by Angel Nyx
“We need to get together again, soon. We should plan a day to go shopping or something.”
“I agree. You pick the day, I’ll make the time. I’ll see you later, Lil.”
“See you, Eme.” Lily walked her to the door where they hugged before Emelise left.
Caine
When he’d awakened that morning to an empty bed, Caine had cocked a brow. He’d expected to find his mate still curled up against him. Then he’d caught the scent of food cooking and had heard voices coming from the front of the house. A smile had flitted across his face. She’d gotten up before everyone so she could fix breakfast. Damn, he loved that woman. He’d taken a quick shower and made his way toward the kitchen. He’d found Emelise in the dining room with her siblings and leaned against the wall to watch her.
Emelise took his breath away every time he looked at her. He knew she didn’t think of herself as some great beauty. He knew she though she was too short, didn’t have enough curves, to be a woman men would chase after. But fuck, he got hard just looking at her. When she finally suggested they sit down to eat he’d spoken up. “Dat sounds like a good idea to me. Breakfast smells delicious, Angel.”
Over breakfast his gaze had kept going to her. He still couldn’t believe she’d said yes. He’d been half afraid she would turn his proposal down. Who would have thought Caine Bordeaux could be brought to his knees by such a petite beauty? She had no idea just how much control she had over him. All it would take to destroy him was for her to walk away. It scared the hell out of him to know she had that much power.
It wasn’t until much later in the day, after they’d taken her siblings back into New Orleans, that he turned his attention to work. He had an email from Ryan Vallier, Alpha of the Red Moon Clan. Opening it, he frowned as he scanned it.
Caine. Just wanted to give you a little heads up. A couple of my people have had a run in with some bears comin’ down from Mississippi. I’m sendin’ someone to try and set up a meetin’ with their Alpha to find out why the fuck they’re comin’ into our territory. ~Ryan
Caine tapped his fingers on the top of his desk before he responded to the email.
Ryan. Contact Declan. One of his pack is a Grizzly. I think it would be wise to have him there. ~Caine
That done he went through the rest of his messages then got to work on the Pard finances. He had a short list of repairs that needed supplies and he needed to double check the finances before he sent someone to purchase everything.
Caine was just logging out of the account on his computer when his phone rang. “Caine Bordeaux.”
“Mr. Bordeaux. My name is Evan Connelly. I am calling you on behalf of Samantha Markus.”
Caine frowned. Samantha Markus was an old flame, one he’d had a brief, but steamy, romance with, that ended badly when he found her in bed with another guy. “What can I do for you, Mr. Connelly?”
“Miss Markus hired me several months ago to oversee her will and estate. She was diagnosed six months ago with inoperable brain cancer and she wanted to be sure that everything was in order for when she passed.”
“I’m sorry to hear dat. I wasn’t aware she was sick.”
“I am aware, Mr. Bordeaux. The reason I am calling you, sir, is in regards to your daughter.”
Caine made a noise. “Pardon me? I don’t have a daughter.”
“I assure you, Mr. Bordeaux, that you most certainly do. After Miss Markus was diagnosed she had DNA testing done to verify that the other gentleman with whom she’d had relations at the time she became pregnant was not her child’s biological father. If you contest the claim, DNA testing can be done to prove it, but Miss Markus insisted that, once you meet with the child, you will know that she is yours.”
Caine’s mind was in turmoil. How would she assume he would know just from meeting the child? It took a moment for his mind to connect the dots. The child must be able to shift. Samantha knew he was a leopard shifter; he’d refused to be intimate with her without telling her so she could decide if she wanted to continue the relationship. “Where are you?”
“We are staying at the Wyndham, in the French Quarter.”
“I can be dere in an hour.” He hung up and stared at his phone. How was he going to tell Emelise about this? He’d just asked her to marry him and now he was going to have to focus on helping a child, his child, cope with the loss of the only parent she knew.
