever changes, no matter how much we want it to.” She opened the door.
I gazed into her brown eyes and knew I was losing her, almost seeing the barriers closing around her. The emotions she’d showed before now faded, hidden. “Evie, no.” I grabbed her arm, but she shook me off.
“I can’t do this now. I thought I could, but I can’t. Please, don’t call me or come by.” She bolted from the car and fled up the walk, her door slamming with finality.
I drove home, but paced outside to dissipate some of my anger and the loss I felt at losing Evie this way. All because of James’s stubborn, unreasonable bigotry, his need to protect his precious reputation.
When I felt I had control of myself, I went into the house. River rushed past me and ran up the stairs, her face devastated, bleak, tears streaming down her cheeks. I walked into the library as James was polishing off a shot of whiskey.
“You have made a huge mistake. Let her see who she wants to see.”
“Is it easy to call the plays from the sidelines, Win?” His snide tone was low and nasty.
“I can see more clearly than you can, James. She loves that boy. You are driving a terrible wedge between you.”
“I will not have another child of mine humiliate me, drag our name through the mud. He’s an Outlaw. Unsuitable. Notorious. And you, fucking his mother! I can’t believe it.”
I slammed my brother up against a bookcase, sending several books crashing to the rug. “You shut your filthy mouth
about Evie. She raised those kids alone, went through great personal pain when her husband disappeared, has had to endure constant ill treatment from this town, and that ridiculous, outdated, and unfounded curse on their name! She has more integrity in her little finger than you do in your whole body. You are a fool, James. You are losing your children, and your precious family name is going to mean nothing without them! Don’t you see that?”
He shoved me off him and straightened his jacket. “When you have children of your own, brother, you can give me advice on how to handle them! You’ve worn out your welcome. Get out! Now!” he bellowed.
“I wouldn’t stay here another minute.” I went upstairs and packed up my suitcase. On my way out, I paused at River’s room, but could hear her sobbing. My heart broke for her, but there was nothing I could do. My own loss washed over me.
#
Evie
I thought it would get better, easier, as time passed, but even a week didn’t make a dent in the raw pain. I left Brax alone, decided that he would come to me if he needed me. His brothers gave me progress reports as Brax and River rode a roller coaster of ups and downs. When I heard that James had thrown Win out of the mansion, my heart ached even more.
We had connected so quickly, so intensely, it had me scared me to death. Even more than being alone with nothing.
I was used to nothing.
I couldn’t decide if I let what happened in Brax’s kitchen spur my fear and I had let it overcome me, or if I really, truly believed that Win and I could have no future in the face of James’s opposition.
Desperately needing something to occupy my time, I visited Maizy in Lafayette and bought everything she had in her attic. The pieces were in need of refinishing, but I found some real treasures, including a spectacular pre-civil war 1858 antique S.D. & W. Smith Company rosewood inoperative melodeon pump organ. I started to pull it apart. A week and a half after I told Win to leave me alone, my cell rang.
“Ma, get to the hospital, now. Brax has been shot, and River Pearl has been hurt along with her brother Chase,” Boone said. “I’ve already called the Suttons, and they’re on their way.