Cain hesitated for only a moment before he sent Emelsie a text. He wanted, needed, her at his side. Angel, I need you to meet me at the Wyndham in the French Quarter in an hour. It’s...important. He waited with baited breath for her to respond.
What’s wrong? Of course I’ll meet you there, but what’s wrong, Caine? I know something is. I can feel it.
He closed his eyes a moment before he replied. I’ll explain when I see you. I promise. See you in an hour, Angel.
Okay. I’ll be finished with interviews by then but if I wasn’t, I’d cancel them. See you soon. Love you.
I love you too, Angel, More than I though possible.
Caine shut down his computer, ran a hand through his hair, and headed for the docks. He was nervous as hell. He had no idea how Emelise was going to feel knowing he had a child with another woman.
Chapter Nineteen
Emelise
Emelise finished with her last interview for the day feeling less than hopeful. So far, everyone who’d applied just didn’t fit the position. Some of them had the deer in the headlights look when she told them they would potentially see celebrities in the VIP Lounge and had to maintain a professional attitude, no going full on paparazzi. Others weren’t able to pass the ‘fix me a random drink or two’ test. They wanted her to suggest something. She needed someone who was creative, a quick thinker, able to do the job without a ton of guidance. Someone who knew what the fuck they were doing. Was it really so wrong to want someone who knew their way around a bar for fuck’s sake?
The instant she was behind the wheel of her car, her mind shifted gears. She was anxious to get to the Wyndham and find out what was going on. Something was certainly up. Unless Caine was pulling a surprise on her, but she didn’t think that was the case. He’d known she had interviews so she doubted he would have made plans this early in the day.
Halfway there she found herself caught behind a car accident and growled in frustration. “Fuck it. I’ll walk the rest of the way.” She found a spot to park, locked her car up, and continued on foot. If someone had asked why she felt so on edge she couldn’t have answered. She just knew that something was off.
That feeling intensified when she stepped into the lobby of the Wyndham to find Caine pacing near the counter.
Caine
Caine arrived at the hotel a little ahead of Emelise and glanced at his watch. He kept glancing at it while he waited for her to arrive. Then he started pacing. She was late. She was never late. On top of everything else he was now worried something had happened to her. He’d called the lawyer to inform him he was running a little behind but would be there soon. He didn’t want to do this without his mate at his side, damn it.
“Caine? What’s wrong?”
At her voice, relief filled him. “Thank God. I was beginnin’ to worry someting happened to you, Angel.”
“There was a traffic jam thanks to an accident. I decided to park and walk the rest of the way. Caine, you were pacing and I can see the tension in the way you’re standing. What in the hell is going on?”
Caine ran a hand through his hair. “Dere’s someting I need to tell you. Five years ago, I was involved wit’ someone. It ended badly when I caught her in bed wit’ someone else.”
“Okay? Caine, I’m not stupid. I know you’ve had other women in your bed before we met.”
“It’s not dat, cher. See, I got a call earlier from a lawyer. Samantha, dat was her name, she found out six months ago she had brain cancer. She just died...and left it to her lawyer to inform me...I’m a father.”
Emelise blinked at him. “Come
again?”
“I’m a father. I have a daughter.”
“If she was fucking around on you, how do you know she’s yours?”
“Samantha had a DNA test done with da other guy. Since she was only sleepin’ with da two of us and he’s not a match...”
“Please tell me you’re going to get DNA testing done to be sure? Because, come on, Caine. If she was screwing one guy behind your back, how do you know she wasn’t screwing others?”
“The lawyer said that Samantha assured him I’d know when I saw her dat she was mine. Dat can only mean one ting. She’s a shifter, a leopard shifter. Da other guy, he was a shifter too, but he wasn’t a leopard. He was a member of da Red Moon Clan.”
“Wait. So if she had DNA testing done on the other guy, why didn’t she ask you for your DNA?”
“I don’t know. I plan on askin’ dat when we get upstairs.”
“Okay. Let’s go, then.”
“Thank you, Angel.”
Eme slipped her hand into his and squeezed it at the emotion in his voice. “Caine, I love you. You don’t need to thank me for being at your side while you meet the daughter you never knew about.”
Caine leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Still, thank you for bein’ here wit’ me.” He guided her to the elevators and they headed up to the third floor. Once they reached the door he took several deep breaths to calm his cat then knocked on the door.
The door opened moments later and an older, slightly overweight man stood there. “You must be Caine Bordeaux. Evan Connelly,” he said and offered his hand.
“Pleasure. Dis is Emelise Rousseau,” Caine said, introducing Eme to the man.
“Ma’am.” He inclined his head in greeting. “Please, come in.” He stepped back and motioned them inside.
On the bed, farthest from the door, a little girl sat curled up, her arms clinging to a large stuffed animal. It was clear, from one look, that she was frightened and very sad.
“Mr. Bordeaux, please, have a seat. There’s some paperwork I need to go over with you.”
“In a minute.” Caine approached the bed and then knelt beside it so he was more eye level with the little girl. “Hello dere, sweetheart.”
A pair of pale blue eyes blinked out at him through a mass of blonde curls. Her nose twitched and she tipped her head curiously at him. “You smell like me,” she whispered.
“Dat, I do, little one. I know all dis is confusin’ and scary, and you’re sad because you lost your Mama, but it’s gonna be okay. I’m gonna take care of you.”
She sniffled. “How come?”
“Because, little one, I’m your Papa. If I’d known about you, I’d have already been here wit’ you.” He kept his voice soft and gentle as he talked to her.
Slowly the death grip she had on the stuffed animal loosened. After a few minutes she let it go and crawled across the bed to Caine. “Promise?” She whispered so softly even Caine had a hard time hearing it.
“Promise, little one.” When she moved to the edge of the bed he picked her up. Her little body shook and his arms wrapped protectively around her.
Emelise
When Caine had dropped the bombshell on her, Emelise was stunned. He had a child, a daughter, with another woman. Sure, she knew he wasn’t a virgin, hell, neither was she, but a child? She’d envisioned being the one to give him his first child and someone else had already beaten her to it. She couldn’t help the bit of resentment she felt.
She was quiet as they’d approached the hotel room. When the door opened she’d smelled the child’s fear and sorrow. Emotions weren’t always that easy for her to detect, but the little girl’s world was shattered and as a result, her emotions had heavily scented the air in the room.
Emelise watched Caine with the child. One look at the little girl and she could see the resemblance. She had the same pale blue eyes, the same nose. And those curls. They hung down to her shoulders like spun gold. Seeing her, the resentment disappeared and was replaced with shame. The poor thing had her entire world upended and she’d felt resentful? What was wrong with her? “Mr. Connelly, is it? Why don’t you show me the paperwork while Caine gets to know his daughter? I’m his fiancee. As such, I will eventually be the little girl’s stepmother.”
“Of course. I’ve got the file here on the table. Her name is Hailey Bijou Markus. Everything is in order for Mr. Bordeaux’s signature.”
Caine finally joined them with his daughter clinging to him like a lifeline. He read over everything before he put pen to paper. He wasn’t stupid, he wasn’t going to just sign without going through every single piece of paper. “Dis says she has a trust fund set up dat she will have access to when she turns eighteen. I wasn’t aware Samantha was doing so well.”
“Miss Markus invested in a couple of tech companies that brought her a healthy return. She set up the trust fund right away. Her medical bills ate into a big chunk of her estate but what’s left will be given to you, per her will. I’ve brought some of Hailey’s things. The rest will arrive in a few days. The house is being packed up as we speak. All personal items will be placed in storage until such time as Hailey is old enough to go through them, the rest will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be placed into the trust fund.”
An hour later, after he’d read every piece of paper the lawyer brought with him, everything was signed and Caine was officially, and legally, the sole guardian of his daughter. He was a father. That was something he was going to have to get used to. “Hailey, dis is Emelise,” he said, introducing his daughter to his mate. “She’s goin’ to help me take care of you.”
Emelise gave him a look. The way he worded it made it sound like she was going to be the girl’s babysitter or something. “What your Papa is trying to say is that I’m going to be your new Mommy. I won’t ever take the place of your Mama, you’ll always be her little girl even though she’s not here anymore, but I’m going to love you just as much as she did.”
Hailey sniffed. “You smell like us, too.”
Eme smiled gently. “That’s right, sweet pea. You’re not alone. I lost my Mama not too long ago, too. I know you’re sad and I know it hurts, lots and lots, but you’re not alone.”
“Okay.” Hailey looked like she felt soothed by their presence and her eyes looked glassy with sleep.
“You carry her, I’ll get the bags,” Eme said quietly. She could tell the child was exhausted.
“All right, Angel. Let’s go home.”
“Yeah. Hailey needs some rest.”
Caine
Caine held his daughter tight while Emelise helped him with the two bags the lawyer had brought with him. He was grateful Emelise was there with him. He wasn’t so sure he could have been as calm if he’d been alone. It infuriated him to know that, if she hadn’t gotten sick, Samantha would have kept his daughter from him, indefinitely. As it was she waited until she was dead for him to find out about her existence. Being angry wouldn’t do anyone any good, though, so he mentally shrugged it off. It didn’t matter now. All that mattered was helping his daughter to heal.
When the lawyer held the booster seat out to him, Caine grabbed it with one hand then nodded at the man and walked out the door. At least he didn’t have to worry about getting a ticket for not having her properly restrained in the car. He started mentally going through everything he had at the house. Was there anything that could put her in danger? He didn’t think so, but it was hard to be sure. He’d never had a young child in his home before.
He glanced at Emelise once they were in the car headed for the docks. “You’re awful quiet, Angel.”
“I’m sorry. I’m trying to process all of this.” The confession came out just above a whisper.
“I know it’s a lot to take in.”
“Don’t. Don’t start getting worried, Caine. I’m just...I guess, I’m just a little hurt knowing someone else got to give you your first child. It’s stupid and selfish because that little girl just lost her Mama and her whole world has bee
n upended and I’m feeling slighted because someone else got to bear your first child.”
Caine reached over and took her hand in his. “It’s all right, Angel. You’re entitled to your feelin’s.”
“No, it’s not all right, Caine. It’s selfish. I never thought I was a selfish person.”
“Stop it. You’re da least selfish person I’ve ever met. You’re allowed to be upset, Emelise. If, and when, we have our first child together, it will be amazin’. I didn’t get to be dere for all of Hailey’s firsts, but wit' our baby, I will be.”
Emelise smiled over at him. “You’re right. Gods, my heart broke for her when we stepped into that room.”
“I know. Mine, too. We’ll help her to heal, though, together.” He would contact the lawyer he had on retainer in the morning to start the paperwork for them to adopt Hailey. Even though he was her legal guardian, he wanted the paperwork to reflect more than that. He wanted it to reflect that he was her father and that Emelise was now her mother.
Emelise
Over the next several days, when Eme wasn’t at the club, she split her time between packing up her apartment and helping Caine get Hailey settled in her new home. It was late evening, Hailey had just fallen asleep, and Emelise and Caine were curled up together on the sofa. “I want to do something to introduce Hailey to everyone.”
“What do you have in mind, Angel?”
“I was thinking we could have a big cookout. I can invite my Dad, Angela, and the kids, we can have the Pack join us...and I’d like to invite Izzy Catalini and her little girl, Lexi.”
“Dat sounds good to me. When would you like to do it?”
“This Saturday, if possible. If not then next Saturday.” It was only Tuesday so there was a good chance everyone would be able to attend.
